Ludography
Sorcerian cover

1987 · Aeria · Action role-playing · Adventure

Sorcerian

Timed Sega exclusive

Sorcerian is a side-scrolling action-RPG. The player can create up to ten characters, from whom up to four members can be present in a party at the same time. Each character is highly customizable, with four different classes/races (fighter, wizard, elf, and dwarf) and over 60 possible jobs/occupations (ranging from clown to exorcist) available for them to perform; each has its own strengths and weaknesses, affecting the seven primary attributes (strength, intelligence, protection, magic resistance, vitality, dexterity, and karma) in different ways, as well as different equipment limitations.

Released
20 December 1987
Platforms
Binary Runtime Environment for WirelessDreamcastMS-DOSMSXMSX 2Mega Drive Mini 2NEC PC-8800 seriesNEC PC-9800 seriesPC-8800 SeriesPC-9800 SeriesS!AppliSega GenesisSharp X1TurboGrafx-16Turbografx-16/PC Engine CDWiiWindowsi-αppliiOS
Genres
Action role-playingAdventurePlatformerPuzzleRole-playing
Developers
AeriaG-Mode
Publishers
Suntendy Interactive Multimedia Co.,Ltd.
Series
Dragon Slayer
Modes
Single-player
Perspective
Side view
Themes
ActionFantasyHistoricalSandbox
Country
Japan
Languages
English
Entry
#5 in Dragon Slayer
Composers
Yuzo Koshiro

About

Sorcerian is a 1987 action role-playing game developed by Nihon Falcom as the fifth installment in the Dragon Slayer line of games. Originally released for the NEC PC-8801, it has since been released on a wide variety of platforms.

Keywords

  • exploration
  • anime
  • medieval
  • training
  • murder
  • magic
  • grinding
  • construction
  • metroidvania
  • death
  • elves
  • action-adventure

Media

The articlegameplay, story, development, reception

Gameplay

Sorcerian is a side-scrolling action-RPG. The player can create up to ten characters, from whom up to four members can be present in a party at the same time. Each character is highly customizable, with four different classes/races (fighter, wizard, elf, and dwarf) and over 60 possible jobs/occupations (ranging from clown to exorcist) available for them to perform; each has its own strengths and weaknesses, affecting the seven primary attributes (strength, intelligence, protection, magic resistance, vitality, dexterity, and karma) in different ways, as well as different equipment limitations.

The player can choose from fifteen different scenarios, or quests, to play through in the order of their choice. The party must battle enemies and perform tasks within the given levels to clear each scenario, before moving onto another scenario of their choice. The player controls the entire party at the same time, with all four members running in a line, jumping in sequence, and attacking in unison. The party members follow behind in a manner similar to the Options in the arcade shooter Gradius (1985). Sorcerian also employs class-based puzzles, such as using a high-strength character to force open doors.

Development

Sorcerian was developed by Japanese developer Nihon Falcom. It is the fifth installment in the Dragon Slayer series.

Reception

The four reviewers of Famicom Tsūshin reviewed Sega Mega Drive version of the game.

Two of the reviewers complimented the game as having same atmosphere as the PC game but with re-arranged levels and recommended to fans of the original. One reviewer found the game confusing and said they could not figure out the game mechanics.)

Releases by platformdates and regions as published

PlatformReleasedRegions
PC-8800 Series20 December 1987Japan
Sharp X11 June 1988Japan
Sega Genesis24 February 1990Japan
MS-DOS31 December 1990North America
MSX1 August 1991Japan
Turbografx-16/PC Engine CD17 July 1992Japan
Windows31 December 1997Japan
Wii16 September 2008Japan
iOS20 January 2012Japan
PC-9800 SeriesUnreleased

Editions and related releases

Included in
Mega Drive Mini 2
Expansions
Sorcerian Additional Scenario Vol. 3: Pyramid SorcerianSorcerian Additional Scenario Vol. 1
Ported as
Eggconsole Sorcerian PC-8801mkIISR
Remade as
Sorcerian OriginalAdvanced SorcerianSorcerian: Shichisei Mahou no Shito
Built on it
Sorcerian OriginalSorcerian: Shichisei Mahou no ShitoAdvanced Sorcerian

In the same series

Games like this

Collections6 collections

Platform libraries

Publishers

Description adapted from its source, CC BY-SA 4.0.