Pros: Many hidden object tasks. Challenging mini-games. Good voice-overs. Eccentric characters.
Cons: Can’t skip mini-games. No hints in puzzle tasks. Gloomy graphics.
Magic Academy opens its doors again in this thrilling sequel to the popular hidden object game. This time you travel to the ancient castle full of secrets and mysteries where you'll encounter a familiar atmosphere and challenging tasks.
If you've played the original Magic Academy you’ll remember it starred two smart sisters, Annie and Irene, who are promising students in magic. In the first part you played Annie. In Magic Academy 2, you switch to Irene.
Irene arrives at the Tirisfall Fortress with the intention of becoming a Junior Councilor. Unfortunately, she has picked a bad time to enter the society of magicians. Someone has stolen Treatise on Light and Darkness, a book containing ancient knowledge on how to open the Darkness. According to the rumors, a demon has escaped from his jail and to make things worse, some councilors suspect Annie is involved. You start your own investigation to clear your sister’s name and prevent evil forces from plunging the world into the chaos!
The hidden object game comes with the traditional tasks that are typical of the genre. These including searching for listed items, collecting a bunch of the same object, finding items by their silhouette, spotting the differences between two almost identical pictures and more. The ingenious mini-games make up for the run-of-the-mill tasks. Some puzzles will be familiar to those who have played the Magic Academy or Mushroom Age. For example, you’ll untangle crossed threads, unscramble notes, put a poem in the correct order and rotate pipes to connect them. This only lists a handful of the available puzzles.
Some of these puzzles are easy; others require attention and patience. If you don't like a puzzle, then it's too bad because the game doesn't allow you to skip them. Besides that, many of the tasks don't provide hints. Fortunately, you have unlimited time to complete the tasks and levels.
The game adds great voice-acting dialogues, which will please those who don’t like to read dialogue. Another neat addition is the references to real life. For example, Richard, the master of illusions mentions the endless TV series Lost.
The funny and more realistic characters, the intriguing music and the charming sounds all enhance the game and lift it past its predecessor. Unfortunately, the graphics don't especially with its mostly grey backgrounds. Despite the quibbles, Magic Academy 2 makes an interesting sequel should attract anyone who likes mysteries.
