MagiCat

93%
Game Brain Score Based on 152 reviews
  • gameplay
  • music
  • story
MagiCat Game Cover
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"MagiCat" is a single-player kids' platformer game with phenomenal mechanics and splendid visuals. Embark on a quest to retrieve a stolen artifact, exploring 63 levels with unique boss battles across 7 worlds. Enjoy a handcrafted retro experience with gorgeous level design, unlockable skills, and color schemes for the main character.

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Reviews

93%
Audience ScoreBased on 152 reviews
gameplay20 positive mentions
replayability2 negative mentions
  • MagiCat features a charming 16-bit art style with unique mechanics introduced in each of its 63 levels, keeping gameplay fresh and engaging.
  • The game offers a balanced difficulty curve, starting easy and ramping up to challenging levels, making it suitable for both casual players and those seeking a tough platforming experience.
  • Generous checkpoint and revive systems allow players to experiment and learn from mistakes without excessive frustration, enhancing the overall enjoyment.
  • The music is often described as forgettable and repetitive, detracting from the overall experience.
  • Some players find the boss fights to be uninspired, as many bosses are simply larger versions of regular enemies with similar attack patterns.
  • The game can become frustratingly difficult in later levels, especially when attempting to collect all gems without using the dash ability, which may deter some players.
  • gameplay74 mentions

    The gameplay in this platformer is characterized by a diverse array of mechanics introduced in each of the 63 levels, ensuring that players encounter new challenges and unique boss fights throughout their journey. While the core mechanics are simple, the game ramps up in difficulty and complexity, offering both casual enjoyment and opportunities for more skilled play through collectibles and time challenges. Overall, the thoughtful design and variety keep the gameplay engaging, though some mechanics may feel underutilized or unbalanced at times.

    • “Every level introduces a new mechanic of some kind, many of which the game incorporates into that level's boss fight in fun ways, and then drops that idea entirely.”
    • “It's really nice to see the amount of thought that went into creating the levels with many of them including unique mechanics.”
    • “The game introduces a unique gameplay mechanic in every level, and it contains sixty-three levels.”
    • “But the moment you get the hang of it, the level ends and you never see the mechanic again.”
    • “Most of the gameplay and even stages feel like a mix of Kirby's Adventures from NES and Super Mario Bros 3 or even Super Mario World, adding its own style and mechanics that will often make you ragequit or feel frustrated as some stages are quite difficult and challenging.”
    • “There are some 50ish or so levels, and practically every one introduces some new mechanic.”
  • music27 mentions

    The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it inoffensive but ultimately forgettable, often leading them to turn to external sources like Spotify for a better experience. While some appreciate the chiptune style and its fitting sound effects, others criticize the repetitive nature and lack of memorable tracks, suggesting that the soundtrack does not enhance the overall gameplay. Overall, the music is seen as a minor drawback in an otherwise enjoyable game.

    • “Music: chiptune, of the happy-go-lucky variety.”
    • “You’ll want to listen to the soundtrack after you finish this game.”
    • “The OST in the game is also very nice to listen to so far.”
    • “The music repeats a fair bit and lacks enough original tracks for it to retain interest, which I eventually had to shut off and replace with Spotify.”
    • “The levels are quite diverse, but the soundtracks aren't that good!”
    • “As a connoisseur of game soundtracks, this one was disappointing.”
  • story18 mentions

    The story in the game is largely considered simplistic and often non-existent, primarily serving as a backdrop for the platforming gameplay. While the dialogue consists of animal sounds and lacks depth, some players appreciate the creative mechanics and level design, suggesting that the narrative is secondary to the fun of the game. Overall, the story is seen as an excuse for the gameplay rather than a focal point, with hints of a deeper narrative available through new game plus.

    • “Moral of the story: you never know what life has in store for you, and if I had given up when all odds were against me, I wouldn't be where I am today.”
    • “You have a story, and can get glimpses of it through expressions and actions, of the few cutscenes it has, but all the text is in animal language, because, well, they are animals.”
    • “The game has some sort of story, delivered through cutscenes with meow-ish dialogue; a script sometimes difficult to follow, but with clear and concise acting to make up for it.”
    • “Well, as I mentioned, the story is all but non-existent, and also I can't say the music is memorable, although it's not annoying either.”
    • “Also note the total and utter lack of a story or characters.”
    • “That being said, the story, as platformer tradition goes, is just an excuse to go and platform, so you can very well not worry about it.”
  • graphics17 mentions

    The graphics of the game are widely praised for their charming 16-bit pixel art style, featuring smooth animations and vibrant colors that enhance the overall aesthetic. Reviewers appreciate the cohesive and polished visuals, which contribute to the game's appeal, especially for fans of platformers. However, some users noted performance issues on the Steam Deck, with frame rates fluctuating due to CPU dependency.

