Open Sorcery
- February 22, 2017
- Abigail Corfman
- 10h median play time
In Open Sorcery, become a sentient magical fireplace controlling various elemental spells to protect your mystical library from threats. Interact with associates and make decisions in a visual novel-style format, shaping the story's outcome based on your dialogue choices. Solve puzzles and enhance your abilities to safeguard your home against supernatural dangers.
Reviews
- Engaging and beautifully written narrative that evokes strong emotions and encourages multiple playthroughs.
- Unique blend of technology and magic, with a compelling premise of playing as a fire elemental firewall protecting various locations.
- High replayability due to numerous choices and endings, making it a worthwhile experience for fans of interactive fiction.
- The game is relatively short, which may leave some players wanting more content.
- Some players may find the lack of visuals and sound design limiting, as the game relies heavily on text.
- Certain gameplay mechanics, such as timed sections, can be frustrating for players who prefer a more relaxed pace.
- story114 mentions
- 49 % positive mentions
- 48 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The game's story is widely praised for its creativity, emotional depth, and engaging narrative structure, often described as a beautifully crafted interactive experience with significant player agency. While some players found the themes jarring or the story too short, many appreciated the well-written characters and the variety of branching paths that enhance replayability. Overall, it is recommended for those who enjoy immersive storytelling and character-driven narratives, despite its minimalist presentation.
“This game is a great example of the immersive effect of an interactive story, where the player gets to play the main character and whose decisions affect the outcome.”
“The story is a beautifully crafted thing, the characters are all dazzlingly fleshed out, and the various endings and paths that can be taken give this game a ton of replay value.”
“I loved the story and how it was presented.”
“The injection of contemporary sexual fetishes and propaganda was extremely jarring and spoiled the game and story, at least for me.”
“Main problem with replaying is that the story is rather fixed - you encounter the same problems, there is no variation.”
“The story is fairly simple, but solid.”
- replayability25 mentions
- 56 % positive mentions
- 32 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The game is widely praised for its high replayability, with many players noting the diverse endings and branching storylines that encourage multiple playthroughs. Despite its short length, the engaging narrative and various choices provide substantial replay value, making it a worthwhile experience for completionists and casual players alike. Overall, it offers a rich exploration of its themes and characters, inviting players to return for new discoveries.
“A really good game with a lot of replay value and fantastic writing.”
“It uses its minimal mechanics to maximum effect, and has a surprising amount of replayability for such a short game.”
“It has substantial replay value; I've done one path to the end, but I want to fix things and get it right.”
“There's a fair amount of replayability, because you can't see everything the first time through (or in any one playthrough, really).”
“The story is a beautifully crafted thing, the characters are all dazzlingly fleshed out, and the various endings and paths that can be taken give this game a ton of replay value.”
- emotional17 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highly praised, with players reporting intense feelings ranging from joy to heartbreak, often leading to tears during pivotal moments. The storytelling is described as innovative and meaningful, effectively blending emotional depth with engaging gameplay, making it a standout experience despite its brief duration. Overall, it delivers a powerful emotional journey that resonates deeply with players.
“I cried at two points which I will not mention for spoilers, but I really think this is one of the best of this kind of game that I have played recently.”
“I've just finished my first playthrough, my hands are shaking and I didn't know I needed this kind of emotional discussion about the internal feelings of depression.”
“That game even managed to move my stone heart with a few of its emotional scenes.”
- gameplay16 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The gameplay is primarily text-based, involving reading and clicking on highlighted options to make choices and explore details, which fosters an engaging narrative experience. Players can enjoy a short, immersive single-player experience with minimal mechanics that encourage replayability through different decision outcomes, leading to multiple endings. Overall, the game effectively combines simple gameplay with a rich story, making it accessible and enjoyable for those who appreciate narrative-driven experiences.
“The characters, the gameplay, and the storyline are all so good, and though the same things happen each day, the reactions you're able to give based on your past decisions are so cool to see.”
