REVIEW – The point-and-click franchise, which debuted in 1993, has received a new installment. As the name suggests, it is a prequel that will appeal to a new, modern audience as well as veterans who followed the adventures of the sorcerer kid in the ’90s. However, it should be noted that this game appeals more to fans of the original games, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

The little boy is humorous, a characteristic feature of the franchise, but there is something new about it.

New Place, Old Style

The story of StSO begins with Simon settling into a new place and finding himself in a mysterious, magical location. The game doesn’t take itself too seriously and often comments on things humorously when we try to use the wrong object. It’s also crude, especially when he tries to communicate with the locals in the new area, but that was characteristic of him back then. The visuals, however, are not. The sprites are nicely animated, and the scenes are put together in a way that’s pleasant and almost gives the game a Walt Disney feel. The characters and environment are varied enough, and StSO doesn’t disappoint in terms of dubbing—Chris Barrie is back to voice Simon! The characters come to life, accompanied by just the right amount of humor. However, the music selection may come as a bit of a surprise, as Rick Astley can be heard during the opening scene. (Need we say more? Think of Never Gonna Give You Up, or Rickroll.) The point is that the game tried to build on a retro style, and it did so very well. Looking back, the music selection fits.

But what about the gameplay? Don’t worry; it’s similar to what we’ve seen in previous installments. We go here and there, collect items, combine them, and choose options during dialogues. This requires a little patience, as it is part of the genre, as is the fact that the game will not constantly bombard us with hints. For example, we have to figure out that we can use a feather to tickle in order to get a key. The game takes a completely old-school approach, so there’s no yellow paint showing us where to go unless the game explicitly tells us. In our defense, though, the difficulty level of StSO is not so high that we’ll throw the controller away in frustration. All you need is perseverance and patience. In time, everything will fall into place. You’ll slap your forehead and say how logical it all was and how you didn’t try it at first. However, as always, there are things we cannot ignore. Ultimately, these factors played a role in why the game received a “very good” score instead of an “excellent” one.

Back and Forth, Over and Over

We liked how map markers appear in the game world as giant pushpins. We also liked the many hidden animations and unexpected funny moments. However, this requires experimentation, which not everyone will be willing to do. It would be worth it, though. One annoying thing was the constant back-and-forth movement in the areas. This can make the gameplay repetitive, which dampens the mood. There are certainly no complaints about the PlayStation 5 performance (how could there be?). The controls are adequate. In the classic control scheme, for example, R2 is used to run; L2 brings up hotspots; the touchpad brings up the map; and the left analog stick moves the cursor. In the Direct Control option, the left analog stick moves Simon, and holding down R2 allows him to run.

However, there’s one more negative point: the game is quite short. Unfortunately, it can be completed in three hours. Even if you get stuck, it certainly won’t take more than four hours. In this case, there isn’t much reason to replay it. Another divisive factor could be the visual style, which may seem amateurish despite the fact that the artistic direction is consistent with the franchise’s previous representations.

Simon Back in Action

The game was released a month ago. Despite this, it only has 139 reviews on Steam, 85% of which are positive. Why are there so few? It deserves at least ten times that number! Simon the Sorcerer Origins is an excellent game. It’s appealing from every angle. However, it’s a bit short, there’s a lot of backtracking, and some people may lack the patience for it. However, if you like the franchise or point-and-click games, you should immediately spend the €25 on the game because it’s worth it. Smallthing Studios has done an excellent job reviving the franchise, so don’t overlook this game. It deserves attention!

-V-

Details:
Developer: Smallthing Studios
Publisher: Inin Games
Release date: October 27, 2025
Genre: point and click