How to play Sorcerer online
- Run left and right: left and right arrow keys
- Jump for the platform, or call it back: up arrow
- Fly in any direction (on the platform): arrow keys
- Fire an energy charge: Space bar (it shoots the way you are facing)
- Choose the level and number of players: F11 (the console’s Select switch)
- Start the game: F12 (the console’s Reset switch) or Space bar
- Player 2: T/F/G/H to move, A to fire (the players take turns)
Gameplay
Evil wizards have sent their creatures to wipe out the good sorcerers, and you are the bravest of the good side. You start on the ground: push up to jump and catch the flying platform. Once you are on it you can move in every direction. If the platform gets close to the ground it dissolves, and you are on foot until you push up to bring it back.
Each shot that hits one of the Forces of Evil scores 30 points. When you clear them, a treasure appears, and touching it adds 80 points. Some screens have storm clouds that throw lightning. Fly through safely and a treasure falls from the sky. Every 1,000 points a new screen opens with more enemies, and after 4,000 points one group of creatures starts to change. You start with four lives. The spare ones are shown at the top of the screen.
Game variations
- Practice: one player, unlimited lives and no score. You can visit every screen, which makes it a good way to scout the later enemies.
- Level One: the normal game, for one or two players
- Level Two: the enemies move much faster, for one or two players
The difficulty switches are not used. Instead, the game gets harder by itself as your score goes up.
Tips
- Catch the platform first. On foot you can only move left and right, which leaves you open to attack.
- Face your target. Shots go the way your sorcerer is facing, so turn toward an enemy before you fire.
- Stay off the ground. If you fly too low the platform dissolves. Keep some height, and push up at once if you lose it.
- Collect every treasure. At 80 points each, treasures are worth more than two enemy hits.
About Mythicon
Mythicon released only three Atari 2600 games, all in 1983: Sorcerer, Fire Fly and Star Fox. All three are scarce today. The manual recommends a trackball (“ball controller”) for higher scores. The emulator has no trackball, but the game plays fine with the keyboard.
Similar games to play next
- Fire Fly – Mythicon’s second game
- Star Fox – Mythicon’s third game, a space shooter
- Joust – another game about flying and fighting in the air
- Sorcerer’s Apprentice – not related, but another 1983 game about magic, starring Mickey Mouse