Summoner

About

Summoner is a single player role playing game. It was developed by Volition and was released on March 12, 2014. It received positive reviews from players.

Summoners have toppled empires and challenged gods. They are venerated as saviours and feared as destroyers. With rings crafted by the ancient Khosani, the gifted can call forth demons, dragons, and elementals, but only the strongest can control the forces they unleash. The Story: Born with the mark of the Summoner, Joseph possesses a power greater than emperors and gods. As a child, he summoned a…

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Play Modes

Single-Player

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86%

Audience ScoreBased on 608 reviews

story185 positive mentions

grinding20 negative mentions

The game features a rich and engaging story with well-developed characters and lore.
The combat system is unique and allows for strategic gameplay with the ability to summon creatures.
The nostalgia factor is strong, making it a beloved classic for fans of old-school RPGs.

The graphics and controls are dated, making the gameplay feel clunky and less enjoyable on modern systems.
There is no controller support, which detracts from the experience for players used to console gaming.
The game can be buggy, with issues such as cutscenes skipping and crashes on modern hardware.

story
373 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
48%
2%
The story of "Summoner" is widely praised for its depth, engaging characters, and rich lore, with many players noting that it holds up well despite its age. However, it requires a significant time investment to fully appreciate, as it can take over 30 hours to get into the more enjoyable aspects of the narrative. While the storytelling is compelling, some players find the presentation, including dated graphics and limited cutscenes, to be a drawback, yet they still recommend it for fans of classic RPGs.
- “The story is rich with lore, with almost every in-game conversation referring to events in the past.”
- “The depth of the story, immersive quest lines, and sinister soundtrack make this one of my all-time favorite games.”
- “The game has an amazing story and rich lore.”
- “Game isn't perfect though and I suspect many modern audiences would chafe against the almost lo-fi manner in which the story and characterizations are presented.”
- “The huge yet aimless world to explore and very loose guidelines on how to get from point A to B in a quest left me very confused at times.”
- “The side quests are mostly fetch quests and aren't worth the time in the rewards they give.”
graphics
170 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
26%
61%
13%
The graphics of the game are widely regarded as dated and clunky, reflecting its age since its original release in 2000. While some players find the visuals to be a significant drawback, many emphasize that the game's compelling story and gameplay can overshadow these graphical limitations. Overall, the consensus is that while the graphics may not hold up to modern standards, they are acceptable for fans of classic RPGs who prioritize narrative over visual fidelity.
- “Graphics for the time were wonderful and is not too much of an eyesore twenty years later.”
- “This game deserves high praise for its depth and powerfully written story; the visuals are beautiful even if they are dated, and the voice acting isn't too bad either!”
- “While the graphics and gameplay have aged a bit since then, this game is still a true masterpiece.”
- “The graphics are dated, and you may notice that the cut-scene animations are "clunky", but that's about what's wrong with this RPG.”
- “It's obviously very outdated; the graphics and the movement are the worst parts of the game.”
- “The visuals were not great back on the PS2 and have aged even worse, so that'll be a sticking point for some.”
gameplay
124 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
34%
64%
2%
The gameplay of this RPG is characterized by its dated mechanics and controls, which can be clunky and frustrating for new players, yet it offers a nostalgic experience for fans of old-school titles. Combat features a unique blend of real-time action and timing-based mechanics, providing depth despite some repetitiveness and a reliance on exploration. While the graphics and interface show their age, the engaging story and character development help maintain a solid gameplay experience overall.
- “The story was exceptionally good for the time and it seems to hold up today, and the gameplay, while dated, is still enjoyable.”
- “Great story, interesting characters with background and motives, gameplay and combat system is good with active pause, planning, and skill usage.”
- “The gameplay reminds me a little of Final Fantasy 12 or Knights of the Old Republic.”
- “The controls are pretty horrible, the NPC population is mostly fodder, and the combat is really tedious. I want to play more of it, but the drollness of the gameplay is literally making me ill. This game wasn't designed for point and click; do something else with your time. Maybe if they get controller support for the game, it won't be so agonizing to play.”
- “Gameplay-wise, it shows its age, with combat becoming cluttered due to unintuitive menus and controls. Plus, the graphics could really use an HD update from the new owners of the IP.”
- “The graphics are dated, the combat can be slow at times, and until you become familiar with game mechanics, Summoner can be frustrating.”
music
70 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
66%
30%
4%
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its stunning and atmospheric quality, with many reviewers highlighting its ability to enhance the overall experience. Composed by Scott Lee, the soundtrack is described as otherworldly, beautiful, and sometimes haunting, perfectly complementing the game's narrative and setting. While some sound effects may feel dated, the soundtrack remains a standout feature, making the game memorable and enjoyable for players.
- “Scott Lee (who can be found on YouTube by the same name) did a fantastic job creating an otherworldly soundtrack, giving each part of the game a unique, beautiful, sometimes haunting but always magical atmosphere.”
