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COMPLETE: Embers of Magic
Aug. 12th, 2018 11:42 amThis was another Steam Discovery Queue find that I picked up because it was short and free. It's really well done! I enjoyed it.
Embers of Magic is short kinetic novel. (As in, a visual novel with no interaction. There's exactly one "which plant will you take" choice in the game and it appears to affect nothing whatsoever. I'm actually not sure why that's in there.) Weighing in at half an hour, with an open prologue-like ending and a price of Free, this feels suspiciously like a promotional companion piece for another, fuller game. From a rough quick outsider please-correct-me-if-I'm-wrong glance, it looks to be set in the same world as the Book of Gray Magic series, but with a distant timeskip and mostly-unrelated characters. That would mean that Embers of Magic is meant more to sell you on the worldbuilding than these specific characters and their adventures.
And, honestly? I'm sold. Even this quick little romp teased an entire world recovering from a magic-induced apocalypse, spells and sorcery, fantastical creatures, charming and entertaining characters, lush, gorgeous artwork, and well-done voice acting. I don't even care if I just effectively watched a commercial for some other game; it was excellent and now I want that other game.
My only regret is that I got hooked on this particular crew, and that starting over with a new cast may be a bit jarring. Oh, well. If this game made me fall in love with its cast in half an hour, I'm sure the Book of Gray Magic setting will have plenty of time to grow on me.
Embers of Magic is short kinetic novel. (As in, a visual novel with no interaction. There's exactly one "which plant will you take" choice in the game and it appears to affect nothing whatsoever. I'm actually not sure why that's in there.) Weighing in at half an hour, with an open prologue-like ending and a price of Free, this feels suspiciously like a promotional companion piece for another, fuller game. From a rough quick outsider please-correct-me-if-I'm-wrong glance, it looks to be set in the same world as the Book of Gray Magic series, but with a distant timeskip and mostly-unrelated characters. That would mean that Embers of Magic is meant more to sell you on the worldbuilding than these specific characters and their adventures.
And, honestly? I'm sold. Even this quick little romp teased an entire world recovering from a magic-induced apocalypse, spells and sorcery, fantastical creatures, charming and entertaining characters, lush, gorgeous artwork, and well-done voice acting. I don't even care if I just effectively watched a commercial for some other game; it was excellent and now I want that other game.
My only regret is that I got hooked on this particular crew, and that starting over with a new cast may be a bit jarring. Oh, well. If this game made me fall in love with its cast in half an hour, I'm sure the Book of Gray Magic setting will have plenty of time to grow on me.