Conjured up the wrong spell this time.
By Stephen Heller - Bio
What Sorcery Got Right
| + Exciting visuals bring world to life |
+ Variety of spells to cast |
| + Move controls are excellent |
+ Finn and Erline make a great duo |
What Sorcery Got Wrong
| - Horrible combat sequences |
- Uninspired boss fights |
| - Enemies become a blur |
- No room for tactics |
After an impressive showing at E3 in 2010, Sorcery fell off the radar into the world of obscurity. What happened during those two years that this PS Move game was missing in action? Just as it fell off the radar, Sorcery appeared on store shelves with almost no fanfare, and its easy to see why Sony wants to distance itself from this dismal effort.
Check out the official trailer!
Sorcery tells the story of an eager sorcerer's apprentice named Finn and his talking feline companion Erline. Finn has a habit of getting up to mischief, and when he steals a magic wand while his master is out of town, he becomes the centrepiece in a magical journey with Erline by his side. Finn and Erline make a wonderful duo, sharing witty and genuinely funny dialogue as they make their way through the Celtic-inspired world of Sorcery. While the story may be aimed at children, parents and older gamers will still find the premise rather endearing.
Players will soon be exploring fields, temples, dungeons and other exciting areas that are truly brought to life thanks to a fantastic art style used by the developers. Sorcery places you inside this magical world that actually feels unexplored, giving the player plenty of reasons to press on.
It's not the story or setting that lets Sorcery down, but almost every other facet of the title is a missed opportunity. While Finn and Erline are loveable characters, their supporting cast are devoid of emotion, and nothing is ever explored to further the plot.
Waves of enemies fill the screen until it all becomes a blur. There is no need for tactics, just wave your "wand" until you destroy them all, or get a severe case of RSI in your wrist, whichever comes first.
The major disappointment apparent in Sorcery is the spell system. Being a PS Move game, the ability to use your controller as a "wand" fits perfectly, and casting spells is satisfying to say the least. The game serves you up a good number of spells to use, and flinging your wand and seeing a sheep turn into a pig is always a treat.
However the game is intent on throwing waves of enemies at you to the point where you don't have a chance to experiment with your abilities. Waves of enemies fill the screen until it all becomes a blur. There is no need for tactics, just wave your "wand" until you destroy them all, or get a severe case of RSI in your wrist, whichever comes first. This truly breaks what could be the ultimate wizarding experience.
The spells are fun, the boss fights on the other hand....
The waves of enemies are one thing, but the tedious boss fights are the tip of the iceberg that really destroy the experience. These yawn-inducing battles last for an eternity until the point where you'll want to turn the game off and go do something more productive. The only thing pulling you through is your love for Finn and Erline.
The Final Verdict
Sorcery has the makings of a great game, yet it feels like the developers have simply rushed it out the doors to make the deadline. Finn and Erline are loveable characters, however their supporting cast does little to propel the adventure further. The spells and controls are fantastic, however waves of faceless enemies filling the screen leave little room for experimentation. It's a shame, because you can tell Sorcery is a great game that is held back by silly constraints.