Mage's Initiation

About

Mage's Initiation is a single player role playing game with a fantasy theme. It was developed by Himalaya Studios and was released on January 30, 2019. It received very positive reviews from players.

"Mage's Initiation" is a nostalgic, point-and-click adventure game set in the medieval land of Iginor. D'arc, a trainee mage, must complete a daunting quest assigned by his Masters, retrieving three powerful items scattered across treacherous terrains. Encounter various magical creatures, solve puzzles, and make crucial choices that will affect D'arc's fate in this coming-of-age story.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

91%

Audience ScoreBased on 178 reviews

story56 positive mentions

grinding12 negative mentions

A nostalgic throwback to classic Sierra-style point-and-click adventure games, particularly reminiscent of Quest for Glory.
The game features beautiful pixel art, a variety of magic types that enhance replayability, and logical puzzles that avoid frustrating 'moon logic'.
Engaging story with moral dilemmas and multiple choices, making it enjoyable for fans of the genre.

The main character's voice acting is often criticized as being poor and monotonous, detracting from the overall experience.
Combat mechanics can feel repetitive and simplistic, lacking depth compared to other RPGs, which may disappoint some players.
The game suffers from excessive dialogue and some tedious backtracking, which can disrupt the pacing and immersion.

story
210 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
70%
3%
The game's story is a nostalgic homage to classic adventure titles like "Quest for Glory" and "King's Quest," featuring moral dilemmas, multiple choices, and a richly developed world. While many players appreciate the engaging narrative and character depth, some criticize it for being generic and overly task-oriented, with a desire for more unique story trajectories. Overall, it offers a blend of immersive storytelling and clever puzzles, appealing particularly to fans of retro adventure games.
- “The story for this game is excellent with many climaxing points, and you can see from how it was executed that the writer on the team not only has a great talent for the art, but sets tones and themes very well in his stories.”
- “The story is totally immersive and cleverly designed without inconsistencies like some other RPG-adventures these days have.”
- “The story is very fluid and the puzzles keep coming fast, keeping the game fun and challenging!”
- “My other second quibble with the game is how generic it is and how task-like the story is set up as.”
- “It's too bad those annoying mazes with their repeated tedious combat are such a big part of the game, because the story and puzzles they get in the way of are a lot better.”
- “Mediocre: the story and writing.”
graphics
32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
41%
9%
The graphics of the game are praised for their beautiful pixel art and charming hand-drawn style, reminiscent of classic point-and-click adventures from the 90s, particularly evoking nostalgia for titles like King's Quest. While the overall visuals and atmosphere are well-received, some reviewers noted that the cutscene animations feel jarring and inconsistent with the game's aesthetic. Overall, the artwork is considered excellent, contributing to a rich and engaging experience for fans of the genre.
- “The graphics and the atmosphere are great.”
- “Beautiful visuals, logical puzzles, and creative characters in a large world to explore.”
- “Charming hand-drawn art style that reminds me of the golden age of adventure games.”
- “- Cutscene animations are jarring for the aesthetic of the game.”
- “Note: graphics are old school, so if that is not your thing, you might want to pass.”
- “* Cut scenes did not match the art style of everything else, which made it feel like it was added afterwards and not part of the original direction of the game.”
gameplay
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
64%
18%
Gameplay reviews highlight a mix of innovative and clunky mechanics, with some players appreciating the blend of old and new elements while others find the controls slow and unresponsive. The choice of magic adds a slight variation to gameplay, but the overall experience is marred by tedious point-and-click mechanics and frustrating arcade combat. Despite some interesting twists and strengths that keep the game fresh, many players feel that the execution falls short, leading to a less enjoyable experience.
- “The vibe of each chapter is different, with small yet interesting mechanics twists, which keep the game fresh.”
- “The few flaws barely detract from the gameplay, and the strengths more than compensate for any shortcomings.”
- “Nice mechanics, not just the classic ones (e.g., combat difficulty, spells, exploration, getting experience from talking, choosing between 3 types of menu).”
- “I didn't like the story much and the game mechanics were clunky.”
- “A developer that doesn't understand the meaning of point n' click offers a tedious gameplay the universe was glad to leave behind decades ago.”
- “The abrasive adventure gameplay is further degraded by arcade combat.”
music
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
The music in the game is widely praised for its impressive orchestration and ability to enhance the overall atmosphere, complementing the visuals and gameplay seamlessly. Reviewers highlight the soundtrack as a standout feature, noting its effectiveness in setting the tone without being distracting. Overall, the music contributes significantly to the game's immersive experience.
