Path: news.uh.edu!barrett
From: kcci1@central.sussex.ac.uk (Alan L.M. Buxey)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.reviews
Subject: REVIEW: Simon the Sorcerer (Talkie) CD32
Followup-To: comp.sys.amiga.games
Date: 12 Sep 1994 20:49:41 GMT
Organization: The Amiga Online Review Column - ed. Daniel Barrett
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Reply-To: kcci1@central.sussex.ac.uk (Alan L.M. Buxey)
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Keywords: game, AGA, CD32, CD-ROM, adventure, speech, commercial
Originator: barrett@karazm.math.uh.edu
PRODUCT NAME
Simon the Sorcerer (Talkie) CD32
BRIEF DESCRIPTION
This is a CD32 silver disc conversion of the AGA floppy based Amiga
game "Simon The Sorcerer."
AUTHOR/COMPANY INFORMATION
Name: Adventure Soft
Address: PO Box 786
Sutton Coldfield
West Midlands
B74 4HG
UK
Telephone: 021 352 0847
Distributers: PDQ 021-625-3377
LIST PRICE
This copy cost 39.99 UKP from a computer store with a blue and
yellow sign in Portsmouth, UK. ;)
SPECIAL HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE REQUIREMENTS
HARDWARE
A CD32.
A mouse is recommended. (The joypad is usable.)
Audio speakers of some sort, to hear the speech.
(Otherwise you wont be able to play the game.)
SOFTWARE
None.
COPY PROTECTION
None that is visible to the user.
MACHINE USED FOR TESTING
CD32 equipped with:
FMV (Full Motion Video) module.
Mouse.
INSTALLATION
Just insert the silver CD into the CD32 and boot up! :)
INTRODUCTION
For those that haven't played or heard of Simon The Sorcerer
("STS"), here is a quick description. STS is a graphical adventure in the
same vein as many of the LucaArts productions (e.g., Monkey Island I & II).
The background story is that a boy named Simon is given a dog as a present.
With this dog comes a weird scroll. Well, while playing with the dog one
day, the scroll is rediscovered and activated. The Result? A warp tunnel to
another dimension of course! :) The dog jumps in and Simon follows... this is
shown in the game as an Attract Mode intro sequence. Game on....
I CAN SEE CLEARLY NOW..?
The first thing that might hit you, if you have played only the
OCS/ECS version before, is the graphics. This is the AGA version here, most
definitely. This means that 256 colour palettes have been used unsparingly
to give a very atmospheric feeling to the game. Indeed, some of the scenery
in the woods and caves looks extremely lifelike. But there is still the
"sweeping" problem... that is, the mouse must almost always be swept over
the whole scene to discover objects - as they are not well defined. There
again, if they were, the objects would be too obvious and the adventure would
be too easy.
SOUNDS LIKE SOMETHING'S COMING
The sound! The sound! wow! incredible.
Valhalla may have claimed to be the first ever Amiga speech
adventure, but this game wipes it into the ground - to the other side of the
world!
Every character in the game speaks. Every single person has a
different accent (no "all scottish a la Liberation" here!!). There is no
repetition of samples. In fact, the main character (Simon) is voiced by the
famous "Chris Barry" (of `Red Dwarf' and `Brittas Empire' fame). The other
voices are done by famous impersonators (well, within British television
entertainment circles anyway).
The speech means that all text that used to be printed to the screen
is now absent. The only text is for your use: to select what you want to
say to the other characters. Thus, without sound, the game cannot be played
since you can't hear what is said.
The music has been revamped too (slightly). It can be turned off if
desired, and it is not required for playing the game.
HUMOUR
The game is very enjoyable, not just because it is a long lasting
adventure game (at least a weeks worth of brain usage), but also because of
the constant bombardment of humourous touches. Silly sketches and references
to classic fairy tales constantly abound, not to mention plain and classic
British humour!! :)
You learn to like the depressed woodman, Swamp thing, barman - the
list is endless.
THE END
Eventually I will finish the game. So I don't know whether there is
an ending animation (which is unfortunate really - as I would really like to
say whether there is...). But it will take me a while yet.
DOCUMENTATION
A brief, printed manual is supplied with STS. It details enough that
you can get started, but not too much to give the game away. ;)
If you are new to graphical adventures, you MAY get stuck, but the
point'n'click interface is so easy that documentation is almost made
redundant. For example, to use the whistle, you click on "Use", and then
click on the picture of the whistle in your inventory. (I won't tell you
where to do this, though. ;))
LIKES
The graphics. They use the palette fully and are beautifully drawn.
The sound. Real voices for every character! :)
Data: 2 hours of speech. Over 3,500 individual samples.
The game - a great graphical adventure that will waste many hours!!
DISLIKES AND SUGGESTIONS
The background music. Too repetitive. Luckily, it can be turned off.
The speed of Simon's sprite. He lurches along as if he's pulling a 2
ton weight behind him. I thought that this would have been fixed for the
CD32 version. (It doesn't damage the game, though.) Some samples click at the
end; however, this is not noticeable with the music on. ;)
COMPARISON TO OTHER SIMILAR PRODUCTS
Liberation on the CD32 was a different type of adventure. It was an
RPG (Role Playing Game), so that doesn't count. (STS is better though. ;))
Until "Beneath A Steel Blue Sky" comes out for the CD32, this is the
only graphical adventure so far available.
BUGS
None found so far.
VENDOR SUPPORT
I have not contacted the vendor for support yet. I can see no need
for anyone to do so either. Any hints required for the game can be found in
magazines and on Aminet.
As for support... Simon The Sorcerer 2 will be coming out in
November!! New storyline, new plot, new characters! Expect a preview on
Usenet. ;)
WARRANTY
28 days warranty from the shop where it was purchased. The warranty
is applicable only to the holder of the receipt.
CONCLUSIONS
This is the best ever CD32 game so far!!!! :) :)
Sorry for my over enthusiasm, but this game breaks the mould of all
other console games. There isn't a single console game like it on any other
platform. Once again, the CD32 creates a first in the industry!!
No game will ever be "perfect," so 98% is all that I can award it.
;)
COPYRIGHT NOTICE
Copyright 1994 Alan Buxey. All rights reserved. (But if you want
to quote something from within this review, you can.)
- Alan Buxey
kcci1@solx1.susx.ac.uk
---
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