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{{Short description|1993 video game}}
{{About|the video game|the Samaritan Gnostic sometimes known as "Simon the Sorcerer"|Simon Magus|the series of the same name|Simon the Sorcerer (series)}}
{{Good article}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2017}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2017}}
{{Infobox video game
| title = Simon the Sorcerer
| image = Simon 1 cover.jpg
| caption = The box art for the Amiga 1200 release
| developer = [[Adventure Soft]]
| publisher = Adventure Soft
| series = ''[[Simon the Sorcerer (series)|Simon the Sorcerer]]''
| designer = Simon Woodroffe
| producer = Mike Woodroffe, Alan Bridgman
| artist = Paul Drummond
| writer = Simon Woodroffe
| programmer = Alan Bridgman
| director = Mike Woodroffe
| platforms = [[Amiga]], [[Amiga CD32]], [[MS-DOS]], [[RISC OS]], [[iOS]], [[Android (operating system)|Android]], [[Microsoft Windows]]
| released = September 27, 1993<ref name="SimonPCZone">{{cite magazine|title=Review - Simon the Sorcerer |url=https://archive.org/details/PC_Zone_7_October_1993/page/n79 |magazine=[[PC Zone]] |issue=7 |publisher=[[Dennis Publishing]] |date=October 1993 |page=78}}</ref>
| genre = [[Adventure game#Point-and-click adventure games|Point-and-click adventure]]
| modes = [[Single-player video game|Single-player]]
}}

'''''Simon the Sorcerer''''' is a 1993 [[Adventure game#Point-and-click adventure games|point-and-click]] [[adventure game]] developed and published by [[Adventure Soft]], for [[Amiga]] and [[MS-DOS]]. The story focuses on a boy named Simon who is transported into a [[Parallel universes in fiction|parallel universe]] of magic and monsters, where he embarks on a mission to become a wizard and rescue another from an evil sorcerer. The setting was inspired by the novels of the ''[[Discworld]]'' series, and incorporates parodies on fantasy novels and fairy tales, such as ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'' and [[Jack and the Beanstalk]]. The lead character's design was inspired by that of the fictional British television character [[Edmund Blackadder|Blackadder]]. The character was voiced by [[Chris Barrie]] in the CD re-release.

The game was well received by critics, who praised the humour, graphics and gameplay, with some minor criticism towards the plot. ''Simon the Sorcerer'' went on to become a  [[Simon the Sorcerer (series)|video game series]], with a sequel in 1995, ''[[Simon the Sorcerer II: The Lion, the Wizard and the Wardrobe]]''. The game was later released for PC in 2008 on [[GOG.com]]. A 20th Anniversary Edition was developed by MojoTouch and released on [[Google Play]] in 2013.

== Gameplay ==
[[File:Simon1Gameplay.png|thumb|250px|left|A screenshot of ''Simon the Sorcerer''. The game employed the same style of verbal commands found in other titles at the time, including ''[[The Secret of Monkey Island]]''.]]
As a point-and-click adventure game, the player controls the protagonist, Simon, by using the mouse.<ref>Manual, p. 3.</ref> The iOS and Android versions use touchscreen controls instead.<ref name="TA"/> Gameplay involves the player moving Simon to different locations in the game, interacting with objects and other characters at each site. The player can make Simon perform actions through verbal commands like "Look at", "Talk to", and "Give", with objects that are picked up being placed into an inventory. Using these items requires the right verbal command and then selecting the target for that object. The game primarily involves talking to people for information, including hints or acquiring items, and using the correct items to solve puzzles.<ref>Manual, pp. 3-5.</ref> A menu system is provided for loading, saving and quitting the game via a postcard contained in the inventory.<ref>Manual, p. 6.</ref> A fast-travel system is also provided in the form of a map in the inventory that can be used up until a certain point in the story.<ref>Manual, p. 5.</ref>

== Synopsis ==
===Setting===
The story takes in a [[Parallel universes in fiction|parallel universe]] to the real world, where magic and monsters exist, although it contains some modern items and elements. The game's world features elements that are [[parody|parodies]] of those from popular fantasy novels and [[fairy tale]]s, including [[Rapunzel]],<ref name="Scorpia"/> ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'',<ref name="Retrospective"/> ''[[Discworld]]'',<ref name="Blueprint"/> [[The Chronicles of Narnia]],<ref name="TA"/> [[Jack and the Beanstalk]],<ref name="Retrospective"/> and the [[Three Billy Goats Gruff]].<ref name="Retrospective"/><ref name="Classic"/>

