Summoner (video game)

Summoner is an action role-playing game developed by Volition and published by THQ. It was released as a launch title for the PlayStation 2 in 2000, and was subsequently ported to Microsoft Windows and Mac OS the following year. In the game, the player plays the role of Joseph and can assemble a team of compatriots and summon powerful monsters. The game has a world map, involved storyline, and unique hybrid combat system involving real-time and turn-based mechanisms.

Summoner
PC box art for Summoner
Developer(s)Volition
Publisher(s)THQ
Designer(s)Sandeep Shekhar
Programmer(s)Mark Allender
James Hague
Artist(s)Adam Pletcher
Writer(s)Jason Scott
Michael Breault
Composer(s)Scott Lee
Dan Wentz
Walter Shaw
Platform(s)PlayStation 2, Microsoft Windows, Mac OS
ReleasePlayStation 2
  • NA: October 24, 2000
  • EU: April 6, 2001
  • AU: April 2001
Microsoft Windows
  • NA: March 21, 2001
  • EU: April 26, 2002
Mac OS
  • NA: July 12, 2001
Genre(s)Action role-playing
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

A sequel, Summoner 2, was released in 2002.[1] After the bankruptcy of publisher THQ in December 2012, the Summoner franchise was acquired by Nordic Games, who have since published Summoner on GOG.com (February 25, 2014) and on Steam Digital Distribution platform (March 12, 2014).

Gameplay

In addition to the main storyline, there are over twenty side quests that may be completed. Summoner's combat system is a hybrid system incorporating real-time and turn-based combat,[2] with characters essentially "taking turns" to attack during real-time gameplay. Included within this system is a unique "Chain attack" mechanic, in which players can extend their "turn" by performing special melee attacks at the appropriate time. If done correctly, players can "chain" these special attacks into long sequences, inflicting far greater amounts of damage than they might otherwise have. These special attacks can also have special effects such as inflicting status effects, damaging an enemy's action points or inflicting more health damage than normal. Characters can also acquire and use a variety of special abilities and spells, expending "action points" in order to use these abilities. The game's Summoning mechanic allows the player to conjure monsters that will serve as additional party members, allowing the player to have a 5-character party instead of a 4-character party. These monsters have their own spells and abilities that they bring into combat, but will go rogue and attack the player's party if Joseph is defeated in combat.[3]

Music

Scott Lee was the main composer and senior sound designer of Summoner and did most of the game music with Dan Wentz helping on the soundtrack towards the end of development near gold master. Wally Shaw did sound design and some editing of music towards the middle of development. After interplay went bankrupt, Lee provided the first tech demonstration for THQ. During this time Lee and Wentz also worked on the early Descent 4 trailer music, which later rebranded into Red Faction for legal reasons and FreeSpace 2.

Reception
Reception
Review scores
PublicationScore
PCPS2
AllGame[4][5]
EdgeN/A4/10[6]
EurogamerN/A8/10[7]
Game InformerN/A8/10[8]
GameProN/A[9]
GameRevolutionN/AC−[10]
GameSpot7.6/10[11]7.7/10[12]
GameSpy82%[13]78%[14]
IGN7.6/10[15]8.3/10[3]
Next GenerationN/A[16]
OPM (US)N/A[17]
PC Gamer (US)81%[18]N/A
Aggregate score
Metacritic78/100[19]74/100[20]

Blake Fischer reviewed the PlayStation 2 version of the game for Next Generation, rating it two stars out of five, and stated that "This is PlayStation 2? Unfortunately for the game – and the system – it's proving all too typical."[16]

The PC version received "generally favorable reviews", while the PlayStation 2 version received "average" reviews, according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[19][20]

Sequel

A sequel, Summoner 2, was released in 2002.[21]

On December 19, 2012, THQ filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy [22] and its properties were auctioned off in individual lots.[23][24] The Summoner franchise, among other THQ properties including Darksiders and Red Faction, was sold to Nordic Games.[25][26] Nordic Games have subsequently re-branded and published Summoner to the Steam Digital Distribution Platform.[27]

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gollark: Correction: the Committee just informed me that it actually has 128-bit decimal floats.
gollark: It has 80-bit floats.
gollark: Macron doesn't actually have integers, so do not give it those points.
gollark: I technically caused all of them.

