Sorcery: PS3 Game Review

Sorcery: PS3 Game Review

Released by Sony Computer Entertainment
Platform: PS3

Pity the PS Move tool. It's like the little brother who lives in the shadow of the older over achiever and lurks in the background.

It's been somewhat neglected of late (the MOVE toy that is, not the brother - that's an issue for another time) so it was with some interest that I received Sorcery, a game that really relies on the rather deft integration of it throughout the unfolding game.

Basically, it's upto you to save the world from the dark magic nipping at its door.

You play the role of young sorcerer's apprentice Finn who has to master the arcane arts to protect his homeland from the Nightmare Queen who's threatening to overcome the land with hideous creatures and evil. Along with magic cat Erline, you have to negotiate your way through the dark Faerie Kingdoms to save the land.

This game's been a little while in the making - first shown off at E3 in 2010 and tinkered with by The Workshop to make sure it's right, it's certainly fed expectation as it waited on the sideline.

The whole crux of the game is using the Move as a magic wand. It's really that simple and that's clearly what the designers had in mind for this title. It's not just the Move which gets used as you also have to guide Finn around the worlds using either a DualShock or Nav controller; if you're not used to the format then it takes a wee bit of time to get used to and co-ordinated but the moment you do, then it's all go.

And here's the thing with Sorcery - it plays exactly as a game involving a magic wand should. While that may seem like a silly thing to say, the fact you can flick the MOVE and cast spells/ fight baddies/ repair things throughout the Faerie Kingdom shows that really, the game has done exactly what it wanted to for the genre. It's also something that's not really been done before - even the likes of the Harry Potter games (Lego and otherwise) relied on your pressing of the X or O to cast rather than making it intuitive.

But it's not just flicking spells, using the MOVE tool as a telekenesis toy and banishing baddies - there's a learning element to Sorcery which may be more appealing to some than others (certainly there's a younger element who'll get a lot of fun of continually casting away). Gradually as you make your way through the worlds you learn more spells which take more skill and time to master giving you a level of reward from bearing with it, opening chests, collecting gold and tokens throughout.

The world that's been created within Sorcery looks reasonable if a little basic but it's playable and ultimately as many gamers will tell you that's all that matters at the end of the day. Sure, it's pleasant enough fun with a reasonable storyline running through it but it immerses you so well into the world of magic that you'll forget you're playing with 2 controllers and flicking away - it's also a smart little game for all the family to play together as well which is rare these days.

Ultimately, Sorcery is a big win for the MOVE tool and shows that when utilised properly, there is a real market of potential waiting to be tapped for the tech rather than sending it somewhat prematurely to the scrap heap.

Rating: