Paper Sorcerer
***Special thanks to X Phantom for proofing yet another writing of mine.
Ultra Runaway Games’ Paper Sorcerer is a turn-based strategy and first-person exploration roleplaying game in which you play as a malevolent spellcaster systematically liberating himself from a multi-tiered dungeon embedded in an ancient tome. You regain former spells and abilities, as well as loyal servants to aide in your trek through the prisons cell blocks; all to reprise your role as a dominant foe to the allies of justice. From my personal perspective, Paper Sorcerer retains intrigue for many reasons described below; for these topics, I must say that it is one of my favorite titles.
Here are a few reasons to give this textbook adventure a try:
Story - Throughout this title, you play as an unnamed, corrupt sorcerer whose actions have resulted in his imprisonment within a magical tome designed to contain the most impressive of villains; obviously, this dwelling is not favored. You must defeat guards and other creatures that mean to hinder your progression toward freedom, clearing each cell block by defeating diverse boss characters, and subsequently destroying the bindings of the book from within. By concept alone, I was personally stunned by the simple yet impressive nature of this title. The splendor is amplified by the following topics of this writing.
Characters - Many individuals appear as both foils and allies in this title, and, though not utilized liberally in Paper Sorcerer, the personas within the entrapment are an integral portion of this titles presentation. Each boss figure varies in class and abilities, and dialogue suits each individual theme brilliantly. Non-player characters in town serve as lore components for the world and stated bosses, while also providing comedic relief to the player. Such characters include an undead shopkeep with a sales sign suspended lazily around its neck, a mysterious stranger that provides optional bonus challenges to those players that discover certain secrets throughout the main storyline, and those NPC's that you discover on the streets that give dimension to the stationary world. As you progress, you reemploy several henchmen whom provide their own method of strategy to the sorcerers party.
Gameplay - Paper Sorcerer allows first-person exploration through the prison with many secrets to be found within and beyond its walls, transitioning to turn-based strategy with a party of four when a combat encounter arises. It follows the familiar standards of your party acquiring skills and abilities as they increase in level, gaining experience by defeating guards, beasts, bosses, and other foils. As previously established, you gain a selection of henchmen at certain intervals throughout the adventure, but one mechanic I found personally intriguing is that the player obtains more party members than can be added to the party, further permitting the capacity to swap members-barring the sorcerer-from the party to reserve and vice versa while out of combat. To avoid the proverbial and unnecessary grind appropriated in some other turn-based strategy games, all employed characters gain experience when awarded. Equipment in the forms of weapons, armor, runes, and shields may be given to individual party members, with necessary restrictions based on the character. For example, the Troll is an assassin the is primarily focused on speed and damage, striking swiftly before the opponents can act. The Troll may equip variances of the katar weapon, but may not adorn defensive shields. As mentioned, there are a multitude of cleverly-hidden secrets to be found within the tome, quite worthy of those players that enjoy pan and paper or classic computer roleplaying games.
Textures - I am not one to grade the graphics of games, but the rich aesthetic very well accentuates Paper Sorcerers grim yet ironically colorful theme. Everything discounting the very center of the players mouse cursor is presented with monochrome, cell-shaded graphical quality. The world appears to be hand-drawn, aiding the theme of being trapped in a text, and subsequently providing a delightful, immersive experience. The artwork reminds me loosely of images depicted within the many Advanced Dungeons & Dragons modules and monster manuals, retaining crude yet detailed character descriptions.
TL:DR - Paper Sorcerer is filled with solid character design and dialogue, a unique story with intriguing lore, a roleplaying game leveling system that avoids grind to focus on the core experience, and a wonderful graphical quality that is both modest and immersive. I have not yet attempted the higher difficulties, but will contest the base game to be worthy of its pricing. I highly recommend this title to fanatics of both digital and physical roleplaying mediums, as well as to those interested in turn-based strategy or dungeon crawling titles. Thanks for reading.
Do you feel this review helped in any way? Feel free to visit my Curator Page at Spearpoint Reviews.
