Magic Academy Review

Magic Academy Review (by Gamezebo) 

What's the difference between Mysteryville and Magic Academy? Honestly, not a lot. Both hidden-object games were developed by NevoSoft (though, Positive Games assisted with the latter). And, both bear a striking resemblance to each other in design and play. In many ways, Magic Academy is the same game dressed in a new set of clothes.

But, that's okay. While similarities exist, a fresh story and entertaining mix of puzzles make Magic Academy a worthy investment. In fact, it's a smidge better than its precursor.

As with Mysteryville, an enigma must be solved. In this case, a missing person (rather than fictitious felines). As Annie, a freshman at the Magic Academy, you investigate the strange disappearance of your older sister, Irene, who vanished a year ago. With the help of instructors, and a Harry Potter lookalike classmate, you search for clues to her whereabouts, learning how to remove protective spells, reveal invisible objects and gaze into the future. Ghosts, ancient spells and magic artifacts all come into play.

Of course, this game's mostly about finding objects hidden in rooms overflowing with more accumulated debris than your average junkyard. Some items are relatively easy to spot, while others are so well concealed they're nearly impossible to detect. It's an obsessive-compulsive hoarder's nightmare.

Items are selected with a click of the mouse. However, unlike many hidden-object games which force you to pause between selections (for item removal), Magic Academy allows you to select objects in rapid succession -- a much appreciated feature. But, avoid random clicking. Too many rapid, ill-placed clicks elicit a time penalty.

Again, as with Mysteryville, there are 21 stages of play, each with multiple levels of item-based puzzles to solve. In keeping with the genre, mysteries consist of finding objects of a particular category (butterflies, spiders, scrolls or flasks), locating various bits and pieces from a list (bat, potion, mouse, candle, pen, compass, etc.), detecting objects based on their silhouettes, and locating items that differ between two "almost identical" side-by-side scenes. In a few instances, you even have to perform searches in the dark aided only by candlelight.

Get stuck at any point and you can employ the game's hint feature. Simply click the Tip button and a missing object is revealed. Once used, the Tip meter slowly replenishes itself. So, rather than having a limited number of hints at your disposal, you can seek additional help as long as time permits.

Hidden-object levels are punctuated by several mini-games. Many will be familiar to those who played Mysteryville, but a few new permutations have been added. Jigsaw-like posers are still incorporated every few levels, but the "I spy" action is broken up by other diversions, as well. Rotation puzzles are employed where pieces remain in their original position, but are rotated into correct alignment. Another of the new challenges is based on the old memory game of Concentration. Flipping tiles over reveals a pattern on their back; match patterns and those tiles are removed from play.

Continuing with the framework established in Mysteryville, interaction with the academy's inhabitants plays a significant role in moving the story forward. In contrast to similar games, you actually become acquainted with the residents of this magical institution as you converse with them. As for replayability, once you've completed a stage, you can return as often as you like to tackle its puzzles again. Conversations, thankfully, can be skipped at any time.

Magic Academy, like Mysteryville, features beautifully-rendered locales and inhabitants, an enjoyable mix of engaging conundrums and a well-integrated story that improves on its predecessor. Audio is also a step above, adding significantly to the game's atmosphere. However, Magic Academy is cursed with its forerunners weaknesses, too. Top scores aren't accessible, a relaxed mode is still notably absent and, once completed, there's little reason to replay the game as item locations are fixed. Couple that with a rather brief four-to-six hour play time, and the enjoyment ends all too soon.

Nevertheless, Magic Academy is one of the better hidden-object games available. Fans of the genre will find the experience a magical delight. It's an academy worthy of your enrollment.

Magic Academy Review (by Gamemile) 

Magic Academy - Hidden Objects Puzzle

It became a tradition for us to feature games with the elements of sorcery on Fridays, so you may spend the whole weekend casting spells...

This week we have a real quality game from Nevosoft, creators of Mysteryville. And this time it is another hidden objects variation.

Magic Academy is a series of hidden objects puzzles wrapped into the adventure plot.

The story takes place at Magic Academy; and you are to find your sister who disappeared while studying there. By solving a number of puzzles, (such as hidden objects and spot a difference) and learning the magical sciences such as foretelling and witchcraft, you are to collect the clues to finally get on your sister's trail.

The graphics of the game, the game plot, sequence of actions- everything has a touch of Mysteryville. You'll see the same colorful locations, face the same characters - who seem more realistic than ever before. When you meet someone you get the feeling you've met them before somewhere. This is the case with your best friend, who has a resemblance to the title character of the kid fantasy movie.

But the rule of the game is good-old: check out the items on the list and find them on the playfield.

Like in other detective games, your task is to solve puzzles in the limited time.

Sometimes you will have to spot the difference in the academy rooms, on Egyptian manuscripts or solve a jigsaw puzzle.

Nevosoft team has made a lot of experiments with hidden-objects concept to derive the best out of it. And they have succeeded in it.

Thus, in some rooms of the Magic Academy you will have to hunt for the hidden objects while you can view only three items to find.

In general, you are to spot say 18 clues on a level, but you can only currently view 3 items out of this list. As you spot one of them, another item is added on the list.

I find it more exciting than just viewing a long list of around 20 items to find, trying to keep them in mind, and forgetting them after the first glance at the playing. This is more exciting as you don't know what you'll have to find, and this feeling adds more challenge to the game.

Out of all the hidden-object games, this one features the trickiest placement of clues. The point here is to search for the clues where you would never expect to find them

Moreover, given the poorly-researched theme of the game (sorcery and magic spells) sometimes you will have to search for the objects from the list just by their contours (though normally, they are just named on a list).

Sometimes these puzzles are a great challenge for one's eyesight: some of the clues to find turn out to be a reflection in a mirror, silhouette on a wall or even a small sticker.

As always you can use a hint, when it is available (hints become unavailable for a certain time after you use them). And don't forget about the penalty for random clicks:).