===Plot===
On his 12th birthday, a young boy named Simon is surprised when he receives a dog as a present from his parents, which he names Chippy. Unknown to Simon, his parents found the dog at their front door without warning, wrapped in paper, and possessing a book that nobody could read and which was eventually dumped in the loft.<ref>Manual, p. 2.</ref> Sometime after his birthday, Simon hears Chippy playing around in the loft, to which he discovers it holding the book in its mouth. Reading it, he notes it is titled "Ye Olde Spellbooke", and unwittingly blurts out a spell on one of the pages. A portal suddenly appears, which Chippy enters. Simon follows after him and ends up in another world, dressed in a wizard's robe. After Chippy helps Simon escape a group of goblins, Simon follows Chippy to a village, and is brought to the home of the wizard Calypso.

Inside the house, Simon finds a letter addressed to him from Calypso, who reveals he was responsible for bringing him into his world to help defeat the evil sorcerer Sordid.<ref>{{cite video game|title=Simon the Sorcerer|date=1993|platform=MS-DOS|developer=Adventure Soft|scene=Introduction}}</ref> Simon learns Calypso has since been kidnapped and that he must rescue the wizard in order to be able to go home.<ref name="Note">{{cite video game|title=Simon the Sorcerer|date=1993|platform=MS-DOS|developer=Adventure Soft|scene=Calypso's note}}</ref> Per Calypso's instructions, Simon meets with a group of wizards in the village pub and asks them to make him a wizard.<ref name="Note"/> Carrying out a task set by them and paying them a small fee, Simon is made a wizard, and works to find the items needed to breach Sordid's mountain lair. After gaining entry to the tower with a potion that shrinks him, Simon overcomes further difficulties before returning to normal height to explore the tower. In Sordid's bedroom, he learns that the sorcerer created a wand which can turn people into stone, and can only be destroyed in the Fiery Pits of Rondor where Sordid had travelled to. Finding the wand in the tower, Simon uses a teleporter to reach Rondor, destroys the wand, and then defeats Sordid by pushing him into the fiery pits.

Sent back to his world, Simon awakens in his bedroom, assuming it was a dream. However, another portal opens in his room, whereupon a large gloved hand appears to take him back through.<ref name="Scorpia"/>

== Development and release ==
Mike Woodroffe, ''Simon the Sorcerer''{{'}}s director and producer, wanted to create the game to exploit a market for comic adventure games, which he realised existed due to the success of ''[[Monkey Island 2: LeChuck's Revenge]]''. His son, Simon, penned the script. He was inspired by [[Terry Pratchett]] (Adventure Soft originally intended to make a ''[[Discworld]]'' game, but were unable to obtain a licence<ref name="BTS">{{cite magazine|magazine=[[GamesTM]]|issue=82|pages=138–143|title=Behind The Scenes Simon The Sorcerer|issn=1478-5889|publisher=[[Imagine Publishing]]}}</ref><ref name="ArtInterview"/>), and he and his father hoped that he would become involved with the game. Although he chose not to become involved, the script still contained his original humour. Many scenes are based on fairy tales, and the Wise Owl was modelled on [[Patrick Moore]].<ref name="Blueprint">{{cite magazine|magazine=[[PC Zone]]|publisher=[[Dennis Publishing]]|issue=5|date=August 1993|pages=74–77|issn=0967-8220|title=Simon The Sorcerer|location=London|department=Blueprint}}</ref> Woodroffe said that Adventure Soft (then known as HorrorSoft) had done enough horror games and wanted to try a comedy game. Switching genres prompted the name change.<ref name="BTS"/>

