Academy of Magic: A New Beginning > iPad, iPhone, Android, Mac & PC Game

Overall rating

5 / 5

16 of 22 found this review helpful

Academy of Magic: A New Beginning

PostedJuly 20, 2022

andrewhow110

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Fun Factor

5 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

5 / 5

Level of Challenge

5 / 5

Storyline

5 / 5

I enjoy playing games from this developer I like playing games that are harder rather than easier because I enjoy a challenge. I like playing games based on magic or fantasy they make a change to the normal games that I play

I recommend this game!

+10points

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Overall rating

4 / 5

18 of 24 found this review helpful

Why do M3 developers insist on a long boring story?

PostedJuly 20, 2022

tjm1938

fromCocoa, FL

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Skill Level:Expert

Favorite Genre(s):Arcade & Action, Marble Popper, Match 3, Puzzle

Fun Factor

4 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

5 / 5

Level of Challenge

3 / 5

Storyline

1 / 5

Very much resembles all other M3 games by this developer. A bit slow because of the TOTALLY BORING storyline that has to be skipped as you move from level to level. The introduction is much to long and boring before you can start the game.
Play is usual with a couple of new aspects but not terribly challenging. This developer is OK, but lacking in presenting challenges that are standard with the ...Show more

Very much resembles all other M3 games by this developer. A bit slow because of the TOTALLY BORING storyline that has to be skipped as you move from level to level. The introduction is much to long and boring before you can start the game.
Play is usual with a couple of new aspects but not terribly challenging. This developer is OK, but lacking in presenting challenges that are standard with the better developers of these games. Show less

I recommend this game!

+12points

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Overall rating

3 / 5

40 of 46 found this review helpful

Same as all their numerous other "Stage Complete"... but

PostedJuly 19, 2022

cg47

fromOrange County, CA

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Skill Level:Intermediate

Favorite Genre(s):Match 3

Fun Factor

3 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

2 / 5

Level of Challenge

2 / 5

this one has tiles that are less crisp than their other recent ones.

Although others may enjoy the stories, I'm one of those interested only in the game play. So it would be really nice to be able to "skip dialogue". Their "upgrades" don't make any sense as they just add more to the story, having nothing to do with "upgrades" specific to the scenes.

Also, I get really annoyed at these M3 ...Show more

this one has tiles that are less crisp than their other recent ones.

Although others may enjoy the stories, I'm one of those interested only in the game play. So it would be really nice to be able to "skip dialogue". Their "upgrades" don't make any sense as they just add more to the story, having nothing to do with "upgrades" specific to the scenes.

Also, I get really annoyed at these M3 games that force you to click 3-5 times just to exit out of the game. In all these, you have to click PLAY to THEN Click to MENU, to then click EXIT Show less

I don't recommend this game.

+34points

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Overall rating

3 / 5

14 of 15 found this review helpful

(M3) Academy of Magic: A New Beginning (rel. 7-19-22)

PostedJuly 19, 2022

kerith90angel

fromNew England

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Skill Level:Expert

Current Favorite:

Jewel Match Twilight 2

(29)

Fun Factor

3 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

4 / 5

Level of Challenge

4 / 5

Storyline

3 / 5

This swap style M3. The features are the same as usual.

GENERAL THINGS: (The same from series to series it seems)
- 2 modes Relaxed & timed
- Rotating tile design bubbles you can pop to M3 easier. I really dislike this feature.
- A VO narrates a story to moving still pictures upon entry of the game. In this one, the voice is really muffled by the music so you may want to turn the music off ...Show more

This swap style M3. The features are the same as usual.

GENERAL THINGS: (The same from series to series it seems)
- 2 modes Relaxed & timed
- Rotating tile design bubbles you can pop to M3 easier. I really dislike this feature.
- A VO narrates a story to moving still pictures upon entry of the game. In this one, the voice is really muffled by the music so you may want to turn the music off for that part.
- Story proceeds every time you upgrade the build area. It’s done by clicking through conversational text. One conversation had 18 clicks but thankfully there is a skip button. I usually don't care for a really involved storyline (like I do in a HOPA) in an M3, and care more about building the scene using my M3 points. I especially love M3s that offer wallpapers & screensavers, but this one doesn't that I can see.

