The game's engine is identical to it's predecessor apart from additional spells and items and a changed bestiary. It is the first game in the Wizardry series to not be set in the Kingdom of Llygamyn, instead taking place in the Kingdom of Almarl, swapping the late-Medieval-West-European-derived setting for one inspired Middle-Eastern folklore of the Islamic Golden Age period. This tendency to set each installment in a new location with an unique flavor would continue throughout most of the Gaiden series. The game's scenario was notably designed by Benny Matsuyama (ベニー松山).