Sorcery! Parts 1 & 2

About

In "Sorcery! Parts 1 & 2," embark on an epic adventure through a land of monsters, traps, and magic. Armed with your sword and over fifty spells, make choices that alter your story in this narrative adventure. Explore a 3D hand-drawn map, engage in a unique combat system, and uncover the Crown of Kings in this series' first two parts.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

89%

Audience ScoreBased on 610 reviews

story79 positive mentions

grinding7 negative mentions

Engaging and immersive storytelling that feels like a choose-your-own-adventure book.
Unique magic and combat systems that allow for strategic decision-making.
High replayability with multiple paths and outcomes based on player choices.

Combat can feel random and frustrating, with some encounters leading to unavoidable deaths.
The rewind feature can diminish the sense of consequence for decisions made.
Some players may find the game too reliant on reading, which could deter those who prefer more action-oriented gameplay.

story
190 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
56%
2%
The game's story is widely praised for its engaging narrative, rich world-building, and meaningful player choices that genuinely impact the unfolding events. Many reviewers appreciate the blend of text-based storytelling with interactive elements, likening it to a choose-your-own-adventure book that offers significant replayability through various branching paths. However, some critiques mention that the story can feel linear at times, and the necessity to purchase multiple parts for the complete narrative may detract from the overall experience.
- “The story is very compelling and the decisions you make as you go along are very meaningful; can't wait to finish the game!”
- “The story comes to life as you make choices that matter and explore this fantastical world!”
- “The story is fantastic, the way Inkle has put this together is frankly stellar too, and it's an absolutely top-notch adventure.”
- “The story is awful, the characters are annoying, and the gimmick of having to find secrets in order to leave the region is terrible.”
- “Your choices don't really impact the story, but they affect what you own, so it changes how the story unfolds.”
- “I have been looking at this game for a while, and was skeptical from the reviews being stark opposites of each other and having read that the decisions you make only affect your gear, not your story.”
gameplay
64 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
39%
56%
5%
The gameplay of the game is primarily text-based, featuring simple mechanics that allow players to make choices in a narrative-driven adventure, with some innovative elements like rewinding actions to explore different paths. While the mechanics are generally functional and polished, they can be somewhat simplistic and may leave players feeling underwhelmed, especially in combat scenarios. Overall, the game offers a unique blend of storytelling and interactive mechanics that can be engaging for fans of narrative-focused experiences, despite some inconsistencies and a learning curve regarding its systems.
- “Ultimately, while the game is somewhat simple in mechanics, it makes up for this simplicity in the significant level of artistry that you can tell went into the plot, the different narrative options, and the game as a whole.”
- “The mechanics around rewinding to explore different potential paths and optimize or unlock branches in different playthroughs is brilliant.”
- “A slow start gives way to an immersive story that’s supplemented by intuitive gameplay and a simple but attractive art style, which makes this a game worth grabbing for anyone who loves fantasy or tabletop RPGs.”
- “The problem is that it kinda has a 'chutes & ladders' mechanic, where if you screw up, it sends you past a whole bunch of locations as a penalty.”
- “Even worse than that, I chanced upon another bug in the time rewinding mechanic that pretty much entirely reset my progress in part 2 (that is several hours of gameplay!), which was also buckets of fun.”
- “Overall, I think the game has a good foundation in the core principles of 'choose-your-own-adventure-ness', but the visuals are going to be divisive for some and the combat mechanics are just terrible.”
graphics
49 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
53%
41%
6%
The graphics of the game are characterized by a charming and imaginative art style that enhances the storytelling experience, despite being minimalistic compared to high-end graphics. Players appreciate the atmospheric visuals and the integration of original artwork from the source material, which adds nostalgia and depth to the adventure. While the graphics are not the main focus, they effectively complement the engaging narrative and gameplay, making for an immersive experience.
- “Fantastic artwork and great writing makes for a fun adventure.”
- “The visuals are gorgeous, it has a deliciously authentic tabletop feel to it, and the sound design is ingenious and incredibly atmospheric.”
- “I honestly cannot recommend this game enough, it is such an immersive, stress-free, and engaging adventure with beautiful artwork and memorable characters.”
- “Also, the artwork in the little pictures is the stuff of nightmares - whenever one popped up, I scrolled as fast as I could to not have the 'art' burned into my mind.”
- “As for the visual aspect: the graphics are there, but they don't play a major role, as most of the story is supposed to happen in the player's mind, which leads to rather minimalistic graphical design.”
- “The only visuals are paper cut-outs and a game board.”
replayability
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
41%
45%
14%
Overall, the game is praised for its high replayability, with many users highlighting the numerous choices, branching storylines, and diverse scenarios that encourage multiple playthroughs. While some reviews mention limitations due to linear elements or pre-scripted text, the majority agree that the engaging writing and immersive world contribute to a rich replay experience. Overall, players find significant value in revisiting the game to explore different paths and outcomes.
- “This might genuinely be the most immersive experience I've had with a game; additionally, the vast amount of different scenarios and routes you can take adds enormous replayability.”
- “Lots of choices and diverging paths that create a game with a high replayability value.”
- “Amazing art and story with a lot to do, and a ton of replayability.”
- “Tldr: the interesting translation of the book into a tabletop miniature's game is marred by a drag-and-drop user interface and a linear story with little replay value due to pre-scripted text.”
