Sorcery! 3 (iOS) Review

Within a short while of gameplay, the main gimmick of Sorcery! 3 is unmasked, and it's an arresting and complex one in the form of various beacons dotted around the map. Depending on where their light shines upon the numerous areas that can be explored, the timeline shifts dramatically from present to past. It's incredibly interesting to see how swamps, farms, and buildings arise from a barren horizon, and provides a much more complex story than it appears at first.

Of course, there is still an overarching plot - the hero in this instalment is tasked with slaying seven serpents hiding around the area, but these must be found first, and the game gives almost no hint as to where they are. This encourages an unprecedented amount of exploration and, for the first time in the series, plenty of backtracking, especially as a result of the new map-changing mechanic; it's a particularly exciting development for a series that prides itself on being such an open and fluid role-playing experience.

It's also a much more expansive story than its predecessors, weighing in at a chunky six to seven hours above the first two games' measly two-hour lengths. That's not to say there isn't an element of time-based pressure too, however - take too long defeating the seven serpents and the Archmage will get wind of the warrior's journey, making things much more difficult in the fourth and final instalment. It's an interesting way to encourage multiple playthroughs - accept the self-imposed challenges for Sorcery! 4, or replay Sorcery! 3 with an eye to improving on the mistakes made last time?

This is far and away the most ambitious entry in the Sorcery! franchise so far, and it pulls it all off excellently. While the large wasteland ahead may seem daunting at first, its geographical (and temporal!) variety is a pleasant surprise that provides a gateway to a genuinely thrilling plot. With gorgeous illustrations to match Steve Jackson's original Sorcery! books and a gorgeous atmospheric soundtrack, this is the best example yet of the smartphone as a role-playing medium.