Incline Steve Jackson's Sorcery!, by inkle studios (Steam, iOS, Android)

[---]

Dunno if this is the right section

Anyway, nobody played the Sorcery! series? It is based on a series of gamebooks by Steve Jackson, published under the etiquette of Fightning Fantasy. They are damn good, i've spent an embarassing amount of time with them. Nice art, good (but few) musics, tons of c&c, a shitload of items (which the completionist that lives in me cannot stop to collect), and an entertaining story.
The developers released the first three parts (The Shamutanti Hills, Kharé - The City-port of Traps, and The Seven Serpents) and by the end of the year they should release the final part, The Crown of Kings.
They also published other works worth of mention, such as 80 days and Down among the Dead Men.

I suggest to play Sorcery! games on smartphone, but they also released them on Steam, if you cannot tolerate to play on mobile devices.

Here Sorcery! + Sorcery! 2:

http://store.steampowered.com/app/411000/

And here Sorcery! 3 (which is BIG, that's why they released it as a stand-alone title on Steam):

http://store.steampowered.com/app/445040/

 

[Starwars]

I played through the first two when they were released on STEAM. I enjoyed them though I didn't find them too memorable, but a good way to spend a few hours. I bought the third one, it looks really promising, but haven't gotten around to playing it yet.

I really enjoy 80 days as well though that really goes even further into a "non-game" thing but I found it really charming.

 

[Brancaleone]

Wait, what? They did these?

I owned three books out of four when I was a kid, unfortunately the one I was missing was The Seven Serpents, so I had no idea how to get past the bleeding ram in the fourth.

Great memories, and by great I mean fishbowl-smashing frustrating.

 

[---]

You really should play them, they are so beautifully crafted that i paid gladly to play them (the only mobile games for which i paid). Also, the developers added tons of stuff that there weren't in the book, especially in part 2 and 3. The third gamebook (The Seven Serpents) is largely considered the worst in the series: well, inkle guys added so much things that it's easily the best among they already released. They didn't just translate the gamebooks in videogames, they modified them, coherently with the original sources. For example, in the third books, they added a mega sub-plot relating time travels, which adds depth and replayability and doesn't sound out of place.
The fourth part is easily one of my most anticipated games of the year (yeah, a mobile game ).

You should also play 80 days, it's very beautiful (though i preferred Sorcery! games)

 

[Trash]

Played the first two on mobile. Liked them a lot. Very polished affairs with oodles of different ways to get through them. Beautiful games that I heartily recommend to anyone who enjoys a CYOA. Heard they opened up even more in the later versions but I don't commute with public transportation anymore, so I haven't played them. Still, defenitely incline and the best CYOA series yet. Would even recommend them on steam.

And 80 days is splendid. Although I'd hesitate to recommend playing that on a pc. It's just too suited to play on a mobile as a time waster. Gorgeous little rendition of Jules Vernes though.

 

[---]

Fourth (and last) part will be out on September 15th! Steam release included!

Sorcery! 4 launches Sep 15th
Coming to iOS, Android and Steam

• After four years and 1.5 million words, the Steve Jackon's Sorcery! series is finally reaching its epic conclusion with Part 4: THE CROWN OF KINGS.

Whether you're a new player, or you've been with us since Part 1, the mountains of High Xamen are waiting for you. Birdmen, guards, traps and ghosts abound; and within the gates of Mampang, ancient magic lies ready to ensnare you.​

• New features!

- Hand-drawn 3D buildings for you to explore, inside and out.
- Disguises will let you blend in with the people of Mampang - but be warned, they might not like who you're pretending to be...
- New artwork from series regulars Mike Schley (maps), Eddie Sharam (monsters) and John Blanche (original art), and a new orchestral theme from composer Laurence Chapman.
- Multiple endings, multiple goals - can you save Analand? Become the next Archmage? Find love? Die in peace - or live a cursed life?
- Also: NO REWIND!​

• Your adventure ends here...

The fully open-world structure of Sorcery! 3 is back in this final instalment, but this time you'll have one clear goal - get into Mampang, confront the Archmage, and get out alive. But sometimes even death is not the end...​

The Crown of Kings will offer adventure, mystery, scares and rewards whether you killed all seven serpents, or staggered across the Baklands barely able to stand.​

We're really excited to be bringing the series to its epic conclusion: we're certain this is the best instalment yet. It's been an incredible journey for us; thank you for joining us on the road. The end is in sight...​

I'm so happy, I fucking loved this series. Can't wait, now I don't care anymore about every other game of this year

The only mobile games for which I paid something, ever. Worth every! single! fucking! cent.
This seems to be even greater (and after 80 days and the three previous installements, I have sooo much faith towards Inkle! Studios ).

EDIT: trailer time!



I'm already in love with the music

 

[tuluse]

The first 2 parts are free on the amazon app store (maybe just for prime subscribers, not sure)

 

[---]

Thanks for the reporting!

I suppose that is only for prime subscribers: I'm not, and in fact when I open the page, the price is 3,60 euro.

 

[HoboForEternity]

this looks cool

 

[---]

This IS cool

 

[da_rays]

awwww yeah , time for a replay of the first 3 , one of the few tablet game ive forked cash on , and loving it . I hope to see much more of this type of game . Warlock of firetop mountain was release on steam not too long ago , not exactly the same type of game, but a very nice adaptation from FF book. Now Inkle, go make an original game like Sorcery , party based and TB combat and it would be heaven for me.

 

[Infinitron]

Loved these books when I was a kid.

Interesting that the final part comes out so soon after The Warlock of Firetop Mountain. What's the difference between inkle's games and that? Is Warlock more of a full-scale tabletop game simulation while these are more "bookish"?

