TSA’s Top 100 of 2011 – #8 Sorcery

Sorcery? Seriously?! Definitely one of our more surprising of entries, not because it shouldn’t be recognised as the potential monster hit it could be, but – and we’re being completely honesty here –  a top 10 spot was not something we expected. Looking over the votes for Sorcery, however, and a distinctive pattern is abundantly evident – people really want a good Move game.

And maybe that’s enough to explain it, perhaps the solid scoring Sorcery received from literally everyone on the team – enough to elevate it above the likes of Killzone 3 and LittleBigPlanet 2 – can be put down to the simple fact that, now that we’ve jumped on Sony’s merry Move mobile, we’re looking for our Donkey Kong Returns, our Super Mario Galaxy. Games releasing with Move support like SOCOM 4 and the aforementioned Killzone 3 is all well and good, but we desire a AAA title built specifically for the PlayStation 3’s new controller. Is that game Sorcery? Not necessarily, though its high placement on this list does at least signify a strong message from Sony fans to their industrious leader: you have no excuse now. Wow us with motion games.

Debuting at this year’s E3, Sorcery was actually one of the first from a clutch of new Move games Sony decided to unveil to the masses. Whether it was a tentative nervousness brought on because we didn’t really know where Sony would go with the rest of their address (they rocked it) or because people were honestly a little taken aback by the fact that Sony was unveiling what, from first appearances at least, blatantly looks very much like a Harry Potter clone, the media response to Sorcery in the Shrine Auditorium back in June started off tepid at best. Then the demonstrator casually threw a lightning bolt at a cackling imp to shut him up and people’s defences immediately crumbled.

What followed was a wonderfully stylish run-through of the game’s mechanics. Spells are cast with ease, combination cantrips allowing for a weird and, we hope, eclectic gaming experience. The ability to transform into animals so as to surmount certain spacial challenges is also something we can’t wait to try out. Visually, it looks warm and welcoming; a game we can see young and old alike falling instantly in love with.

The plot is hardly original but sufficient for the job at hand. From the press release:

The Nightmare Queen has broken the ancient pact with mankind and threatens to cover the land in eternal night. As a young sorcerer’s apprentice, it is up to you to master the arcane arts and drive back the Queen’s foul minions.

Experience a world of magic and wonder steeped in Irish folklore tradition. Along their journey, players will encounter a multitude of enemies, solve ingenious puzzles, mix and create unique potions, learn and craft new spells and heal a broken world shrouded in Darkness.

As we’ve already stated, yes, Sorcery displays some of the hallmarks of a certain boy wizard property; insomuch as we have a boy, who’s a wizard, and, like most wizards, has a wand. Plagiarism? We honestly don’t think so.

J.K. Rowling does not have a monopoly on the arcanum, especially not in the area of young apprentices finding their way in the mystery of the Art. It’s a tried and trusted theme in literature. From T.H. White’s ‘The Sword and the Stone’ to Susan Cooper’s ‘The Dark Is Rising’ (which predates Potter), even C.S. Lewis’ famous Narnia Chronicles, all such titles (and many more besides) focus on young people fulfilling a magical prophecy. The point here, however, is not ‘Harry Potter isn’t original’ but more ‘Sorcery isn’t a rip-off.’  Are Sony looking for some of that Harry Potter magic to rub off on Sorcery’s sales? We’re sure they’re aware of the similarities. However, it’s the game’s bold promise of an era of stellar Move titles we hope it ushers in which is why it makes our top ten.

Sorcery is therefore something of a talisman; a totem we’re pointing to as a symbol of hope. In a way Sorcery as our 8th most anticipated game of 2011 is our tacit way of putting all Move games of 2011 high on our list. An unfair burden to place on the shoulders of developer The Workshop perhaps, but one we have a sneaky suspicion they’re up for.

Sorcery, which is still quoted as a working title, is expected in Q1 2011 exclusively on the PlayStation 3.

43 Comments

  1. i hope that this is a good game for the sake of the move.

  2. I always forget about this game. And i completely agree with what has been said, I hope it does justify move!

  3. I still haven’t bought a Move or Kinect yet as I am waiting to see which has the games that attract me more. Although, I got caught up in the Kinect hype and nearly caved. This game however, does not look like the killer game to get to jump both feet on to one side. In all honesty I just thought it looked like a good third-person advventure game.

    • Don’t forget, it was demoed in June and won’t be out for a few months. Nine months is a LONG time in game development time. It could look even better and have more features than it did at E3.

      I thought it was endearing, and if Sony market this right, they could have a huge hit on their hands.

      • True enough, but it is quite worrying that there hasn’t been much info coming out about the game, if the game will be launching in the next 6 months, GDC will be crucial.

      • I very much wish that Sony had a better campaign for Move and so they should really push this title if it’s as good as we all hope it will be.

      • In all honesty, every Move advert I have seen is crap and most of the Kinect adverts interest me. I just don’t understand why Sony show games with really appaling graphics when they have stuff like Heavy Rain that they could be showing.

    • Move has still sold well.

  4. This is pretty much the only game that could persuade me to get Move.

    • Errrrrrrr, little big planet 2? :P

      • LBP2 has Move support. LBP2 is not, in my opinion at least, “a Move game.”

        Sorcery is built around Move. It’s a completely different animal.

      • I think he is talking about Move Exclusive games and not games that can be played with a DS3.

      • Oh right, I thought a move stick was needed to play LBP2 :P

      • I still hope that it does have some of sort of motion control… rather than that prehistoric moves

  5. Remind me again; what is Sorcery based on? I know I heard it somewhere, but I know it wasn’t the Harry Potter books.

    • It’s an original IP.

      • I meant as in mythology; I heard the story was based on mythology from somewhere.

      • Sounds a bit Merlinish

    • Well, in the article above it says it has elements of Irish mythology. Is that what you mean?

      • Yeah that was it. Forgot though, and I overlooked it in the article. Mind’s been off-balance with flu.

  6. WOW. I completely forgot about this when making my predictions. However remembering back on the E3 demo if it is as good as looks this could be the poster child for Move.

  7. Had a sneaking suspicion that this would break into the higher echelon of the list. Though I was very impressed when it debuted at E3 2010, without having hands-on experience, I still remain on the fence.

  8. I hope it does well for Moves sake but I dont think I’ll like it.

  9. Gosh, this is a surprise high placing. I hope it turns out well but i think it’s going to appeal more to kids from what i’ve seen so far.

    • Not in my opinion! This is my most anticipated game of 2011! It’s got the potential to be the game that makes Move a must have! I certainly hope it comes out XD

  10. I’ve seen this up and running in the flesh, and I cannot wait to get my hands on the finished version! This is the game I bought Move for.

    • Pretty much confirms a high score… win, but I’m not going to read any reviews I want to experience this myself its my favourite genre or setting

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