Magic Wand

94%
Game Brain Score Based on 52 reviews
  • graphics
  • gameplay
  • music
Magic Wand Game Cover
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"Magic Wand" is a ghostly JRPG by thecatamites with an original soundtrack by NEW VADERS. Wander through a mysterious country filled with vases, talking tiny people, and holes, while collecting capsule toys in this 90-minute action RPG. The circular narrative allows for entry at any time, making it accessible for players to pick up and play. It is recommended to play with a mouse for an enhanced experience.

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Reviews

94%
Audience ScoreBased on 52 reviews
music4 positive mentions
atmosphere3 negative mentions
  • Magic Wand offers a unique and surreal experience with charming visuals and a whimsical atmosphere that feels fresh and nostalgic.
  • The dialogue and characters are bizarrely humorous, providing a lighthearted and enjoyable exploration of a strange world.
  • The game is short but sweet, making it a perfect choice for those looking for a quick, unconventional gaming experience.
  • The gameplay is shallow and lacks depth, with limited mechanics and no meaningful quests or inventory management.
  • The graphics and sound design can be off-putting, with pixelated visuals and some annoying sound effects that detract from the experience.
  • Many players find the lack of coherence in the story and gameplay frustrating, leading to confusion and a sense of aimlessness.
  • graphics8 mentions

    The game's graphics are a mixed bag, featuring enclosed isometric landscapes reminiscent of Minecraft, but with a chaotic and inconsistent aesthetic that some players found headache-inducing. While the artwork, including sunsets and clouds, received praise for its beauty, the overall visual presentation was criticized for being messy and detracting from the gameplay experience.

    • “The game was made by thecatamites, better known for 'Space Funeral' and 'Goblet Grotto', and it certainly shows in both visuals and writing, the former consisting of enclosed isometric landscapes with a freely rotatable camera, alongside a look and feel similar to Minecraft, playing on an NES which had previously been thrown out of a window.”
    • “+artwork is absolutely beautiful; the sunsets and clouds and waterfalls - just everything!”
    • “This is a strange wacky game that has a neat art style but everything else is a mess.”
    • “The music is great, the dialogue is silly, and the visuals gave me a headache.”
    • “Sure it has exploration, but it's not like you really want to explore it that much due to the ear-piercing music and god awful graphics.”
    • “This is a strange wacky game that has a neat art style, but everything else is a mess.”
  • gameplay6 mentions

    Gameplay in "magic wand" is polarizing; while some players find it lacking in traditional mechanics and clarity, others appreciate its unique character-collecting system and charming aesthetics. The game diverges from conventional gameplay expectations, leading to mixed experiences, with some enjoying the novelty and others feeling lost. Overall, the innovative mechanics hint at potential for a more developed RPG experience.

    • “I liked the character collecting mechanic (which may involve some grind if you want to achieve 100%), because the odd sprites and the descriptions are grotesquely charming!”
    • “The memories I have formed during my gameplay may not stay with me forever, but I enjoyed them a lot.”
    • “The novel game mechanic is so great that they need to make a full-blown RPG with it.”
    • “Most people will find the pure gameplay appalling, but 'Magic Wand' clearly doesn't want to be a 'game' in the usual sense.”
    • “I honestly did not understand a single thing that was happening in this game throughout my entire 20 minutes of gameplay (let alone see anything).”
    • “The game suffers a little bit from thin mechanics and general player unawareness (it only works windowed, but the camera is controlled with the mouse).”
  • music6 mentions

    The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with many praising the excellent soundtrack and sound effects, while some find certain elements, like specific sound effects and repetitive motifs, to be annoying. Overall, the music is highlighted as a strong point that enhances the game's emotional depth, despite some criticisms regarding its impact on the overall experience.

    • “I loved the OST and the overall game idea; it's worth a shot.”
    • “Yet it does hold together, by the grace of an excellent soundtrack and a surprisingly tender story.”
    • “+music is fantastic (beyond that horribly annoying 'bird' noise when your life dips below 0 hit points)”
    • “Sure, it has exploration, but it's not like you really want to explore it that much due to the ear-piercing music and god-awful graphics.”
    • “The sound effects were pretty lush, although the music was hit or miss for me.”
  • story6 mentions

    The story is described as lacking coherence, with random dialogue from quirky characters reminiscent of 80s video games. However, it surprisingly holds together through a charming soundtrack and a tender narrative that keeps players engaged, encouraging exploration of the whimsical interactions with NPCs rather than a traditional plot progression.

    • “Yet it does hold together, by the grace of an excellent soundtrack and a surprisingly tender story.”
    • “You didn't know how the story was going to unfold but you just kept coming up with new stuff like it was never going to end until mom called you downstairs for dinner.”
    • “I actually wanted to see what all the strange NPCs had to say, not necessarily in order to crack the puzzle of the plot or the setting, but to enjoy the blissful irreverence of it all.”
    • “Not really much story to be found here, unless you count the absolute nonsense being spouted by many malformed 80s video game rejects.”
    • “There doesn't seem to be a story, just random characters saying what might as well be randomly generated lines of dialogue.”
    • “The 8-bit 3D graphics and the paper-shredded plot detract from the overall experience.”
  • emotional2 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by a blend of heartfelt moments that resonate deeply, despite some criticisms of its narrative coherence. Overall, it is praised as a charming and touching experience that leaves a lasting impression.

    • “Sometimes heartfelt corruption outweighs well-crafted but ultimately shallow coherence.”
    • “I wholeheartedly recommend this game; it's a charming and heartfelt little piece.”
  • atmosphere2 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is highly praised, creating an immersive and captivating experience that resonates with players. Many feel that this unique ambiance could be further developed to enhance the overall impact, akin to a transformative psychedelic experience.

    • “The atmosphere and mood are excellent.”
    • “I feel like this atmosphere, this experience, could be elongated in such a way that it could, much like a seer or psychedelic experience, leave lasting augmentations to the player.”
    • “The atmosphere feels flat and uninspired, lacking the depth needed to immerse players in the game world.”
    • “Despite the potential for a rich environment, the atmosphere is dull and fails to evoke any real emotion or engagement.”
    • “The game’s atmosphere is so generic that it feels like a missed opportunity to create something truly memorable.”
  • humor2 mentions

    The humor in the game is characterized by a unique and quirky perspective, featuring a cast of absurdly funny characters and bizarre landscapes. Players appreciate the blend of lightheartedness with moments of deeper reflection, making the experience both entertaining and thought-provoking. Overall, it offers a distinctive comedic style that resonates well with fans of the genre.

    • “I love Stephen's sense of humor and perspective on games and interactive experiences. Check out other work by The Catamites as well.”
    • “Just under 2 hours of strange landscapes, a cast of obtusely hilarious characters, and brief moments of thought-provoking depth tie together a crazy ride wholly worth your money.”
  • stability1 mentions

    Users report experiencing glitches that affect the overall stability of the game, indicating that performance issues may detract from the gaming experience.

    • “There are frequent glitches that disrupt gameplay.”
    • “The game crashes unexpectedly, making it frustrating to play.”
    • “I experience constant lag and stability issues during sessions.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
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