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The platform genre can be a bit of a tricky customer. The core gameplay, with its familiar jumping from platform to platform aspect, is undeniably fun. However, it’s often hard for one game to distinguish itself from the crowd. Let’s face it, characters hopping around to defeat enemies is pretty much the norm. Sure, platform games can serve as a launching pad for more complex concepts, like Metroidvanias, but on their own, they usually need something extra to shine. That’s why I’m excited to dive into Magical Delicacy, our topic for today.
Magical Delicacy presents a delightful medley of platforming, RPG, and cookery simulation elements. Yes, you heard that right—to anyone thinking that’s a wild combination, you’re not alone. But does this cocktail of genres actually work? For the most part, I’d say it does. There are a few minor points that might not be to everyone’s taste, and we’ll get into those, but they mostly boil down to individual preferences and minor quality-of-life adjustments.
Imagine arriving in a bustling city as a witch aiming to discover yourself. That’s exactly what you’ll do while playing Magical Delicacy. Armed with a bakery, you’ll fill orders for the townsfolk—though that’s just scratching the surface. This game’s got more layers than meeting people and cooking up delightful dishes. Sure, fulfilling food orders is a big part of the gameplay loop, but there’s so much more to explore. The RPG elements run deep, and rather than diving into all the nitty-gritty right now, I’ll let you unwrap those delights yourselves. Trust me, the storytelling is engaging enough to keep you coming back for more.
Now, tackling the gameplay in Magical Delicacy isn’t easy because there’s a lot going on. At its core, you’ll meet characters around town and work on their requests, nudging the narrative forward. A hefty part of this involves creating dishes as per their specifications. They’ll tell you their likes and dislikes, and then it’s up to you to whip something up. But making a dish isn’t as straightforward as it sounds—you’ll need to gather recipes, hunt for ingredients, and maybe even grow some. It’s not just about whipping something up instantly. You might find yourself without the proper gear to fulfill an order, needing to gather that apart from mere ingredients. On top of that, the platforming elements help you navigate around town, bringing about a soft touch of Metroidvania style, as many areas are inaccessible until you’ve unlocked new abilities or tools.
What really stands out in this game is the welcoming atmosphere—it doesn’t beat you down with endless enemies or threats. There are a few hazards here for some platforming challenges, but even these aren’t overly punishing. Slip-ups don’t lead to a game over screen. Instead, it’s much like being nudged back to try again without the pressure. The absence of constant danger adds to the relaxed vibe, contrasting sharply with typical nail-biting platformers.
One of the smart balancing acts in Magical Delicacy is the simplicity of the cooking mechanics, which meshes seamlessly with other elements. Initially, the RPG-cum-cookery sim setup might feel odd, but it eventually finds a sweet rhythm. The cooking isn’t about hardcore simulation—it’s more of a charming twist that complements the RPG framework.
Creating dishes involves a bit of trial and error. Characters will specify what they want and, critically, what they don’t. For example, someone might crave a stew while wanting to skip anything too spicy. Each ingredient is labeled with a type, like vegetable or herb, and a trait—such as spicy, refreshing, or earthy. So, in this case, you’d steer clear of throwing in some chilies. Sometimes you have a recipe, other times you’ll need to wing it and experiment with mixing items you’re familiar with to discover new, crowd-pleasing dishes.
Your cooking also involves the gear you use. You might need to grind, roast, or fry an ingredient, but to do so, you’ll need to procure the right equipment like an oven or a mortar and pestle. This means maintaining different workstations in your food shop—all this makes preparing the dishes a bit of a puzzle where elements need to be combined just right.
Magical Delicacy radiates a nostalgic arcade charm reminiscent of late 90s titles, which is always delightful. The visual and sound design reinforces that vibe, amplifying the gaming experience. When it comes to controls, while using a gamepad is recommended for smoother gameplay, keyboard controls suffice and don’t limit the experience. If you’ve got a gamepad handy, it’s worth using, but it’s by no means essential.
Don’t be surprised if Magical Delicacy grows on you over time. It may not grab your attention instantly, but as the story unfolds, you’ll likely find yourself more invested. The narrative is dripping with dialogue, and while it’s not voice-enabled, but rather presented through text bubbles, it’s substantial. If you’re impatient with stories and like getting straight to action, it might feel overwhelming—a lot depends on your personal pace and style.
Let’s talk a bit about some of the quality-of-life aspects that could be improved. For instance, navigating through the game could be more fluid with a fast travel option. Usually, I’d just like to click on the map and pop over to a shop instead of traipsing all over town for the want of a missing ingredient. It’s not a glaring issue but could save time. Also, locating characters can be a bit tricky, as they don’t appear on the map, leading you to wander aimlessly. A fix could be as simple as marking them on the map. There’s a cartographer involved in the game, so perhaps she might gift us a more user-friendly map later.
On the whole, Magical Delicacy has been enjoyable. Admittedly, it’s not my typical go-to kind of game, but trying something offbeat works in its favor. If slow-paced exploration where you can immerse at your leisure is your thing, you’ll find much to love. But if you’re chasing high-octane action, you might want to look elsewhere.
This review is based on a retail copy supplied by the publisher.
Absolutely Delicious!
Look and feel: 8/10
Story: 8/10
Controls: 8/10
Accessibility: 7/10
Challenge: 8/10
Replayability: 7/10
Overall Score: 7.7/10
Cooking up a storm: Magical Delicacy combines genres in a delightful way. Despite some minor quality-of-life misses and a potentially slow-paced narrative, it suits those who like to explore at their own rhythm. For those seeking frantic action, this might not hit the mark.