- BUILD AREA: The same format E-FunSoft usually uses. An aerial view of wizard-land scrolls with <<<panoramic view>>> to move the scene R & L. The upgrades are locked and you play the M3 boards to earn stars. When you get this many stars: 3*/11*/12*/16*, you get to upgrade 1 preselected section at a time of 4 locked upgrades that apply to the build scene.
- Again, I wish the items in the land were larger so we could see them because there are some cute things in this one, like ghosties in a cemetery that float around.
- Again, I thought the items are too expensive and wish they would let us upgrade every scene like the JM series does (you get to upgrade multiple times per board in those games.)
- You will unlock 4 sections in a chapter before you move on to the next chapter.
- This game has a total of 5 chapters.
- 3 upgrade tools to unlock with gameplay & you are told to keep the small tools for the end of the level. The tools change every so often.
- Same game sound effects of the dropping tiles (popping bubble sound) and
- Same "brrrriiiinnnggg" sound at M5 & M6 combos. :/ I hate this sound at this point.
- Collect several of one tile design, like 37 matches of a green hat, or apples.
- The music is nice and fits the game but I thought it repeats too much.
- Levels where you drop 4 "artifacts" to the bottom of the screen.

Like most M3s, you will match over double layered tiles, chains, webs (that don't spread, thankfully), beside boxes, etc. Every level gets more involved chipping away at double layer chains, etc.
I liked:
-Large M3 board fills your PC monitor. The tile designs are clear to see.
- They change up the tile icons enough and they are easy to see to match.
- This game is very responsive to fast matching (my favorite method.)

- New: This game and last one... "Stage Complete" is gone now! Instead the words, "Level Clear!" quietly announce the end of that board without a VO. This is a very nice change.

End result. I wish they would change the sound effects from series to series. The more I play casual games I find the sound effects are just as important as the graphics for me. If a game sound is repetitive and annoying, I won't buy the game. I like the music, sound effects, and M3 tiles to change in every game too. I also wish they would change the overall format to allow upgrades every level (or at least every 2.)

Again, I think this game will appear to new people to M3s. The players that own a game with this format may not be as quick to hit the "buy" button.
Developed by E-FunSoft Show less

+13points

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Overall rating

3 / 5

16 of 21 found this review helpful

SAME BORING GAMEPLAY THAT'S LONG-WINDED

PostedJuly 21, 2022

pennmom36

fromRemembering you is easy, I do it every day. Missing you is a heartache that never goes away, until we meet again on the Rainbow Bridge one day. დ Loki

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Skill Level:Expert

Fun Factor

3 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

3 / 5

Level of Challenge

3 / 5

Storyline

3 / 5

Well, at least they offer a Timed Mode this go-round, other than that it doesn't have a lot going on and it gets really boring, really quickly!

How many chains must I break, how many crates must I bust, how many upgrades must I make, how many boring stories must I hear, how many amulets must I drop off the board before going insane?

I miss the spiders, at least they were a challenging ...Show more

Well, at least they offer a Timed Mode this go-round, other than that it doesn't have a lot going on and it gets really boring, really quickly!

How many chains must I break, how many crates must I bust, how many upgrades must I make, how many boring stories must I hear, how many amulets must I drop off the board before going insane?

I miss the spiders, at least they were a challenging feature! To make matters worse, half the time I would make matches over the grey cells but they pretended as though I didn't make the match as they remained intact...this must be the "magic" they speak of?

It's never boring at my new forum, stroll on over and say hello! thewoodsforum.boards.net Show less

I don't recommend this game.

