In the mood for an old-fashioned FPS, I researched the new releases on Steam, and only watched a few, not really clicking.. Until, that is, I found The Hand of the SorcererAnd after that play it all weekends. this is a witchalike FPS, with huge, brightly colored maps, a variety of weapons, a variety of enemy types and some original new ideas for the genre.
In three chapters, like all such games, the game’s 21 maps are spread between these chapters through three hubs. Each hub has a collection of portals, which are unlocked by completing one quest or another and flip between all of them as you find keys, new abilities, etc. It gives it a bit of a kick. the taste of Metroid In the frenzy of fast-paced combat and exploration.
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What I really love here is The Hand of the Sorcerer can’t feel Heretic and witch, but rather take inspiration from them to then become its own thing. So, as you’d expect, there’s a mix of ranged and melee combat, with a sword and fireball in your starting lineup, which then expands further as you progress. You find a whirlwind spell that allows you to unleash small tornadoes, sending enemies flying backwards, and if pinned to a wall, actually taking their life. There’s a freehand ice wand, a pretty impressively powerful scythe, and even a gun when you get far enough.
Enemies are a great combination, with terrifying reptiles, floating magic wielders, flying bats (that Not incredibly annoying!), and the golems stomped their feet in place. By chapter 2, this same gang is joined by any means even more deadly, until the wars can turn into a frenzied series of color and gore.
It’s all in 2.5D, but with some very nice lighting, the whole thing is built into GZDoom. The pixel art on the creature designs is superb, and while the game leans too much towards overcast environments, the locations feel detailed and fun to explore. And more importantly, the level design is top-notch, with a focus on huge locations to explore, packed with underground rooms, maze-like vaults, and puzzle-filled towns. .
Your character, an evil wizard himself, not a hero, is here seeking to expand the range of his abilities and fight not for survival, but because you just want to fight. This obviously doesn’t affect the experience much, until you recall it picking up a powerful weapon and emitting the villain’s creak.
Oh, and as you progress, you have the ability to transform into various types of enemies, including a small snake, a crunchy golem, and a demon-like horned monster. This can be used to solve puzzles and find secrets, but also just to fight in a different way. I don’t think I’ve ever seen an FPS that gives characters the ability to turn into enemies, and that’s a great idea.
The game estimates playtime to be 7 hours, which is absolutely costly. I spent almost that just for the first chapter, exploring every nook and cranny, trying to figure out the secrets, and having a whale of a while. I guess you can skim it much faster, but that seems wasteful.
This is a tremendous tool, a game that could have been released with Raven Software’s mid-’90s fantasies.y shoot guns and get organized. (Though people will be confused by lighting technology.) Admittedly, you can do it witch for 50 dollars right awaybut there’s a good chance you did. The Hand of the Sorcerer is a welcome addition to that first screen and the developers HON Team has become a name to follow.
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