How To Date A Magical Girl!
- January 31, 2019
- Cafe Shiba
- 12h median play time
Get on SteamIn "How To Date A Magical Girl!", you are a regular human attending a school for magical girls, trying to balance your studies, part-time job, and social life while pursuing your romantic interests. Over time, you uncover dark secrets lurking beneath the surface of the seemingly happy-go-lucky school. This dating sim game offers various activities and interactions to build relationships and uncover the mysteries of the academy.
Mac OS
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game features a compelling and thought-provoking story that keeps players engaged.
- The character designs and artwork are visually appealing, with well-done CG scenes.
- The mix of dating sim mechanics with psychological horror elements creates a unique and immersive experience.
- The ending is disappointing and feels like a cliché 'it was all a dream' twist, undermining the story's buildup.
- The gameplay can be tedious and grindy, with repetitive tasks that detract from the overall experience.
- The character development is inconsistent, and the dialogue often feels forced or lacks depth.
- story472 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 69 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The game's story has received mixed reviews, with some players praising its depth and emotional impact, while others criticize it for being predictable and poorly paced. Many found the character backstories intriguing, but the overall narrative often felt undermined by a disappointing ending or clichéd plot twists, such as the "it was all a dream" trope. Despite its flaws, some players appreciated the unique elements and engaging moments within the story, suggesting it has potential for those who enjoy character-driven narratives.
“It's a damn good story, and I think it deserves more positive ratings than it has now.”
“It's thought-provoking, and the depth of the story will probably grow on you for a while after experiencing it.”
“I really enjoyed the story; it was simple yet entertaining and had interesting twists and bits of horror that made me continue for just a little longer even though it was 5 AM.”
“The ending is really the most terrible thing I've seen... it makes the entire story feel all for nothing and I just wasted my time.”
“All the character development is lost and the story becomes meaningless when you say that everything is a simulation and none of it was real.”
“The story is badly written and very predictable.”
- gameplay100 mentions
- 24 % positive mentions
- 62 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the unique mechanics and integration of dating sim elements, while others find it repetitive and tedious. Many noted that the balance between gameplay and story phases is off, leading to a sense of boredom as the game progresses. Overall, while the mechanics are solid and engaging for some, they can become monotonous, detracting from the overall experience.
“Brilliant gameplay and story.”
“If you are bored of the classical 'read and (rarely) choose' visual novels, then I recommend playing this game; its gameplay will feel different for sure.”
“The gameplay centered around setting up dates with the girls and collecting items from the world, also you had to balance your free time with studying, so you wouldn't fail your classes.”
“The gameplay is bad, full stop; one of those 'spend time to make the numbers go up' games, very boring.”
“But the gameplay becomes repetitive, and there are some features you just forget they are there. If you managed to get all you need for your girl and raise your stats, almost half of the game becomes very boring; you are just waiting for the events to happen.”
“Overall, I found the gameplay tediously underwhelming, but the visual novel at its core is worth a read, particularly for anyone who's previously enjoyed 'Doki Doki Literature Club' or similar titles.”
- music74 mentions
- 49 % positive mentions
- 46 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some praising the soundtrack as catchy and memorable, while others criticize its limited variety and repetitiveness. Iconic tracks like "Darkness Creeping In" and "Moonless Dance" stand out, but the overall consensus suggests that while the music complements the game's emotional tone, it can become tiresome due to its minimal selection. Additionally, some users noted issues with sound levels and the quality of certain tracks, leading to a perception of the soundtrack as generally enjoyable but not particularly remarkable.
“The music was well thought out to match the setting and character's emotions.”
“Amazing game, artwork and soundtrack with an emotional, psychological plot twisting story.”
“The art is cute, the story is magnifique and the music is catchy and memorable.”
“Music contains a small number of tracks, so be ready for that.”
“Quite a limited number of music tracks which can make you feel tired by the end of the game.”
“The fact that the makers are selling this VN's bottom of the barrel soundtrack for money is insulting.”
- grinding62 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 3 % neutral mentions
- 97 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game has received significant criticism, with many players finding it tedious and excessive, particularly in relation to stat increases and affection levels. While some acknowledge that grinding is common in dating sims, the sheer volume required here detracts from the overall experience and story progression, leading to frustration and a diminished replay value. Overall, players suggest that the game could benefit from a more balanced approach to grinding, allowing for a more engaging narrative.
