Megamagic: Wizards of the Neon Age

Want a fun Action RPG with a fun game play that rocks to the vibe of the 1980s? Look no further as Megamagic: Wizards of the Neon Age is what you need.
Game Overview
Megamagic: Wizards of the Neon Age is an open world action RPG that focuses on a theme inspired by the vibe of the 1980s. You play as Phoban, an aspiring wizard who attempts to follow the footsteps of their father by joining the Order and the younger brother of Deimon.
Getting a grasp on how the gameplay goes is fairly easy as the game guides you through any new stuff or mechanic that you encounter throughout the whole play through. The game has five (5) different spell categories that you can learn and master which are: Neonmancy, Vegemancy, Sanctumancy, Fulgomancy and Necromancy. These spells, along with the minions that you can summon at your disposal (referred to as "grims") needed to be learned first and requires a certain number of item drops to be crafted before it is usable in combat.
All in all, there are twenty (20) spells and sixteen (16) grims that you can craft and research, with each spell having their own use and functionality and each grim with their own unique passive and active skills.
The Pros
Unique Game Concept - Deviating from the whole level-up norm of role-playing games, the unique setting of the game to get "stronger" is through collecting scrolls to craft your different kind of spells and finding and observing the abilities certain minions to turn and summon them as your grims, which are both unique and interesting. In addition to that, the game play of it being acted on real time makes it more engaging and challenging at the same time.
Clean Game Graphics - Aside from the game getting the visualization of what the 80s feel like and setting the theme perfectly, what I really like in the graphics is that it shows a really clean interface through-out as well as with the designs of all of the game assets (characters, scenery, effects, etc.).
Beautiful Soundtracks - This is definitely one of the greatest assets that the game can offer, and I can proudly say that I have idled the game a few times while on play just to listed to its soundtracks. It is very captivating, nostalgic, and most of all, it doesn't sound annoying even after long periods of playing.
Local Co-op Ready - The game features the ability of enabling up to four (4) additional players to control over your "grims" (summoned minions), however their actions are limited only to the actions that the grims are able to do (in which they are only able to do the normal and special attacks).

The Cons
Weak Story Delivery - Don't get this wrong. This doesn't mean that the game doesn't have a backdrop that makes it deeper, as it does execute well in foreshadowing and setting the theme. However, the game suffers on a poor dialogue delivery of the characters, which in turn fails to make it more immersive story-wise. For example, a sacrifice of a certain character when giving up his life for his loved ones should be somewhat dramatic, right? In this game's case, it failed to give that dramatic feeling. Hence, displaying a poor delivery of the story.
Low Replay Value - Aside from the fact that this game could be played co-op locally with your friends or replaying the game through another difficulty, there really isn't anything that could bind you to into playing the game again once you have finished a single play through. Some reasons include the story's linearity (although, there are some few choices that can be made in the game but it doesn't really affect the story that much), as well as the lack of side-quest presence (though some summons and spells might require some grinding to get them all).

The Verdict
In the sum of all the pros and cons, this game is fun to play and is definitely worth the value it asks.
If you like to see more recommended games that is worth the value you are paying, please visit my other reviews, or follow our curator group at Good Games Giveaways & Reviews.