 

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I don't know Warlock, but these are definitively bookish. Pretty much every action is performed via textual interactions.
Try them, they are simply amazing. And even if you "played" the original books, you'll find tons of new contents: the third one is basically an entire different experience from the book (which is regarded as the worst of the series, while the videogame is simply astonishing). Inkle was faithful to the original material, but at the same time they added contents, features etc...
Not to talk about the gorgeous art (some of which is taken from the books) and the music.
Fuck, I can't wait for the final chapter

 

[da_rays]

Loved these books when I was a kid.

Interesting that the final part comes out so soon after The Warlock of Firetop Mountain. What's the difference between inkle's games and that? Is Warlock more of a full-scale tabletop game simulation while these are more "bookish"?

Very good comparison , Sorcery! IMO his like you said, very ''bookish'' , instead of ''go to pages 112 to enter the quiet little tavern'' you read the description and click on the choice(s) you want and/or move your PC ''figurine'' on the location(s) you are offer on a full map . they ve put a twist on combat which is somewhat nice but not too deep. WoFM is more of a tabletop experience with combat and mmore bookish on exploration. Both are good adaptation of a FF book transformed in a videogame , compare to lets say Lone Wolf which is basically a digital Lone Wolf book with a decent UI. Sorcery! are great for anyone who love FF books and CYOA type of game. Maybe KoDP fans would get a good feeling for spending a few hours on this underrated game

 

[Infinitron]

I'll probably add all five of them to the Codex curator at some point.

What about the other Fighting Fantasy adaptations on Steam, are they any good? http://store.steampowered.com/bundle/285/

 

[da_rays]

I have Forest of Doom , Appoinment with FEAR and House of hell on tablet , they are the closest thing to the real FF book experience. Aside from ambiance music , some colored images from the book they are the true digital version of the FF books. Which is not bad , just a more true feeling to play the old books minus your character sheet pencil and eraser. I'd like to add that House of Hell is a very different type of FF books gameplay. Sanity is an awesome stat , and man ho man can that book kill you easily.

Id put WoFM and Sorcery more in the videogame department and the ones you mention on steam , FF books, more of a digital book experience, if that somehow make sens.

 

[adrix89]

Can I mention that Sorcery! 2 has the most great information gathering mini-game ever. Such a simple technique yet it blew my mind on what could be done as a proper dialog system.

 

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Can I mention that Sorcery! 2 has the most great information gathering mini-game ever. Such a simple technique yet it blew my mind on what could be done as a proper dialog system.

Do you mean the dice game?
Yeah, it's pretty great, and the minigame itself is also quite addicting, thanks to a not completely dumb IA. I's fun to clean out the casino in Sorcery! 2.
Shame that they didn't include many places in the third one to play (there were only three NPCs players, and one of them is the one who teaches you the rules, so it doesn't count).

I hope that in the final installment they will implement more NPCs.

 

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One thing that I like about the series is that Inkle Studios implemented more and more features in every chapter: in the second one the interiors and the dice game, in the third one the open world and the beacons, and in the final chapter disguises and vertical places (and probably other things, which hasn't yet been mentioned).

They never rested on their laurels, and that's uncommon among mobile game developers.

 

[DemonKing]

Sounds good - I might wait until September 15 and pick up the whole shebang. Got a road trip coming up soon so this might be a fun distraction in the evenings when the kids are asleep.

 

[Agesilaus]

Sorcery 2 ruined the series for me. I might try loading it up again, but it felt like they over-reached and failed. Sorcery 1 was much better, there was a lot more freedom and you weren't trapped into following an incredibly boring plot-line. Number 2 is very restrictive and too focused on its story and lore, both of which suck horribly.

I have 3 but never played it.

 

[HoboForEternity]

Will they ever sell it in a bundle or something? Like sorcery! Collection that include 1 to 3

 

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Sorcery 2 ruined the series for me. I might try loading it up again, but it felt like they over-reached and failed. Sorcery 1 was much better, there was a lot more freedom and you weren't trapped into following an incredibly boring plot-line. Number 2 is very restrictive and too focused on its story and lore, both of which suck horribly.

I have 3 but never played it.

I liked muuuch more than the first one. I liked also the story and the lore: yes, it isn't the most original plot ever, but it's well crafted. One thing that I like is the atmosphere (imho, very nice) and the fact that you aren't involved in the big plan of the rebels, and you are just a small part in a much bigger world.

You could try the third one, though: it's basically an open world, with a lot (a lot!) of freedom (you can also skip completly the main quest - kill the seven serpents- and just go for Mampang), and a shitton (I'm not joking) of encounters.

 

[Infinitron]

Delayed to September 22: http://www.inklestudios.com/2016/09/12/sorcery-4-launch-delayed.html

Sorcery! 4 launch delayed
September, 12, 2016

We're hugely sorry to announce this, but Sorcery! 4's launch date has had to change. The epic finale to the series will now be going live on Steam, iOS and Android on September 22nd - one week later than originally planned.

After such a long journey - four games over four years, and nearly one and a half million words of content - we want to be sure the release is as good as it can be.



In particular, this means that Thursday's live playthrough event at Loading Bar in London won't be a launch party so much as a preview party. But come down all the same - because we'll be giving out Steam codes for the game, which unlock immediately.

Once again, we hope you'll forgive us the delay. To help soften the blow, we've put the first three Sorcery! games on sale on the App Store for their cheapest price ever - just $1 each. So if you're missing any instalments, now's the time to pick them up.

 

[Lhynn]

Found the first kinda boring and didnt try the rest.
Theres no tension and there dont seem to be any real stakes to anything you do.