Academy of Magic: Word Spells is an active puzzle game that puts you in the shoes of a powerful wizard who is trying to master the art of magic.
Overview
Academy of Magic: Word Spells Overview
Academy of Magic: Word Spells is an exciting puzzle game which was released in later 2005 for PC. Play as a new student in the Academy of Magic and learn new spells to increase your power by creating words which the provided letters on the game board. The game play is very similar to the hit board game, Scrabble, and is highly accessible for younger gamers and adults alike. Whilst the graphics are very simple, and the voice acting is horrible, this game offers a lot of stimulating game play and has high replay value.
Academy of Magic: Word Spells Screenshots
Academy of Magic: Word Spells Featured Video
Full Review
Academy of Magic: Word Spells Review
Are you a fan of word games? If so, then Academy of Magic will probably be to your liking. Throughout this adventure you’ll use your knowledge of words and spelling to become a powerful Wizard and master the art of magic!
As a new student at the Academy of Magic, your main goal is to match together letter tiles, creating the longest words possible. Some of the more difficult letters are worth more points than the easier ones. If you’re familiar with the board game Scrabble, you’ll catch on toAcademy of Magic rather quickly! It’s a classic concept, and not horribly original, but it’s done very well this time around!
This certainly isn’t Scrabble, though, and there are plenty of gameplay elements that add a bit of depth to the game and differentiate it from similar word games. For starters, you need to watch out for dreaded ‘Black Obsidian Tiles.’ These tiles will slowly move from right to left across the board, and if they reach the far left, then your game is over! Be sure to use the black tiles as soon as possible.
As you progress through the game, gaining more points and mastering your magic skills, you’ll go up in rank, from Apprentice to Grand Master. You’ll learn from a variety of teachers, and master an array of magic spells, which can be used to affect the tiles on the board. This adds a new level of strategy to the game, far beyond what you’ll find in Scrabble! For example, you can use regeneration to change a letter tile to a different tile. You also have spells like Destruction, which destroys a tile, and Drag Row, which allows you to reposition an entire row! To cast a magic spell is simple: just select the spell from your spell menu in the bottom right, then click the tile(s) you want to cast it on. The only problem is trying to distinguish one spell from another based on the tiny little picture in the menu. Personally, I can’t tell them apart, and during a timed game you don’t have time to fumble around trying to figure them all out!
The more powerful the spell, the greater the mana cost is to use it, so make sure to only use spells in emergencies, otherwise you may be unable to use them when you really need to! As your rank increases your max mana will increase, and your mana will refill as you create words. The longer the word, the more mana you gain back!
The game features three different gameplay modes: Strategy, Action and Timed. In the Strategy mode, your goal is to simply collect enough points to progress to the next level. You can take your time and simply play the game at your own place, developing strategies and getting a feel of how to play the game. The timed mode is similar, but you have to think fast, because you have to gain enough points to progress to the next level before the time runs out! Lastly is the Action mode, which is the fastest paced, hardest mode. You can’t wait and use strategy, because the black obsidian tiles will keep appearing, moving across the screen rapidly and destroying the other letters in their path. In the other modes, the black tiles won’t appear until after you’ve selected a word, however the Action mode makes things even tougher! This allows you to choose the mode that is to your liking, and adds some replay value for those that feel like going back and mastering all three modes.
Aside from the three gameplay modes, there are also three levels of difficulty: Easy, Normal and Hard. This allows you to play at the level of your skill, and adds a little bit more to the replay value for those that just can’t get enough! There are also jeweled tiles that pop up every now and then. These tiles will give you extra points, and if you manage to spell words using the M, A, G, I and C jeweled tiles, you’ll unlock a bonus game!
If you really get good at Academy of Magic, you can submit your scores online and compare them to everyone else’s. However, even if you aren’t good, the game will keep track of your scores and a wide array of your stats. This is a nice feature for those that want to keep track of their progress and compare it to others.
The basic gameplay is challenging, yet easy to catch on to. You won’t have to strain your brain for hours while trying to figure the game out, unless you plan on creating some REALLY long words. It’s not horribly original, but it is a lot of fun and addictive! The controls are also very easy to learn: click to select your letters in the order you want to use them, click again to deselect, and hit submit when you’re ready! This makes the game very friendly for young gamers, and they’ll be mastering their ability to spell at the same time! Unfortunately, I ran into a bug that kept booting me out of the game after a while, telling me that I had to enter the serial number. Seeing as I’d already entered the serial number I was confused. Fortuantely, this can easily be fixed by entering the serial, then restarting. It’s a big pain when you don’t know what the problem is and have to keep replaying the game over and over (as I did), but it’s easily solved. Hopefully a better solution will be found, but in the mean time, this works.
The game features some beautiful orchestral music. It’s pleasant to hear and fits nicely with the game. It’s not obtrusive at all, and won’t disturb your concentration while trying to find words. Unfortunately, I must admit, the game also features some horrible voice acting! On the positive side, though, there really isn’t very much of it, so it’s not a problem. The interface is bright and colorful, with a sort of cartoony charm to it.
This is a particularly good game for young gamers. The gameplay is straightforward enough that they shouldn’t struggle to catch on, and they’ll be learning at the same time. It’s a great game for adults too, and features some addictive gameplay and plenty of replay value. Not to mention, with a low price of only $19.99, it’s a highly affordable game! Sure, it’s not the deepest or most original game out there… but as long as you’re having fun, who cares? If you like word games then
Academy of Magic is just what you’re looking for! Download a demo at the official site and try it for yourself!
