Sorcery Is for Saps
- October 13, 2016
- Choice of Games
An apprentice sorcerer should never steal a master's identity! Will your powers save the king--or will you turn traitor and seize the throne yourself?
Reviews
- The game features many unexpected plot twists that keep players engaged and entertained.
- Characters are well-developed and the humor adds a light-hearted touch to the overall experience.
- The choices made throughout the game significantly impact the story, providing a sense of agency and replayability.
- The ending feels unsatisfying and can be frustrating, as it may hinge on arbitrary choices or mechanics.
- Some decisions lead to dead ends or provide insufficient information, which can detract from the overall experience.
- The romance elements are underdeveloped, and character interactions can feel rushed or superficial.
- story54 mentions
- 26 % positive mentions
- 69 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The game's story features numerous engaging plot twists and a unique blend of humor and fantasy elements, keeping players intrigued throughout. While the overarching narrative is compelling, it is criticized for being somewhat short and lacking depth in character development, particularly in romantic arcs. However, the meaningful choices players make significantly impact the story's outcome, enhancing replayability and personal investment in the narrative.
“The story is very interesting, with some unique twists and ideas; your character can grow and make acquaintances with people.”
“The mystery that the plot hinges on is expertly unraveled throughout the game and keeps you on your toes enough so that you can never be sure exactly who is behind it until the later chapters.”
“The story starts like a tale of our very incompetent mage and their lifetime chance to greatness (to cure the king), but quickly becomes a much more complex story with political intrigues, betrayals, kidnapping, and so on.”
“The story is also too short.”
“On the other hand, the story doesn't go in depth with any of its characters (save maybe the familiar), which resulted in romances lacking any emotional impact.”
“It feels more like you're playing min/max your juice than an actual story.”
- humor10 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is generally well-received, often overshadowing the story itself, with many finding it witty and entertaining. However, some critics feel that the humor leans towards a more juvenile style, lacking the maturity they prefer. Overall, while the writing is grammatically sound and enjoyable, opinions vary on the depth and sophistication of the humor.
“The humor outshines the story.”
“This isn't a dark game at all, but it attempts to use humor to tell some parts of the story.”
“The writing itself is predominantly flawless (in terms of grammar) and most importantly it is witty, humorous, and entertaining.”
- gameplay6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The gameplay features intriguing magic mechanics and juice systems that enhance immersion, allowing players to engage without constantly worrying about optimizing stats. However, some users noted that the transparency of certain stats and the intuitiveness of adjustments could be improved. Overall, the design encourages character-driven play, making it accessible for those who prefer a more narrative-focused experience.
“The magic mechanics are quite interesting.”
“Mechanically, some stats weren't as transparent as I'd like, and changing them wasn't as intuitive as in many other games, but at the same time, if you stay in character, you won't fail. You can play this game without once looking at the stat page and thinking 'if only I chose that line that would give me 2 extra points in persuasion', which is great for immersion and I liked that a lot.”
“Mechanically, some stats weren't as transparent as I'd like, and changing them wasn't as intuitive as in many other games. However, if you stay in character, you won't fail, so you can play this game without once looking at the stat page and thinking 'if only I chose that line that would give me 2 extra points in persuasion', which is great for immersion and I liked that a lot.”
- emotional4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
While the game is praised for its fun, heartwarming narrative that transitions from comedy to seriousness, it falls short in character development, leading to romances that lack emotional depth. Overall, it is recommended for its fairytale-like charm despite these shortcomings.
“Despite downsides, I really recommend this game – it’s fun (it starts like a comedy and turns serious later), it’s heartwarming and interesting and feels much like a fairytale.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Despite its short length, the game offers decent replayability due to the various choices available in each phase of the story, allowing players to explore different outcomes and experiences.
“The game is also on the short side, though the number of ways you can spend your time in each phase of the story gives it decent replay value.”
- character development2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is criticized for lacking depth, with relationships feeling superficial and reliant on archetypal traits. While the world-building is praised for its creativity, the characters themselves do not evoke a strong emotional connection or growth.
“It doesn't exactly transport you to the world of imagination, and it doesn't plumb the depths of character development, but it has some nice world building with magical spyware, talking inanimate objects, and unusual curses.”