Exidy Sorcerer

Exidy Sorcerer

The Sorcerer is one of the early home computer systems, released in 1978 by the videogame company Exidy. It was comparatively advanced when released, especially when compared to the contemporary more commercially successful Commodore PET and TRS-80,...

Adventureland

Exidy Sorcerer - Released - 1979

Adventureland is the first of Scott Adams' text adventures. Using simple two word commands you explore an enchanted world, solve puzzles and try to recover 13 lost treasures. The game's display is different from other adventure games like Zork: The Great Underground Empire in that the screen is divided into two "windows": the room description, exits, and items appear on the top part of the screen, and you enter commands on the bottom of the screen.

Air Traffic Controller

Exidy Sorcerer - Released - 1980

This simulation puts you in the role of an air traffic controller in charge of an 15x25 mile airspace (with 2 airports and 10 entry/exit fixes). The player has to process 26 aircraft entering/leaving the area within a 16-99 minutes time frame (adjustable setting, affects difficulty), with radar display updated real-time every 15s. Commands are given via simple keyboard input.

Arrows and Alleys

Exidy Sorcerer - Released - 1980

Arrows and Alleys for the Exidy Sorcerer is a variant of the arcade game Targ where the player takes control of a car that moves through a network of alleys that are viewed from a top down perspective. In the alleys are also a number of arrows that start at the opposite end of the screen and attempts to crash into the player's car. The player's task is to prevent them from doing this by shooting them down first. At some times a pit will open up and a rocket will appear. It has to be avoided just like the arrows but is worth more points when shot. The player has five cars and an extra one is given for every level completed. There are four difficulty levels and the game can be played by one or two players in hot seat. The game was developed by Vic Tolomei and published in 1980 by Quality Software.

Astro Attacker

Exidy Sorcerer - Released - 1982

Astro Attacker is a fixed screen shoot 'em up that is similar to the arcade game Astro Blaster. The player moves a space ship along the bottom of the screen while firing at the enemies that move around the screen. The space ship has a limited amount of fuel and it might run out if the player moves too recklessly. It is also possible to overheat the lazer cannon if it's used too frequently. Each level of the game contains five waves of enemies, each with its own kind that has its own movement pattern. There are spinners, lazer ships, rockets, flame throwers and meteor showers. Like in Astro Blaster, each level ends with the player having to dock with a mothership which restores fuel and shield strength and cools the lazer cannon. Before a game the player can choose the number of shields (lives) from one to nine.

Blackjack

Exidy Sorcerer - Released - 1979

Blackjack is an adaptation of the card game that uses original Las Vegas rules. The game is for one player who plays against an AI opponent. Like in the real game, the player draws cards and has to attempt to get closer to 21 than the opponent. Commands are entered through a text parser and the player can choose to hit, double, split or stand. If the opponent gets an ace an insurance is offered which allows the player to bet on if it has blackjack. If taken the player will come out square if the opponent has blackjack and lose the insurance if it does not. The amount of money to have is decided ahead of a game and the game goes on until it has all been spent. This game was only officially released in Australia.

Chomp

Exidy Sorcerer - Released - 1981

Chomp is a Pac-Man variant. Like in the original game and most of its clones the player controls the chomp through mazes full of dots that have to be collected while being chased by four ghosts that have to be avoided. Any contact with them will lead to a lost life but by eating a power pill the player can for a short moment go after and kill the ghosts. Additionally the chomp can eat berries for bonus points. A level is completed when all dots have been eaten and the game goes on until all of the player's three lives are lost.

Defender

Exidy Sorcerer - Released - 1982

Defender is a computer adaptation of the arcade game with the same name. Like the original it's a scrolling shoot 'em up game where it's possible to move both left and right. The objective of the game is to protect earthlings that aliens are trying to capture and turning into mutants. A radar shows the locations of the aliens and the player's job is to shoot them down before they get away with the humans. A captured earthling can still be rescued by shooting the alien and then catching the earthling and returning it to the ground. In addition to the regular fire there are also smart bombs that destroys everything on the screen and a hyperspace option for getting out of trouble.

Galaxians

Exidy Sorcerer - Released - 1981

Galaxians is a variant of the almost identically named arcade game Galaxian. It is a fixed-screen shoot 'em up where the player controls a space ship moving it left and right along the bottom of the screen while firing a laser at the aliens above. The Galaxians start in a formation and move horizontally across the screen. At times a single alien leaves the formation and swoops down towards the player who has to dodge it as well as any projectiles launched. The aim is simply to kill all aliens and get to the next level while avoiding getting hit. The game is over when all three lives have been lost.

Grotnik Wars

Exidy Sorcerer - Released - 1981

Grotnik Wars is a space shooter played from a first-person perspective. The player flies through space and moves a crosshair across the screen with the aim of shooting down a number of enemy fighters. To complete a level the player has to destroy all but three fighters and the number of fighters occupying the galaxy increases with each new level. The player's ship has a limited amount of shield energy which is depleted when getting hit. It is possible to go into hyperspace to quickly escape enemy attacks but this might also deplete energy. In addition to the fighters there are other enemy ships that can be destroyed for extra points. These are in many enemies taken from well known science fiction franchises and include Doctor Who's TARDIS, Star Trek's Enterprise and Star Wars' Death Star.

Head-On Collision

Exidy Sorcerer - Released - 1980

Head-On Collision is a variant of the Sega/Gremlin arcade game Head-On. The player controls a black car travelling clockwise around a race track made up of five lanes. The track is full of dots and diamonds that give points when collected. Meanwhile an enemy car is driving in the opposite direction and is attempting to crash into the player's car. To avoid losing lives the player has to avoid the enemy by switching lanes which can only be done at four intersections. The player has five cars and when they are all gone the game is over.

