PAPER SORCERER

THE EVIL BARD'S TALE

Actually… i don't know if Paper Sorcerer was a tribute to Bard's Tale, but when i played to and completed this little gem, that was the first oldie that came to my mind. I am pretty sure that Jesse Gallagher the Self-Made Creator and Owner of Ultra Runaway Games, was influenced by Bard's Tale. Whatever… If you're looking for a great Old School Dungeon Crawler, you're at the right place ! click right here to go to the Steam Store.

Paper Sorcerer is not a Dungeon Master like… You can move Freely yes, and explore rooms to search for stuff or activate hidden switches, but the battles are like those in Bard's Tale, you assign your actions to your 4 characters, you end your turn and then you pray that everything goes according to your plan 😉 But what's also important to know is… In Paper Sorcerer you're playing the BAD GUY ^_^

Here are some screenshots (click to enlarge)

KILL THOSE PALADINS

Ever wanted to be on the dark side of the moon ? Are you sick of all those Forces of Good that always prevail against the poor little villains ? :-‘( Then show me your vampire teeth, as today we're going to crucify Paladins, Let the Good Rangers taste their own blood, send the clerics back to their god, and burn the magicians with the fires of inferno ! No you're not in Dungeon Keeper… You're in Paper Sorcerer !

You have been banished and imprisoned in a Book, thus you have to escape from these Paper shackles ! But it won't be easy as the forces of good made sure you would stay in your paper coffin for eternity ! To get out of your paper jail, you need to break your chains ! And trust me it's not going to be an easy task… It seems like you were an INFAMOUS Sorcerer, and to ensure you stay where you are… The best defenders of the realm as well as the most FAMOUS Heroes have been tasked to guard the chains… With their life !

Some more screenshots (click to enlarge)

THE POWER OF EVIL

You haven't only been imprisoned in a book… You have been deprived of all your powers and minions ! So… you need to rebuild your team of course, and retrieve your powerful sorcerer magic ! That's where the RPG part comes in, as you advance through the game, through the pages of your paper cell… You fight and destroy good beings, team up with some powerful minions who all got different powers and perks, and all your party will gain experience, raise in levels, and equip powerful weapons and armor… to show the realm of men EVIL can't be stopped !

And guess what ? At some point you'll also discover that you're not alone in this book, that several other villains have been imprisoned like you… And so there is a Town ! Yes an evil town where you can buy and sell stuff, raise your skills to the local trainer, but also grind some experience and find valuable items by exploring the Catacombs ! If you're looking for a real challenge, choose the 1980's difficulty ! You won't be able to win fights without Crowd Control spells, and each Boss (yes the most Famous HEROES !) will be a Pain in the Ass !

Another set of screenshots (click to enlarge)

CONCLUSION

Paper Sorcerer playground is quite big ! The book is vast, there are many levels to explore if you want to get out… I don't remember exactly how long it took me in 1980's difficulty, but i think it was over 40 hours ! The graphics are very nice, there are many cool animations during battles, and the soundtrack is a Mix of Modern Music and Old Midi sounds ! Really great if you ask me, i even listen to it while i am writing this article.

The Game is only 4€ right now ! It's a STEAL for such a GREAT experience, because trust me you'll ENJOY Paper Sorcerer from A to Z ! Though the game is not supported anymore, it has only a few minor bugs and the game can be completed 100%. The soundtrack is also sold separately and when you know that Jesse made everything by himself… Game from A to Z, animations, soundtracks… It's a BIG Accomplishment !

On a sad part… the game have been widely pirated and shared on the usual torrents. Even Jesse posted a comment on the Pirate Bay, to say he had just made enough money to cover the development but not more than that. So unfortunately there will never be any sequel to Paper Sorcerer, but still it's one of the most shining independent role playing game you can play to.

If you're a Bard's Tale nostalgic… Go and BUY IT ! 4€ for this game is a JOKE… It's WORTH MUCH MORE !

Here are the last 6 screenshots (click to enlarge)

Update 2021 : Also in a largely more “modern” style, looking like a might & magic with plenty of puzzles, battles and a solid story to keep you motivated, i would recommend you to play to Operencia. A Dungeon Crawler RPG made by Fans for Fans !