Oh boy... What a journey this was.
Before going into the actual review, i just want to say that i hesitated to give this one a try. Why? I am very picky about games, and my tastes do tend to differ. I am not a big fan of RPGs, i did play quite few but it's hard for me to find something that i really like within this genre.
I loved the theme of the game, the story, and all the little details, and i was afraid i will end up not liking the game very much.
A short introduction
I usually don't talk much about stories because i don't feel that i am in the position to judge a group of people's vision, or how they express it, and if you read other of my reviews, i usually just focus on technical stuff as i believe pretty much everything else is completely subjective.
But, i just want to mention that the story of this game is very original and genuine. Despite it being set in the 80s - Early 90s, it's very different than other similar games or movies.
Gameplay
While it's listed as an RPG aswell, it's not your average type of RPG, i would classify it as a 'Action-Adventure/Button Mashing' game with RPG elements.
You do learn spells, you get more creatures that you can summon and such, these RPG elements are kept to a pretty minimalistic state, and i liked it.
The story is split into 12 chapters, with the last 2 or 3 being slightly shorter, each of them bringing in new twists and plots that will keep your passion going and going.
Bosses aren't hard to beat at all, except Vertebreaker and Merklyn, which, for some reason, the first i mentioned is almost as hard to beat as the second.
Levels/Cities are different and unique, which brings again some more diversity into the game.
I wasn't very fond of how many dialogues there were in the game, they can get frustrating because you have to keep clicking and clicking. This is something i wish they would've made a bit more discrete, or at least the dialogues to be shorter.
It provides you with around 10-12 hours of fun, and it also does have some replay potential.
Music - Visual Aspects - Achievements
The music from the main menu instantly brought me flashbacks of Street Fighters and King of Fighters, similar and classy!
The actual soundtrack of the game was pleasant, the cheesy and glorious kind of music you'd expect in such a game. I hope they will add the option to purchase the OST.
Visuals in this game are delicate, and they are so soft that sometimes you won't even notice some things when you are deeply focused into the actual game, and i admire how they worked quite a bit even on some small stuff that probably 90% of the players won't even notice.
If you're an achievement hunter you will probably like this game because about half of the achievements you get just by playing, and the rest require just a bit of work (The one about finding all the chest might be the most painful one).
Bottom Line
Very fun and interesting game to play with only few drawbacks, and considering the price-tag, i'd say for 10-12 hours of content, it's a pretty damn must-buy.
Pros
Intriguing and genuine story
Eargasmic sexy music
More than enough content (Considering the standards nowadays at least!)
Replay value
Cons
Dialogues can be frustrating when they tend to be pretty long
Controls aren't rebindable at the moment (However, they are perfect as they are now anyway. Besides the developers said they will make them rebindable soon)

Yet another example of why Steam reviews system doesn't really work. Megamagic: Wizards of the Neon Age is one of those games that can't be rated by simple “yes / no”. I mean, just by looking at all those negative reviews, you may think that it's pretty bad. But the thing is... it actually isn't. It isn't bad at all. Well, aside from a few minor bugs here and there, lack of balance and the fact that controller support is a lie. But is it actually good? Well... I don't think so.
See, Megamagic is one of those indie titles that you can skip without missing much. Just because there's nothing really special about them. It's an action game (yes, I know that it looks more like an old school RPG, but still, it's a pretty generic action), where you can attack your enemies with spells, or summon some creatures (called “grims”) to support you. That's pretty much it. You follow the mission pointer (almost no optional goals here, aside from some optional challenges), you kill everything, you solve some basic (really, really basic) puzzles. Repeat until credits will roll. “Leveling up” is kind of fun, since you'll need to collect some parts from the enemies and also learn their behavior to unlock the new summons, but all that is way too straightforward (you kill enemies for parts, you avoid their attacks to learn about them) to be called a thing. No, seriously, even though it sounds like a fun thing, it's hardly even worth mentioning, since most of the time it'll just happen without any effort on your side. And aside from that, it's a pretty generic 2D action game, where you either shoot, or dodge.
The story is also way too generic (it's just yet another “evil priest” thing with some stupid humor mixed in), while the entire nostalgia thing is... Well, to be honest, I don't know why it's even here. I mean, sure, 80s / 90s can sell stuff. Add LukHash-like soundtrack, SNES sprites on background and neon lights, and people will pay. The problem is – in this game... it doesn't really feel like there was a need for all that. Neither writing, nor gameplay actually call for such things. As the result, it really does feel like the retro motif was added just for money, to make it easier to fund the game on KickStarter (yes, it's a KickStarter game, no, it isn't as bad as some other KickStarter projects).
So, despite all those negative reviews, Megamagic: Wizards of the Neon Age is totally playable. If you'll get it cheap during the sale, or as a part of a bundle on one of those “get a lot of games cheap” websites... I don't think a single playthrough will make you feel bad. It's just, like I've said, it's a pretty generic indie game that fails to provide enough motivation for you to actually care about it. There's so many generic indie games in Steam at this point that it's all about you and what you come across. You come across this exact title – you may as well finish it without feeling bad about wasting your time (it's not that long anyway). You come across any other game of this kind... it won't even matter. Even though Megamagic tries to be different here and there, it isn't nearly enough to make a real difference.

