Ova Magica
- July 23, 2024
- ClaudiaTheDev
- 19h median play time
Experience a colorful farm game inspired by the classics! Train cute blob creatures, take care of your farm and make friends with the people of Clover Town.
Reviews
- The game combines elements of farming sims and creature collecting, creating a unique and enjoyable experience.
- The art style is charming and colorful, making the game visually appealing.
- The breeding system for blobs is deep and allows for a variety of combinations, keeping gameplay fresh and engaging.
- Progression can feel grindy, especially in the early game where energy consumption is high and resources are limited.
- Some characters appear too young, which can be off-putting for players looking for more mature romance options.
- The battle mechanics lack clarity, particularly regarding blob types and abilities, which can lead to confusion during gameplay.
- grinding230 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and time-consuming, often feeling that progression is slow and requires excessive effort, particularly in farming and blob care. While some appreciate the blend of farming and creature collection, many express a desire for more automation and quality-of-life improvements to alleviate the grind. Overall, the game is seen as enjoyable for fans of the genre, but the grindiness can detract from the experience.
“Grinding for health items so you can grind for experience is too much tedious grinding.”
“Progression is so, so grindy.”
“Farming is painful, very slow, and costs too much stamina per action.”
- gameplay102 mentions
- 37 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The gameplay of this title is a blend of farming simulation and creature battling, reminiscent of games like Stardew Valley and Pokémon, featuring engaging mechanics such as blob breeding and unique combat systems. Players appreciate the charming art style and smooth controls, although some find the initial pacing slow and the battle mechanics somewhat lacking in depth. Overall, the game offers a fun and relaxing experience with a variety of gameplay options, appealing to fans of the genre while still leaving room for improvement.
“The battling mechanics are unique and super fun.”
“The combat can genuinely be challenging and is rewarding to master, which prevents the gameplay from becoming too stale.”
“There's a good mix of farming sim and TRPG mechanics that make it feel fresh and unique, different from a lot of the farming sims out there.”
“At that point I realized I'd rather just go back to Stardew or The Sims or something else rather than have to play around the bully mechanic thrown at unsuspecting players who are aware of their skillset and chose this game not knowing they needed to have it.”
“Gameplay starts slow; it's hard to get enough money and materials to build anything.”
“The tutorial I feel doesn't explain the battle mechanics enough.”
- graphics78 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their cute, chibi art style, reminiscent of classic titles from the 2005-2015 era, and evoke a nostalgic feel for players. Users appreciate the bright and colorful visuals, smooth performance, and the ability to customize aesthetic traits in character design, although some note minor glitches typical of early access games. Overall, the charming artwork and engaging design contribute significantly to the game's appeal, particularly for fans of farming sims and creature collectors.
“Ova Magica is a beautifully designed game with great graphics, the adorable blobs and town people. You can immerse yourself in a bright and creatively designed game with farming, crafting, gathering, and fishing.”
“The graphics are so bright and colorful, making it an adorable world to walk around and explore.”
“The art style is to die for -- the cute little chibi models and the blobs!”
“I'm reminded of all the 2005-2015 games I played as a kid on the DS where the 2D or basic 3D models struggled to emote with limited graphics... but still pulled it off.”
“Even with the photosensitivity setting on, there are flashy visuals for blob attacks.”
“I get it's an anime art style, but I feel there needs to be a bit more diversity in the romance options to not feel weird about it.”
- story76 mentions
- 13 % positive mentions
- 83 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The story in this early access farming sim is described as cute and engaging, though currently basic and incomplete, with many quests unavailable. Players express a strong investment in the characters and their relationships, reminiscent of beloved titles like Harvest Moon and Stardew Valley. While the narrative shows promise and offers a cozy experience, it is hindered by unfinished content and some frustrating quest mechanics.
“The only way you can tell it's not a full release is from the incomplete map and story, but it's worth playing the game in the meantime for all the fun it brings to the table!”
“I was quite invested in the side plot with a young boy undergoing pressure from his parents to be someone he's not, so I'm rooting for that little guy to someday stick it to them, lol!”
“There is so much you can do in this game, yet the story helps you throughout the way: from fishing a variety of sea creatures to bug hunting, from cooking interactive recipes to mining for treasure, and so much more!”
“Story-wise, it's pretty basic so far, but it's early access, so it's understandable.”
“There are a couple of quests that can be obtained...but can't even start being worked on because 'not available in early access'.”
“I didn’t like it... it's an early access version, but after 2 hours I didn’t have anything to do, because it was mentioned that later missions will be available after some updates.”
- stability14 mentions
- 14 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 71 % negative mentions
The game's stability is a mixed bag, with some players experiencing occasional glitches and crashes, while others report smooth performance and no issues. Frequent updates from the developer show a commitment to addressing these problems, particularly in the early access phase. Overall, while there are stability concerns, many users find the game enjoyable and well-optimized, especially on platforms like the Steam Deck.
“The game is fun and easy to learn; the mechanics are smooth (no glitches thus far), and the art style is very cute.”
“Also runs great on Steam Deck.”
“I think my only issues with this game are the occasional glitches or crashing, and the fact that each blob world only has one sliding puzzle with no variety.”
“This game needs a lot of love, from the slow, buggy UI to a rebalance of all stamina systems and leveling systems.”
“Graphics are cute, but there are still going to be glitches, etc., as it is early access.”
- music8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The music in the game is described as charming and enjoyable, contributing positively to the overall experience alongside the art style and characters. Players appreciate the engaging gameplay, particularly in music-related events that require quick key presses, and express fondness for the unique combinations of musical elements within the game.
“The art style, the music, the characters, the gameplay, it's all so charming and lovable.”
“I was hoping to get the passive and controllable abilities on the one blob, but I still love the clover, music blob mix I got from breeding.”
“I found myself at an event where I was given no choice but to try to play music that you have to press keys very quickly for.”
“I found myself at an event where I was given no choice but to try to play music that requires pressing keys very quickly.”
“The music is overwhelming and feels more like a chore than an enjoyable experience.”
“The music lacks variety and quickly becomes repetitive, making it hard to stay engaged.”
- character development6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
Character development in the game has received mixed feedback, with some players finding the character designs initially offputting but growing accustomed to them over time. While the art style is generally considered cute, certain design choices, such as Ruby's outfit resembling a Japanese middle school uniform, have raised questions among players. Overall, the character designs contribute to the game's charm, despite some reservations.
“I've had fun playing this game; the character design and scenery are cute.”
“Character designs might be off-putting as well, though I found I got used to it as time went by.”
“I know part of it is the art style, but there are some character design choices that seem questionable to me, like Ruby's top reminding me of a Japanese middle schooler's uniform.”
- optimization4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is highly praised for its optimization, featuring fast loading times, smooth performance, and impressive graphics. Users appreciate the overall feel and artwork, contributing to a fun gaming experience.
“Played this for some time now, I love it. It's a really cute game, it loads super fast, graphics are great, runs smoothly, and is fun.”
“The artwork is really good, the game runs smoothly, and the overall concept and feel of the game is pretty good too.”
- emotional4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is described as wholesome and sweet, featuring adorable characters and art that evoke a cozy atmosphere. It appeals particularly to fans of titles like Harvest Moon and Story of Seasons, making it a delightful experience for those seeking emotional warmth and charm.
“It's very wholesome and sweet, with some adorable characters, art, and blobs.”
“For those looking for something cozy and wholesome, especially fans of Harvest Moon, Story of Seasons, and creature collectors, it's well worth a try and I'm so excited to see what the future has in store for this game!”
- monetization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Users emphasize the need for accountability in monetization practices, particularly regarding the accuracy of advertisements.