Simon Woodroffe explained the character of Simon was a mixture of [[Edmund Blackadder|Blackadder]], [[Rincewind]], and [[Guybrush]], and that he was originally intended to be a trainee wizard, similar to [[Harry Potter (character)|Harry Potter]].<ref>{{cite web|author1=Philip Jong|title=Simon Woodroffe|url=http://www.adventureclassicgaming.com/index.php/site/interviews/152/|website=Adventure Classic Gaming|access-date=13 July 2017|date=8 May 2000}}</ref> He also explained he was invented because they needed someone to compete with characters such as Rincewind,<ref name="Treff">{{cite web|author1=Luc Gilbertz|title=Simon Woodroffe|url=http://www.adventure-treff.de/artikel/interviews.php?id=5&lang=eng|website=Adventure-Treff|access-date=13 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150401202041/http://www.adventure-treff.de/artikel/interviews.php?id=5&lang=eng|date=17 September 2000|archive-date=1 April 2015}}</ref> and that the game was inspired by the ''[[Discworld]]'' books and ''[[Monkey Island (series)|Monkey Island]]''.<ref name="Bluffer">{{cite magazine|magazine=[[Retro Gamer]]|publisher=[[Imagine Publishing]]|location=Bournemouth|issn=1742-3155|title=The Bluffer's Guide To Point-And-Click Adventures|pages=22–31|issue=138}}</ref> Mike Woodroffe said that the game was inspired by ''Dungeons & Dragons''{{'}} magic stories.<ref name="Archives">{{cite magazine|magazine=[[Retro Gamer]]|publisher=[[Imagine Publishing]]|location=Bournemouth|issn=1742-3155|title=From The Archives: AdventureSoft UK|pages=42–47|issue=135}}</ref> Other influences, according to Simon Woodroffe, included ''[[Red Dwarf]]'', ''[[Fawlty Towers]]'', and ''[[Monty Python]]''.<ref name="ArtInterview"/> The character was invented during a journey on the [[M5 motorway]], and was not named after Woodroffe. The name "Simon the Sorcerer" had that format due to the magical nature of the character, and because other names, such as "Willy The Wizard", were rejected since they were disliked.<ref name="Treff"/> ''Simon the Sorcerer'' was developed by a team of 15 people.<ref name="Archives"/> There was an effort to be British in order to distinguish themselves from the humour of ''Monkey Island''.<ref name="BTS"/> Simon Woodroffe stated that his greatest challenges were the script creation and puzzle design, and he tuned the scripts (which were written in an in-house [[scripting language]]<ref name="ArtInterview">{{cite interview|last=Woodroffe|first=Simon|work=The Art Of Point-and-Click Adventure Games|ISBN=978-0-9956-5866-0|title=Simon Woodroffe Interview|pages=258-263|year=2018|publisher=Bitmap Books}}</ref>) continuously. The world was created for the characters rather than the puzzles, and the story was wrapped around characters the team liked. Woodroffe believed that Adventure Soft were able to rival more experienced studios due to their small team, all of whom had the same goals and passion for the game.<ref name="BTS"/> On deciding which fairy tales to feature in the game, Simon Woodroffe said he "read a whole bunch of that kind of stuff", including the ''[[Grimms' Fairy Tales]]'', and he also owned [[Ladybird Books]] when he was growing up. He said that there were some he "really wanted" to include, such as ''[[The Magic Porridge Pot]]'', but could not.<ref name="ArtInterview"/>

Alan Brigman was the technical director and co-producer. He and Mike Woodroffe developed a game creation system, Adventure Graphic Operating System (AGOS) II, which facilitated the development of ''Simon the Sorcerer'' and enabled the team to focus on the gameplay and story without worrying about the technical aspects. The system allowed the developers to input text commands on a separate monitor, and the engine could be ported to other platforms. Other features included translating actions performed by the mouse into text commands (a sentence [[Parsing#Computer languages|parser]] carries them out), the loading of data as needed, and functions could be implemented by the addition of commands. The game was built as a database, which contained tables for rooms and objects. These tables contained animation code and information about what is supposed to happen.<ref name="Blueprint"/><ref name="Archives"/> Alan Cox was also involved in the development of the AGOS engine, which is based on [[AberMUD]].<ref name="Archives"/>

The art was developed by Paul Drummond (lead artist), Kevin Preston (who hand-drew the character art and animation<ref name="ArtInterview"/>), Maria Drummond, Jeff Wall, and Karen Pinchin. This team were based at a studio in Newcastle, rather than Birmingham, the central studio. Their work included character animations, developed in [[Autodesk Animator]] using its language POCO, which the graphics tools were built in. The artwork (including the [[Sprite (computer graphics)|sprites]]) was made as a selection of clips, and a final image was formed by pasting them together. The ability to use clips in multiple locations, and the colour information being stored separately and used on an as—needed basis meant that the art took much less space than normal. The background artwork was sketched in black-and-white, and then scanned into a computer and colourised.<ref name="Blueprint "/> The music is credited to Media Sorcery (Adam Gilmore and Mark McLeod).<ref name="auto">Manual, p. 7.</ref>

