My Little Pony: A Maretime Bay Adventure
- September 30, 2022
- Melbot Studios
- 5h median play time
Recommended!
"My Little Pony: A Maretime Bay Adventure" is a heartwarming adventure game set in the vibrant and magical town of Maretime Bay. Join your favorite pony friends, including Twilight Sparkle, Pinkie Pie, and Rarity, as you explore, solve puzzles, and help the townspeople in this enchanting world. Embrace your inner magic and become a part of the Maretime Bay community in this charming game for all ages.
Reviews
- The game features charming graphics and animations, making it visually appealing.
- It's a fun and light-hearted adventure that is enjoyable for younger players.
- The mini-games are entertaining and add variety to the gameplay.
- The game is very short, with most players completing it in under 3 hours, making it feel overpriced at $40.
- There is a lack of proper keyboard support, as the controls are primarily designed for consoles.
- The story is simplistic and lacks depth, which may disappoint players looking for a more engaging narrative.
- story63 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 62 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The game's story is generally well-received for its charm and alignment with the MLP G5 series, though many reviewers note that it is quite short, typically taking only 2-3 hours to complete. While the narrative is simple and suitable for younger audiences, it often feels like a series of fetch quests with limited depth, leading to criticisms about its replayability and overall value for the price. Despite these shortcomings, the story is described as fun and engaging, particularly for fans of the franchise.
“The game looks great, it's fluid, the story is fun to follow, and the characters are nice.”
“A beautiful game, with graphics unmatched by any other game, a story that is amazingly written, and an ending that is tear-jerking... truly a masterpiece.”
“The story is about a festival at Maretime Bay and there's somepony trying to ruin it with their pony racism.”
“The story is almost nonexistent and basically just rehashes the movie's theme.”
“The game can be beaten in less than 2 hours, and the story at the end has a sudden tonal shift that feels rocky at best.”
“The story is extremely basic and predictable.”
- gameplay37 mentions
- 14 % positive mentions
- 78 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The gameplay is primarily designed for a young audience, featuring simple mechanics such as fetch quests, light platforming, and minigames, which can be completed in about 1.5 to 3 hours. While some players find the experience charming and enjoyable, many criticize it for being overly simplistic, repetitive, and lacking depth, leading to concerns about its value given the short playtime and high price point. Overall, the game is seen as accessible but ultimately underwhelming for those seeking more substantial gameplay.
“The game’s charming graphics and playful gameplay are perfect for fans looking to dive into a magical, pony-filled adventure.”
“The gameplay is simple fetch quests with some light platforming and a small number of minigames.”
“While the gameplay and minigames are easy, which is to be expected from a kids' game, they are still challenging enough to be fun to play.”
“Designed for kids, barely any gameplay, is absolutely not worth even 20€.”
“On one hand (hoof?), the game can be beaten in less than 2 hours even if you don't know what you're doing. The momentum of the character can feel strange, the more complicated parts of the platforming are automated so there's no risk of 'dying', the character models look like they haven't slept in a week, the story at the end has a sudden tonal shift that feels rocky at best, the puzzles are all fetch quests in the most literal sense, the controls and minigames are overly simplistic, the gameplay is extremely repetitive and boring, and overall you can experience nearly all of the game by just watching the trailer.”
“The characters are off-model, the voice actors aren't even trying, there's no gameplay depth, it's roughly 90 minutes long, and the entire point of the experience - being a day spent alongside Peppa herself - is utterly unfulfilled, because none of the characters even behave like themselves.”
- graphics33 mentions
- 42 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The game's graphics are generally praised for their charm and visual appeal, with many reviewers noting the beautiful, colorful environments and smooth animations. However, there are criticisms regarding the lack of adjustable graphics settings, which limits customization for players, and some mention minor graphical glitches and inconsistencies in character models. Overall, while the visuals are considered enchanting and well-executed, the absence of options and some technical flaws detract from the experience.
“The graphics in this game are not just beautiful, but truly magical.”
“The visuals are beautiful, and the areas really come to life with minute detail and great lighting.”
“Its surprisingly well made, with satisfying movement, great animation, and nice colourful graphics.”
“With such graphics, story possibilities (and price), there should be more content.”
“Graphics are a bit bad here, nothing is really smooth & the characters just look like someone who just passed high school arts class.”
“There are no settings for graphics or command keys, which show a lack of effort in adapting the game for PC.”
- music11 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 36 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players finding it dull and repetitive, particularly the background tracks that loop frequently. While the dance mini-game features a catchy song, overall, the music lacks memorability and distinctiveness, though it complements the beautiful art and story. Despite its shortcomings, the music is described as pleasant and fitting for the game's short duration.
“The music, along with the story, scenes, and art, is just spectacular.”
“It's beautiful art design and masterfully performed scores in music played as I played these incredibly thought-out mini-games.”
“Still, animations, sound, and music are all good, and since the game is so short, it doesn't get super old.”
“The only thing I found meh was the music in the world (not the dancing minigame, although I wish I could turn off the sound effects in that minigame; I can't, I tried).”
“It's a short loop, which is very noticeable, and some of the songs are very dull.”
“The background music is soft and a short file played on repeat, nothing that really stands out.”
- replayability9 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is limited due to its linear design and minimal content, with many reviewers noting that the five minigames offer little incentive to replay. While some players may enjoy revisiting dialogues or playing minigames with friends, the general consensus is that the game lacks substantial replay value, especially considering its price point.