- “The depth of the story, immersive quest lines, and sinister soundtrack make this one of my all-time favorite games.”
- “The music here is absolutely stunning.”
- “I think this is the first game I've played where the music does not fit the setting of the game but still works great anyway.”
- “Music is modern - odd choice, you would expect something Celtic - but it works - at least for me.”
- “Now I pay much more attention to the game's OST and plot rather than gameplay.”
grinding
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed experience; while some enjoy the rewarding loot system and frequent leveling, many feel that the grinding can become tedious and repetitive, particularly when it comes to character leveling and navigating the game world. The combat is noted as fun but can also feel laborious due to poor controls and frustrating NPC interactions. Overall, while grinding is necessary for progression, it detracts from the enjoyment for some players, leading to a sense of fatigue.
- “I put 66 hours into one playthrough and most of it was spent grinding experience and exploring the levels looking for items on the ground.”
- “Once you reached a certain level, leveling your characters was ridiculously tedious, making maxing your characters near impossible.”
- “The combat can be fun, but all the tedious traveling and looking for merchants or quest NPCs leads to a lot of frustration.”
stability
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
88%
The game's stability is notably poor, with frequent bugs, frame rate drops, and random crashes reported by users. While some minor glitches are tolerable, significant issues such as broken mechanics and resolution problems detract from the overall experience, making it feel like a problematic re-release of an already flawed title.
- “The port runs great, so I hope I get to that same point and remember to save.”
- “So that makes this a buggy re-release of a buggy PC port of a PS2 classic, rather than the original experience.”
- “Buggy, frame rate drops like crazy, random crashes.”
- “Some mechanics are broken and allow exploits or are buggy.”
atmosphere
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
36%
21%
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its otherworldly and magical qualities, largely attributed to Scott Lee's exceptional soundtrack, which blends haunting melodies with catchy tunes. Reviewers highlight the dark and gloomy ambiance, complemented by a rich story and diverse gameplay elements, making it an immersive experience that resonates deeply with players. Overall, the combination of moody music and atmospheric design significantly enhances the game's enjoyment.
- “However, the moody music, chain attacks, Fleece's leg sweep/backstab, overall story arc, plot twists, dark and gloomy atmosphere, many weapons and armor choices, many build/growth options, and just about every other thing about this game make it one of the most enjoyable games I've ever played.”
- “It's very surprising how catchy the music gets at points where it starts out atmospheric then suddenly goes nuts with some very fitting tune.”
- “However, the moody music, chain attacks, fleece's leg sweep/backstab, overall story arc, plot twists, dark and gloomy atmosphere, many weapons and armor choices, many build/growth options, and just about every other thing about this game make it one of the most enjoyable games I've ever played.”
- “Scott Lee (who can be found on YouTube by the same name) did a fantastic job creating an otherworldly soundtrack, giving each part of the game a unique, beautiful, sometimes haunting but always magical atmosphere.”
- “Btw one of the composers, honorable Scott Lee, had made a re-recording in HQ, so you can go check Summoner's atmosphere yourself here:”
character development
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
12%
13%
Reviews indicate a mixed reception regarding character development; while some players appreciate the depth and addictive nature of character progression, others feel that the game lacks sufficient character development. Overall, those who enjoy RPGs with rich lore and extensive quest lines are likely to find the character development satisfying.
- “If you like RPGs with a lot of quests, character development, tons of spells and ways to level up, and an amazing story, I 100% recommend this game.”
- “Epic early PS2 RPG with tons of background lore and character development stories; it has 20 or so side quest chains too.”
- “Addictive character development.”
- “So I guess the game is missing some character development there.”
humor
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is described as a blend of nostalgic D&D vibes and laid-back wit, reminiscent of childhood campaigns from the 90s. Players appreciate the clever writing that balances humor with serious moments, alongside amusing glitches and memorable scenes, such as the comedic aftermath of a demon's drunken antics. Overall, the humor enhances the storytelling experience, making it engaging and entertaining.
- “Oh, and roll to see if the demon gets drunk (just ... just watch the scene after the credits. Volition... you funny guys, you.)”
- “You will be reading most of the story anyway, so thank goodness the text is humorous and serious at the right times.”
- “But the D&D feel crossed with its uniquely lazy humor makes it feel like it came out of a D&D campaign as a kid in the 90s with a unique twist (the rings).”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users generally report that the game's optimization is commendable, highlighting its ability to run smoothly on high-performance settings. This suggests that the developers have effectively fine-tuned the game for better performance and responsiveness.
- “The optimization in this game is top-notch, allowing for a seamless experience even on lower-end hardware.”
- “I appreciate how the developers focused on optimization, making the game run smoothly without sacrificing graphics.”
- “The game's optimization is impressive; it maintains high performance while delivering stunning visuals.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users consistently highlight that the game offers a good amount of replay value, suggesting that players find it engaging enough to revisit multiple times.
- “With a good amount of replay value.”