''Simon the Sorcerer'' was released on floppy disk in 1993 for the [[Amiga]] and [[IBM PC compatible]]s.<ref name="Classic">{{cite magazine|magazine=[[Retro Gamer]]|publisher=[[Imagine Publishing]]|location=Bournemouth|issn=1742-3155|title=The Classic Game: Simon The Sorcerer|pages=64–67|issue=19}}</ref> It was re-released in 1994 for the [[Amiga CD32]] and PC CD-ROM, with an enhanced soundtrack featuring [[Chris Barrie]] as the voice of Simon.<ref name="auto"/><ref name="Classic"/><ref name="Retrospective">{{cite web|author1=Mark Langshaw|title=Simon the Sorcerer retrospective: How a classic was conjured up|url=http://www.digitalspy.com/gaming/retro-gaming/feature/a605715/simon-the-sorcerer-retrospective-how-a-classic-was-conjured-up/|website=Digital Spy|access-date=13 July 2017|date=25 October 2014}}</ref> Simon Woodroffe stated that he had Barrie in mind when writing the scripts (Woodroffe said he is a fan of ''Red Dwarf'' and [[Arnold Rimmer]]<ref name="ArtInterview"/>), and it was easier for him to do so when thinking of an actor he knew speaking the lines. It cost around £3,000 per day to hire Barrie.<ref name="Bluffer"/> Woodroffe said there was "no hesitation" in doing a [[Talkies (video games)|talkie]] version, and that it was "the next big thing".<ref name="BTS"/> He also said that Barrie was "very patient and professional".<ref name="ArtInterview"/> ''Simon the Sorcerer'' used the visual and interface designs from [[LucasArts]]' games, and Woodroffe said this was because they had set a standard, and Adventure Soft's focus was humour and story-telling.<ref name="Bluffer"/>

The PC version was later ported to Microsoft Windows.<ref>{{cite web|title=Simon the Sorcerer games|url=http://www.adventuresoft.com/acatalog/Simon_the_Sorcerer_games.html|website=Adventure Soft|access-date=12 July 2017|archive-date=14 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210414071139/http://www.adventuresoft.com/acatalog/Simon_the_Sorcerer_games.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> The game was published in the United States by [[Activision]].<ref name="Scorpia">{{cite magazine | url=http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/issues/cgw_114.pdf#page=112 | title=Simple Simon | magazine=Computer Gaming World | date=January 1994 | access-date=13 July 2017 | pages=112–114 | author=Scorpia |publisher = [[Ziff Davis]] | issn= 0744-6667| issue= 114}}</ref> A patch was released, fixing compatibility issues with [[Windows ME]], [[Windows 2000|2000]], and [[Windows XP|XP]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Simon the {{not a typo|Sorceror}} [sic]|url=http://uk.gamespot.com/pc/adventure/simonthesorceror/index.html?q=Simon%20the%20Sorceror&tag=result;title;1|website=GameSpot UK|access-date=13 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930234515/http://uk.gamespot.com/pc/adventure/simonthesorceror/index.html?q=Simon%20the%20Sorceror&tag=result;title;1|archive-date=30 September 2007}}</ref> ''Simon the Sorcerer'' was released on [[GOG.com]] in December 2008.<ref>{{cite web|author1=Mike Fahey|title=Simon the Sorcerer Joins GoG Lineup|url=http://kotaku.com/5105375/simon-the-sorcerer-joins-gog-lineup|website=Kotaku|access-date=14 July 2017|date=9 December 2008}}</ref> In 2009, the game was re-released for the [[iPhone]] by iPhSoft.<ref name="TA">{{cite web|author1=Blake Patterson|title=Graphic Adventure 'Simon the Sorcerer' Comes to the iPhone|url=http://toucharcade.com/2009/08/06/graphics-adventure-simon-the-sorcerer-comes-to-the-iphone/|website=TouchArcade|access-date=14 July 2017|date=6 August 2009}}</ref> A new version titled '20th Anniversary Edition was developed by MojoTouch and released for [[Android (operating system)|Android]] in August 2013. This version featured new animations and icons, remastered music, high-definition graphics, and updated game menus.<ref>{{cite web|author1=Cauterize|title=Adventure Soft's Classic 'Simon The Sorcerer' Revived In HD Android Port For 20th Anniversary|url=http://www.retrocollect.com/News/adventure-softs-classic-simon-the-sorcerer-revived-in-hd-android-port-for-20th-anniversary.html|website=RetroCollect|access-date=13 July 2017|date=28 August 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mojotouch.simon|title=Simon the Sorcerer|last=MojoTouch|date=3 February 2016|via=Google Play|access-date=20 March 2018}}</ref> A 25th Anniversary Edition was released on the [[App Store (iOS)|iOS App Store]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://apps.apple.com/app/id1082292752|title=Simon the Sorcerer on the App Store|website=App Store|access-date=20 March 2018}}</ref> [[Steam (service)|Steam]]<ref name="Steam25">{{cite web|url=http://store.steampowered.com/app/674150|title=Simon the Sorcerer: 25th Anniversary Edition on Steam|website=store.steampowered.com|access-date=20 March 2018}}</ref> and [[GOG.com]]<ref name="gog.com">{{cite web|url=https://www.gog.com/game/simon_the_sorcerer|title=Simon the Sorcerer: 25th Anniversary Edition|website=GOG.com|access-date=20 March 2018}}</ref> on 3 April 2018.<ref name="Steam25"/> A sequel, ''[[Simon the Sorcerer II: The Lion, the Wizard and the Wardrobe]]'', was released in 1995.<ref name="Classic"/>