References
  1. "Summoner 2". Deep Silver Volition.
  2. "Summoner - IGN" – via www.ign.com.
  3. Zdyrko, David (October 24, 2000). "Summoner (PS2)". IGN. Ziff Davis.
  4. Allen, Christopher. "Summoner (PC) - Review". AllGame. All Media Network. Archived from the original on November 15, 2014. Retrieved March 31, 2018.
  5. White, Jason. "Summoner (PS2) - Review". AllGame. All Media Network. Archived from the original on November 15, 2014. Retrieved March 31, 2018.
  6. Edge staff (December 25, 2002). "Summoner (PS2)". Edge. No. 92. Future plc.
  7. Bramwell, Tom (April 5, 2002). "Summoner (PlayStation 2)". Eurogamer. Gamer Network. Retrieved March 31, 2018.
  8. Reiner, Andrew (December 2000). "Summoner (PS2)". Game Informer. No. 92. GameStop. pp. 90–91. Archived from the original on September 15, 2008. Retrieved March 31, 2018.
  9. Uncle Dust (October 26, 2000). "Summoner Review for PS2 on GamePro.com". GamePro. IDG Entertainment. Archived from the original on February 6, 2005. Retrieved March 31, 2018.
  10. Liu, Johnny (November 2000). "Summoner Review (PS2)". Game Revolution. CraveOnline. Archived from the original on September 10, 2015. Retrieved March 31, 2018.
  11. Park, Andrew (April 5, 2001). "Summoner Review (PC)". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. Retrieved March 31, 2018.
  12. Stahl, Ben (November 3, 2000). "Summoner Review (PS2)". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. Retrieved March 31, 2018.
  13. Fudge, James (April 16, 2001). "Summoner (PC)". GameSpy. IGN Entertainment. Archived from the original on June 6, 2001. Retrieved March 31, 2018.
  14. Rank, Kevin (December 1, 2000). "Summoner". PlanetPS2. IGN Entertainment. Archived from the original on February 25, 2005. Retrieved March 31, 2018.
  15. Lopez, Vincent (April 5, 2001). "Summoner (PC)". IGN. Ziff Davis. Retrieved March 31, 2018.
  16. Fischer, Blake (January 2001). "Finals". Next Generation. Vol. 4 no. 1. Imagine Media. p. 84.
  17. Rybicki, Joe (December 2000). "Summoner". Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on January 27, 2001. Retrieved March 31, 2018.
  18. Chronis, George T. (July 2001). "Summoner". PC Gamer. Future US. p. 65. Archived from the original on March 15, 2006. Retrieved March 31, 2018.
  19. "Summoner for PC Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved March 31, 2018.
  20. "Summoner for PlayStation 2 Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved March 31, 2018.
  21. "Summoner 2". Deep Silver Volition.
  22. Kohler, Chris (January 23, 2013). "THQ Is Dead. Here's Where Its Games Are Going". Wired. Condé Nast. Retrieved March 31, 2018.
  23. Savage, Phil (January 8, 2013). "THQ's franchises and studios to be auctioned off on a 'title by title' basis". PC Gamer. Future plc. Retrieved March 31, 2018.
  24. Orland, Kyle (April 22, 2013). "Going once, going twice! Gearbox picks up Homeworld in THQ auction". Ars Technica. Condé Nast. Retrieved March 13, 2014.
  25. Sliwinski, Alexander (April 22, 2013). "THQ auction results: Nordic Games takes Darksiders, Red Faction; 505 Games is Drawn to Life". Engadget (Joystiq). Oath Inc. Retrieved March 31, 2018.
  26. Grayson, Nathan (April 23, 2013). "And Everything Else From THQ Went To... Nordic Games?". Rock, Paper, Shotgun. Retrieved March 31, 2018.
  27. "Now Available on Steam - Summoner, 20% off!". Steam. Valve. March 12, 2014. Retrieved March 13, 2014.
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