Mind Over Magic
- December 14, 2023
- Sparkypants
- 43h median play time
Get on Steam"Mind Over Magic" is a simulation game where you build and optimize your own magic school, while also exploring the deadly Underschool and using raised undead servants to your advantage. The game features detailed design options, exotic plants, potion brewing, and a deadly fog to contend with. Respect the dead and use their spirits to further your school's progress.
Reviews
- Charming graphics and atmosphere that create an engaging magical school experience.
- Fresh take on the colony survival genre with unique room requirements and character management.
- Fun turn-based combat system that adds an interesting layer to the gameplay.
- The game can feel grindy and repetitive, especially in resource gathering and research.
- Some mechanics, like the fog and combat, can feel underwhelming or poorly balanced.
- Lack of clear objectives or endgame content can lead to a sense of aimlessness.
- gameplay205 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 64 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The gameplay of this title is a blend of familiar mechanics from games like "Oxygen Not Included" and unique elements that create an engaging experience. Players appreciate the depth of the building and management systems, alongside the strategic challenges posed by the fog mechanic and character management. However, some find the learning curve steep and the gameplay loop can become repetitive, particularly in the late game, indicating that while the game is polished and visually appealing, it still requires further refinement and content expansion.
“Great inventive mechanics, gorgeous visuals, extremely polished product.”
“The gameplay loop is enough to keep you engaged for hours, as my hour count probably makes quite obvious.”
“All the innovation and new mechanics this game brings to the table make it so much more than 'just another colony sim' and it really feels like a refreshing breath of fresh air in a pretty set genre.”
“Considering that’s the core gameplay loop for the entire game, it also won’t get changed for the better.”
“The fog mechanics are much more annoying than they are interesting, particularly because the rituals keep ramping up in requiring more and more of scarcer and scarcer resources, until you often don't even know where to get whatever weird thing it is you need to push back the fog this time.”
“Sadly the devs are making bad updates, removing gameplay mechanics in pursuit of a faster and duller experience, and what made the game original and interesting in the beginning is now completely gone.”
- graphics102 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 47 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received widespread praise for their charming and unique art style, reminiscent of Klei's signature aesthetic, particularly drawing comparisons to "Don't Starve" and "Oxygen Not Included." Players appreciate the polished visuals, smooth animations, and the overall whimsical atmosphere that enhances the gameplay experience. While some users noted that the graphics could benefit from further polish, the general consensus is that the visuals are a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's appeal.
“Charming graphics, sounds, and atmosphere.”
“Great inventive mechanics, gorgeous visuals, extremely polished product.”
“The art style is gorgeous, somewhat like 'Don't Starve' but in much greater detail, and the music is pretty much what you get with any Klei game.”
“The solution for me was to reduce the graphics as the game progressed.”
“I love the art style but I wish it looked more polished/graphically better... I feel like with games like this you could really push the visuals.”
“While I like the idea and graphics, the game lacks goals and replayability.”
- grinding34 mentions
- 3 % positive mentions
- 3 % neutral mentions
- 94 % negative mentions
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessively tedious and unengaging, with repetitive tasks and a lack of meaningful progression. Many reviews highlight that the gameplay loop relies heavily on resource grinding, leading to a sense of monotony and frustration, particularly in combat and building mechanics. While some systems show potential for improvement, the current state is viewed as overly grindy, detracting from the enjoyment of the game.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“I found the game completely boring, a long grinding that isn't fun, engaging or new.”
“The grind/micromanagement eventually became tedious, and it's obviously unbalanced in places - but I think as it continues to grow it can only get better.”
“Every fresh game starts exactly the same way with 0 deviance, research is impossibly grindy, resulting in the most urgently needed items being rushed at the expense of getting a school up and running, and there is little to no in-baked lore or background/story/fluff/descriptions anywhere.”
- story29 mentions
- 10 % positive mentions
- 79 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The game's story is largely criticized for its absence, with many reviewers noting that there is no overarching narrative, character development, or engaging lore to motivate players. While missions exist to enhance gameplay mechanics, they lack meaningful context or objectives, leaving players feeling disconnected from the experience. Overall, the game is described as having a mechanical focus rather than a compelling story, resulting in a lack of emotional investment.
“This game takes the best features from several genres and lets you live through a story of a magic school, where students come and go and only select few become staff members.”
“Oni is a better game than Spellcaster University, but Spellcaster University is better in story-crafting (what The Sims and Dwarf Fortress are famous for).”
“I'd much prefer a way of leveling them up (sending them on sabbatical missions maybe) so you have the option to keep a favorite.”
“There isn't any overarching story.”
“The story is non-existent in my opinion beyond the intro.”
“There is no story, no characters, no lore, no campaign, no humor.”
- optimization19 mentions
- 26 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 16 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is a mixed bag; while many players report smooth performance and no crashes during early gameplay, issues arise as the game progresses, particularly when expanding bases or increasing in-game activity, leading to frame rate drops and lag. Some users have found temporary fixes, such as lowering resolution or capping frame rates, but the consensus is that further optimization is needed, especially given its early access status. Despite these challenges, many players still find the game visually appealing and generally well-optimized for an early release.
“As of just over 80 hours of play, I have not experienced a single crash or performance issue, and no bugs that I actually noticed.”
“The game looks very good, it's very optimized, and the turn-based combat is not too bad; it could use some improvement, but maybe that's in the pipeline.”
“But the game seems very well optimized and runs fluently for me.”