== Reception ==
{{Video game reviews
 | GR = 86%<ref name="Simon1GR">{{cite web|url=http://www.gamerankings.com/htmlpages2/564662.asp?q=simon%20sorcerer |title=Simon the Sorcerer – DOS |access-date=7 March 2008 |publisher=[[GameRankings]] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080415011750/http://www.gamerankings.com/htmlpages2/564662.asp?q=simon%20sorcerer |archive-date=15 April 2008 }}</ref>
 | AdvGamers = 4/5 (DOS)<ref name="AGRev">{{cite web|author1=Rob Franklin|title=Simon the Sorcerer|url=https://adventuregamers.com/articles/view/17495|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121012200209/http://www.adventuregamers.com/articles/view/17495|url-status=usurped|archive-date=12 October 2012|website=Adventure Gamers|access-date=13 July 2017|date=5 August 2004}}</ref>
 | AmAction = 90% (Amiga)<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/details/amigaaction63/page/n41/mode/2up?q=%22simon+the+sorcerer%22|title=Simon the Sorcerer|magazine=[[Amiga Action]]|issue=63|date=November 1994|page=42|access-date=1 July 2021}}</ref>
 | AmComputing = 89% (Amiga)<ref name="Simon1AmigaComp">{{cite magazine|title=Simon The Sorcerer | magazine=[[Amiga Computing]] | date=April 1994 | author=Simon Clays|url=https://archive.org/details/amiga-computing-magazine-072|pages=114, 115|issn=0959-9630|access-date=16 July 2017|issue=72}}</ref><br />80% (CD32)<ref name="ACCDRev">{{cite magazine|magazine=Amiga Computing|publisher=[[Europress]]|issn=0959-9630|title=Simon The Sorcerer|page=136|date=December 1994|issue=80}}</ref>
 | AmFormat = 70% (Amiga)<ref name="AFCDRev">{{cite magazine|magazine=Amiga Format|publisher=[[Future plc]]|location=Bath|issn=0957-4867|title=Simon The Sorcerer|page=70|date=October 1994|issue=64}}</ref><br />
80% (CD32)<ref name="AFCDRev2">{{cite magazine|magazine=Amiga Format|publisher=[[Future plc]]|location=Bath|issn=0957-4867|title=Simon The {{not a typo|Sorceror}} [sic]|page=28|date=May 1998|issue=110|author=Andy Smith}}</ref>
 | AmPower = 57% (CD32)<ref name="APRev">{{cite magazine|magazine=Amiga Power|publisher=[[Future plc]]|location=Bath|title=Simon The Sorcerer|page=52|issn=0961-7310|date=October 1994|author=Jonathan Nash|issue=42}}</ref>
 | CVG = 86% (CD32)<ref name="Simon1-CVG">{{cite magazine |date=October 1994 |title=Simon the Sorcerer |magazine=Computer & Video Games |url=https://retrocdn.net/images/1/14/CVG_UK_155.pdf |issue=155 |page=98 |quote="It's an essential buy." |access-date=4 November 2017}}</ref>
 | Gamezebo = 4/5 (PC)<ref name="GZRev">{{cite web|author1=Tawny Ditmer|title=Simon the Sorcerer Review|url=http://www.gamezebo.com/2009/06/21/simon-sorcerer-review/|website=Gamezebo|access-date=13 July 2017|date=21 June 2009|archive-date=11 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200111184215/https://www.gamezebo.com/2009/06/21/simon-sorcerer-review/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
