''Summoner'' is an

action role-playing game An action role-playing game (often abbreviated action RPG or ARPG) is a subgenre of video games that combines core elements from both the action game and role-playing genre. Definition The games emphasize real-time combat where the player h ...

developed by Volition and published by THQ. It was released as a launch title for the

PlayStation 2 The PlayStation 2 (PS2) is a home video game console developed and marketed by Sony Computer Entertainment. It was first released in Japan on 4 March 2000, in North America on 26 October 2000, in Europe on 24 November 2000, and in Australia on 3 ...

in 2000, and was subsequently ported to

Microsoft Windows Windows is a group of several proprietary graphical operating system families developed and marketed by Microsoft. Each family caters to a certain sector of the computing industry. For example, Windows NT for consumers, Windows Server for serv ...

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 Combat (French for ''fight'') is a purposeful violent conflict meant to physically harm or kill the opposition. Combat may be armed (using weapons) or unarmed ( not using weapons). Combat is sometimes resorted to as a method of self-defense, or ...

involving real-time and turn-based mechanisms. A sequel, ''

Summoner 2 ''Summoner 2'' is an action role-playing game developed by Volition and published by THQ as the sequel to ''Summoner''. It was originally released for PlayStation 2 in 2002 and was re-released for the GameCube in 2003 with some visual changes a ...

'', was released in 2002. 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 GOG.com (formerly Good Old Games) is a digital distribution platform for video games and films. It is operated by GOG sp. z o.o., a wholly owned subsidiary of CD Projekt based in Warsaw, Poland. GOG.com delivers DRM-free video games through its ...

(February 25, 2014) and on

Steam Steam is a substance containing water in the gas phase, and sometimes also an aerosol of liquid water droplets, or air. This may occur due to evaporation or due to boiling, where heat is applied until water reaches the enthalpy of vaporization ...

Digital Distribution platform (March 12, 2014).

Plot

The player takes on the role of Joseph and his party. Joseph is an ordinary peasant farmer who is also born a Summoner who can control the rings of Summoning. Joseph and his companions travel throughout the land to acquire the rings to protect the realm of Medeva from attacks by the tyrannical Emperor Murod of Orenia, who is determined to destroy the Summoner and prevent a prophecy that foretells the end of the Emperor's reign by his hands. The characters must also simultaneously attempt to restore the power of the air god, Urath, and foil the depravations of the disciples of his fire and death goddess nemesis, Laharah.

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, 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.

Music

Scott Lee
was th

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 firs
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 ''FreeSpace 2'' is a 1999 space combat simulation computer game developed by Volition as the sequel to '' Descent: FreeSpace – The Great War''. It was completed ahead of schedule in less than a year, and released to very positive reviews, but ...

''.

Reception

The PC version received "generally favorable reviews", while the PlayStation 2 version received "average" reviews, according to the review aggregation website Metacritic. Blake Fischer of '' NextGen'' said that the problem of the latter version "is that it was clearly shoved out the door prematurely, and doing so has all but killed this promising RPG." The PlayStation 2 version won '' GameSpot''s award for "Best Game Story" among console games in 2000. The PC version was later nominated for the website's 2001 "Best Single-Player Role-Playing Game" and "Best Story" prize among PC games, but lost to ''

Wizardry 8 ''Wizardry 8'' is the eighth and final title in the ''Wizardry'' series of role-playing video games by Sir-Tech Canada. It is the third in the ''Dark Savant'' trilogy, which includes '' Wizardry VI: Bane of the Cosmic Forge'' and '' Wizardry VI ...

'' and ''

Anachronox ''Anachronox'' is a 2001 role-playing video game produced by Tom Hall and the Dallas Ion Storm games studio. The game is centered on Sylvester "Sly Boots" Bucelli, a down-and-out private investigator who looks for work in the slums of Anachronox, ...

'' respectively. The former console version also won the awards for Role-Playing Game of 2000 and Storyline of 2000 at ''

IGN ''IGN'' (formerly ''Imagine Games Network'') is an American video game and entertainment media website operated by IGN Entertainment Inc., a subsidiary of Ziff Davis, Inc. The company's headquarters is located in San Francisco's SoMa distri ...

''s Best of 2000 Awards.

Sequel

A sequel, ''

'', was released in 2002. On December 19, 2012, THQ filed for

Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code (Title 11 of the United States Code) permits reorganization under the bankruptcy laws of the United States. Such reorganization, known as Chapter 11 bankruptcy, is available to every business, whe ...

and its properties were auctioned off in individual lots. The ''Summoner'' franchise, among other THQ properties including '' Darksiders'' and '' Red Faction'', was sold to Nordic Games. Nordic Games have subsequently re-branded and published Summoner to the

Digital Distribution Platform.

References

External links

Official website
via Internet Archive * {{Authority control 2000 video games Action role-playing video games Fantasy video games Classic Mac OS games PlayStation 2 games THQ games Embracer Group franchises Windows games Multiplayer and single-player video games Video games developed in the United States