- Simon the Sorcerer 3D
Infobox VG| title = Simon the Sorcerer 3D
caption = PAL PC Box Art
developer =Headfirst Productions
publisher =Adventure Soft
series = "Simon the Sorcerer series "
designer = Simon Woodroffe, Andrew Brazier
engine =
released = vgrelease|NA=April 13 ,2002
genre = Adventure
modes =Single player
ratings =
platforms =Microsoft Windows
media =CD-ROM
requirements = Windows 95/98, Pentium 233MMX, 64 MB RAM, 430 MB hard disk space, 8x CD-ROM drive, 8 MB Direct3D compatible video card, Soundblaster compatible soundcard, DirectX 7.0
input = Mouse, KeyboardSimon the Sorcerer 3D (also known as Simon 3D), was released by
Adventure Soft on13 April ,2002 forMicrosoft Windows . [cite web | url=http://www.mobygames.com/game/windows/simon-the-sorcerer-3d | title=Simon the Sorcerer 3D MobyGames page | accessdate=2008-03-25 | format=HTML] The story follows where "" left off but some time in the future. Simon finds himself trapped in a strange world, involved in a race against time to beat Sordid to his only route home!The game features for the first time 3D graphics, that were at the time of release outdated compared to other 3D games on the market, this is due to "Simon 3D" being delayed for almost two years. However the game has been reviewed as having a massive game world with over 10,000 pieces of voiced dialogue. Adventure Soft's own website claims that there is over 40 hours of gameplay over the two discs.
Brian Bowles returns as the voice of Simon.Plot
It opens with a lengthy cut-scene explaining how Simon's body, which had been separated from his soul by Sordid in the second game, was recovered and "rejoined" with his soul. At the start of the game Simon's immediate objective is to get to the city Poliganis and join Calypso. Before he can do this several smaller tasks have to be completed, in typical adventure game fashion. Upon arriving in Poliganis he is greeted by Melissa Leg, the heroine who apparently rescued his body from Sordid. She wants a favour in return: to track down the Swampling and let her know of his whereabouts. Eventually Simon finds the Swampling, after which several revelations regarding the game's storyline, the origins of the Universe, etc. come to light.
The sarcastic attitude and cruel humour that Simon the Sorcerer is famous for carries through in this instalment, perhaps bringing it up a level again from "Simon II". Along with this, several of the mainstay characters shared with the first two games make appearances, including Calypso, the Swampling, Goldilocks, the RPG players (a different faction this time), the Hedgehog Boy, Sordid, Runt, and the two Demons. There are many new characters also, continuing the theme of a fantasy world and including a Fairy Godmother, Judas, the High Priest of the Temple of Life, the Keeper of the Soul Bell, the man in the hole, the Entomologist, the Inbred Yokel (and Daisy), the Dwarf Prince and his clan, the Dragon Soddinell, S.I.G.N. the alcoholic golem, the Gnomes and the noblemen who fire them, a heroic prince, Coneman the Barabrain (his spelling was never very good), Jar Nin, the real Melissa Leg, a Welsh cheese wagon driver, the Barman with a hunch, Yvette, the vacuum cleaner salesman, the Sheriff, Porkins, the Wizard's Guild, various Orcs, street urchins, the Pizza Lord and his brother, the woodcutter, the lawyer, Grandulf, a drunken Druid, the Princess and Sir Squeaksalot, and the Wigologist.
Development
Development started as a traditional 2D point and click adventure game, but due to lack of publisher interest the design chose to switch to a 3D adventure game [ [http://www.insidemacgames.com/news/story.php?ArticleID=925 InsideMacGames.com Q&A with design team leader] ] .The project suffered from a very long development time, resulting in the game's graphics being severely outdated by release. For this and other reasons, the game was poorly received by critics. [ [http://www.gamerankings.com/htmlpages2/913864.asp Gamerankings.com reviews] ] .
The game was originally supposed to be distributed by Hasbro interactive, a company which left the project in the last minute and shortly afterwards went through bankruptcy. However, as a result there are numerous allusions to Hasbro and its products within the game.
Reception
"Simon 3D" suffered in its reception for having poor graphic quality as well as poor controls. [cite web | url=http://www.adventuregamers.com/article/id,435 | title=AdventureGamers review| accessdate=2008-03-25 | format=HTML] However the game's story, humor and gameplay were praised as being faithful to the series. The game received generally mixed reviews with a Critic score on Gamesport of 5.8 [cite web | url=http://uk.gamespot.com/pc/adventure/simonthesorcerer3d/index.html | title=Gamespot Simon 3D page| accessdate=2008-03-25 | format=HTML] , and a gamerankings score of 58% [cite web | url=http://www.gamerankings.com/htmlpages2/913864.asp | title=Gamerankings Simon 3D page| accessdate=2008-03-25 | format=HTML] .
ee also
*
Simon the Sorcerer series References
External links
* [http://www.adventuresoft.com/ Adventure Soft Publishing]
*moby game|id=-group/simon-the-sorcerer-series|name="Simon the Sorcerer" series
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