 | Hyper = 91% (PC)<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Wildgoose|first=David|date=February 1994|url=https://archive.org/details/hyper-003/page/56/mode/2up?q=%22james+pond+3%22|title=Simon the Sorcerer|magazine=[[Hyper (magazine)|Hyper]]|issue=3|page=56|access-date=1 July 2021}}</ref>
 | JS = 85% (PC)<ref name="JSRev">{{cite magazine|magazine=Joystick|date=October 1993|pages=124–126|title=Simon the Sorcerer Un Sérieux concurrent à la légende de Kyrandia|author=Calor|issue=42|language=fr}}</ref>
 | JXV = 17/20 (DOS & Amiga)<ref name="JVDOS">{{cite web|title=Test : Simon the Sorcerer|url=http://www.jeuxvideo.com/articles/0001/00014281-simon-the-sorcerer-test.htm|website=Jeuxvideo.com|access-date=13 July 2017|language=fr|date=28 January 2011}}</ref><ref name="JVAM">{{cite web|title=Test : Simon the Sorcerer|url=http://www.jeuxvideo.com/articles/0001/00014282-simon-the-sorcerer-test.htm|website=Jeuxvideo.com|access-date=13 July 2017|language=fr|date=28 January 2011}}</ref>
 | PCZone = 86%<ref name="SimonPCZone"/>
 | PG = 7/10 (iOS)<ref name="PGIPRev">{{cite web|author1=Paul Marchant|title=Simon the Sorcerer|url=http://www.pocketgamer.co.uk/r/iPhone/Simon+the+Sorcerer/review.asp?c=15273|website=Pocket Gamer|access-date=14 July 2017|date=1 September 2009}}</ref>
 | rev1 = ''[[CU Amiga]]''
 | rev1Score = 90% (Amiga)<ref name="Simon1CU">{{cite magazine| title=Simon the Sorcerer | magazine=[[CU Amiga]] | author=Tony Gill| date=February 1994 |issue=48|pages=68–70|url=https://archive.org/stream/cuamiga-magazine-048/CUAmiga_048_Feb_1994#page/n67/mode/2up|access-date=13 July 2017|issn=0963-0090}}</ref><br /> 90% (CD32)<ref name="CUCDRev">{{cite magazine| title=Simon the Sorcerer | magazine=[[CU Amiga]] | author=Dean Evans| date=July 1994 |issue=53|page=46|url=https://archive.org/stream/cuamiga-magazine-053/CUAmiga_053_Jul_1994#page/n45/mode/1up|access-date=14 July 2017|issn=0963-0090}}</ref>
 | rev5 = ''[[The One (magazine)|The One]]''
 | rev5Score = 89% (Amiga)<ref name="TORev">{{cite magazine|magazine=The One|publisher=[[Emap International Limited]]|issn=0955-4084|title=Simon The Sorcerer|pages=76–79|date=February 1994|location=Peterborough|issue=64|url=https://archive.org/stream/theone-magazine-64/TheOne_64_Feb_1994#page/n75/mode/2up|access-date=14 July 2017}}</ref><br /> 89% (CD32)<ref name="TOCDRev">{{cite magazine|magazine=The One|publisher=[[Emap International Limited]]|issn=0955-4084|title=Simon The Sorcerer|page=63|date=November 1994|location=Peterborough|issue=74}}</ref>
}}

