Sorcery! (video game)

Gameplay

The game is a text-based fantasy quest based on Steve Jackson’s choose-your-own-adventure novels. The game incorporates visual and interactive elements not present in the gamebooks.

The games contain expanded content vis-à-vis the original gamebooks. Additions include a different combat mechanic that includes turn-by-turn energy, the inclusion of your spirit animal, and spelling out names of spells from a star sky.

Release

The series consist of four parts:

iOS

The first entry was The Shamutanti Hills on iOS, released by Inkle in May 2013. IGN described it as "a prime example of what can happen when traditional storytelling gets along with contemporary game design." The game was the first release of the four-part adventure and was a 'Game of the Year' finalist for TouchArcade, Mashable, and Gamezebo. Khare: The Cityport of Traps released in October 2013, The Seven Serpents released in April 2015, and The Crown of Kings released in September 2016.

Android

The Shamutanti Hills was released on Android on March 12, 2014. Khare: The Cityport of Traps was released in 2014, The Seven Serpents was released in 2015, and The Crown of Kings released in 2016.

Desktop

Sorcery 1 & 2, The Shamutanti Hills and Khare: The Cityport of Traps, were released as a single volume on Steam for PC and Mac in February 2016. The third volume, The Seven Serpents, was released April 2016. The fourth volume, The Crown of Kings, was released September 2016.

Sorcery!

Sorcery! has a Metacritic score of 85% based on 13 critic reviews.

Gamezebo said " If you have any kind of interest at all in fantasy fiction or role-playing games, you simply must play Steve Jackson's Sorcery! It really is just that good. ' TouchArcade said " When the four-book work is finished, Sorcery! is likely to be one heck of an impressive gamebook experience. Inkle's groundwork is fantastic, making for an unusually vibrant piece of interactive fiction. It's a bit like a prologue at the moment, but every journey has to ". PocketGamerUK said "A thrilling combination of fantasy novel and RPG, Sorcery! offers a wonderfully fresh take on interactive fiction. " IGN wrote "Sorcery! relies on the often-ignored power of strong writing, and it’s better for doing so. It’s a prime example of what can happen when traditional storytelling gets along with contemporary game design." RPG Fan wrote "The worst thing you can say about Sorcery! is that this first book feels short. But when you are enjoying a thing, that often tends to be the case. The best thing is that if it stays true to the books, it is only going to get better." Hardcore Gamer wrote "Sorcery! is one of the best games that this reviewer has played on the iPhone and iPad, offering a plethora of options and an excellent story." Modojo said " This really is a lovely game though, even if the journey is all too brief when you consider the $4.99 price-tag. If you're concerned that this modern re-imagining might not do the original experience justice, cast those concerns aside. " AppSpy said "Sorcery is a high water mark for gamebooks, and the tabletop D&D Experience. Its presentation and content should engage you unless you really dislike reading and making choices. " 148Apps said " Capturing the magic of Steve Jackson's Sorcery! novels, the game of the same name is a great addition for adventure game book fans. " Darkstation said " A wonderful novelty, Sorcery! exists to serve a niche group of users and will struggle to find a captivated mainstream audience. "

Sorcery! 2

Sorcery! 2 has a Metacritic score of 88% based on 10 critic reviews.

SlideToPlay said " Sorcery 2 isn’t doing much different, but that’s OK. It’s a delightful and fun game with an absorbing plot that will keep you wanting more. " Gamezebo wrote "If you played the first part of Steve Jackson's Sorcery! then you already know what's in store, and if you haven't, you should! Then play this one, too – and don't forget to post those kudos when you're done. " TouchArcade said " If you had a good time with Sorcery!, I probably don't even need to tell you to buy this ". Gamer.nl said "The Sorcery!-series brings the magic of game books to phones and tablets, with charming images and a strong story. Sorcery! plays like an RPG but thanks to its enthralling storyline and oppressive moments more personal and more exciting than many games in that genre. " 4players.de wrote "This is more than just an interactive book, this is an experience with loads of meaningful decisions – between the lines there is more suspense and ambiguity than in Mass Effect." 148apps wrote "Building upon the success of its predecessor, Sorcery! 2 is a gripping and well told story of intrigue and adventure, amongst some great game features. " ArcadeSushi said "Sorcery! 2 certainly isn’t for everyone, but, as a text adventure for the digital age, it’s an experience that’s second-to-none. " PocketGamerUK wrote "More frustrating than the first chapter, Sorcery! 2 still spins a compelling yarn. Here's hoping chapter three isn't another six months off. " MacLife said "Sorcery 2 continues the adventure with very little iteration, but it’s built on a strong foundation that remains charming. "

Sorcery! 3

Sorcery! 3 has a Metacritic score of 90% based on 10 critic reviews.

TouchArcade said "Sorcery! 3 is easily the biggest and most robust gamebook inkle has produced to date. It offers all of the strengths of the previous chapters and builds a ton of improvements on top of them. I strongly feel you should play the previous games first just to get the proper context for this one, but it certainly stands alone better than the original book did. The hunt for the serpents is thrilling, and the battles with them are tense and exciting. The larger world can make for some tricky pacing at times, especially if you can't figure out where you need to go next, but it's a small price to pay for what is easily the biggest and most satisfying gamebook ever released on iOS. It's hard to imagine how they're going to top this for the concluding chapter, but I guess we'll find out whenever it's ready. However long it takes this time, I'm certainly willing to be patient if the payoff is anything like Sorcery! 3." Gamezebo wrote "It must be said that there’s some loss of nostalgia in Sorcery! 3, however. It’s an amazing game that you absolutely must play, but it’s much less of a gamebook than similar apps are. If you harbor no such nostalgia for its paperback ancestors, I could almost envy you, because it’s perhaps the one shadow cast across the pages of Sorcery! 3 for me. This shadow isn’t nearly enough to spoil anyone’s enjoyment, of course, as this is once again a seminal moment in interactive fiction." Gamernl said "The Sorcery! Series provides a solid RPG experience with mere words and a pin on a map. Developer inkle has ably modernized the popular books from 1984 and revived. Read your focus, then it is a unique experience guaranteed."

Sorcery! 4

Sorcery! 4 has a Metacritic score of 88% based on 5 critic reviews.

Rock Paper Shotgun calls Sorcery! Part 4 "utterly fantastic" and "a towering triumph". Richard Cobbet from the same site characterized the game thus: "easily the most crazily advanced, ambitious CYOA ever put to page or screen".