We live in an era where forgotten gaming franchises frequently return to life. Now, the classic 90s point-and-click series Simon the Sorcerer gets its turn.
Developer Smallthing Studios and publisher ININ Games aim to revive this 1993 classic. They want to bring its cheeky charm to a modern audience. Like an amateur stage magician, Simon reappears in an underwhelming puff of smoke. However, he gives this new adventure everything he has.
A Prequel With Cheeky Charm
As the title implies, Origins serves as a prequel. The story takes place a few weeks before the events of the original game.
The narrative opens with Simon and his parents moving to a new house. Simon immediately starts causing mayhem. After a brief tutorial, a magical portal opens. It drags Simon into a world full of fantasy tropes and wizards. Naturally, he discovers a classic “Chosen One” prophecy. He must stop the evil Sordid before the villain executes his nefarious plans.
Actor Chris Barrie famously played Rimmer on the British TV show Red Dwarf. He reprises his role as Simon for the first time in three decades. Barrie delivers a solid performance overall. He provides all the snark and flat sarcasm fans expect from the character.
Humor and Visuals
Unfortunately, the game struggles slightly with its humor. The writers include plenty of dry quips and jabs at fantasy tropes. However, the witty dialogue rarely lands perfectly.
The heavy reliance on fourth-wall breaks and pop-culture references feels slightly outdated today. Poking fun at fetch quests simply feels overdone in modern gaming.
Graphically, the game utilizes two distinct visual styles. The artists drew Simon like a classic Saturday morning cartoon character. Meanwhile, they painted the bright, colorful backgrounds in a completely different style. The interiors look especially beautiful. Conversely, some exterior locations lack depth and intricate details.
Classic Point-and-Click Gameplay
I will not criticize the game for following a standard point-and-click adventure template. You navigate the world, click on hotspots, and collect bizarre items.
The puzzles mostly stick to a tried-and-true formula. You must combine increasingly ridiculous items to solve weird problems. While a few solutions make logical sense, others require frustrating trial-and-error. You will likely spend significant time wandering between screens.
Thankfully, the developers included a fast-travel system to save your sanity.
Oddly, the game completely lacks a modern hint system. Many new adventure games use optional hints to keep players moving. Since Simon plays a sorcerer, the developers easily could have justified a magical hint spell.
The Verdict
I reviewed the game on the PlayStation 5. The console controls feel great. You can use the bumper buttons to snap between interactable points quickly.
Ultimately, Simon the Sorcerer: Origins delivers a solid, nostalgic comeback. The puzzles sometimes wander off, and the jokes land softly. Yet, players will still find it hard not to smile at this cheeky wizard.
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