- “Nice while it lasted, though, and at least having a number of different 'paths' to follow gives it all acceptable replayability (even if all roads do, ultimately, lead to Rome).”
- “If you can get into the story, there are many funny and/or quirky situations that you can come across, creating replayability.”
music
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
33%
17%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the orchestral themes and ambient sounds that enhance the atmosphere, while others feel there is a lack of variety and volume control issues. Many highlight the effective combination of music and visuals that contribute to the immersive experience, though some express a desire for more musical content throughout the gameplay. Overall, the soundtrack is generally well-received, but its limited presence leaves some players wanting more.
- “An extremely fun interactive fantasy game with very impressively intricate branching pathways and in-game situations you'll end up in, with some beautiful music sprinkled in and some lovable characters as well.”
- “The orchestral theme music, prepared by Laurence Chapman, is simply perfect for this epic quest.”
- “Charming design, the music and visuals complement each other well.”
- “Not much music (mostly just one combat track, I believe), but the atmospheric audio is good and helps to bolster your imagination. Perhaps not many unique examples of sounds, but they work to build the setting: this place is wet, this place is busy, etc.”
- “Almost all of the audio is background music or noises - water dripping when you are in a cave, background chatter and horses when you are in a town.”
- “The music is far too loud and cannot be adjusted.”
atmosphere
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its immersive audio and visual design, which effectively enhances the fantastical setting despite minimal music. Reviewers highlight the beautiful, hand-painted aesthetics and clever sound design that complement the gameplay, creating a captivating experience that draws players into its world. Overall, the game successfully balances charm and atmosphere, making it a standout in its genre.
- “Somehow, one of the least graphically intensive game genres produced one of the most atmospheric game series of all time.”
- “The visuals are gorgeous, it has a deliciously authentic tabletop feel to it, and the sound design is ingenious and incredibly atmospheric.”
- “Have a wonderful atmosphere that invests you in the fantastical world they present.”
humor
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is praised for its blend of subtle and dark humor, offering hilarious moments alongside heartfelt interactions and intense combat. Players appreciate the engaging story and meaningful choices that enhance the comedic experience, making it highly replayable and accessible even for those who typically shy away from lengthy narratives. Overall, the humor is a standout feature that contributes significantly to the game's charm and enjoyment.
- “There's hilarious moments of subtle comedy, there are wholesome moments of hearty kinship, and there are ravaging moments of brutal combat.”
- “A fun choose your own adventure game with a good mix of funny options, good story, and choices that feel like they actually matter.”
- “The silly yet dark world it's set in and the often funny but awesome ways you can get through situations make this game very replayable and memorable.”
grinding
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and frustrating, with many expressing that it detracts from the overall experience. The need to collect clues and the potential for early decisions to negatively impact gameplay lead to repetitive and boring mechanics, making the game feel more like a chore than an enjoyable adventure. The ability to rewind actions is appreciated, but it often feels like a necessary feature to mitigate the tedium rather than enhance the gameplay.
- “Collecting clues in part 2 is extremely tedious, and you do need to buy each part of the adventure to get the whole story.”
- “This game is tedious and just plain boring.”
- “One complaint I have is that one decision you make early in the second game can prevent you from winning the game and you don't really know that it's important, which leads to a lot of tedious rewinding.”
stability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability is significantly hampered by numerous bugs, particularly related to the time rewind feature, which can result in the loss of hours of progress. Players have reported that these issues are widespread and persistent, with the developers seemingly unresponsive to concerns, leading to frustration among users who expect a smoother experience.
- “There is an ability to rewind time, but in part 2 it is buggy in such a way that hours of progress can be lost, and you pretty much have to start the whole game over. I refer to the fact that one mode of time travel lets you keep your clues, but if you rewind from there, you lose them all.”
- “As much as I would love to laud this game for its quirky art, stylish presentation, plentiful choices with consequences, and enthralling story, it has to be said that it's incredibly buggy.”
- “It appears this is a common issue and the developer is no longer replying on the forums; consumers should not have to spend time troubleshooting just to get the game to work on a standard PC that runs dozens of other Steam games just fine.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game effectively balances humor and emotional depth, featuring both heartwarming moments of kinship and intense, brutal combat. Players appreciate the blend of wholesome interactions and comedic elements, making for a rich emotional experience.
- “There's hilarious moments of subtle comedy, there are wholesome moments of hearty kinship, and there are ravaging moments of brutal combat.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
100%
The optimization of the game has received mixed feedback, with some users noting that the layout feels adapted from an app, suggesting room for improvement. However, overall satisfaction with the purchase indicates that the technical performance meets expectations despite these layout concerns.
- “I will say the layout could be a bit better; you can see it was optimized from an app, but nonetheless, I'm not disappointed with my purchase!”
- “The layout could be improved; it feels like it was optimized from an app, but I'm not disappointed with my purchase.”
- “Technical performance is lacking and needs significant improvement.”