RPG Sorcery PDA Reviewed

shiroi_kami writes "I finally received my long-awaited (and pre ordered) CD-ROM and immediately loaded the game up on my IPAQ (I didn't even look at the PC Extras)." shiroi_kami has written some other PC game reviews; here's his first of a Pocket PC game. Read on below for his thoughts on Sorcery PDA. Note: Here's a breakdown of the rating system employed in the review:

5. Awesome. Very few flaws. Very appealing. (Overall: Must have.)
4. Strong effort. Pleasing. (Overall: Good purchase.)
3. Good. Flaws and good qualities cancel each other. (Overall: If this is your genre, buy it, otherwise get it as a gift.)
2. Mediocre, or worse. Too many flaws. (Overall: Risky buy.)
1. Awful. (Overall: Don't bother.)

General/Story - 5 The game seemed slow at first running from my storage card but I had six other apps running, and when I closed them the game ran smoothly so no points off there. The game starts out with a unique and detailed storyline (if you bother to go through it and worth it for genre fans. Also, I recommend downloading the player's guide from the website for quick review before playing). Anyway, you're basically following in the footsteps of an adventurer named Falcon--yep, that's right, you're not Falcon (as the game title would have you believe). After setting up your ability scores, the first character you play in Sorcery is a Warrior-young and eager for adventure-willing to follow a caravan into the desert in search of the Orb of Power from a castle in the long-forgotten city.

As chance would have it you end up alone outside of the dark castle you revived from a statue of the dark lord's avatar, with a spell from a wizard named Firlor. The first element of the game acts as a trainer so there's little mystery there after you get through the castle (thanks to Lynn from Sorcery staff for hints), but it gets better then nonetheless. As far as tracking and saving, the game does that automatically for you-you can quit at any time and continue where you left off. You can also restore a game if things gets hairy and there's a nice automatic journal to keep track of important events and completed quests. I love the fertile storyline and it's not overwhelming as taken in bits and pieces (I'm still trying to help Guntok from the Cliffs Town Inn to get his father's axe back from Goblins). I'm still playing the Warrior character so I can't comment specifically on the Dwarf (male), Elf (male), Sorceress (female), and Cleric (female) characters.

Gameplay: (4) I've read it before somewhere so I can't take credit for the analogy, but the game does remind me a lot of Heroes of M&M crossed with the original Myst. It is sort of turn-based, but you don't have to wait for the game to make moves -- so it's seamless. I understand the PC version will have more of a 3D effect but obviously to fit it on the PPC it's an animated 2D setting with movie animation movement and a battle interface with 3D creatures. Performing feats, actions, and spells are point-and-click (from an abridged menu) and every room has its own animations and sound effects. You can perform an action on an object or from the interface which executes an action on the entire area. You can also click on objects to get a closer look and if the area-to-area movement animations get dreary, you can click on the directionals for a fast Myst-zip-like transition. There are scores of secrets, puzzles, and the overall gameplay allows you free reign almost like playing D&D, but with more obvious outcomes. What's also unique in this game is that performing feats such as searching or hurdling through a door require a feat ability roll--right with your ability bonuses brought up from your character sheet. But you don't manually perform counter rolls such as for surviving a trap, the game does that automatically and even shows you the roll count in the interface next to your character.

That brings me to the character. Like in Doom, when you get hacked up by a zombie or crashed on from a boulder trap, your character gets all bloody and disheveled. At times your sword or axe even breaks. But this is played from a first-person perspective so I'm referring to the image of your character down on the bottom interface. I like the battle interface, you can control different attack movements like slash, stab, and hack, and cast spells, or even retreat (later on this is helpful). There's also a useful monster bio window with background, abilities, and even tips--but this is based on what you know at the time of playing. The detail changes as you gain more wisdom and experience points.

Graphics: (5) The graphics are undoubtedly the best I've seen on the Pocket PC and when even compared to some lousy PC games. The images are quite crisp and very detailed. At times the animations seem just a little out of place but strangely when tested on my new Xscale PPC they're better placed. Go figure. A lot of work went into the story and graphic design -- some apparently compiled into the game and some pre-loaded as you play.

Sound: (3) There's nothing wrong with the game sounds but there's also nothing new there. Each area seems to have a different background sound and it's obvious they went with mono wave formats to save space. One good thing, in my opinion, is the lack of background music. I absolutely HATE the same, boring background music in games so Hurrah! for that. Also the sounds sound (pardon the pun) the same on my newer PPC so it's the same average-quality throughout.

Overall Score: (4.25) Strong effort. Pleasing. Good purchase.

Slashdot welcomes reader features -- many thanks to shiroi_kami for this one.

Comments

"leetness" comparision

[SHEENmaster]

1. You used leetspeak; I did not.

2. I use the sn "sheenmaster" on IRC.

3. I have been using the same sn for years.

4. IIRC=="If I Recall Correctly", you did not.

5. As for the "political soapbox" comment, have you ever concidered that /. was designed as a political soapbox for geeks like ourselves? Have you ever concidered that we trash windows because it sucks!?

6. I use Linux to write applications and games, as well as insult windows on slashdot. 7. I was just saying the nethack still kicks ass, so does fortune and the BSD games.