Simon the Sorcerer 4: Chaos Happens

Wisecracks, satire and humor abound in this comical adventure of Simon, a young wizard known for his wit and sarcasm even in the face of disaster.

During a sibling quarrel, an accident happens and Simon's mind transcends into another dimension. There, he meets the lovely Alix, daughter of the wizard Calypso, who begs Simon to help save their world from an impending danger. Upon regaining consciousness, he realizes that he must return to that parallel world and do what he can. When he arrives he discovers that an impostor has taken his place and is causing havoc including causing Alix to distrust him. Who is this other Simon really and what does he intend to do?

At first, players take the role of Simon as they explore the various locations in this new world. As the game progresses, switching to another character is possible. There are a multitude of new people for Simon to meet and exchange dialog with, as well as some familiar faces. All characters are voiced and lip-synched in their graphic close-ups. Puzzles consist of standard adventure fare for which players must find inventory objects and solve character related problems. One cannot die, there are no timed sequences, and no labyrinths.

Graphics include two-dimensional backgrounds with fully-modeled characters. Original, electronic music plays in the background throughout. Controls are different in Simon 4 compared to its predecessor. Both mouse buttons control Simon's actions in a point and click system. Keyboard shortcuts are used only for several "quick" commands to access menus and the like. Walking short distances is problem-free since Simon runs by double-clicking the mouse. Travelling to the far reaches of the world is eased with the aid of an interactive map. The game also features an in-game hint system.