Sorcerian
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| Sorcerian | |
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| Developer(s) | Nihon Falcom Corporation |
| Publisher(s) | Nihon Falcom Corporation, Takeru Soft, Sierra Entertainment |
| Platform(s) | NEC PC-8801, NEC PC-9801, NEC PC-88VA, Sharp X1 Turbo, MSX 2, MS-DOS, Sega Mega Drive |
| Release date | JPN December 20, 1987 (PC-8801) NA April 1, 1990 (MS-DOS) |
| Genre(s) | Action role-playing game |
| Mode(s) | Single player |
Sorcerian is an action role-playing game developed by Nihon Falcom Corporation, and the fifth in the Dragon Slayer line of games. It was originally released for the NEC PC-8801 in 1987, and was later ported to other PC platforms such as the NEC PC-9801, the NEC PC-88VA, the Sharp X1 Turbo, and the MSX 2. An English version for MS-DOS PCs was published by Sierra Entertainment in 1990.
In 1997, Falcom released Sorcerian Forever for Microsoft Windows95/98 -based PCs.
In 2000, Falcom released Sorcerian Original, a remake of Sorcerian for Microsoft Windows-based PCs.
In addition, console versions of Sorcerian with somewhat differing content from their PC counterparts were developed: A version for the Sega Mega Drive was developed by Sega, a version for the PC Engine was developed by Victor Musical Industries, and a version for the Sega Dreamcast was developed by Victor Interactive Software.
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[edit] Gameplay
Sorcerian is a side-scrolling action-RPG. The player, after choosing a scenario to play through, will control a party of up to four members. The party must battle enemies and perform tasks within the given level to clear each scenario.
Four different races of characters exist and various jobs are available for them to perform; each has their own strengths and weaknesses.
[edit] Add-ons
A number of add-ons containing new scenarios were developed for the PC versions of Sorcerian, by both Falcom themselves and by other companies:
- Developed by Falcom: Sorcerian Utility Vol. 1, Sorcerian Additional Scenario Vol. 1, Sorcerian Additional Scenario Vol. 2 - Sengoku Sorcerian, Sorcerian Additional Scenario Vol. 3 - Pyramid Sorcerian
- Developed by Amorphous: Sorcerian New Scenario Vol. 1 - The Visitor from Outer Space, Selected Sorcerian 1, Selected Sorcerian 2, Selected Sorcerian 3, Selected Sorcerian 4, Selected Sorcerian 5
- Developed by Quasar Soft: Gilgamesh Sorcerian
[edit] Music
The soundtrack to the original Sorcerian was composed by Yuzo Koshiro, Mieko Ishikawa, Reiko Takebayashi, Hideya Nagata, and Takahito Abe. The Falcom-developed Additional Scenarios were handled solely by Ishikawa.
Soundtrack releases for Sorcerian include:
- Music from Sorcerian: The original score to the PC-88 version of the game.
- All Sounds of Sorcerian: The original sound again, this time in the form of medleys for each scenario, along with two arranged tracks.
- Sorcerian Super Arrange Version: A series of three albums featuring arrangements by Hiroyuki Namba. Volume 1 contains a set of arrangements from the base scenario of Sorcerian. Volume 2 contains arrangements from the base scenario and Additional Scenario Vol. 1, along with the original sound of Additional Scenario Vol. 1. Volume 3 contains arrangements and the original sound from Additional Scenario Vol. 2 and Vol. 3.
- Perfect Collection Sorcerian: A set of 3 2-disc albums containing various arrangements of the base Sorcerian soundtrack, similar to the Perfect Collection Ys album series.
- Sorcerian Forever I & II: Two albums containing upgraded versions of the Sorcerian base scenario soundtrack, similar to the Music from Ys Renewal releases.
[edit] American music changes
Because Romancia: Dragon Slayer Jr. was never released to English audiences, Sierra removed references and altered which songs played during the "Dragon King" level of Scenario II. Further tracks were changed in other levels, but this may be due to a bug, as the original Japanese track order (Minus "Dragon King") is maintained in the English Musician's Guild.
| Original Japanese song | American song replacement | American level | Japanese origin |
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| Survivor | Beautiful Day | The Stolen Scepter | Additional Scenario Vol. 1 |
| Luwan and the Dragon | Bloody River | Cursed Oasis | Lucifer's Floodgate |
| Dark Swamp | The Seal | The Master of Dark Marsh | Tower of Thieves |
| Romacia Kingdom | Evil Shaman | Dragon King | Garden of the Gods |
| Azelba Kingdom | Bloody River | Dragon King | Lucifer's Floodgate |
| Vaides | Survivor | Dragon King | The Stolen Scepter |
| Peaceful Forest | Beautiful Day | Riddle of the Red Jewel | Additional Scenario Vol. 1 |
| The Heavens | Harp | Garden of the Gods | Garden of the Gods |
| Harp | The Heavens | Garden of the Gods | Garden of the Gods |
| Evil Shaman | Cave I | Garden of the Gods | Ice Cavern |
| Cave I | Cave II | Ice Cavern | Ice Cavern |
| Cave II | Beautiful Day | Ice Cavern | Additional Scenario Vol. 1 |
| Forest | Village | Curse of Medusa | Curse of Medusa |
| Village | Medusa | Curse of Medusa | Curse of Medusa |
| Medusa | Underground Fortress | Curse of Medusa | The Missing Magician |
| Underground Fortress | Fire Elemental | The Missing Magician | The Missing Magician |
| Fire Elemental | The Cave of Life | The Missing Magician | The Water of Life |
| The Cave of Life | Pounding Heart | The Water of Life | The Water of Life |
[edit] External links
- Falcom Official Site (Japanese language)
- Sorcerian Data Room (Japanese language)
- Sorcerian at MobyGames
- Sorcerian (DOS) at GameFAQs
- Hardcore Gaming 101: Sorcerian
- Download English MS-DOS Version
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