“I really wanted to enjoy this visual novel, but after 5 hours of playing, I felt like I wasn't getting anywhere story-wise and the grinding part of the stats began.”
“While I appreciated some of the twists later on, the sheer amount of grinding required for that payoff just did not feel worth it.”
“But this game's use of pointless RPG elements and the amount of grinding necessary really spoiled the experience for me, and based on that, I cannot recommend it.”
- graphics44 mentions
- 32 % positive mentions
- 61 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some praising the creative CG style that effectively portrays intense scenes, while others criticize the regular artwork as lackluster and inconsistent. Although certain characters are well-designed, many feel the overall visual quality is poor, with some noting the presence of graphical glitches that accumulate towards the end. Despite these issues, the unique art style and emotional depth of the visuals are appreciated by several players, making it a noteworthy aspect of the game.
“Amazing game, artwork and soundtrack with an emotional, psychological plot twisting story.”
“All in all I loved the game visuals, the dialogue, the characters (mostly), and it is definitely worth the $9 if not more.”
“The art is really beautiful and there are quite a few artworks in there that made the art stand out to me.”
“It has poor visuals and uninteresting conversations.”
“The writing is lazy, and the artwork is lazy.”
“It's a completely different art style and looks very flat and lifeless.”
- emotional32 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game elicits mixed responses, with some players feeling deeply invested in the characters and their tragic fates, while others criticize the lack of satisfying closure and the predictability of the plot twists. Many appreciate the blend of wholesome and disturbing elements, which heightens the emotional impact, but some feel that the game fails to deliver a coherent narrative, leaving them feeling unfulfilled. Overall, the emotional experience varies significantly among players, with some finding it heartwarming and others feeling detached or disappointed.
“Amazing game, artwork and soundtrack with an emotional, psychological plot twisting story.”
“This game is somehow wholesome and disturbing at the same time, even more so than Doki Doki Literature Club.”
“I was so emotionally invested that seeing all of them [spoiler]die so tragically[/spoiler] and [spoiler]finding out that it was all a dream and those girls don't actually exist[/spoiler] really hurts my feelings.”
- character development12 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is criticized for being undermined by the revelation that the story is a simulation, rendering the characters' growth and experiences meaningless. While the characters are noted for their distinct personalities and appealing designs, the overall impact of their development is diminished, leading to mixed feelings about the narrative's depth. Despite this, the visual and artistic elements, including character design, receive praise.
“They had distinct personalities and pretty cool character designs.”
“Great character designs with various anime tropes.”
“Beautiful story, art, and character design.”
“All the character development is lost and the story becomes meaningless when you say that everything is a simulation and none of it was real.”
- humor10 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's humor is characterized by a blend of sweet, serious, and internet-style wit, with many players finding the dialogue both funny and well-written. Notably, the protagonist's darkly comedic observations during intense moments, including a descent into madness, elicited genuine laughter, even amidst the game's brutal themes. Overall, the humor effectively enhances the storytelling and player engagement.
“I absolutely loved the dialogue being a mix of sweet, serious, and straight internet humor!”
“The game has some pretty funny lines and the final twist was quite interesting, although it was also a bit predictable.”
“Funny dialogues, a well-written story, choices that impact the world, and overall more action is given to you.”
- stability6 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's stability is marked by a gradual accumulation of graphical and audio glitches, particularly during intense or traumatic moments, which enhances the overall atmosphere of discomfort. While the graphics are well-crafted, the increasing glitches towards the end may detract from the experience for some players. Overall, the stability issues are intentional and serve to deepen the narrative impact rather than simply being technical flaws.
“The graphics are well made, but the graphical glitches slowly start to build up more and more and layer over themselves towards the end.”
“The game will use audio glitches, often alongside the violence, to heighten a sense of wrongness and discomfort.”
“The game is significantly longer than DDLC, and the glitches are mostly used alongside traumatic events, which helps put the player in the mindset of the increasingly traumatized and jaded main character, in contrast to the DDLC main character who was cast off as an empty shell once the 'true' game revealed itself.”
- replayability4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is hindered by excessive grinding in certain areas, which many players feel detracts from the overall experience. While some may find value in replaying, the grind can significantly diminish the incentive to return.
“Replayability: yes”
“Replayability: yes”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is praised for being enjoyable and well-crafted, contributing positively to the overall experience despite its flaws.
“This game has flaws, but the experience is very enjoyable nonetheless, with very good ideas and a nice atmosphere.”
