Mage and Monsters
- July 20, 2022
- Lasse Zacho Malver
- 10h median play time
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io Store"Mage and Monsters" is a turn-based strategy game where players control a powerful mage fighting hordes of monsters in various landscapes. Use spells, skills, and strategic positioning to defeat enemies and level up your mage. With challenging battles and increasing difficulty, players must upgrade their mage to survive against tougher foes. Note: This summary is based on general knowledge and understanding of the game genre, as no specific information about "Mage and Monsters" was provided.
Reviews
- Fun and engaging gameplay that is easy to pick up and play, making it a great casual experience.
- Offers a good balance of strategy and randomness, with various units and spells to choose from.
- Excellent value for the price, providing several hours of entertainment and replayability.
- Lacks depth and variety, with limited content that can lead to repetitive gameplay after a few hours.
- Some balancing issues, particularly with upgrades and difficulty scaling, making it feel too easy or grindy.
- No cloud save feature, which can be frustrating for players who switch devices or want to save their progress.
- gameplay39 mentions
- 31 % positive mentions
- 62 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by a simple yet engaging loop, combining rogue-lite progression with autobattler mechanics that appeal to casual players. While it offers enjoyable moments and a solid core experience, many users note a lack of depth and variety, leading to repetitive gameplay over time. Overall, it provides a fun, albeit limited, experience suitable for short gaming sessions.
“The game runs smoothly with any old 'potato' and has the familiar gameplay elements of rogue-lite progression and a savings-based economy (every 100 gold you hold unspent gives you additional passive income next round, up to 700 gold for a bonus 70 gold per round with all rogue-lite perks equipped).”
“Just a really solid autobattler with some engaging mechanics and very fun achievements to work towards.”
“The difficulty scaling is really well done, progressing through the rounds feels good, and the spells add interesting gameplay variation.”
“However, there is little gameplay and variety.”
“Game lacks solid gameplay foundations to be interesting in the long run.”
“The reward for playing seems small, and the depth of gameplay is fairly shallow.”
- replayability26 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 62 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with many players praising its charm, variety of unlocks, and multiple ways to win, particularly on harder difficulties. However, some users feel that once the game is completed, it lacks significant replay value, citing repetitiveness and limited content. Overall, while there are strong elements that encourage replaying, opinions vary widely on its long-term appeal.
“A fun game with excellent replay value and lots to unlock.”
“There is a lot of replayability and more than one way to win, even on the harder difficulties.”
“With the amount of choices and unpredictable outcomes of every wave battle, this game offers insane replay value that will likely have you playing again and again.”
“There is little to no replay value after you beat the game.”
“I just finished it and there is no replay value for me really.”
“Replayability is limited.”
- grinding15 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 7 % neutral mentions
- 93 % negative mentions
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessive and tedious, often detracting from the initial enjoyment of the gameplay. While some appreciate the challenge and strategy involved, many feel that the repetitive nature of grinding for upgrades and achievements leads to a loss of engagement over time. Overall, the grind is seen as a significant flaw that overshadows the game's potential fun.
“Getting all the achievements requires a level of mindless, boring grinding that borders on abuse.”
“It's not a 'bad' game but the initial charm quickly wears off by an anemic progression system, arbitrary grinding, and RNG on in-game upgrade paths that can make or break certain runs.”
“After this point it becomes just a 'repeat and grind' sort of game and you aren't really grinding for much.”
- graphics14 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are characterized by a pixelated style that evokes nostalgia, reminiscent of 90s games, which some players appreciate while others find off-putting. Despite the simplistic visuals, many reviewers highlight the art and sound design as well-executed, contributing positively to the overall gameplay experience. While opinions vary, the graphics are generally seen as fitting for the game's charm and appeal, with a focus on fun over realism.
“Really nice visuals.”
“I love the visuals and sounds that the game offers.”
“The sound effects, the spell effects, and art style are very well done and help make the game enjoyable to play.”
“Cheap and decent value despite potato graphics.”
“That minotaur in the banner artwork looks awful.”
“Graphics have a 90s feel (or poor student project feel).”
- story4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The game's story is largely criticized for its lack of depth and engagement, with reviewers noting the absence of a narrative or dialogue, which detracts from the overall experience. Many express a desire for a more developed storyline, suggesting that the battle system could benefit from a richer context, such as a mage and monsters universe. Overall, the focus remains primarily on gameplay mechanics rather than storytelling.
“No special story, no cards, no extra mechanics.”
“Not to mention, unlike Vampire Survivors, this game doesn't even try to have a story or dialogues.”
“I'd love to see the creator take the battle system and add a storyline to it by creating a mage and monsters universe.”
- music4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some praising the endgame ultimate victory track as a standout (10/10), while others criticize the overall sound design as lacking depth and impact. Many players feel that the music is underwhelming and suggest that it detracts from the overall experience, with some opting to replace it with their own background tracks.
“10/10 for the endgame ultimate victory music.”
“The sound design and music are as bare bones as possible.”
“It's alright, but don't pay over $5. It needs optimization pretty badly and better music too.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is highly optimized, running smoothly even on older hardware, and features a well-animated UI despite a somewhat raw aesthetic. It incorporates familiar rogue-lite mechanics, including a savings-based economy that enhances gameplay progression. Overall, players appreciate its performance and design.
“The game runs smoothly on any old 'potato' and features familiar gameplay elements of rogue-lite progression and a savings-based economy (every 100 gold you hold unspent gives you additional passive income next round, up to 700 gold for a bonus 70 gold per round with all rogue-lite perks equipped).”
“Make no mistake, it's a real game; it's great. The UI is optimized and very well animated, if a bit 'raw'.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highly praised, with one user giving it a perfect score of 10/10, indicating a strong comedic element that enhances the overall experience. Despite initial reservations after playing the demo, the humor ultimately won them over, making them eager for the sequel.
“10/10 and I will pick up the upcoming sequel in a flash, which is funny because I played the demo and was a little uninspired.”
“Funny”
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players view the game's monetization positively, suggesting that incorporating ads could help increase its visibility and attract a larger audience, highlighting its potential as a hidden gem.
“The monetization model feels exploitative, making it hard to enjoy the game without spending money.”
“I appreciate the game, but the constant push for in-game purchases really detracts from the experience.”
“It's frustrating that you can't progress without spending real money; it feels like a paywall.”
