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When Simon finds himself transported to the fantasy world he thought he was rid of, and for no apparent reason, he couldn't have been more annoyed. Now, with his brand new Guybrush-meets-Rincewind look, and armed with attitude and insults, Simon the Sorcerer is back in an electrifying new adventure!
"It's a hard life being a computer games superstar..."
Simon the Sorcerer II: The Lion, the Wizard and the Wardrobe is not only a grand sequel to the 1993 adventure game, but is also filled with references to other famous point and click adventures. Simon is an adventure hero who hates the colour "grass green" as much as Bobbin Threadbare, whose response after being knocked down is, "did anyone get the number of that donkey cart?" and who can hold his breath for 10 minutes! Fans of the original Simon the Sorcerer will also be pleased to know that many of the prequel's characters return, including the lovable Swampling, the dynamic duo Max and Gerald, the wizard Calypso (who, in the prequel, was never visually shown) and the villainous Sordid, who you thought was dead and gone forever... but now I'm getting ahead of myself.
"Then you know I'm an actor with several large parts under my belt."
One of the first things you will notice about the Amiga conversion is that it has no background music. As a fan of the original 1995 version of the game, I was disappointed to learn this, as the music is incredibly well composed. You will be pleased to know, though, that the voice overs are of high standard, as are the sound and ambient noises. While fans of the original release will miss the music, others new to the game will most likely not be disappointed by the Amiga version, as sound effects are used very well throughout. Fans of the prequel may need time to adjust to Simon's new voice actor though!
"If I give you my autograph can we call it quits?"
Graphics, including animation and visual design, are absolutely stunning. Animation and layout have been improved since the first game; characters show more dynamic expressions when they interact - particularly Simon himself - and the layout is very pleasing to the eye, with verbs now portrayed as visual icons surrounding the inventory box, all very well-drawn. Large scenes scroll smoothly, and while exterior scenes fill up the entire screen, interior scenes are visually compact with a faded-to-black border. This minor yet effective touch really makes you feel like you are right there inside the game.
"I think we should have gone left at that last junction..."
Similar to the first game, the scenes can be quickly navigated with the aid of a map. However, in STS2 you cannot access the map whenever you like. The map works much like those seen in LucasArts' Monkey Island series. Rather than carrying a map in your inventory that you can access from any scene, you must manually walk to the exit of the location you are currently in to bring up the map. This may seem irritating at first, as the always-accessible map made things quicker and easier in STS1, but as the locations are all of appropriate size (no more useless empty screens to fill up the game) and as Simon moves faster in STS2, as it turns out this style of map navigation is appropriate for this game and you will adjust to it quickly.
"Simon is an ugly sad act and he's still a vir--- It's a 2nd hand joke anyway."
The gameplay is not so different to the prequel, or to any point and click adventure game in fact. You solve a range of puzzles using your verbs, inventory items, and conversations with characters. The storyline progresses wonderfully, and is full of surprises throughout. Puzzles are challenging yet logical. The game captures the traditional fantasy/fairy tale theme of it's prequel nicely, along with some additional contemporary themes.
"Can I have another balloon?"
Now, some may disagree with me on this - in fact, I know people disagree with me on this - but I think that what makes this game great is Simon's character development. STS1 fans may want to be aware that, in the sequel, Simon is rude, selfish, and very good at insulting the other characters. Some may find this aspect somewhat unappealing and offensive. I, on the other hand, think it is Simon's offensive remarks and attitude problems that make him one of the most charming computer game heroes in history! I certainly find it much more fun and hilarious than playing a game with a nice character. Just prepare yourself, because you may not agree!
"I fancy breaking the ice cream gluttony record."
There you have it. Simon the Sorcerer II is a witty adventure game that will keep you puzzled and keep you grinning. A worthy addition to your point and click collection. If you're looking for a challenge with attitude and personality, this is the game for you.
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Beautifully detailed characters and landscapes. The verbs and inventory are also well-structured. Character animation including facial expressions and body language is superb.
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The voice actors have been well cast, and give the characters a lot of personality. All sound effects are appropriately placed, and ambient noises work wonderfully. Sadly, the Amiga version lacks the musical score found on other versions, which will disappoint those who have heard the music.
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Challenging and cleverly-written puzzles, an exciting storyline full of twists and a variety of interesting characters to interact with. All of this is topped off with witty humour that will make you adore the game. It is also impossible to die or get yourself into an impossible-to-finish state, so you can be as adventurous as you want without worrying about the consequences.
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| "Oh yes? Well, you see that dog poo? That's you, that is. That's your favourite food..." |
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