Introduction

What's this all about?

Simon the Sorcerer is a series of point-and-click adventure games created by Adventuresoft, well, the first three were anyway, well, the third wasn't point-and-click but we'll get onto that later. Even though the games are set in a fantasy world, they're more set to be a parody of popular fantasies rather than trying to shoe horn the series into the genre. Simon is a teenager who is magically teleported to a fantasy land and has to do the usual point-and-click affair of puzzles and quests.

Three games? Wasn't there more released several years ago?

The first three games were developed by Adventuresoft, two more releases followed by a German company called Silver Style Entertainment who bought the rights to the series. The first was five years after the release of Simon The Sorcerer 3D, the second instalment was released two years afterwards. Not only did a German company take over, the English version was voiced by American actors. I'm not knocking Germany or the USA, but for a very distinctly British series it became very distinctly un-British. They're decent adventure games in their own rights but the only similarities that can be made is the name of the series and several of the character names.

So what's so great about the original trilogy?

They really are great adventure games, for a time when the genre had been dominated by a lot of big US names, this little known British company delivered something that was easily on par with some of the more well known adventure games. The original two games where praised highly by game critics upon release. What makes the series even more unique is that the characters are (mostly) voiced by British actors, the humour is very distinctly British and the games don't even try to take themselves seriously. The third of the series wasn't so highly praised, I will go into more detail when I 'LP' the game as there's a lot to talk about with it. As much as I loved the original two games I could never finish the third.

Where can I purchase these fine games?

All three titles can be bought from http://www.gog.com for $5.99 each, if you decide to purchase all three at once then you will receive a saving of $3.99.

LP Details

I'm planning to post all three games as VLP's, I did consider doing a screenshot LP but it's a lot better hearing the voice acting. I'll aim for at least 3 videos a week. I will try to play the games 'as is,' I'll jump cut through location transitions if necessary. I'll show off all of the dialogue with NPC's where I can, unfortunately they removed the subtitles for the "talkie" re-release of the first Simon game but I will have subtitles turned on for the second and third. I don't plan on providing commentary within the first two games but if there's overwhelming desire for commentary and personal input I'll work it into future videos. Right now I don't see it as necessary, I will provide some commentary for the third game though.

No spoilers please unless it's already been seen in the videos. If you really need to say something that hasn't already been seen in the videos then please spoiler tag it.

I might even see if there's a copy of the Simon The Sorcerer: Puzzle Pack in my parents loft, if there is I might show it off throughout.

Let's Play: Simon The Sorcerer (#1)

Originally released in 1993 by Adventuresoft for the Amiga and MS-Dos, re-released in 1995 with a full "talkie" soundtrack. Simon is voiced by Chris Barrie (Red Dwarf, plus a ton more shows and a few films)

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FOREPLAY

It often helps to start with some sort of introduction so here we go…

Once upon a time It all started on the day of Simon's 12th birthday. He was having a party, not a modern rave party that 12 year old's have these days, but a quiet English affair with jelly and ice-cream, pin-the-tail on grandma and a magician called Marvelo. He specialised in pulling rabbits out of hats and making seemingly endless quantities of brightly coloured handkerchiefs appear from his mouth.

Simon took great pleasure in pointing out how these tricks were done to his awe-struck friends and eventually had to be physically restrained by his father to prevent Marvelo the Magician becoming Marvelo the Murderer.

When 'blowing-out-the-candles' time came, Simon wished for a Gameboy from his grandparents and for his older brother to fall down something deep and preferably spiky. He was surprised when later the doorbell rang and upon opening the door, he discovered a small scruffy looking dog wrapped up in shiny paper. After unsuccessfully trying to install his friends Tetris cart, he was persuaded that it was not a new Gameboy after all.

The dog (he called it Chippy) had a strange book in it's mouth that no-one could read. His parents hadn't the heart to tell the young boy the dog wasn't for him and that they had no idea from where or whom it came. It was after all the target for the boyish sadism found in all youngsters. The family adopted the dog and the book was dumped in the loft and forgotten…

Until now …

Intro: Youtube video

Well there's not much I can really add in what's seen in the intro. Simon's pet dog, Chippy, discovers a chest in the loft of his house containing a spellbook titled "Ye Olde Spellbooke." Simon throws the book onto the floor which results in a portal opening up, Chippy decides to go through the portal and Simon follows after him. After landing on an alter and being captured by a bunch of goblins who capture Simon, who intend to eat him, Simon escapes and ends up at the house of a Wizard called Calypso. Calypso has been captured by an evil sorcerer called Sordid and it seems like Simon has been brought through to rescue Calypso.

Let's start our adventure:

Episode 01: Youtube video - Youtube video with caption commentary
Episode 02: Youtube video - Youtube video with caption commentary
Episode 03: Youtube video - Youtube video with caption commentary
Episode 04: Youtube video - Youtube video with caption commentary
Episode 05: Youtube video - Youtube video with caption commentary

Let's Play: Simon The Sorcerer 2: The Lion, The Wizard & The Wardrobe

Originally released for the PC in 1995, Brian Bowles took over as the voice of Simon.

Intro: Youtube video

The Let's Play Archive

Simon the Sorcerer (Series)

by Rocket Baby Dolls

Introduction

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Table of Contents