Sorcerer (computer game)

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Sorcerer is an interactive fiction computer game written by Steve Meretzky and released by Infocom in 1984. It is the second game in the magic-themed "Enchanter trilogy", preceded by Enchanter and followed by Spellbreaker.

Plot

Following the unlikely defeat of Krill in Enchanter, the player's character has progressed from an Apprentice Enchanter to earning a coveted seat in the Circle of Enchanters. Belboz the Necromancer, the leader of the Circle, has become not only a mentor but a close friend as well. Lately, though, Belboz has seemed... different. He's always distracted, even talking to himself at length. Whatever he's dealing with, Belboz doesn't see fit to confide in anyone. Surely he knows what he's doing.

But then, Belboz suddenly disappears. If he is under the influence of some evil power, the results could be disastrous — Belboz is one of the most powerful Enchanters in the land. Someone must uncover what has happened to him, and naturally that task falls to the player's character.

Sorcerer features several memorable puzzles, including an invisible but deadly glass maze and a toxic coal mine where the player must engage in short-term time travel. In addition to the spell-casting system introduced in Enchanter, there are also several magic potions to be found. Potions, naturally, are used by drinking them and each can only be used once.

Feelies

Sorcerer continued the wildly popular tradition of including, in each game box, extra items related to the game. These so-called feelies were:

• A copy of the ficticious magazine Popular Enchanting featuring a profile of Belboz
• An "Infotater", a paper wheel that provided a group of codes disguised as information of creatures in the game

(Note: the Infotater was found in the original package only. When the game was later re-released in the "gray stripe" box format, the Infotater was replaced by a "Field Guide to the Creatures of Frobozz" brochure containing the same information. Consequently, original Infotaters are highly sought-after by collectors.)

Notes

The vezza spell (view the future) was named for Al Vezza, who was Chief Financial Officer of Infocom at the time of Sorcerer's release.

Appropriately for the middle game of a trilogy, Sorcerer was ranked as "Advanced" difficulty. (Enchanter was labeled "Standard" and Spellbreaker was considered "Expert".)

Unlike the games in the Zork Trilogy, each game in the Enchanter Trilogy was written by different implementors. As a result, the three later games lack the consistent feel and atmosphere of the Zork games.

External links

• [Sorcerer - Adventure Classic Gaming] Game Information & Screenshots
• [The Infocom Bugs List entry for Sorcerer]
• [Home of the Underdogs - Entry: Sorcerer]

 

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