+11points

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Overall rating

3 / 5

22 of 32 found this review helpful

Finally A Timed Mode

PostedJuly 19, 2022

HeavenBound7729

fromOcala, Florida

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Skill Level:Expert

Fun Factor

2 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

4 / 5

Level of Challenge

2 / 5

Storyline

3 / 5

The game starts out with a very lengthy dialogue but it sets up the story so I didn't mind. The story is about a boy that uses his magic in public which was unheard of, to save a villager, and for his efforts gets hauled off to jail. I imagine he'll be up against the evil wizard in the game. His bravery earned him 2 friends and so the game begins.

There are minimum options other than Relaxed ...Show more

The game starts out with a very lengthy dialogue but it sets up the story so I didn't mind. The story is about a boy that uses his magic in public which was unheard of, to save a villager, and for his efforts gets hauled off to jail. I imagine he'll be up against the evil wizard in the game. His bravery earned him 2 friends and so the game begins.

There are minimum options other than Relaxed and Timed Modes. Having Timed now will make a lot of players very happy. Score board shows level score and stars earned, and your time even when playing in Relaxed Mode. This game plays like the others of this type. Purchase upgrades with your stars. After all 4 upgrades are unlocked in a chapter, you can advance to the next one. They weren't very pricey but I thought earning the stars was a slow process, as usual.

There were several power-ups in the demo that worked well to remedy a couple of "road blocks". I earned the bomb by matching 5 tiles but I don't like that it explodes the instant it's touched. I prefer moving it up, down or to the side before I detonate it. The spider webs, chains, morphing tiles, artifacts were back, not especially challenging as they got in the way. The demo provided me with only 5 levels so hopefully the game becomes more difficult, otherwise I doubt it will be a purchase for me.

The boards were a good size and bright, the tiles were easy to differentiate. Game mechanics were pretty much the same as in the previous games. I don't know how many levels there are. I do know I hate that it takes so many clicks to exit the game. Other games have this annoying feature, too. Just let me out when I'm ready to leave!

I didn't care for the upgrades. They were colorful but not interesting. I usually enjoy this feature but these didn't make me want to hurry up and earn a new one. The graphics were nice and sharp, I liked the colorful hand drawn artwork. I don't like having to read all the dialogue of the characters, it would be more interesting to hear it. We seem to get so many of this style of M3 games. Surely there's a creative, enthusiastic dev out there with some bright, new ideas up their sleeve. Things are pretty boring around here, we could sure use some help!

The demo was easy, not loads of fun but if you like this series it will please you. If you want something more stimulating, this game won't deliver. It has its good and bad points so give it a try. You might love everything that I don't. Show less

+12points

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Overall rating

3 / 5

0 of 1 found this review helpful

trop "typique" de la série que nous propose ce concepteur.

PostedJanuary 7, 2023

noizet

fromBesançon (france)

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Skill Level:Expert

Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Arcade & Action, Brain Teaser, Card & Board, Marble Popper, Match 3

Fun Factor

3 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

3 / 5

Level of Challenge

3 / 5

Storyline

3 / 5

on retrouve dans ses jeux le même type de grilles, plutôt simplistes .
il y a des efforts dans la présentations qui ont été faits depuis les premiers jeux mais pas suffisamment de nouveautés à mon goût
je ne déteste pas mais j'en ai déjà plusieurs du même style.
je laisse ça aux accros du genre

-1point

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Overall rating

2 / 5

16 of 25 found this review helpful

no buy

PostedJuly 19, 2022

biomix

fromOntario, Canada

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This "Key Contributor" plays, rates, and reviews a lot of games. We think you'll trust their thoughts and opinions about games.
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Fun Factor

2 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

3 / 5

Level of Challenge

3 / 5

Storyline

2 / 5

No options for 'moves' instead of 'time'. No buy for me.
How hard would it be for this developer to add moves.
It seems like no one wants to put in any effort any more.

I don't recommend this game.

+7points

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	, share your thoughts about this game! Academy of Magic: A New Beginning A magical new Match-3 game! Heres what your review will look like once it’s posted. Click Submit if you’re happy. Your review should appear soon. To make changes, use the Edit or Cancel buttons. Thanks for sharing your thoughts about this game! You’ve already shared your thoughts about this game. Thanks for submitting the review below.