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 and creature collecting, providing 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, enhancing gameplay.
- The game can feel grindy, especially in the early stages, making it difficult to progress.
- Some mechanics, like the battle system and blob leveling, may not be clearly explained, leading to confusion.
- The character designs for some romance options may appear too young, which can be off-putting for some players.
- grinding115 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 it detracts from the overall enjoyment. While the farming and creature-collecting mechanics are appreciated, many reviewers express frustration with the slow progression and energy limitations, suggesting that improvements in automation and quality of life features could enhance the experience. Despite these concerns, fans of farming sims and creature collectors still recommend the game for its charming aesthetics and engaging gameplay.
“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.”
- gameplay51 mentions
- 37 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game is a blend of farming simulation and creature battling, reminiscent of titles like Stardew Valley and Pokémon, featuring unique mechanics such as a deep blob-breeding system. Players appreciate the engaging combat and farming elements, though some find the initial pacing slow and the tutorial lacking in clarity regarding battle mechanics. Overall, the game is praised for its charming art style, smooth controls, and a variety of gameplay options that keep the experience fresh and enjoyable.
“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.”
“I do not want a game where I try to befriend a female, but because the game mechanic is perverted trash, anytime you try to befriend someone, it eventually becomes romance/sexual. Why?”
“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.”
- graphics39 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their cute, chibi art style and vibrant colors, reminiscent of classic titles from the 2005-2015 era. Players appreciate the smooth performance and charming design, which enhances the overall cozy and nostalgic feel of the game. While some minor glitches are noted due to its early access status, the overall aesthetic appeal and artistic quality are considered standout features that attract fans of farming sims and creature collectors alike.
“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.”
“All with an irresistibly cute art style and graphics to bring it together into a painting of beauty.”
“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.”
“Graphics are cute, yes there are still going to be glitches, etc., as it is early access... but I'm loving it so far.”
“Even with the photosensitivity setting on, there are flashy visuals for blob attacks.”
- story38 mentions
- 13 % positive mentions
- 79 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The story in this early access farming sim is described as cute and engaging, drawing comparisons to beloved titles like Harvest Moon and Stardew Valley, though it currently lacks depth and completion due to its developmental stage. Players express a strong investment in the characters and their relationships, with a natural progression that allows for exploration at a comfortable pace. While some quests are incomplete or unavailable, the overall narrative and character interactions are seen as promising, leaving players eager for future updates.
“The game is a cute farming game, though in early access there is plenty of content and I've had lots of fun progressing through the story on my deck.”
“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.”
- stability7 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- -14 % neutral mentions
- 71 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's stability is mixed; while some players report occasional glitches and crashes, others have experienced smooth gameplay without issues. Frequent updates from the developer show a commitment to addressing these problems, particularly in early access. The game runs well on platforms like the Steam Deck, but users note that improvements are still needed in areas like UI and system balancing.
“Also runs great on Steam Deck.”
“The game is fun and easy to learn; the mechanics are smooth with no glitches thus far.”
“The art style is very cute.”
“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, yes, there are still going to be glitches, etc., as it is early access.”
- music4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % 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 satisfaction with the musical combinations achieved through breeding.
“The art style, the music, the characters, the gameplay, it's all so charming and lovable.”
“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 play music that required pressing keys very quickly.”
“I was hoping to get the passive and controllable abilities on the one blob, but I still love the clover and music blob mix I got from breeding.”
- character development3 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 67 % 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 users.
“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.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its excellent optimization, featuring fast loading times, smooth performance, and high-quality graphics, contributing to an enjoyable overall experience.
“I've played this for some time now, and I love it! It's a really cute game that loads super fast, the graphics are great, it runs smoothly, and it's fun.”
“The artwork is really good, the game runs smoothly, and the overall concept and feel of the game are impressive.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its wholesome and sweet emotional tone, featuring adorable characters and art that evoke a cozy atmosphere. It appeals particularly to fans of games like Harvest Moon and Story of Seasons, leaving players excited for its future developments.
“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!”
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Users emphasize the need for accountability in monetization practices, particularly regarding the accuracy of advertisements.
“The monetization system feels exploitative and prioritizes profit over player experience.”
“I feel pressured to spend money to enjoy the game fully, which ruins the overall experience.”
“The constant push for in-game purchases makes it hard to enjoy the game without feeling like I'm being nickel-and-dimed.”