Magi Trials
- November 17, 2016
- Dharker Studios
- 2h median play time
Magi Trials is a first-person puzzle-platformer game that takes place in a mystical world. As the "Candidate," players must harness magical abilities and solve increasingly complex puzzles to navigate through various trials. With a focus on exploration and skill development, players will encounter strange creatures, collect magical orbs, and unlock new abilities to progress through the game's challenging levels.
Reviews
- The game features a well-written and engaging story with interesting character dynamics.
- The artwork is praised for its quality and style, enhancing the overall visual experience.
- There are multiple endings, providing some replay value and choices that impact the narrative.
- The game is criticized for being too short, with many players feeling it lacks depth and content for the price.
- Most endings are considered unsatisfactory, with only one or two being classified as 'good', leading to a sense of disappointment.
- There are issues with character development and the overall narrative, which some players found to be superficial and lacking in exploration.
- story88 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The story of the game is generally well-received, with many praising its interesting plot, character development, and artwork, though some find it short and lacking depth. While it features a mix of fantasy elements and emotional twists, critiques highlight that the narrative can feel superficial and that choices often lead to similar outcomes. Overall, it presents a promising foundation but leaves players wanting more in terms of length and complexity.
“I love the story; it is very nice and surprisingly well written, and I love the art too.”
“Dharker Studio delivers yet another pleasant visual novel, with a solid and unconventional story, but quickly becoming an addictive one, with a well-written plot, relatively well-developed characters, and multiple endings to enjoy.”
“The story overall is internally consistent, so all threads work out within the universe brought to life within this game.”
“Now since they’ve dropped the 'highschool romance' prefix altogether at the time of this review, I can stop comparing it to their previous works and break it down to what this visual novel really is: a work with a story and characters that has the potential to be really great and amazing, but instead plays safe and ends up becoming something quite lackluster and superficial.”
“The characters never get time to really go anywhere, and it felt like window dressing to softcore porn rather than an actual storyline.”
“For a visual novel where story is key, that's not okay at all.”
- graphics23 mentions
- 39 % positive mentions
- 48 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received positive feedback for their charming and detailed art style, with many users praising the cute and cartoonish visuals, as well as the expressive character designs. While the artwork enhances the overall atmosphere and storytelling, some players feel that the visuals lack adult themes and that the game could benefit from more choices and romance options. Overall, the graphics are considered a strong point, contributing significantly to the game's appeal.
“I adore the artwork, and I especially love all of the care put into facial expressions.”
“The art was a 9/10 for me because I love the somewhat cartoonish art style and the facial expressions they can create.”
“The writing is sharp, and I adore the art style (as witnessed by my avatar) and it really helps to sell the atmosphere of the game itself.”
“There was a lot I liked about this VN, from how the characters were written to the artwork, but the writing never goes all the way and never allows itself to take chances and risks.”
“Dialogues are still sexy and provocative, but when it comes to visuals, there are no adult themes.”
“Dark magic shenanigans seem to be par for the course for 'magic school' VNs, but slapping the highschool romance name on this is in art style and story hook only.”
- music17 mentions
- 35 % positive mentions
- 47 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with some players finding it decent but largely forgettable, while others praised its ability to enhance the experience. Although the soundtrack features a limited number of tracks that sometimes clash with the on-screen action, it is generally described as smooth and ambient, with some players expressing a strong appreciation for its quality. Overall, the music is considered average, serving its purpose without being particularly memorable.
“With this kind of medium, visual novels rely on music, artwork, and writing to convey a meaningful experience and story.”
“The style is perfect, the music is just amazing; I could listen to it for hours on end.”
“The music was also fantastic to listen to.”
“Music is about average.”
“During my time playing through it, I only ever heard 4 tracks played in loops that sometimes did not mesh well with the scene at hand, e.g. music being too upbeat for sad/serious scenes. There are no sound effects to speak of outside of UI button presses.”
