I hadn’t heard a lot about this game before receiving a copy for review, but when I knew I was getting it I did some research, to find this game has been developed by Brownie Brown, the talented bunch who created the original Seiken Densetsu games, including the all conquering Secret of Mana. I had high expectations therefore, and I am very glad to report this game lives up to them, not necessarily as a masterpiece or a classic, but a thoroughly enjoyable, memorable game.
Graphics
Well, they’re 2D, let’s get that out the way right now. But it’s very pretty 2D. Sprites are detailed and easily recognizable from the artistic representations of characters that pop up during dialogue, and all the games different planets are rendered with loving care and attention to quirky details. Battle scenes are also pleasing to the eye, and the effects of magic spells are very impressive for a 2D game. The game makes fairly good use of the two screens, usually by allowing the player to see things that are out of their view, but are nonetheless important to see, mostly an indicator for a puzzle that requires solving. The second screen can also be used to quickly check stats or the current alignments of planets, the details of which I’ll get into below. The cart is filled up with some impressive FMV sequences, which adds some flair to the game. The question is, do I judge this game against the other DS games as a whole, or simply judge it’s looks based on what it is, a 2D sprite based RPG? I always think it’s fairer to do the latter. And for a 2D RPG, this game is overall an aesthetic beauty, total eye candy.
Gameplay
Ah, the all-important meat and potatoes of any review. Magical Starsign is a fairly old school turn based RPG, with some clever ideas. There are six playable characters, and each has their own elemental alignment. The main character will always have a light or dark affinity, whichever the player chooses, and thus their strength comes based on whether it is daytime or nighttime. As for the other characters, their elemental affinities, ranging from fire, wood, earth, wind and water, is dependant upon their planet of affinity, coming into the correct alignment. So when the fire planet enters it’s correct segment of orbit, fire attacks will be more powerful. Of course, all of these things apply to enemies to. Better watch when facing wind based enemies when Puffoon, the wind planet is in its correct alignment. Each character can also use their magical abilities outside of battle in order to solve puzzles, such as using wind magic in order to activate a turbine, to give a rather obvious example. All in all, Magical Starsign might not bring anything new to the table, which is the reason it can’t really be called a masterpiece, but it is a perfectly solid RPG in the old school tradition, and its best aspect isn’t really in its gameplay anyway. However, the game does make some utilization of the DS’s touch screen. Touching a character at the right time as they cast a spell will boost the power of their attack, and the game can actually be controlled completely just with the stylus, which I have to say I have gotten used to, to the point of where it’s tough to go back to conventional controls.
Sound
Jingles, whooshes and bleeps aplenty, but then that’s what you expect from a 2D RPG. The music doesn’t is fairly bland, really. It isn’t very memorable, nor is it offensive. Sound effects fair better, as the game’s ambience is quite bright and comedic. Magic attacks are accompanied by sounds that make them sound like they hurt, which is a nice touch. Nothing major, nothing bad.
Lasting Appeal
The game’s story is quite trite. Six magic students embark on a journey through their solar system in order to save their Teacher from space pirates, the leader of which is a former student gone astray. When an RPG’s story can be summed up that simply, you can only hope the game has other charms, and it does. There has been an increase lately in RPGs that strive to be more comical than serious, such as Nippon Ichii’s strategy games, and the Mario and Luigi games, and that is precisely the zone this game is from. As such, the lasting appeal in this game is going to be hoe funny you think it is and how charming you find the characters and locations. It does have a town called Honey Mint White Caramel Fudgeflake with Melty Butter and Syrup and Whipped Cream On Top. That has got to break so many records for a place name in an RPG.
Fun Factor
This game is fun to play, both thanks to a clever, if typical battle system, some good puzzles and some great humor. There aren’t too many good RPGs on the DS either at this point, with only FF III and Children of Mana being your recent choices, and neither being offering the same level of genuine charm that Magical Starsign does. Brownie Brown have another deserved hit on their hands, which probably means it’ll get ignored in favor of Square Enix games, like all awesome RPGs do. So do me a favor, and don’t let this one get ignored. It might not be the next Golden Sun, but at least it’s an entertaining RPG, and the DS doesn’t have enough of them yet.
Graphics
8.7
2D, but very pretty 2D. And the DS can do prettier 2D than it can 3D
Gameplay
8.5
A mix of Golden Sun\'s conventionality with Mario and Luigi\'s interactivity. Good stuff.
Sound
8.0
Forgettable music, but great sound effects
Lasting Appeal
8.0
It's difficult to imagine you playing it more than once, but it's not a short game either.
Fun Factor
8.6
Funny dialogue and gameplay make up for a lite story and themes.