Introduction
Developed and published by BeautiFun Games, Megamagic: Wizards of the Neon Age combines fantasy elements such as the use of magic with post-apocalyptic locations and some neo-noir inspiration from Blade Runner’s own neon-lit urban sprawl. This is the dev team’s second game on Steam and they have shown clear signs that they’re capable of delivering a quality game.

Gameplay
Megamagic: Wizards of the Neon Age features a very complex combat system focusing on five magical schools with many spells and disciplines to master. It wouldn’t be an RPG without a set of skills so that is also provided. I found the RTS style of combat to be far better than a TBS form found in the Shadowrun series, for example. Plenty of tactical opportunities that require careful planning. The boss fights can be challenging but that is not a bad thing at all. The game has no leveling system but this novel aspect wasn’t really an issue since you still have real progression through skills and spells. Despite being an open world, the story has no side quests and the linearity of it all, did bother me enough to consider it a con. This beautiful game world really needs more activities and quests to blend in with the many easter eggs and pop culture references already present. The fact that we have a multiplayer option in the form of local co-op can be the saving grace for those that find SP playthroughs too tedious.

The graphical details in Megamagic are top quality. As far as 2D sprites go, you can’t have them any better than this. The lighting, the particle effects and shading diversity, all scream 2016. The areas and NPCs have been very well polished and I haven’t seen many texture glitches either. So you have a beautiful game in isometric projection which emulates classic RPGs from the past with a modern twist.

The soundtrack is provided by composer Mitch Murder, of Hotline Miami 2 and Kung Fury fame. Someone who composed for those two gems, can’t go wrong with a 3rd ‘80s spinoff title, can he? The game’s sounds and music score is brilliant and fits well within the setting and story. Definitely no complaints here.

Pros
+ Intriguing type of gameplay found in few titles
+ Beautiful graphics and effects
+ Steam Trading Cards & Achievements

Cons
- Somewhat liniar storyline
Result / Final thoughts
I truly enjoyed playing Megamagic. It felt like a game with true potential for more, perhaps even a sequel or two. Only con I could find was the liniar story but even that can be fixed through further updates and DLCs or expansions. The map is large and you have many hours ahead of you, should you give the game a well deserved chance. And you should, since you can even form a nice badge with the Trading Cards available for it and the Achievements are there to also stand testament to your gaming proficiency.

Rating 9/10

This review was submitted for Elite Giveaways, check us out for more reviews ranging from Indie games to AAA titles.