“Good CGs, largely forgettable but unobtrusive music.”
- humor7 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is consistently praised, with players highlighting its funny dialogue, memorable characters, and a lighthearted, engaging storyline. Many reviews note that the game offers a delightful mix of humor and heartwarming moments, making it an enjoyable experience overall. The comedic elements are well-integrated into the narrative, enhancing the overall appeal of the visual novel.
“A good, short visual novel with a lot of memorable characters and funny dialogue.”
“Recommended for anyone who appreciates a good storyline with fantasy and some funny moments.”
“Overall it was a good fun few hours for me delving into a well planned and simple graphic novel with a hilarious premise.”
- gameplay5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 40 % negative mentions
The gameplay offers around two hours of experience for each of the two main romantic paths, along with an additional surprise route, leading to a total of eight possible endings. While the variety of choices adds depth, some players find the randomness of decision-making frustrating, as it can lead to significantly darker plot outcomes depending on the choices made.
“There's so much gameplay here; there are tons of choices and multiple endings.”
“Despise only having two romantic paths with almost 2 hours of gameplay each (and an extra as a surprise), there are a total of eight different possible endings for this adventure.”
“Hours of gameplay.”
“Despise only having two romantic paths with almost 2 hours of gameplay each, and an extra as a surprise. There is a total of eight different possible endings for this adventure.”
“This is not only annoying gameplay-wise, because you just end up selecting random choices and hoping that you picked enough to get it right this time, but the plot gets significantly darker if you pick some decisions and not others.”
- emotional4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find the emotional aspect of the game to be impactful, with surprising endings that evoke strong feelings, particularly in the context of bad endings. The story is described as heartwarming, funny, and dramatic, suggesting a depth that may be underestimated by some. Overall, the emotional journey enhances the gaming experience significantly.
“A few surprising endings got me a little emotional.”
“There is also an emotional side to this story, especially for the bad endings, that can easily be unexpected.”
“I just finished my first playthrough, and I can say it was heartwarming, funny, and dramatic.”
- atmosphere3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Reviewers praise the game's atmosphere, highlighting the impressive artistry and architecture that create a cohesive experience across various scenarios. The music, while less upbeat than typical, complements the game effectively, enhancing the overall ambiance. Additionally, sharp writing and a distinctive art style contribute significantly to immersing players in the game's world.
“With the architecture out of the way, I have to commend the great job by the artists in maintaining a solid atmosphere throughout the game, across different scenarios.”
“12 tracks at MP3 320kbps, and although it’s not as upbeat and melodic as we’re used to, it fits the game perfectly and adds a lot to the atmosphere.”
“The writing is sharp, and I adore the art style (as witnessed by my avatar), and it really helps to sell the atmosphere of the game itself.”
- character development1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Character development in this visual novel is generally well-received, with some users appreciating the character designs despite a general preference for different styles. However, opinions remain mixed, indicating that while some characters may resonate, others may not fully engage all players.
“I'm honestly not a big fan of most western character designs in visual novels, but this one barely passed my likeability threshold.”
“The character development feels shallow and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with anyone in the story.”
“I expected more growth from the characters, but they remained static throughout the game, which was disappointing.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's stability has been criticized for being buggy, with issues such as misattributed dialogue and incorrect images, making it less reliable than the original. However, some users still find it worthwhile, especially if purchased on sale.
“Not as good as the original, and pretty buggy (dialog attributed to the wrong character, wrong image displayed, etc.), but worth it if you can get it on sale.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
While the game is relatively short, it offers some replay value that encourages players to revisit it.
“It's somewhat short, but it does have some replay value.”
“The game offers multiple endings, encouraging players to explore different choices.”
“With various character builds and strategies, each playthrough feels fresh and exciting.”
“It's somewhat short, but does have some replay value.”
“The game lacks enough variety to keep me coming back for more.”
“Once you finish the main story, there's little incentive to replay.”