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.