Megamagic: Wizards of the Neon Age is a wonderful RPG/strategy with a fantastic story and hours and hours of gameplay.
Story
Megamagic is set in a futuristic world where magic flows freely (to those who can master it) and you play young Phoban, a wizard who wants to enroll in the Order. Now i’m not going to give too much away about the story as for me this was the reason I kept playing and playing and I’d hate to spoil any of it. There is great substance and depth to it and I genuinely felt myself wanting to help Phoban and ultimately find out what happens to him and the rest of the people you meet. The dialogue is really well written and very witty with many pop culture references which is fun. The more I played the more I felt myself becoming attached to various characters and hating others which to me is always a sign of fantastic writing. The game follows a linear story across multiple chapters that most conclude with awesome boss fights.
General Gameplay
The gameplay is fairly easy to grasp and everything is explained in a tutorial for those unfamiliar. Spells are your main attack but you also have grims which are summonable creatures which will fight on your behalf. You start with a single grim and two or three spells but you’ll quickly find new spells throughout the world along with learning how to summon new grims. Spells can be found on scrolls but the grim system is very different and very interesting. Instead of capturing grims or learning how to summon them you must instead ‘research’ them. Grims have passive, active and special abilities and you’ll need to encounter your chosen grims and witness their abilities. Once you’ve seen the required amount of abilities and collected the required elements you can then ‘craft’ that grim for use whenever you want. There are many spells and grims in the game to discover, though some will require a little more looking than others. Your hotbar can only hold five spells and three grims though, so no matter how many you have learn you’ll only have 8 total abilities to choose from at any one time.
Though the story is linear there is a nice sized world which can be explored and MOST areas can be revisited after leaving them so there is a nice optional element of exploration there. This being said there are no side-quests as incentive to explore so it’s entirely up to you to progress directly through the game or veer of the path slightly.
Along with combat you’ll also find puzzles dotted around the game world ranging from simple memory puzzles to timing puzzles and even a quick platformer style dodge the object puzzle. Most of these will require you to use your grims and spells to complete and are a nice little break from the usual combat based gameplay you’ll be encountering. I actually enjoyed the puzzles a lot more than the combat and found myself wishing the puzzle/combat ration was reversed.
Graphics and Audio
The graphics of Megamagic are nice with a nostalgic retro feel. The isometric feel alongside all the neon lights and awesome soundtrack give the game a great 80’s feel. The graphics options are limited though with a noticeable lack of a windowed mode option which was a little annoying as I tend to play games in windowed when I’m using multi-monitors for other things.
Cons
My ONLY two negatives about the game is the combat/controls and the lack of a levelling system. The controls are the biggest issue for me and if i’m honest, it made me quit the game multiple times. Maybe it’s just me but I HATE them, especially in combat and they are UNMAPPABLE. Moving my minions with shift & click WHILST moving myself with WASD WHILST casting with 1-8 WHILST holding shift & click to cast my minions special WHILST using space to dash away (my only defense) is just too much. There’s nothing more to it. Everything would be a lot easier if I could remap my keys because changing shift to my extra mouse buttons would fix this entirely as way I could control myself with one hand and my minions with the other.
This is made so much worse by the games stupid spawn rates on enemies. I understand this probably sounds rude but it needs to be fixed and multiple people have complained about it on the discussion and have just been ignored by the developers. Enemies currently respawn in an area the second you move out of sight from them which doesn’t sound too bad until you realise some areas are full of weaving corridors where enemies will spawn behind you the second you defeat them with another mob in front of you killing you where you can’t move (Power Station is the biggest problem right now with this issue).
The last thing which in my eyes is a con is the lack of any kind of levelling, be it for yourself, your spells or your grims so that minute amount of damage you do with your first spell in the tutorial is the same damage that spell will do the WHOLE game. It renders 75% of the spells unusable because they just become redundant. It would feel a lot more RPG-y if there was the choice to level stats or spells or grims or just something so you feel a little more in control of your playstyle.
Summary
Overall Megamagic is a fantastic game with a really, really, really well written story. The characters and lovable the dialogue is witty and clever and the puzzles are awesome. Though i’m not a huge fan of the combat there is a narrative mode if you want to avoid it and the story is well worth every second. A really fantastic buy.

pros
- nostalgic
- smooth gameply (no need to press E to interact or open silly doors. Just move)
- rather interesting story. Rather.
cons
- no remap support (I can't find it)
- no window mode support (I can't find it)
- dialogue window at the bottom of the screen is too wide, so it's hard to read. Devs, plz reduce its width for readability.
- no facial expressions during dialogue scenes... but hey, it's an ARPG.

