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About the StoryYou are online. Game Details
Language: English (en)
First Publication Date: May 5, 2016 Current Version: 1.0 License: Commercial Development System: Twine Forgiveness Rating: Tough IFID: Unknown TUID: hslgyznv9n2hou7k Referenced in Excellence Corporation: Roombat, by Aliizi |
Awards
Nominee, Best Game; Nominee, Best Writing; Nominee, Best Story; Winner, Best Individual PC; Nominee, Best Use of Innovation; Nominee, Best Use of Multimedia - 2016 XYZZY Awards
21st Place - Interactive Fiction Top 50 of All Time (2023 edition)
Editorial Reviews
80% Relatable
Two Queers Play Open Sorcery
What happens when a fire elemental with emerging sentience is tasked with becoming a living firewall? Turns out: a whole lotta gay. Yeah, we didn't see it coming, either.
See the full review
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Member Reviews
| Average Rating:  Number of Reviews: 5 Write a review |
Most Helpful Member Reviews
Stupendous use of Twine, very engaging!, December 22, 2016I'm late to the party on this one, as I've heard spectacular reviews, and first encountered Corfman's clever ...Ways to Kill a Vampire in IFComp.
This narrative is even better, weaving cyberpunk, horror, some incredibly moving scenes expressed very simply, and a quest arc that involves gathering powers that can be used in the finale.
It has a bit of a Choice of Games feel, where you gather stats to funnel into the correct ending, but this felt a bit more immediate and engaging with just enough formatting and multimedia glitz that does not come off as excessive or superfluous.
The finale is timed and that gives a sense of terrified urgency, but I didn't feel like the time limit was imposed to make me click faster. (Spoiler - click to show)My playthrough ended unsuccessfully, but I think that was more a matter of I hadn't learned enough during the buildup, and became more of "what else can I try?" instead of "I don't have enough time to do this." Cleverly, the game foreshadows this with a smaller timed sequence earlier on. Seeing as I lost, the game gave me the satisfying option of hurling myself at the boss in a redemptive (although sadly unsuccessful) kamikaze effort.
The timed finale feels very earned and satisfying, even on a fail, and I am actually planning to try this again soon. The game remembers your progress via a browser cookie and doesn't make you start completely over which is a huge plus.
Great game. Should be attempted by everyone who wonders how to create a Twine that actually has legitimate gaming elements.
Outstanding fantasy/sci fi blend. Lengthy illustrated twine game., May 16, 2016This game plays out over the course of several days in-game, perhaps a week. It is quite large, on the order of size of Twine games like Birdland, but feels a bit smaller than Spy Intrigue. I have played it once, but it seems to have high replay value.
The visuals on this game are gorgeous, especially when sleeping. The font, letter spacing, and color choices give a DOS type feel. The game is sprinkled with occasional images and animation.
You play a living firewall, an elemental charged with protecting a magic/tech network with 4 locations.
You are presented with a sequence of mysteries, one a day, which you use clues to solve. You can then deal with the mystery in many ways, raising and lowering various stats a la choice of games.
The game includes several times sequences, some violence and some sexual activity.
My only quibble is about one image, and it's a tiny issue: (Spoiler - click to show)I didn't like the illustration of the main antagonist, I thought it was cheesy.<\spoiler>
Good, May 11, 2016This is very good interactive fiction. There is much more decision-making than there is in the average IF game, with multiple locations and days.
You play to find and eliminate spiritual threats in locations of importance to your creators, and the way you eliminate them is up to you - this aspect of the game is quite tactical, allowing you to use assets and your own wits to gain more of those assets to employ in dangerous situations later.
The only complaint I can think of is the expanded version. I am not sure what "Expanded" means in this case, but if it means it is a more immersive experience then I find it irritating that I don't have an iPhone or android to download and play this "Expanded version".
See All 5 Member Reviews
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Open Sorcery appears in the following Recommended Lists:vv's comfort food IF by verityvirtue
Like it says on the tin. I hope these give you a measure of comfort as well.
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A few months ago, I thought, "There really aren't that many sci-fi IF games". Then I started going through old games I had played, and downlaoded TADS, and was shocked at how many great sci-fi games there are. This is a list of my...
Polls
The following polls include votes for Open Sorcery:Non-human Perspectives by Rhetta_Lynnea
I'm looking for IF narrated by aliens, animals, anything.
Your Favorite/Best Twine Games by thecanvasrose
1. Please leave a description with your vote and tell me what the game is/why you like it/etc. 2. Free to play games preferred. 3. I'm interested to see what's new or less well known.
For your consideration: XYZZY-eligible Writing of 2016 by MathBrush
This is for suggesting games released in 2016 which you think might be worth considering for Best Writing in the XYZZY awards. This is not a zeroth-round nomination. The category will still be text-entry, and games not mentioned here...
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