In the early '90s, Team17, a distinguished developer and publisher from Wakefield, ignited the excitement of gaming enthusiasts with the announcement of Witchwood, an RPG styled after the legendary series The Legend of Zelda. Intended for the PC platform, the game was also reportedly being considered for the Amiga, Playstation 1, Sega Saturn, and Atari Jaguar. It was a project that captured the imagination, promising an adventure where players would confront an evil witch. Despite the buzz and anticipation, within a few years, Team17 made the abrupt decision to discontinue the game, leaving fans puzzled and without closure.
For the longest time, the details concerning Witchwood's development and its sudden end were shrouded in mystery, with only screens and magazine excerpts hinting at its existence. That was until a resurgence of interest peaked in the 2010s with a VHS trailer surfacing online, the discovery of a playable tech demo, and an enlightening video by YouTuber Perifractic in 2019. These discoveries revealed much about the potential of Witchwood, but they left out a crucial detail: Team17 was not the sole developer; that role primarily belonged to a smaller company named Synergy Software based in Fleet, Hampshire.
Synergy Software formed in 1991 following the closure of Interceptor Micros and its 8-bit label Players Software. Several employees from the closed company banded together, aiming to continue their craft. Founded by the Severn brothers and a small team, Synergy embarked on a journey of work-for-hire projects to sustain themselves, with Witchwood soon becoming their maiden venture based on an original concept.
Stemming from an admiration for The Legend of Zelda: A Link To The Past, Synergy sought to craft a PC RPG that rectified the frustrations present in console RPGs of that time, from unintelligent AI to static NPCs. The game would feature smart enemies, decision trees offering various dialogue options, and an evolving overworld experience. Witchwood's plot revolved around a witch executed by villagers and reborn as a vengeful tree. The protagonist, Pip, had to cleanse the land from her malignant influence. The game would integrate elements of British folklore, creating a unique cultural twist on the Zelda formula.
Initially, Team17 became involved during the development's infancy after a successful pitch to co-founder Martyn Brown. The publisher advertised myriad platform possibilities and deeply invested in its promotion. Synergy confirms that despite the announcements, Witchwood was a PC-centric game, with no active development being pursued for other systems.
As Witchwood's development progressed, the team aimed to intertwine British history and mythology into its narrative. Incorporating elements from Hammer Horror films and distinctive British archetypes, Synergy hoped to deliver an authentically British RPG experience. Dialogue leaked from Beta Archive showcases the British streak, with NPC characters featuring personalities inspired by diverse British media sources.
While concerted efforts were put forth, actual game content and narrative details remained nebulous. As Worms, another Team17 project, began to flourish, questions arose regarding Witchwood's future. The Worms series would go on to be a substantial success, inevitably shifting the company's focus. Due to Worms' success and Witchwood's prolonged development, riddled with feature creep and planning deficiencies, Team17 ultimately decided to cancel the project in 1995, much to the understanding of the Synergy team.
The aftermath of cancellation led the developers to seek new opportunities. Synergy staff dispersed, with some joining other notable gaming studios. Witchwood lingered in gaming magazines for a short while post-cancellation but eventually faded into obscurity. However, contemporary efforts by Perifractic and Jason Scott have resurrected the playable tech demo, now accessible on the Internet Archive, allowing a glimpse into what could have been a remarkable competitor to Zelda. Though Witchwood never saw completion, the renewed interest in its tech demo and cutscenes keeps the spirit of this ambitious RPG alive within the gaming community.
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