    • “Graphics: cute 16-bit pixel art, with beautiful animation for the main character and enemies.”
    • “The graphics are perfect for what they are, no issues, cutesy, stylish, doesn't make any elements unclear and all very cohesive, absolutely polished pixel perfectly.”
    • “The visuals are adorable and are on the quality of the big platformer games.”
    • “Warning for Steam Deck owners: this game does not run at 60fps and fluctuates from the 40s to 50s as it appears the game is entirely CPU dependent (set GPU clock speed to 200MHz) along with being poorly optimized; I doubt this game would struggle on integrated graphics otherwise.”
    • “Graphically, the game is simple and filled with vibrant colors, but the effects vary according to the levels and follow a certain pattern, which can feel repetitive.”
    • “However, the art direction, although more retro-inspired with pixelated graphics, feels too similar to Miracle Fly, raising concerns about originality.”
  • replayability3 mentions

    Magicat offers high replayability through optional features that add extra challenges and a smooth gameplay experience. Players are encouraged to improve their skills as the game tracks achievements, pushing them towards a definitive final ending. The charming aesthetic further enhances the desire to replay.

    • “The movement is smooth, the challenges are fair, the aesthetic is adorable, and there's lots of replay value.”
    • “Replay value is extremely high, as the game collects stats about everything you achieve and by doing so permanently insists on you to get better and better until you reach the real final ending.”
    • “Magicat also has optional features that provide extra challenge and/or replayability.”
  • humor3 mentions

    The humor in the game is characterized by its cute and whimsical presentation, which contrasts with the challenging gameplay that introduces new mechanics at each level. This blend of lighthearted visuals and unexpected difficulty creates a unique comedic experience for players.

    • “It looks all cute and funny, and in virtually every level a new game mechanic is introduced.”
  • optimization2 mentions

    The game has received several updates that enhance its optimization, including features like v-sync and CRT, ensuring smooth performance overall. However, Steam Deck users may experience fluctuating frame rates in the 40s to 50s due to the game's CPU dependency, suggesting that it may not run at 60fps even with lower GPU settings.

    • “Throughout the many updates, they've added v-sync, CRT, and other nice features, and they make sure the game still runs smoothly (it does!).”
    • “Warning for Steam Deck owners: this game does not run at 60fps and fluctuates from the 40s to 50s as it appears the game is entirely CPU dependent (set GPU clock speed to 200MHz) along with being optimized as I doubt this game would struggle on integrated graphics otherwise.”
    • “Warning for Steam Deck owners: this game does not run at 60fps and fluctuates between the 40s and 50s, as it appears the game is entirely CPU dependent. Set GPU clock speed to 200MHz, but I doubt this game would struggle on integrated graphics otherwise.”
    • “The optimization is severely lacking; I experience constant frame drops and stuttering, making it nearly unplayable at times.”
    • “Despite having a decent setup, the game runs poorly and feels unoptimized, with long loading times and frequent crashes.”
  • grinding2 mentions

    Players find the grinding in the game to be a mixed experience; while certain shop items can significantly reduce the amount of gameplay required to reach the final boss, the process of grinding for resources can be slow and tedious, particularly due to the high health of enemies in later levels.

    • “Certain shop items allow players to skip entire chunks of levels; after reaching the world 3 shop, only one more level in the game becomes mandatory in order to reach the final boss. Skipping so much of the game just requires a lot of grinding for paws.”
    • “Slowly killing enemies, especially in later levels, is slow and tedious due to the nature of the game's attack mechanics and enemies soaking up 2-3 hits each.”
  • emotional1 mentions

    Players appreciate when developers invest effort into creating wholesome games that evoke positive emotions, highlighting the impact of emotional storytelling and character development in enhancing the gaming experience.

    • “I love it when developers put effort into making wholesome games like this.”
    • “The emotional depth of the characters really resonated with me.”
    • “I was genuinely moved by the story and the way it tackled complex themes.”
  • monetization1 mentions

    Players feel that the monetization strategy of the game is misleading, as the difficulty level of the base game does not align with the promotional materials, leading to a perception of unfairness.

    • “The difficulty scale of the base game feels like unfair advertising.”
    • “The game constantly pushes you to spend money to progress, making it feel more like a cash grab than a fun experience.”
    • “I feel like I'm being nickel-and-dimed at every turn, which ruins the enjoyment of the game.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

7hMedian play time
7hAverage play time
7-7hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 1 analyzed playthroughs

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