Sorcery!

 iOS
  • Publisher: inkle
  • Release Date: May 2, 2013
  • Also On: PC
User Score
7.2

Mixed or average reviews- based on 21 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 15 out of 21
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 21
  3. Negative: 5 out of 21
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  1. Repelstale
    Sep 13, 2013
    9
    Hah! I just completed the game on my very first go, without dying once! But enough with the self-satisfaction.
    Sorcery is just a great game. If this becomes part of the future of mobile gaming, instead of just the endless horde of match-3-crap, physics puzzlers and enless runners, the future looks very bright indeed, my friends.
    The presentation is absolutely gorgeous, with a simple    Hah! I just completed the game on my very first go, without dying once! But enough with the self-satisfaction.
    Sorcery is just a great game. If this becomes part of the future of mobile gaming, instead of just the endless horde of match-3-crap, physics puzzlers and enless runners, the future looks very bright indeed, my friends.

    The presentation is absolutely gorgeous, with a simple but beautiful 3D-map taking up most of the screen time, engrossing ambient sounds, wonderful music, and beautiful illustrations. The game is truly about storytelling, which has pros and cons. On the one hand you've got excellent writing, scenes that keep your interest, and a tale that really takes you along for a ride, instead of bothering you with all the statistics "under the hood". On the other hand, the game is still very much a book: if you've made your choices in a certain scene, that scene is over and the story moves on. Don't expect to revisit villages you've been to before, or walk back to a certain weapon's dealer. So while the story itself and the vivid descriptions of what's happening, including your own mental and physical state, truly immerse you in this world, the way the game unfolds still has its boundaries. Still, I was strangely okay with that: being in a gameworld where everything matters brings much more significance to your actions and choices, compared to just roaming some sandbox RPG.

    There were just two gripes I had with this game.

    One, it's too forgiving. I get that some gamers will be pleased to be able to go back to every decision they made in the game, just to see what the unchosen path might have brought. But in my opinion this seriously decreases the aforementioned feeling of significance: nothing really matters, because in one tap you can "re-choose" another way. I seriously advise new players to stick with their decisions. Trust me, it'll make your experience so much better, and your sense of accomplishment so much greater (Did I tell you I finished the game in my very first go without dying once? I did? Sorry...)

    Two, it's really short. Maybe I should have waited for all four books to have been released on iOS, like I did with the Walking Dead game, so I could have had a more continuous experience. Then again, the sense of yearning to find out what happens next is the biggest compliment a storytelling game can get.

    Highly recommended!    … Expand
  2. DrChocolate
    Jul 12, 2014
    10
    True to the old style of gamebook gaming while adding an action battle element-- and the story is so exquisitely written. Well worth the asking price.
  3. DemonSoul
    Nov 14, 2013
    10
    I've played like every iOS game, and this game is excellent. Captures the D&D essence (not necessarily the rules) better than any game on the ipad, The writing is good, the art is good, that combat is fun, the spells are interesting, the amount of choices you get to make in the game are stressful in a good way and overwhelming. My only complaint is its too short, but I heard the next oneI've played like every iOS game, and this game is excellent. Captures the D&D essence (not necessarily the rules) better than any game on the ipad, The writing is good, the art is good, that combat is fun, the spells are interesting, the amount of choices you get to make in the game are stressful in a good way and overwhelming. My only complaint is its too short, but I heard the next one is quite long so that should make up for it.… Expand
  4. Somerandomguy1
    Nov 6, 2013
    10
    This is simply one of the best interactive story/game you will ever find on smartphones. Be warned though, this is not a kids game. This is for a mature audience only.
    The story is fantastic. You really don't know what to expect. 1 wrong move could be your doom or could make you loose a valuable asset for your journey. This game really accomplishes to get you deep into your character and    This is simply one of the best interactive story/game you will ever find on smartphones. Be warned though, this is not a kids game. This is for a mature audience only.
    The story is fantastic. You really don't know what to expect. 1 wrong move could be your doom or could make you loose a valuable asset for your journey. This game really accomplishes to get you deep into your character and it's world.
    Each choice you make has a tremendous consequence in the game. In this land of deceit and unexpected consequences, you have to think twice before making a movement, and this is one of the aspects I like the most. Nothing is black or white but gray, just like life itself.
    The game is filled with challenging puzzles and simple, but challenging, melee combat. Often you can use magic to avoid fights or to bypass some puzzles, but it costs stamina which is your HP and your requirement to use most magic spells so you have to be careful.
    I really can't find any big flaw on this game. It has no bugs, the few music it has is fantastic, it's perfect! The only flaw I could think of is the duration of the game, which some people find very short. I personally don't. I take an entire afternoon to complete a single walkthrough.
    Also have in mind that this is the first part of a 4 part story. Each part will be a different game, and will be sold separately. Your choices will be passed on to the next game via icloud.
    Buy this game. You won't regret it.    … Expand
  5. Thilus
    May 3, 2015
    3
    Poor man's Joe Dever's Lone Wolf. That about sums it up. And it actually is. Sorcery! is based on Fighting Fantasy series by Steve Jackson, and it really doesn't live up to the expectations. The story itself is pretty dull, and there is almost no backstory. The character is a nobody (no name, no story, no nothing). Sometimes he says that he's a great warrior chosen to fulfil an importantPoor man's Joe Dever's Lone Wolf. That about sums it up. And it actually is. Sorcery! is based on Fighting Fantasy series by Steve Jackson, and it really doesn't live up to the expectations. The story itself is pretty dull, and there is almost no backstory. The character is a nobody (no name, no story, no nothing). Sometimes he says that he's a great warrior chosen to fulfil an important quest, but throughout the game he/she struggles to beat anyone. Maybe it's because of the awful fighting system. During a fight you have to choose how much stamina you want to put into an attack. And your computer opponent will counter that. Problem is that he always has the upper hand. AI obviously it always knows the value of your attack before he acts. You choose to defend (0 stamina), he also defends or hits you with the lightest of attacks to damage you. You try to analyze, look through the strategy the opponent is using, you restart the fight, and try to attack with light attack. What does the AI do? No, it does not defend. No, it does not attack you with a light attack it did before. Instead it attacks you with a hit that's 0.1 stronger than yours therefore damages your character. Seriously?! It would much rather like to see RNG here, but with the game being so bland I don't really care that much.… Expand
  6. thetruefan9
    Apr 25, 2016
    10
    Simply a must try if you love text based game. This games just keeps on getting better. Buy the whole series as a package price because it is really worth it . So hard to put down. At the same time all should try 80 days from the same company

Awards & Rankings

43
#43 Best iOS Game of 2013
47
#47 Most Discussed iOS Game of 2013

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
85

Generally favorable reviews - based on 13 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 12 out of 13
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 13
  3. Negative: 0 out of 13
  1. games(TM)
    Jul 28, 2013
    80
    Simply said, Sorcery! is a wonderful release that should light a fire in the heart of any fan of an era long-gone; this is a welcome addition to any iOS library. [Issue#137, p.123]
  2. Games Master UK
    Jun 26, 2013
    90
    An utter essential. [Aug 2013, p.79]
  3. Hyper Magazine
    Jun 10, 2013
    80
    It's short and perhaps too forgiving for some, but Sorcery is a fun romp that respects your decisions. [July 2013, p.83]
See all critic reviews »