Sorcery

Copyright : Virgin Games | Reviewed by : Ritchardo

Explore a world packed with danger in which only you stand between the darkness and the light. Free the other eight sorcerers and end the tyrannical reign of the evil Necomancer for once and for all.

Greeted with near hysteria upon release, Sorcery was instantly hailed as one of the greatest games of all time and certainly the best that had ever appeared upon the Amstrad. Now that the dust has settled we can take a look and see how good (or otherwise) it really was:

Graphics

With around 40 screens, Sorcery doesn?t have the biggest of playing areas but a lot of care and attention has been spent on the map that it does have.

Used as one of the poster boys for the capabilities of the CPC and a fixture in any self-respecting Amstrad fans staunch defence of the computer over its 8-bit rivals, Sorcery?s graphics were, at the time, the very best you would see on the Amstrad and arguably any 8-bit computer.

Packed full of excellent detail and plenty of colours, many believe, myself included, that the Amstrad version of Sorcery looks better and more polished than the Amiga version something that you don?t get to say very often sadly!

Each of the screens is well designed with various hidden passages and the likes incorporated in to enhance the gameplay as well as the individual look of the game. Despite this the game doesn?t suffer from any loss of speed and remains fast and fluid throughout, mostly thanks, I assume to the fact that you never get more than two foes on screen at once.

Sound

Excellent title tune that?s worth listening to in full. Lasts around thirty seconds before it loops back on itself but it sets the scene well and is toe tappingly good with a two tone effect that is very clever and way ahead of its time. Sound effects only in the game, the tune disappears immediately after play commences, but they are effective if un-remarkable in design and they provide an acceptable accompaniment to the gameplay - which is the whole point I?m sure you?ll agree!

Gameplay

Initially difficult, the frustration of playing Sorcery soon gives way to the sense of wonder that comes from playing a compulsively excellent game.

The scenario, in which you must free eight of your fellow sorcerers from magical traps using the correct magical object is simple and a matter of trial and error to see which object releases which of your buddies. What is not as simple, however, is shooting around the screens at a frenetic pace trying to avoid each of the energy sapping monsters that inhabit the majority of the screens. These can be dispatched by carrying either the right weapon to do the job (another trial and error job I?m afraid!) or by firing one of the short supply of shooting stars or sacks of spells that are occasionally to be found.

There are three ways in which the game can end: you can run out of energy through the constant assault from the bad guys (although you can top up by standing on top of one of the bubbling cauldrons which scattered liberally throughout the map); you can run out of time (as indicated by the gradually shrinking spell book at the bottom right of the display); or you can drown (wizards and water don?t mix apparently). Of course there is a fourth way in which the game can end but you?ll have to play for a long time before that?ll happen - you can win!

The starting point is random which is a masterstroke on behalf of the programmers as it allows you to see more of the game and means that first time players can be hurled straight into the most difficult of screens - a real sink or swim mentality - that?ll give them a full taster of what the game is all about before re-starting and finding themselves in a more sedate location and able to take a good look at their position.

One of the real growers, you?ll probably begin your first game of Sorcery and decide you don?t really like it as you?re not sure where to go or what to use on which creature and will have a general feeling of discontent. But you?ll keep playing. Quickly, it?ll go from a position were you really don?t see what the fuss is all about to being utterly hooked as you make more and more progress with each go.

Tough and uncompromising, Sorcery is a game that improves along with your own ability to play it. The better you become, the better the game becomes. Highly recommended.

NOTE: Sorcery is Joystick only