A Sceptic's Guide to Magic

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In "A Sceptic's Guide to Magic," players assume the role of a skeptical forensic investigator, Lester Chapman, who gets drawn into a mystical world of witchcraft and primordial forces after witnessing a bizarre crime scene. As Lester delves deeper into the mystery, he forms an unlikely alliance with two teenage witches, Fianna and Val, to uncover the truth behind their friend's ritualistic murder. Along the way, Lester learns to reconcile his rigid scientific beliefs with the arcane mysteries of magic.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

87%

Audience ScoreBased on 42 reviews

story18 positive mentions

grinding2 negative mentions

Engaging and well-written story with interesting characters and multiple endings, making it a compelling experience.
The game features enjoyable spellcrafting mechanics and a cozy supernatural detective vibe, reminiscent of classic point-and-click adventures.
Improved graphics and sound design compared to previous titles from the developer, enhancing the overall atmosphere of the game.

The music can be grating and detracts from the overall experience, leading some players to turn it off.
Gameplay can involve tedious pixel hunting for items, which may frustrate players and slow down the pacing of the story.
Some dialogue and character interactions feel out of touch or cringeworthy, particularly regarding cultural references and accents.

story
38 mentions
47 % positive mentions
45 % neutral mentions
8 % negative mentions
The story of the game is a mix of intriguing elements, including a murder investigation intertwined with magic and science, featuring twists and dark humor. While some players found the plot to lack focus and rely heavily on shock value, many appreciated the well-written characters and engaging narrative that kept them hooked. Overall, the game is recognized for its mature storytelling and the potential for multiple endings, making it a notable entry in the genre despite some pacing issues.
- “The story is about an investigation into the gory death of a person found in an abandoned house.”
- “The story is fascinating and the humor is still there.”
- “An enjoyable story, fun characters, and a decent length combine to make this one of the better games I've seen made in this style.”
- “The plot twist of Lester's dead son felt like it came from nowhere, and perhaps too late in the story to add much.”
- “The plot kind of dithers here and there, and really loses focus in the middle of the story.”
- “I don't know, maybe I am just too stupid for this game, or its interface and story are not intuitive at all, but I really had to do every step only with the help of this guide... so there is no fun at all.”
music
14 mentions
50 % positive mentions
36 % neutral mentions
14 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews; while some players find it grating and reminiscent of corny Halloween chip tunes, others appreciate the upgraded soundtrack and its ability to enhance the atmosphere. Many praise the music for fitting the scenes well, with notable mentions of witchy tunes and creative remixes, particularly in the bonus chapter and end credits. Overall, the nostalgic 90s vibe and varied musical elements contribute positively to the game's experience for many players.
- “I love the upgraded graphics, music, and sounds compared to the old game.”
- “I also love the witchy tunes and the minor key Christmas songs from the bonus chapter.”
- “The soundtrack is excellent, the music sets the mood for every location on the map, and while there are a lot of recycled sound effects from the space pilgrim saga, the sound effects are all realistic enough, including in those unrealistic moments like magic being invoked.”
- “My one complaint is that the music is gratingly bad.”
- “The 90s vibe is excellent and can be felt in little touches throughout the game - the overhead perspective, the menu interfaces (where you purchase items, craft spells, and view your inventory), the retro art style, and even the music has a definitive midi quality.”
graphics
13 mentions
38 % positive mentions
38 % neutral mentions
23 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are a mix of retro pixel art and upgraded visuals, appealing to fans of nostalgic aesthetics while also receiving criticism for being outdated. Many players appreciate the cute character designs and the overall art style, though some feel the pixel graphics detract from the experience, especially when compared to modern standards. Overall, the graphics evoke a 90s vibe that complements the game's themes, but opinions vary widely on their quality and execution.
- “I love the upgraded graphics, music, and sounds compared to the old game.”
- “The art style and music are also good.”
- “The 90s vibe is excellent and can be felt in little touches throughout the game - the overhead perspective, the menu interfaces (where you purchase items, craft spells, and view your inventory), the retro art style, and even the music has a definitive midi quality.”
- “A fun detective game, well worth the price, if you don't mind the pixel graphics.”
- “They chose to use obsolete retro pixel 'art' as a substitute for contemporary PC graphics.”
- “Crappy graphics and crappy gameplay with no real evidence the developers are capable of making any kind of modern PC game, confirmed by the way they dumped this into bargain basement shovelware bundles make this completely impossible to recommend.”
gameplay
9 mentions
44 % positive mentions
33 % neutral mentions
22 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the reviewed games varies significantly; while one title is criticized for its poor graphics and misleading mechanics, another is praised for its engaging story, multiple endings, and enjoyable point-and-click adventure elements. Additionally, a unique spellcrafting mechanic adds depth to the gameplay by requiring players to gather ingredients and solve puzzles. Overall, opinions on gameplay range from negative to highly positive, depending on the title.
- “A skeptic's guide to magic provides a well-written and intriguing story with multiple endings and fun, fleshed-out adventure gameplay (point-and-click style).”
- “Offers multiple endings, good gameplay, nice graphics, and believable characters.”
- “Gameplay is simple, the story is pretty good, and the characters are very fun.”
- “The developers claim to be using point and click mechanics similar to LucasArts/Sierra adventures, but this is a blatant lie; the game is a JRPG ripoff using a poorly executed retro pixel Final Fantasy look.”
- “Crappy graphics and poor gameplay, with no real evidence that the developers are capable of making any kind of modern PC game, confirmed by the way they dumped this into bargain basement shovelware bundles, make this completely impossible to recommend.”
humor
6 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in "A Sceptic's Guide to Magic" is present but less frequent compared to the developer's previous work, "Space Pilgrim Academy: Reunion," and is often intertwined with darker themes. While the game features humorous dialogue and a memorable fourth-wall-breaking bonus chapter, the overall tone is more serious, providing a mix of lightheartedness and depth.
- “The story is fascinating and the humor is still there.”
- “Once you complete the game for the first time, the bonus chapter is unlocked in the credits in a really hilarious breaking of the fourth wall.”
- “I liked the characters and enjoyed the story, humorous but sometimes with a darker touch.”
grinding
2 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Players appreciate that there is no grinding through levels due to the absence of combat, which alleviates the typical tedium associated with RPG Maker games. However, the engine's requirement for physical character movement can still contribute to a slower pace in exploration.
- “RPG Maker games usually make this more tedious just by being themselves: the engine usually forces the player to physically move the character to a spot, rather than using the mouse cursor, and then check the area.”
emotional
1 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate a desire for a shift from violent themes to more wholesome, emotionally uplifting narratives, as seen in the preference for adventure games like the Space Pilgrim series. While some appreciate the absence of a direct murderer role in the current game, there remains a longing for more positive emotional experiences in gaming.
replayability
1 mentions
200 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The game offers decent replayability due to its multiple endings, providing players with a reason to revisit the experience for different outcomes.
- “The game offers a variety of choices that significantly change the outcome, making each playthrough feel fresh and exciting.”
- “With different character paths and unlockable content, I find myself coming back for more every time.”
- “It's a good night's entertainment, and the multiple endings do add some replay value.”
optimization
1 mentions
0 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
300 % negative mentions
The game suffers from optimization issues, particularly with OBS capture, which requires additional effort to set up correctly. This is a common problem noted in RPG Maker-style games.
- “The game is not optimized for OBS, so it took a little work to get it to capture correctly. This seems to be a common problem with RPG Maker style games I've been finding.”
- “The performance issues are frustrating, as the game struggles to maintain a stable frame rate even on mid-range hardware.”
- “I encountered frequent crashes and long loading times, which really detracted from the overall experience.”