Megamagic is an action adventure game dripping with neon style from the 80s. It has some combat issues, but the story will keep you hooked from the intro cutscene.
.Story/Premise.
Megamagic is set in a future where the collision between Earth and a meteor results in the "Neon Age" in which people can use magic. You are Phoban, the son of a great wizard who stole an ancient artefact: a staff that possesses the power to grant the user with a single wish. Within the artefact is a critter you've befriended by the name of Fum who will die once the staff's power is used and you just can't have that. Thus, the race is on to prevent people from using the staff and killing of your blue cloud buddy. You'll fight off members of a powerful magical order, punks, robots, magical summons known as Grims--and then some. All in order to save your friend.
Megamagic spans over a dozen linear chapters, most of which end with a boss fight of sorts, and the story is well-written. You'll find yourself wondering about characters and their motives during your romp through the Megamagic world and each is developed in such a way that you want to know more about this magical world Phoban inhabits.
.Game play.
You use the WASD keys to move around and the mouse to attack. Exploration is limited as the only thing you'll find by wandering around is more enemies. Occasionally you'll find breakable objects resembling chests that you can break open for materials in crafting spells, but not frequently enough to warrant breaking away from the beaten path.
Enemies wander the map and will attack you on sight, so keep your wits about you. They won't stop between spawn zones, so running away isn't an option as doing so will usually just result in being overrun by hostiles. Your spells, including Phoban's personal spells and the Grims he summons, are hotkeyed to your numeric buttons 1-9; you select a spell by pressing one of these keys and then you use that spell by clicking the right mouse button. You can control your Grim (or Grims) by holding down the shift key. This becomes incredibly difficult when you're trying to run around with WASD in order to avoid dying while simultaneously attempting to tell your Grims to target something specific.
You can also steal energy by getting within range of an enemy and hitting the 'f' key.
In order to learn more spells, you need to craft them using materials you gather upon slaying enemies. The system is intuitive and easy, but pretty shallow from an RPG standpoint. Grims can also be learned through crafting, though obtaining them is a little more complex. In order to do so, you have to have slain a certain number of the Grim in question and will also have to have seen the Grim use its special and passive skills in combat. Once those parameters are fulfilled, it's just a question of having the correct materials and you'll be able to add your new Grim to your hotkey bar no problem.
You'll also use your Grims to solve puzzles, which I must admit are quite rewarding to figure out. Sometimes you'll manually control them in order to press switches out of Phoban's reach and sometimes you'll use them as cannon fodder in order to figure out the safer path. I quite enjoyed them and, though there were a few head-scratchers, I haven't encountered anything too difficult to solve on my own.
.BGM and Art Style.
The soundtrack is catchy and funky. I found myself humming along on more than on occasion. If you even remotely liked the music from the trailer, you'll enjoy the rest of what Megamagic has to offer.
The characters and world are brightly coloured, the former being drawn in a cartoon-y style. No two areas look the same, and stylistically every one of the characters from the main cast are radically different. In short, the game looks great. There's a shortage of Grim types, but that's a minor complaint.
.Longevity.
I'm on the fourth chapter as of writing this review and it's taken me around 4 hours to get here. I'm sure the later chapters will be longer, so it's safe to assume that you'll get 20+ hours if you're taking your time to read the story. There are three difficulties, but there're no achievements tied to the hardest difficulty, so it's likely that only people wanting to test themselves will select it. That being said, I've died plenty of times on normal--to the point where I had to take a five-minute break before reattempting a fight.
.Pros and Cons.
+Colourful, cartoon-y art style.
+Catchy soundtrack.
+Well-written story.
+Well-rounded character and character dynamics.
+The ability to summon familiars that act independent (or not) of you.
+Fun, not-too-difficult puzzles.
-Combat
This is where this game falls short. Not in a huge, game-breaking way, but I'm sure if you've read other reviews for this game you've heard the same complaint: combat is a little awkward and sometimes difficult to the point of cruelty.
-Spawn rate/enemy spawn zoning
The spawn rate of enemy Grims is a little bugged: if you're walking with your own summons toddling behind you, they can reset the respawn timer of the zone you just left--resulting in another mob. If you were already fighting and running around to avoid projectiles when this happens, you can end up having multiple mods swarming you. I'm sure I don't have to tell you why this is a problem. There's currently no fix for the weird spawn rate, but controlling your units and sending them ahead of you works pretty well.
-Linear maps without many easter eggs or incentive to explore
.Bottom Line.
In its current state, I could recommend Megamagic: Wizards of a Neon Age only if you're okay with your action game lacking in the combat department. Everything else--the soundtrack, the story, and the character design--is polished and lovely, so it would be a shame to miss out on the experience because of a few hiccups. Megamagic is a solid adventure that will bring you back to the 80s without any need for a time machine.