Simon the Sorcerer 3D

Simon the Sorcerer 3D
European PC box art
Developer(s)	Headfirst Productions
Publisher(s)	Adventure Soft
Designer(s)	Simon Woodroffe, Andrew Brazier
Series	Simon the Sorcerer
Engine	NetImmerse[1]
Platform(s)	Microsoft Windows
Release date(s)	EU April 13, 2002
Genre(s)	Adventure
Mode(s)	Single-player
Distribution	CD-ROM

Simon the Sorcerer 3D (also known as Simon 3D), is an adventure game released by Adventure Soft on 13 April 2002 for Microsoft Windows.^[2] It is the third game in the Simon the Sorcerer series.

As indicated by the title, the game was the first in the series with 3D graphics. The publisher's website claims that there is over 40 hours of gameplay,^[3] and reviews stated that the game world includes over 10,000 pieces of voiced dialogue. The sarcastic attitude and cruel humour of the series remains. Brian Bowles returns as the voice of Simon.

Plot

The story picks up some time after Simon the Sorcerer II. 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: for Simon to track down the Swampling and let her know of his whereabouts. Once Simon finds the Swampling, there follow several revelations concerning the game's storyline, as well as the origins of the Universe.

Characters

Several of the characters from 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 also many new characters, continuing the theme of a fantasy world: They include 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 team chose to switch to a 3D adventure game.^[4] The project suffered from a long development time, with the engine change and a change of publisher adding 18 months.^[5]

The game was originally supposed to be distributed by Hasbro Interactive, who left the project at the last minute and shortly afterwards went through bankruptcy. As a result of this failed partnership, there are numerous allusions to Hasbro and its products which are still present in the game. Also because of this publishing issue, the finished game had to remain unreleased for over two years until Adventure Soft went on to publish the game themselves.

Reception

Simon 3D received generally mixed but negative reviews, earning a Critic score on GameSpot of 5.8,^[6] and a GameRankings score of 58%.^[7] Citing outdated graphics and poor controls,^[8] reviewers did however praise the game's story, humour and gameplay as being faithful to the series.

See also

• Simon the Sorcerer series

References

External links

• Simon the Sorcerer 3D official site at the Wayback Machine (archived January 4, 2006)
• Adventure Soft Publishing
• Simon the Sorcerer series at MobyGames