“One point that could be improved is the UI and optimization; my PC makes about as much noise playing this as it does while playing Helldivers 2, for example.”
“The game runs smoothly at the start, but starts to lose performance as you get your base bigger and increase the amount of things happening at the same time.”
“There are slight issues with the performance of the game at the time of writing, as a lot of players are running into issues of achieving more than 60 frames per second (FPS) and more times than not, receiving stutters and FPS drops even with moderate or superior PCs.”
- music15 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally well-received, described as atmospheric and fitting the overall aesthetic, with a mix of cute background tunes and more eventful pieces when needed. While some reviewers note that it may not be award-winning, it effectively enhances the gameplay experience without being intrusive. However, there are mentions of the soundtrack needing improvement, particularly in terms of variety and depth.
“A word of advice: the enchantophone music will embed itself in your skull - if you see dancing mages, keep a safe distance!”
“The design and aesthetics are pretty fantastic; the music is good, and the visual elements are great.”
“Audio: the music is great, and in general, the audio is very atmospheric, giving your school a slightly Lovecraftian feel.”
“The soundtrack is very weak.”
“As of March 2024, it needs a ton of work on the UI, sound design, and music.”
“A lot of care has been put into the music; it’s not going to win any awards, but it does what it needs to without getting in the way.”
- atmosphere13 mentions
- 54 % positive mentions
- 23 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its charming graphics and unique art style, blending elements of both creepiness and cuteness. Players appreciate the immersive audio, which enhances the overall experience, although some sound effects can disrupt immersion. Overall, the game successfully creates a captivating and polished environment that invites exploration and creativity.
“It has a unique atmosphere, and if you always wanted to build your own Hogwarts, now you can.”
“Mind over Magic kind of reminds me of Fallout Shelter, but I absolutely love its artwork and overall atmosphere.”
“Audio: the music is great, and in general the audio is very atmospheric, and gives your school a slightly Lovecraftian feel.”
“Mind over magic kind of reminds me of Fallout Shelter, but I absolutely love its artwork and overall atmosphere.”
“I am also a fan of the artwork and the atmosphere. On one hand, it's very creepy and on the other hand, it's also very cute. I mean, look at the wolf wearing a magic cloak! :3”
“Graphics are really nice and unique and, in my opinion, add a lot to the slightly strange atmosphere of the game.”
- humor11 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is described as whimsical and reminiscent of titles like "Oxygen Not Included," featuring amusing scenarios such as a student spawning ooze creatures. While some players appreciate the funny animations and lighthearted moments, others criticize the game's overall experience, highlighting frustrations that detract from the humor. Overall, the game offers a mix of charm and comedic elements, though it may not fully satisfy all players.
“One of the students got sick and he literally started spawning ooze creatures everywhere; it was funny for a second until he died.”
“This game has some of the same humor and whimsy as Oxygen Not Included, but has much more compelling gameplay.”
“Such a wonderful graphics style, great sounds, and lots of funny and cool animations.”
- replayability8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is a mixed bag; while some players appreciate the variety of strategies and mechanics that encourage multiple playthroughs, others feel that the lack of clear goals and limited randomization diminishes its replay value. The potential for exploration and different approaches adds depth, but many users express a desire for more content and balancing to enhance the experience.
“If you want to play optimally, you need to balance a multitude of different priorities and mechanics, which provides it with excellent replayability.”
“Better yet, there isn't just one perfect strategy, but rather, many different approaches one might take, giving the game a lot more to explore, and a huge amount of replayability.”
“I'm finding there is a definite need for balancing, but as others have said, this feels very much like a Klei published game, with its quirkiness and fun replayability.”
“While I like the idea and graphics, the game lacks goals and replayability.”
“The only 'replayable' element here is a randomness in room tags (which is off by default), but there are build strategies already that would allow you to easily make rooms with any tags you like.”
“Not much of a replay value until new content drops.”
- stability5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- -40 % neutral mentions
- 80 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's stability is commendable for an early release, with minimal glitches and a smooth gameplay experience. While there are a few minor issues, such as characters getting stuck after battles, these do not significantly detract from the overall experience. Players generally report a bug-free environment, enhancing the enjoyment of the game.
“The gameplay has been smooth and not buggy at all.”
“I haven't experienced any crashes or glitches, which makes for a seamless experience.”
“The game runs flawlessly, providing a stable environment for players to enjoy.”
“If I could start over, I would do that for sure - conviction is a pain to maintain. It's a fairly bug-free experience, but there are a few little things that I hope will be fixed. The biggest issue is that sometimes rooms in your school get invaded by enemies, creating a fog that is impassable until you clear the battle. After these battles, always make sure all your characters are moving around. Several times, one of my wizards will 'respawn' after the fight stuck behind stairs or other objects, preventing them from getting to food or bed. On relentless difficulty, missing a night in bed or skipping a meal can lead to death.”
“For being an early release title, it feels well fleshed out, with a solid amount of content and minimal glitches, bugs, or crashes.”
“I've not noticed any bugs or glitches.”
- character development2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is praised for its engaging design and integration with various gameplay elements, including resource gathering and base building. Players appreciate the depth it adds to the overall experience, enhancing both the atmosphere and the strategic aspects of combat.
“A great art style and atmosphere, with a ton of stuff to do, including resource gathering, base building, character development, random events, and even turn-based combat.”
“I like everything from the character design to the building system and the turn-based fighting in the game.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players feel that the game evokes emotions effectively, creating a sense of immersion and connection, even when played on easier difficulty settings.
