Castle of Magic

Castle of Magic is a fun little platformer that started its life out as a mobile game before making the jump to the DS and PC. It is one of those games that not many people know or talk about and while I hate this term, I would probably describe it as a bit of a hidden gem. It is not doing anything hugely new with the platform genre, but it does what it does very well and while it lasts it is a very fun time.

Making Magic

There is not a great deal of story to Castle of Magic, but given the time this was made and the fact it was designed as being a mobile game first. It is not all that surprising that there is not a ton of story here. Basically, we have two kids that are bored one day, they crack open this magic chest and they find themselves on a magical adventure where they must traverse different lands, defeat bosses, save the day and get home.

Colors Of The Rainbow

I think that Castle of Magic is a very nice-looking game. I know that it may seem basic compared to platformers that we have today, but these sprites are nice, colorful, and have a lot of charm to them. I like how they have created this fantasy world and, in many ways, the visuals of the game remind me of a better-looking version of Nemo the Dream Master on the NES.

Jump Up, Jump Up And Get Down!

The gameplay of Castle of Magic is what really makes this such an easy game to recommend. You will be traversing to five different worlds and each world has three stages and a boss fight. You will be running, jumping, double jumping, and using your wand to fight enemies. It controls well enough and there is a really good and fun flow to the gameplay. I will say that the game is a tad on the easy side and even the bosses once you learn their patterns are a cakewalk. Still, while this lasts, I am sure you are going to have a fun time with it.

But Wait! There Is More!

One fun way that Castle of Magic keeps the gameplay fresh is by giving you access to these special power ups that let you transform. It kind of works in a similar way to the power up system in the Magical Quest games. For example, you can become a Hunter and you will have the ability to shoot flaming arrows.

You can become a swordfish and now you can swim better. Certain stages will give you the chance to use the various special abilities and it is always a lot of fun when you get the chance to.

Pros:

• I liked the whole whimsical nature of the game
• The special abilities you get to use are a lot of fun
• The game controls very well
• This is perfect if you want a fun and obscure platformer to play

Cons:

• The game is a little on the easy side
• It will not take you long to beat the game