Interceptor

Exidy Sorcerer - Released - 1982

Interceptor is a variant of the arcade game Scramble although it only includes the first section where the player flies over a mountainous terrain. The game scroll from left to right with the player flying the interceptor up and down and using two weapons. There are pulses that are fired straight forward and there are bombs that are dropped on ground targets. There are several different enemies that have to be avoided or shot down. There are also energy pods on the ground that have to be destroyed to replenish the ship's energy level. The aim of the game is to fly as far as possible. After 100 km, bonus points are given and the game restarts.

Kadath

Exidy Sorcerer - Released - 1985

Kadath is a multiple choice text adventure based on some of the the environments created by H. P. Lovecraft in his novella The Dream-Quest of Unknown Kadath. It features non-linear exploration, simple inventory puzzles and a time limit based on the number of moves the player makes. After having discovered an ancient tablet at an archaeological dig and spending the last decade trying to translate it with the help of the Necronomicon and other diabolical incunabula, the game's protagonist has finally succeeded in unlocking its secrets and has descended upon the city of Yaddith, the ancient home of the Elder Ones. In order to prevent their return in fifteen days when the stars are right, the Eye of Kadath has to be found to invoke the powers of the Elder Ones and destroy the gate between worlds in order to save all of mankind from their reign of terror.

Kilopede

Exidy Sorcerer - Released - 1982

Kilopede is a variant of the arcade game Centipede. It's a fixed screen shoot 'em up where the player is in control of a beetle that has to kill centipede-like creatures as they move down the screen, row by row, towards the beetle's position. When shooting at the centipede it splits in two parts, both which keep moving down the screen. On the screen there are numerous mushrooms which decide its movement and give it some protection from the beetle's fire. Additionally some other unfriendly creatures will appear such as caterpillars, fleas and spiders. If the centipede manages to reach the bottom a large foot will appear and stomp the beetle to death.

Magic Maze

Exidy Sorcerer - Released - 1979

Magic Maze is a maze game where the objective simply is to reach the maze's exit. This is made harder by pits which when stepped over transports the player to a random location in the maze. Pits are shown before starting but becomes invisible during the game. The size of the maze and the difficulty is set by the player who also gets to choose between two modes: L or M. In the L mode the entire maze is visible (except the pits) while in the M mode it's necessary to memorize the maze since walls only become visible when they are bumped into. The game is played with keyboard by typing in directions (U, D, L, R).

Martian Invaders

Exidy Sorcerer - Released - 1980

Martian Invaders is a Space Invaders variant. Like in the arcade game the player takes control of a space ship that can be moved left and right along the bottom of the screen. Above it are the martians which move back and forth and that the player has to shoot down before they reach the bottom of the screen. Upon killing all of them the game progresses to a new level. Unlike the arcade original there are no barriers to offer protection from the projectiles dropped by the martians. The UFO passing by at the top of the screen makes an appearance though. The player only has one life so when getting hit the game has to be replayed from the start.

Military Encounter

Exidy Sorcerer - Released - 1981

Military Encounter is a computer adaptation of the board game Stratego. It's a single player game played against an AI opponent. Each combatant has forty pieces that they place on their side of the board ahead of the game. One of the pieces is a flag which the opponent has to try and capture. Units have ranks which decide what enemies they can defeat in combat. Higher rank units defeats lower rank units which are then removed from the board. The general is the highest rank and can defeat any other unit. The exception is the spy (the lowest rank) which can only defeat the general but only if it attacks first. There are also bombs which kill any unit that attacks them except for miner units which can dismantle the bombs. The ranks of the enemies are only revealed once they attack or are being attacked. For each turn the player can move one unit one square. The player wins the game by capturing the enemy flag or when the enemy forfeits a hopeless situation. In addition to the regular game there is a Super Encounter mode where the enemy ranks are never revealed.

Munch!

Exidy Sorcerer - Released - 1982

Munch! is a Pac-Man variant. As can be expected the player has to move the muncher through a maze and eat all the dots. At the same times monsters have to be avoided. Eating a power fill will cause the monsters to temporarily become sedated and the player can go after and eat them for bonus points. More bonus points can be earned by eating the fruit that occasionally appears in the middle of the maze. The player has three munchers and an additional one is awarded after 10000 points. When they have all been killed the game ends.

Nike II

Exidy Sorcerer - Released - 1980

Nike II is a side view single screen action game where the player's task is to prevent enemy aircraft from bombing cities and factories. The aircraft fly across the screen from right to left and the player has to stop them by firing missiles at them. Missiles are launched from three silos that the player controls individually with the 1, 2 and 3 keys. The aim is to get the highest score by destroying as many aircraft as possible with the least amount of missiles. The player starts out with 110 points and points are then deducted when a missiles is fired (one point) and a city is destroyed (five points). Despite the game's name, there was no Nike I.

Yahtzee

Exidy Sorcerer - Released - 1979

Yahtzee is a single player adaptation of the popular dice game of the same name. The game starts with the computer rolling five dice and the player can then choose to reroll any number of dice too times. Thereafter the player has to choose one of thirteen categories to score against. Bonus points are given for full houses, straights and yahtzee. The game goes on for thirteen rounds and the aim is to get as high score as possible. The player uses the keyboard to play the game, by entering numbers to first select the dice to reroll and then to pick a category.
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