Get ready for some retro fun as we learn magic and go on an awesome adventure!
In the age of retro resurgence, there's now bars being set for many categories on grading these lovely works against modern games. First and foremost, authenticity, no matter how bad the technology was that's being emulated, is very important to those who remember with rose-tinted glasses. Mage's Initiation: Reign of Elements sets out to conquer an ambitious and not all together straightforward feat of making a modern retro experience--and greatly succeeds at doing so.
It's very clear right from the start that Himalaya Studios put a lot of thought in how they wanted Mage's Initiation to be presented. As I fired up the game, I had to do an honest double take on the resolution at which it was playing. The pixelated graphics make no apologies as you dive in with what you're looking at. I felt my heartstrings pull a bit on the nostalgia chord, which was only the beginning of the feeling as I became more engrossed in the adventure at hand. I even was able to pick which type of menu I could use! All mirroring past PC set ups.
An interesting idea in Mage's Initiation is to have the ability to learn and grow through XP and a really smart gem system. You can equip a limited amount of gems at any time, and these gems give you individual buffs that are really useful, especially in battle. The hybrid nature of Mage's Initiation being that of a point and click and RPG, gives us these really cool opportunities to duel and battle throughout the adventure. It's engaging, fun and really adds to the whole thing, giving it a spin on a classic genre.
I don't wish to give away too much of the story, as it's a point and click adventure (with RPG bits in there as well!). There's a lot of dialog to be had, branching paths to be taken. One of the things I really appreciate about how wonderfully true they stayed to the genre and time was the delivery of each line from the voice actors. Be it on purpose or not, the sometime awkward and interesting delivery really takes you back. I thought it was a joke at first, but honestly, I couldn't imagine the game being voiced any other way. It's an absolutely perfect fit to the overall package.
Mage's Initiation: Reign of the Elements is a game that simply can't be missed if you're a fan of classic point and clicks. It's got everything and so much more, really immersing you back into the past, with adding everything that we've learned from the present. There's so much to do, giving tons of game time and the story is lighthearted and fun, making it a great pick for any age. I can't wait to sit down with my kid and dive into it for another playthrough--greatly looking forward to seeing the path they set as a wet-behind-the-ears mage!