Originally posted June 10, 2018.
Ultra Runaway Games’ Paper Sorcerer is a turn-based strategy and first-person exploration roleplaying game in which you play as a malevolent spellcaster systematically liberating himself from a multi-tiered dungeon embedded in an ancient tome. You regain former spells and abilities, as well as loyal servants to aide in your trek through the prisons cell blocks; all to reprise your role as a dominant foe to the allies of justice. From my personal perspective, Paper Sorcerer retains intrigue for many reasons described below; for these topics, I must say that it is one of my favorite titles.
Here are a few reasons to give this textbook adventure a try:
Story - Throughout this title, you play as an unnamed, corrupt sorcerer whose actions have resulted in his imprisonment within a magical tome designed to contain the most impressive of villains; obviously, this dwelling is not favored. You must defeat guards and other creatures that mean to hinder your progression toward freedom, clearing each cell block by defeating diverse boss characters, and subsequently destroying the bindings of the book from within. By concept alone, I was personally stunned by the simple yet impressive nature of this title. The splendor is amplified by the following topics of this writing.
Characters - Many individuals appear as both foils and allies in this title, and, though not utilized liberally in Paper Sorcerer, the personas within the entrapment are an integral portion of this titles presentation. Each boss figure varies in class and abilities, and dialogue suits each individual theme brilliantly. Non-player characters in town serve as lore components for the world and stated bosses, while also providing comedic relief to the player. Such characters include an undead shopkeep with a sales sign suspended lazily around its neck, a mysterious stranger that provides optional bonus challenges to those players that discover certain secrets throughout the main storyline, and those NPC's that you discover on the streets that give dimension to the stationary world. As you progress, you reemploy several henchmen whom provide their own method of strategy to the sorcerers party.
Gameplay - Paper Sorcerer allows first-person exploration through the prison with many secrets to be found within and beyond its walls, transitioning to turn-based strategy with a party of four when a combat encounter arises. It follows the familiar standards of your party acquiring skills and abilities as they increase in level, gaining experience by defeating guards, beasts, bosses, and other foils. As previously established, you gain a selection of henchmen at certain intervals throughout the adventure, but one mechanic I found personally intriguing is that the player obtains more party members than can be added to the party, further permitting the capacity to swap members-barring the sorcerer-from the party to reserve and vice versa while out of combat. To avoid the proverbial and unnecessary grind appropriated in some other turn-based strategy games, all employed characters gain experience when awarded. Equipment in the forms of weapons, armor, runes, and shields may be given to individual party members, with necessary restrictions based on the character. For example, the Troll is an assassin the is primarily focused on speed and damage, striking swiftly before the opponents can act. The Troll may equip variances of the katar weapon, but may not adorn defensive shields. As mentioned, there are a multitude of cleverly-hidden secrets to be found within the tome, quite worthy of those players that enjoy pan and paper or classic computer roleplaying games.
Textures - I am not one to grade the graphics of games, but the rich aesthetic very well accentuates Paper Sorcerers grim yet ironically colorful theme. Everything discounting the very center of the players mouse cursor is presented with monochrome, cell-shaded graphical quality. The world appears to be hand-drawn, aiding the theme of being trapped in a text, and subsequently providing a delightful, immersive experience. The artwork reminds me loosely of images depicted within the many Advanced Dungeons & Dragons modules and monster manuals, retaining crude yet detailed character descriptions.
TL:DR - Paper Sorcerer is filled with solid character design and dialogue, a unique story with intriguing lore, a roleplaying game leveling system that avoids grind to focus on the core experience, and a wonderful graphical quality that is both modest and immersive. I have not yet attempted the higher difficulties, but will contest the base game to be worthy of its pricing. I highly recommend this title to fanatics of both digital and physical roleplaying mediums, as well as to those interested in turn-based strategy or dungeon crawling titles. Thanks for reading.
Do you feel this review helped in any way? Feel free to visit my Curator Page at Spearpoint Reviews.
Originally posted June 10, 2018.
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