View source for Software:Shadow Sorcerer

{{Infobox video game
|title = Shadow Sorcerer
|image = Shadow Sorcerer Coverart.png
|caption = Cover art by Larry Elmore
|developer = [[Company:U.S. Gold|U.S. Gold]]
|publisher = [[Company:Strategic Simulations|Strategic Simulations]]<br>U.S. Gold
|producer = Mike Wilding
|designer = George MacDonald<br>Jeff Groteboer
|programmer = Graham Lilley
|artist = Kevin Bulmer
|composer = George Alistair Sanger<br>Martin Walker
|series = ''Dragonlance''
|released = 1991
|genre = [[Software:Role-playing video game|Role-playing]]
|modes = [[Software:Single-player video game|Single-player]]
|platforms = [[Engineering:Amiga|Amiga]], [[Engineering:Atari ST|Atari ST]], [[Software:MS-DOS|MS-DOS]]
}}

'''''Shadow Sorcerer''''' is a [[Software:Role-playing video game|role-playing video game]] published in 1991 by [[Company:Strategic Simulations|Strategic Simulations]]. The game is the sequel to ''Heroes of the Lance'' and ''[[Software:Dragons of Flame (video game)|Dragons of Flame]]''. It is based on the third and fourth  Dragonlance campaign modules, ''Dragons of Hope'' and ''Dragons of Desolation''.

==Plot==
The plot is a faithful representation of the third and fourth module of Dragonlance, ''Dragons of Hope'' and ''Dragons of Desolation''. The same two modules were also adapted into a novel, ''Dragons of the Dwarven Depths''.

==Gameplay==

==Reception==
{{Video game reviews
| rev1 = ''Zero''
| rev1Score = 87% (MS-DOS)<ref name=zero>{{cite magazine|author=Wilson, David|title=''Shadow Sorceror''|url = https://archive.org/details/zero-magazine-23/page/n27|issue=23| date=September 1991|magazine=Zero|page=29}}</ref>
| rev2 = ''CU Amiga''
| rev2Score = 81% (Amiga)<ref name=cuamiga>{{cite journal | author=Regan, Matt | title=''Shadow Sorcerer'' | journal=CU Amiga | date=December 1991 | pages=146}}</ref>
| rev3 = ''The One''
| rev3Score = 77% (Amiga)<ref name=theone />
}}

Matt Regan of ''CU Amiga'' noted that ''Shadow Sorcerer'' largely lacked role-playing elements, but summarized that "for ''AD&D'' junkies this is an amusing diversion with a novel outlook for the genre".<ref name=cuamiga /> In ''Zero'', David Wilson called the game "a marked improvement in ''AD&D'' computer gaming" compared to [[Company:Strategic Simulations|Strategic Simulations]]' other output, aside from ''[[Software:Eye of the Beholder (video game)|Eye of the Beholder]]''. He concluded that "''Shadow Sorceror'' is another sign that SSI is finally getting its act together to produce games that justify the mighty ''AD&D'' licence".<ref name=zero />

''The One'' gave the Amiga version of ''Shadow Sorcerer'' an overall score of 77%, beginning their review by stating that 'it's a pity' that ''Shadow Sorcerer'' "doesn't offer as much" as ''[[Software:Eye of the Beholder (video game)|Eye of the Beholder]]'', furthermore saying that "''Shadow Sorcerer'' fails in that there is either too much or too little going on at one time". ''The One'' expresses that the refugees the player must protect "move at such a slow pace that you can't help getting bored waiting for them" and if the player leaves them to explore, the player is punished in that the refugees are open to attack, and isn't able to get back to them in time. ''The One'' criticises ''Shadow Sorcerer's'' combat, stating that the computer has no sense of simple strategy; the players will often get into combat and prepare the wizard to cast a fireball spell, only to find that the rest of the characters have run into the fight and got in the way, completely wasting it. ''The One'' calls ''Shadow Sorcerer'' good "to a certain extent", and expresses that it "never quite reaches [what] other RPGs have managed to".<ref name=theone>{{cite magazine|title = Eye of the Beholder Review|date = December 1991|url = https://archive.org/details/theone-magazine-39/page/n83|magazine = The One|publisher = emap Images|first = Paul|last = Presley|issue = 39|page = 85}}</ref>

The game is generally regarded as much superior to any early D&D action games,<ref name="R&L">{{cite web | last = Rausch | first = Allen | author2=Miguel Lopez | date = 2004-08-16 | url = http://pc.gamespy.com/articles/539/539300p2.html | title = A History of ''D&D'' Video Games - Part II | publisher = GameSpy | accessdate =2007-03-29}}</ref> and is considered a big step forward in playability for AD&D action games.<ref name="T">{{cite magazine | last =Threadgill | first =Todd | title =Shadow Sorcerer | magazine =Computer Gaming World | pages =70–71 | date =February 1992 | url =http://au.gamespot.com/features/history_add/shadowsorcerer.html | format = review | accessdate = 2007-03-29 | issue=91}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://hol.abime.net/1895 ''Shadow Sorcerer''] at Amiga Hall of Light
* [http://www.atarimania.com/game-atari-st-shadow-sorcerer_11194.html ''Shadow Sorcerer''] at Atari Mania


[[Category:DOS games]]
[[Category:Real-time strategy video games]]
[[Category:Role-playing video games]]
[[Category:Strategic Simulations games]]

{{Sourceattribution|Shadow Sorcerer}}