- “The music that was orchestrated also sets the tone of the game really well, kudos to the musician for an excellent job.”
- “Reason for a purchase: the music creates a wonderful atmosphere ♪♫ ;”
- “A musical score that never distracts but always compliments the scene.”
replayability
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
43%
19%
The game offers significant replayability due to its four distinct mage classes, each with unique abilities and class-specific side quests, encouraging players to explore different playstyles. Additionally, branching options and the potential for a perfect run enhance the experience, as players can discover various outcomes and achievements in multiple playthroughs. Overall, it is praised as a fantastic point-and-click adventure with ample replay value.
- “A little longer if you go for a perfect run, listen to/read all the dialogue and notes/books, etc. I think it has some replayability as each mage class has different abilities and a different class-specific side quest even if the main story arc is the same.”
- “There are a few branching options, so it has good replay value as well. I can see from my achievements that I only completed about half of them and missed a few things during my playthrough altogether!”
- “In the beginning, you choose your element from among four, so there's some replay value.”
- “A little longer if you go for a perfect run, listen to/read all the dialogue and notes/books, etc. I think it has some replayability as each mage class has different abilities and a different class-specific side quest, even if the main story arc is the same.”
- “But where QFG had different skills to master and use to solve puzzles in different ways (and classes, but they were pretty fluid), Mage's makes you choose from four magic types, which I'm guessing gives it a similar kind of replay value.”
humor
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is generally considered lacking compared to classic titles from Sierra and LucasArts, with many reviewers noting that while there are occasional amusing moments, they are few and far between. Some found the humor to be out of place or ineffective, suggesting that a stronger comedic element could have enhanced the overall experience and compensated for weaker writing. Overall, the game pays homage to old point-and-click adventures, but it misses the mark on delivering consistent humor.
- “It's a very nice homage to the old point and click adventures, I giggled at the funny bits, I enjoyed the storyline, and I hope to Bob that the next one doesn't take 10 more years to make.”
- “Sometimes the responses are slightly amusing... not as much humor built into them as old Sierra and LucasArts games though.”
- “A bit of humor could have really helped gloss over the weak writing.”
grinding
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be overly tedious, with slow movement between screens and excessive random combat detracting from the overall experience. Many express frustration with the maze-like areas and repetitive tasks, which overshadow the more engaging story and puzzles. Overall, the grinding feels pointless and outdated, leading some to avoid combat unless necessary for material collection.
- “Once you get the hang of it (which was also tough at first, and added to the bad early impression the game makes) it's not hard, just kind of tedious and pointless really, and you end up having to fight way too many random trash mobs while wandering aimlessly through the maze-like areas.”
- “It's too bad those annoying mazes with their repeated tedious combat are such a big part of the game, because the story and puzzles they get in the way of are a lot better.”
- “A developer that doesn't understand the meaning of point n' click offers a tedious gameplay the universe was glad to leave behind decades ago.”
atmosphere
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
25%
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised, with many noting that it successfully retains the charm of its predecessor, Quest for Glory, despite having less humor. The graphics and music contribute significantly to creating a captivating and immersive experience, making it a compelling reason for purchase. Overall, the game is described as very atmospheric.
- “The graphics and the atmosphere are great.”
- “Very atmospheric.”
- “Reason for a purchase: the music creates a wonderful atmosphere.”
stability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, the game's stability is mixed; while some players report minor glitches that can be bothersome, others have experienced smooth gameplay, particularly after recent updates. Frequent saving is recommended to mitigate potential issues.
- “This game has some annoying, minor glitches, so save often.”
- “I found no bugs or glitches in my first playthrough as a water mage, possibly because I played after several fixes.”
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
Character development is primarily focused on leveling up, enhancing stats, and equipping armor, complemented by a well-designed inventory system that allows for strategic customization and progression.
- “Character development is engaging with a robust leveling system, detailed stats, and a well-designed inventory that enhances gameplay.”
- “The character development features a comprehensive leveling up system, allowing for strategic choices in stats and armor.”
- “I love the character development aspect, especially the way it integrates leveling up, stats management, and a user-friendly inventory system.”