Being a complete point-and-click adventure and pixel art nut, the first two Simon the Sorcerer games are very close to my heart. And with the three sequels that followed leaving a considerable amount to be desired, it seemed as though the series was long forgotten. Enter Simon the Sorcerer Origins by newcomers Smallthing Studios, available on Steam.
Opting for a prequel rather than a sequel/reboot, Origins claims to go back to what Simon the Sorcerer does best with comical puzzles, British banter and fourth wall breaks. Is it fourth time’s the charm for a worthy series addition and in line with its 30th anniversary? I had to find out!
Have We Met Before?
Set weeks before the events of the first game, Simon and his family have moved house after his expulsion from yet another school. While exploring his new abode, Simon gets pulled through a magical portal and into a strange new world where he meets the wizard Calypso. To find a way home, Simon must find the tomes of the First Wizard and take on the evil sorcerer Sordid. Wait, haven’t we been here before?! Nope. As Calypso himself says, “this is a prequel”, so it’s all brand new (nudge nudge, wink wink).
Gameplay
Origins keeps its classic point-and-click backbone of adventuring through the world, solving item-based conundrums, and conversing with amusing characters, but with a fresh approach. The verb/action interface is swapped out for a more contextual feel: a simple use/examine mechanic with hotspots appearing as you get closer. With a button press, you can also highlight all available hotspots if you’re a little stumped about what you can and can’t interact with. Despite having a soft spot for verbs, I’m actually all for this – an accessible way to welcome genre newcomers! It works beautifully on a controller or Steam Deck too.
What does return though is the great Chris Barrie, reprising his role as Simon more than 30 years on. I did let out a little nostalgic squee, though admittedly it does stretch believability ever so slightly beyond its limit. Barrie’s performance is still great and he gives it his sarky best, but occasionally there are moments when the lingo doesn’t quite line up tonally. Perhaps because of this, dialogue has been scaled back a little in favour of more physical puzzles and new mechanics.
Fill Up Ye Olde Spellbooke
One thing the older games actually didn’t have too much of was Simon actually doing, y’know, magic. As you venture through the Academy, you’ll learn various spells which you can use on command with various objects. Simon can also find ways to alter his hat which has an effect on inventory items. This makes for both fun banter while puzzling and hilarious spell/item combinations.
Speaking of puzzles, the difficulty is well-balanced, tricky but satisfying to solve. There were certainly a few celebratory “AHA!”s along the way. A simple dialogue puzzle in a curiosity shop was amongst my faves. Moon logic mostly keeps its distance, but there were a couple of instances where I did have to resort to the ol’ try-every-inventory-item-combination-on-everything method as I was completely baffled. The conversation or examination hints for these were there, but extremely vague and throwaway, and are not repeated. Only by starting again and listening to every single word did I eventually catch them. It’s very minor, and doesn’t detract from the fun too much, but will definitely be a learning curve for newbies.
To Meta or Not To Meta – That is the Question
Self-referential and fourth-wall-breaking humour is of course a Simon standard; a game could barely claim to be part of the series without it! As mentioned earlier, for the most part, Origins hits the mark. But there are times when the meta jokes are laid on slightly too thick or outstay their welcome. The opening tutorial is a prime example of this, given by Simon’s mum from behind the front door warning him not to do what the tutorial advises. Some lines hit home nicely and fit the scenario, some feel forced and heavy-handed. And later on, Simon makes references to gaming culture and iconic games which again have mixed results. A staple it may be, but scaling it back a bit would make the jokes that do land even funnier.
Graphics & Audio
Pixels are traded for pencils and paintbrushes as Smallthing Studios adopt a more painted animation style. Bright, colourful, and popping with details, it’s a bold choice that is certainly lovely to look at and lends itself to the high fantasy setting nicely. Inside the Academy is particularly gorgeous. However, it did come with a couple of personal niggles. While characters are especially expressive, there’s something jarring about the humour style and these visuals, especially Simon himself. It doesn’t completely gel, as if the visuals are too silky smooth for his harsh sardonic barbs. Added to this, during certain cutscenes, the camera has a slight swaying pan which draws focus considerably for no discernible reason.
The sound design is wonderfully on point, however. From crackling fires and crunching footsteps to a raging blizzard coming from a book, all sound effects are extremely satisfying. The soundtrack too is exceptional, including reworking the classic Simon the Sorcerer theme in a variety of different ways. The comically mysterious variation in Mundus’s shop is whimsy at its finest.
Final Thoughts
Whether you’re a long-time fan of the series or a complete newbie, Simon the Sorcerer Origins has plenty to enjoy and will make you smile aplenty. Brimming with care and love, the game keeps its puzzly sarcastic roots. Whilst also bringing it warmly into the modern adventure game world. It has a number of jarring elements, but they are spaced out and rarely frustrating, giving way to its undeniable vibrancy and charm.
Therefore it receives the Thumb Culture Silver Award! Be sure to share it with Swampling, eh Simon?
Disclaimer: A code was received in order to write this review.
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