Sorcery! Part 4

I've enjoyed the entire series (which I started years ago and just finished part 4 today).

You cant rewind in this installment, and for A LOT OF PPL, it makes it impossible to play. I havnt even played it because of that, which is kind of stupid since i played the other three books to its fullest (found the best possible outcomes). Please dont support this franchise (and the ego developers from INKLE)

The end to one of the best choose your own adventure games, and what a great one. It fullfilled everything i hoped for! i throughly enjoyed my time with sorcery part 4 and the story it tells. ▼˶^ᴥ^˶▼ change in game mechanic: [spoiler]the change in the rewind mechanic can be disabled by an easy gamefile edit. i get what they wanted to accomplish with it, but for me it just made the game more cumbersome[/spoiler]

Sorcery! Part 4 serves as the grand finale to the celebrated interactive fantasy series created by Inkle and based on Steve Jackson’s classic gamebooks. Developed and published by inkle Ltd, the game places players within the legendary Fortress of Mampang, a sprawling stronghold filled with powerful sorcerers, dangerous creatures, hidden secrets, and political intrigue. As the final chapter of a long journey to reclaim the Crown of Kings, the game carries significant narrative weight and succeeds in delivering a conclusion that feels both personal and epic. What immediately distinguishes Sorcery! Part 4 from many fantasy role-playing games is its commitment to player freedom. The fortress itself functions as a vast open-ended playground where exploration is constantly rewarded. Every district, tower, corridor, and hidden chamber offers opportunities to discover new stories, magical artifacts, shortcuts, and unexpected encounters. Rather than directing players down a single path, the game encourages experimentation and curiosity. Multiple solutions exist for many challenges, making every decision feel meaningful and reinforcing the idea that players are shaping their own unique adventure. The writing remains the strongest aspect of the experience. Thousands of narrative possibilities are woven together through a sophisticated choice-and-consequence system that remembers actions from both the current adventure and previous entries in the series. Conversations feel dynamic, moral dilemmas rarely have obvious answers, and seemingly minor decisions can produce significant consequences much later. This creates a remarkable sense of immersion because the world reacts naturally to the player's behavior. Whether acting as a heroic savior, a cunning manipulator, or a pragmatic survivor, players are able to define their own identity throughout the journey. Magic also receives substantial attention and serves as more than a simple combat mechanic. The spellcasting system allows players to influence exploration, social interactions, puzzles, and dangerous situations in creative ways. Learning how and when to use specific spells becomes an enjoyable challenge, especially since many magical solutions are not immediately obvious. The game rewards imagination and careful observation, transforming magic into a genuine tool for problem-solving rather than merely a collection of offensive abilities. One of the most interesting additions is the disguise mechanic, which allows players to alter how various inhabitants of the fortress perceive them. Different outfits and identities can unlock new dialogue options, provide access to restricted locations, or help avoid dangerous confrontations. This feature deepens the role-playing elements and makes interactions feel more nuanced. Combined with the game's branching narrative structure, disguises contribute significantly to replay value, as different approaches can lead to entirely different experiences. The world-building deserves particular praise. Mampang is populated by an eclectic cast of sorcerers, merchants, soldiers, mutants, undead beings, and mysterious magical entities. Every corner of the fortress contains stories waiting to be uncovered, and the game constantly encourages players to investigate rumors, pursue secrets, and question what they encounter. Hidden vaults, secret passages, ancient mysteries, and optional storylines ensure that exploration remains engaging throughout the adventure. The fortress feels like a living place rather than a simple backdrop for the main quest. Visually, the game adopts a distinctive illustrated style that complements its gamebook origins beautifully. The hand-drawn environments possess a timeless charm that helps establish a strong fantasy atmosphere. While the presentation is relatively minimalist compared to modern blockbuster RPGs, it succeeds because of its artistic consistency and imaginative design. Combined with an evocative soundtrack, the visuals help create a sense of wonder, tension, and mystery that perfectly suits the narrative. The game's biggest limitation is that it relies heavily on reading and decision-making. Players looking for fast-paced action or traditional RPG combat may find the experience slower than expected. Additionally, the enormous number of choices and possible outcomes can occasionally feel overwhelming, particularly for newcomers who have not played the previous installments. However, for players who enjoy interactive storytelling and meaningful role-playing, these elements are likely to be strengths rather than weaknesses. Ultimately, Sorcery! Part 4 stands as an outstanding conclusion to one of gaming's finest interactive fantasy adventures. Its combination of deep narrative design, meaningful player agency, expansive exploration, clever magical systems, and exceptional world-building creates an experience that remains memorable long after the final decision is made. The game demonstrates how interactive fiction can deliver emotional investment and player freedom on a level that many larger role-playing games struggle to achieve. As a finale to the Sorcery! saga, it successfully rewards long-time fans while offering one of the most compelling examples of choice-driven storytelling available on Steam. Rating: 8/10

parabens aos envolvidos 11/10

I would recommend people stick with this one even though the lack of rewind can be frustrating - it's for story purposes and there's a lot of ways to beat the game anyway, so just jump in and try, then if you're after a specific ending you can consult guides. Just don't let it put you off giving it a go, the story is worth experiencing blind, makes replays more special IMO. There's opportunities to increase your stamina way past what you need so the rewind mechanic replacement (avoiding spoilers) can be used without worry of being too weak. If you don't obsess over min-maxing you'll have a better time. It's an adaptation of a FF book series after all so you gotta come in with those expectations. Personally adore the ways these games have brought the books to life, with so many new angles to the plot and character depth. It was made early on by Inkle so there are some bugs and typos but for so much content it's to be expected. Worth rolling with the punches for, it's a story that will stay with me for a long time and the way the mechanics are woven into the lore is extremely cool.

I enjoyed the previous versions but this is the worst one. It's easy to get stuck, resources impossible to get at times, and there are occasions it feels like you get punished arbitrarily. But the most frustrating thing is the designers decision to prevent backtracking making the game an unpleasant exercise in trial and error that kills all enthusiasm and interest. Pity really.

It has fine writing but taking away the rewind mechanic is the stupidest decision. A game that is premised on the player exploring on learning, by taking away the rewind mechanic and punishing the player with perma-death, it's just a baffling decision. So if you're up for redoing your entire run or just love a slog, this maybe for you, otherwise, I don't get what the devs were thinking on this one. It should've been a nice payoff for a long journey, instead, it's just trying to pull some dough really far apart and leaves a bad taste on what should be a strong finish.

A great end to a great series.

I highly recommend the entirety of the "Sorcery!" journey.