“The character models have painstakingly fluid running and skating animations, they're all properly colored and on-point. There are several fun arcade-style minigames with inherent replayability through their simplicity, including co-operative play.”
“The positives include being able to play as a horse, run around the town somewhat freely after completion, and minigames are playable with a friend locally.”
“Would love to see some post-release content for this game to help flesh it out a little more and provide some replayability.”
“My biggest criticism is that there just isn't a lot here for the asking price, and because the game design is linear, there isn't really any replay value.”
“The $40 price is pretty high, and don't expect much replay value.”
“5 mini-games offer little to no replay value.”
- humor9 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is generally well-received, with players enjoying its funny jokes and lighthearted tone, which aligns with the source material. However, some critics feel it lacks the charm and humor of the original show. Overall, the game provides a fun and entertaining experience, enhanced by effective voice acting and straightforward storytelling.
“I turned my brain off for 2 hours and played the funny pony game, and I remember literally none of it. 10/10.”
“It was a short game, but it was a lot of fun playing it, and there were really funny jokes in it too.”
“The voice acting works well, and the simple, straight-to-the-point storytelling is adorable and funny.”
- stability6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- -17 % neutral mentions
- 83 % negative mentions
The game's stability is marked by minor issues, including lag, bugs, and some graphic glitches, though these do not significantly detract from the overall enjoyment. Players have noted that while the game runs well on the Steam Deck, tutorial video clips fail to render. Overall, the experience is fun despite these stability concerns.
“The game controls and runs great on the Steam Deck, providing a smooth experience overall.”
“Despite some tutorial video clips not rendering, the stability of the game on the Steam Deck is impressive.”
“I love this game, but it's overall very laggy and buggy.”
“There are also noticeable graphic glitches spread throughout the game but they are minor.”
“Overall I really enjoyed the game, but it has some minor issues such as horrible controls and voice acting glitches.”
- monetization5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- -40 % neutral mentions
- 80 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game has received mixed feedback, with some users expressing concern that it may be perceived as a cash grab, especially given its short length. However, others appreciate that it appears to prioritize genuine creativity over microtransactions, contrasting it with typical kid-oriented games that often exploit popular franchises for profit.
“It's refreshing to see a game that doesn't rely heavily on microtransactions to enjoy the full experience.”
“Finally, a game that respects players by offering fair monetization options without feeling exploitative.”
“I appreciate that this game provides a balanced approach to monetization, allowing players to enjoy it without constant pressure to spend.”
“I always used to be very critical of kid-oriented games, because the ones that I didn’t play on Steam were really just fast cash grabs off a popular franchise.”
“People will feel like this was a cash grab though.”
“About time we got an MLP game that wasn't just out to milk you with microtransactions...”
- optimization3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has been widely criticized, with users noting that it requires significant improvements to perform better on PC, despite initial enjoyment on the Switch.
“Originally bought this game on Switch at launch and I loved it. I grabbed it on sale just to have it for my PC with better performance and graphics.”
“The optimization on PC is fantastic, allowing for smoother gameplay and enhanced visuals compared to the console version.”
“I appreciate how the game runs seamlessly on my high-end rig, showcasing the developers' commitment to optimizing the experience for players.”
“Tremendously poor optimization.”
“Cons: needs to be optimized badly.”
“Originally bought this game on Switch at launch and I loved it; grabbed it on sale just to have it for my PC with better performance and graphics.”
- emotional3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is described as wholesome, fun, and relaxing, providing an emotionally uplifting experience. Players appreciate its lighthearted nature, though some express a desire for more content beyond the main gameplay. Overall, it is recommended for those seeking a short, feel-good gaming experience.
“This is a wholesome, fun, and relaxing game. I would love for it to be more to it, even if you have free-play after you finish the game.”
“Overall, if you want a short, wholesome pony game, here it is.”
“It's a wholesome game.”
- character development3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- -67 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Character development is generally viewed as satisfactory given the game's short playtime, with engaging mini-games and appealing visuals enhancing the experience. However, some inconsistencies, such as the main character's design not reflecting their evolution throughout the story, detract from the overall enjoyment.
“The story and character development are quite good for how short the playthrough is; the mini-games are fun and feel rewarding.”
“Sunny's character design is based on the one from the start of the movie, but it actually changes by the end.”
“Sunny's character design is based on the one from the start of the movie, whereas it actually changes at the end.”
“The character development feels rushed and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with the characters.”
“There are missed opportunities for character growth, leaving many arcs feeling incomplete and unsatisfying.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is generally described as charming and enjoyable, contributing positively to the overall experience. However, inconsistencies in voice acting and audio mixing detract from the immersion, highlighting a need for better audio production to enhance the atmospheric quality.
“The voice acting is bothersome and inconsistent at times, both in volume and acoustics. Proper mixing of voice clips is key to setting the atmosphere of a scene. Did you forget to pay your audio guy?”
“Despite all the negative aspects, I enjoyed playing this game, mostly because I'm a fan, but also because it has a strong, charming feel and atmosphere.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious, partly due to a user interface that is poorly optimized for controllers, lacking features like hover-over options that could streamline interactions.
“The UI is poorly designed for controllers, lacking hover-over options, which makes the game feel tedious.”
“Grinding in this game feels like a never-ending chore, with little reward for the time invested.”
“The repetitive nature of grinding detracts from the overall enjoyment, making it feel more like a job than a game.”