''Simon the Sorcerer'' received critical acclaim: across all platforms, the humour and visuals in particular were commended, although criticisms included the controls and the linear nature. The game's global sales surpassed 600,000 units by September 1999.<ref name="ACGRev"/>

The [[Amiga]] version received generally high ratings. ''[[CU Amiga]]'' praised the high quality graphics and how much fun the game was to play.<ref name="Simon1CU"/> ''[[Amiga Computing]]''{{'}}s Simon Clays also praised the graphics and the locations, saying the locations' stylisation made the game resemble a fairy tale. He also enjoyed the puzzles and detail in the game.<ref name="Simon1AmigaComp"/> ''[[The One (magazine)|The One]]''{{'s}} reviewer said the graphics are "excellent", but believed the music did not take full advantage of the Amiga's sound hardware.<ref name="TORev"/> A reviewer of ''{{ill|Génération 4|fr| Gen4}}'' found the Amiga version's graphics to be "magnificent".<ref name="G4AMRev">{{cite magazine|magazine=Génération 4|issn=1624-1088|title=Simon The Sorcerer|page=71|date=February 1994|issue=63|language=fr}}</ref>

The CD32 version was noted for its speech. ''[[CU Amiga]]''{{'}}s Dean Evans was impressed with "sumptuous" backgrounds and the animation, and believed the main selling point was the digitised speech, especially Chris Barrie as Simon.<ref name="CUCDRev"/> Jonathan Nash of ''[[Amiga Power]]'' liked the "gorgeous" graphics, but thought the dialogue was annoying, and he also criticised the puzzles as "spread thinly over the pointlessly large playing area".<ref name="APRev"/> The reviewer of ''Amiga CD32 Gamer'' was impressed with the soundtrack, describing it as "top notch", and thought the story had plenty of wit. The main criticism was the scenes downplaying interaction, making the comedy linear.<ref name="ACDGRev">{{cite magazine|magazine=Amiga CD32 Gamer|title=Simon The Sorcerer|pages=37–39|date=September 1994|issue=4}}</ref> ''[[The One (magazine)|The One]]''{{'}}s reviewer corroborated others' opinions on the graphics, finding them to be "stunning", and also believed the atmosphere was augmented by the speech.<ref name="TOCDRev"/> Chris Barrie as Simon was believed by ''[[Amiga Computing]]'' to "greatly enhance" the game by giving the speech a new appeal.<ref name="ACCDRev"/> ''[[Amiga Format]]''{{'}}s reviewer criticised the controls, believing the controller's limitations would make players "an insane hysterical gibbering wreck", but complimented the addition of speech, and echoed others' opinions on the graphics by calling them "beautiful".<ref name="AFCDRev"/> In a later review, Andy Smith believed that Barrie's voice acting livened the humour, and concurred with Evans' evaluation of the graphics as "sumptuous", but said it was difficult to get the game working on an [[Amiga 1200]].<ref name="AFCDRev2"/>

Reviewers of the DOS and Windows versions praised the humour and dialogue. The reviewers of ''[[:fr:Gen4|Génération 4]]'' described the adventure as "excellent", and believed ''Simon the Sorcerer'' might be the most amusing and idiosyncratic adventure game.<ref name="G4Rev">{{cite magazine|magazine=Génération 4|issn=1624-1088|title=Simon The Sorcerer Ici le Mage gît...|pages=46–48|date=September 1993|issue=58|language=fr}}</ref>  ''[[Computer Gaming World]]'' stated that the "wacky, tongue-in-cheek interactive fantasy [...] features a rich world of tasty puzzles designed to test the wits of the most astute adventurer while keeping the humor dial turned up to the max".<ref name="cgw199402">{{Cite magazine |date=February 1994 |title=Taking A Peek |url=http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/index.php?year=1994&pub=2&id=115 |magazine=Computer Gaming World |pages=212–220}}</ref> [[Jeuxvideo.com]] described the characters' dialogue as "crazy" and praised the amount of humour, but they believed the adventure is over too quickly.<ref name="JVDOS"/> Their review of the Amiga version was identical.<ref name="JVAM"/> Tawny Ditmer of ''[[Gamezebo]]'' lauded the story as "hilarious" and the scenery and music as "wonderfully colorful and cheery", criticised the lack of side-quests and pointed out that the original graphics looks outdated in 2009.<ref name="GZRev"/> The script and dialogue were praised as "fantastic" by Rob Franklin of ''[[Adventure Gamers]]'', and complimented Chris Barrie's "brilliant" voice acting, but criticised the plot for being vague. He recommended the game for fans of adventure games and British humour.<ref name="AGRev"/> Zoltán Ormándi of Adventure Classic Gaming thought highly of the puzzles' originality and Simon's humour. He claimed the game's popularity caused a term, "Simonology" to be coined describing the humour of an adventure's protagonist.<ref name="ACGRev">{{cite web|author1=Zoltán Ormándi|title=Simon the Sorcerer|url=http://www.adventureclassicgaming.com/index.php/site/reviews/117/|website=Adventure Classic Gaming|access-date=13 July 2017|date=12 September 1999}}</ref> [[GameRankings]] wrote the [[IBM Personal Computer|PC version]] has a rating of 86 per cent.<ref name="Simon1GR"/> The reviewer of ''[[:fr:Joystick (magazine)|Joystick]]'' liked the decoration, animation, and characters.<ref name="JSRev"/>