“It uses its minimal mechanics to maximum effect and has a surprising amount of replayability for such a short game.”
“Open Sorcery blends this puzzle-like, observation-based gameplay with an emotional story that's incredibly engaging.”
“Gameplay consists of reading and clicking highlighted text to choose options or get more details on things.”
“Sometimes, you can't go back to gameplay from the save/load menu.”
“The interactive text is not only a clever use of game mechanics, but gives perspective and clarity into your situations.”
- graphics12 mentions
- 42 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The game's graphics are minimalistic, with very few visuals and rudimentary sound effects, yet they effectively complement the strong writing and narrative. Players appreciate that the lack of high-quality graphics does not detract from the emotional impact and storytelling, highlighting that compelling narratives can thrive without elaborate visuals. Overall, the unconventional presentation encourages imagination and enhances the experience of this choose-your-own-adventure game.
“It's absolutely beautiful, for all that it has very few visuals.”
“A lovely little game that proves that AAA graphics are not needed if the story and premise are well-written.”
“And it's not just the words and story that are beautiful and compelling, but the visuals too.”
“It's a choose your own adventure (CYOA) affair where there's barely any graphics or sound, yet when those occasionally show, it's always in an unconventional way.”
“No graphics to speak of and only rudimentary sound effects, but the sound effects do a good job of establishing some imagery, as does the text.”
“To call the presentation minimalistic would be a huge understatement, but there is this thing called 'imagination' which we seem to be using too seldom these days, especially with modern graphics.”
- music11 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The music aspect of the game is notably minimal, with no background soundtrack and only a few sound effects present. While some players found the absence of music to be a flaw, others appreciated how it contributed to the game's atmosphere, enhancing the storytelling and decision-making experience. Overall, the lack of a traditional soundtrack is seen as a design choice that aligns with the game's focus on narrative and character development.
“However, I put on a 'peaceful piano' playlist and found it to be a good musical accompaniment.”
“There is no music, but I felt it suited the atmosphere well.”
“It's completely story and decision-based which at first seems like it would put you to sleep since there is no music, but it puts you on edge (especially at the end, but I don't want to give too many spoilers) and really tests your riddle-solving skills (depending on how you play it).”
“My only complaint is the lack of a soundtrack.”
“There's no background music, only a few sound effects from time to time.”
“First up, there is no music, no voice acting, few images, few sound effects.”
- humor6 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is described as good and inoffensive, effectively blending funny moments with sadness and tension. Players appreciate its ability to evoke a range of emotions, from laughter to tears, all within a short but impactful experience. Overall, the humor is seen as a key strength, contributing to a deeply moving narrative.
“It was often funny, and sometimes sad, then funny again.”
“From terrifying to funny; heartbreaking to daft, and a really tense climax. Thoroughly recommend.”
“This game made me smile, it made me laugh, it made me cry.”
- character development2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Character development in "Open Sorcery" is highly praised for its depth and quality, demonstrating that compelling writing can outweigh the need for advanced graphics or audio. The game's minimalistic, text-based format allows for a strong focus on character growth, making it a standout in this aspect.
“The character arcs are incredibly well-written, making each decision feel impactful.”
“I love how the game allows for deep exploration of each character's backstory and motivations.”
“The character development was astonishing considering the lack of visual detail; these kinds of projects prove that nothing—no strong graphics, interesting music, or slick controls—trump good writing.”
“Open Sorcery is a minimalistic text-based game that focuses heavily on character development.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere captivates players with its immersive simplicity and thick ambiance, effectively drawing them in despite the absence of music, which many feel enhances the overall experience.
“It drew me in immediately with its simple premise and thick atmosphere, and now my brain won't let me leave it.”
“There is no music, but I felt it suited the atmosphere well.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players appreciate the grinding aspect for its engaging and original storytelling, which keeps the experience fresh and avoids becoming tedious or overly prolonged.