Lupin the Third: Treasure of the Sorcerer King

by Rice Burner
February 09, 2004 00:00 AM PST

There�s a new thief in town, and he�s aiming to steal a spot in your video-game collection.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with Lupin the Third, he�s a suave, goofy, world-traveling master thief. He and his gang of cohorts wander the globe testing their larceny skills, staying one step ahead of the law, punishing the unjust, and living the rich life. The 1967 manga has gone on to spawn three television series, nine theatrical films, 13 television movies, and a horde of straight-to-video specials spanning more than three decades in Japan.

Pleasure Before Work
Lupin the Third: Treasure of the Sorcerer King is a third-person action/adventure/stealth game. The look and feel of the entire game eerily resembles the 1979 Lupin film Castle of Cagliostro in a warm and fuzzy way. Lupin must use stealth, cleverness, and nonlethal force to pilfer a priceless treasure, evade Interpol, and save a prepubescent princess from an evil aristocratic despot. As the game progresses, all the familiar characters make their appearances, such as the wisecracking gunman Jigen, the enigmatic Samurai Goemon, the alluring golddigger Fujiko, and Lupin�s archnemesis, the bumbling Interpol Inspector Zenigata.

It�s Only Wrong If You�re Caught
Many of Lupin�s master larceny skills are present in Treasure of the Sorcerer King, such as the ability to mimic statues, don disguises, pickpocket for items, and use gadgets. Pickpocketing can provide clues for puzzles and collecting bonus items. Disguises help Lupin bypass checkpoints and guards, but they inhibit his default abilities. The graphics exceptionally transport the original 2D characters onto the 3D plane, and the soundtrack can literally pass as B-sides from Castle of Cagliostro.

Several problems flaw the magical aura of Treasure of the Sorcerer King. The camera controls are horrific. The camera will climb above you instead of pass through obstructions. This leads to instances where you lose sight of Lupin in the most harrowing times. The A.I. seems rather simplistic�guards will neither chase you into other rooms nor call for reinforcements if you are spotted. Despite these minor gripes, Treasure of the Sorcerer King is a good gaming experience and an exhilarating encounter for any fan of Lupin the Third.