Paul Marchant of ''[[Pocket Gamer]]'' reviewed the [[iOS]] version, and said that it was the game he liked, rather than the iPhone implementation. He thought the game was a "classic" and described the dialogue as "original".<ref name="PGIPRev"/> Damian Chiappara of AppSpy believed the iOS version's graphics are improved over the original, and liked the "quirky" humour, but thought that it can take time for players to familiarise themselves with its controls.<ref name="AppSpyRev">{{cite web|author1=Damian Chiappara|title=Simon the Sorcerer Review|url=http://www.appspy.com/review/3342/simon-the-sorcerer-review|website=AppSpy|access-date=13 July 2017|date=7 August 2009}}</ref> The iPad and Android versions appeared on ''[[Pocket Gamer]]''{{'}}s Top 10 point-and-click adventure games for their respective platforms.<ref>{{cite web|author1=Mark Brown|title=Top 10 point-and-click adventures for iPad|url=http://www.pocketgamer.co.uk/r/iPad/Top+10+iPad+charts/feature.asp?c=33249|website=Pocket Gamer|access-date=14 July 2017|date=9 September 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author1=Mark Brown|title=Top 10 best point-and-click adventure games on Android|url=http://www.pocketgamer.co.uk/r/Android/Top+10+Android+charts/feature.asp?c=57660|website=Pocket Gamer|access-date=14 July 2017|date=27 February 2014|archive-date=3 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171003030140/http://www.pocketgamer.co.uk/r/Android/Top+10+Android+charts/feature.asp?c=57660|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In 2011, ''[[Adventure Gamers]]'' named ''Simon the Sorcerer'' the 44th-best adventure game ever released.<ref name="top100">{{cite web |author=AG Staff |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120604021011/http://www.adventuregamers.com/articles/view/18643 |url=https://adventuregamers.com/articles/view/18643 |title=Top 100 All-Time Adventure Games |date=30 December 2011 |archive-date=4 June 2012 |work=[[Adventure Gamers]] |url-status=usurped |access-date=12 August 2020 }}</ref>
{{clear}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

=== Sources ===
* {{cite book|author1=Adventure Soft|title=Simon the Sorcerer Manual|date=1998|publisher=Adventure Soft|location=Sutton Coldfield|edition=Windows CD}}

== External links ==
* [http://www.adventuresoft.com/gs1.html Official website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160927025241/http://www.adventuresoft.com/gs1.html |date=27 September 2016 }}
* {{MobyGames|id=/simon-the-sorcerer}}
* [https://simonthesorcererart.blogspot.com Simon the Sorcerer Art gallery]

{{Simon the Sorcerer series}}

[[Category:Simon the Sorcerer| ]]
[[Category:1993 video games]]
[[Category:Acorn Archimedes games]]
[[Category:Adventure Soft games]]
[[Category:Amiga 1200 games]]
[[Category:Amiga CD32 games]]
[[Category:Amiga games]]
[[Category:Android (operating system) games]]
[[Category:DOS games ported to Windows]]
[[Category:DOS games]]
[[Category:Games commercially released with DOSBox]]
[[Category:IOS games]]
[[Category:Point-and-click adventure games]]
[[Category:ScummVM-supported games]]
[[Category:Single-player video games]]
[[Category:Video games about parallel universes]]
[[Category:Video games developed in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Windows games]]