7 Mages

7 Mages
Developer(s)Napoleon Games
Publisher(s)Napoleon Games
Writer(s)Jindřich Skeldal[1]
SeriesGates of Skeldal
EngineUnity
Platform(s)
Release23 June 2016
Genre(s)Role-playing
Mode(s)Single player

7 Mages (Czech: Brány Skeldalu: 7 Mágů, translated as Gates of Skeldal: 7 Mages) is a 2016 role-playing video game developed by Napoleon Games as the third installment in the Gates of Skeldal series. 7 Mages is a tactical, turn-based game that focuses on musical magic. Each playable character possesses a tune that they can play to directly affect anyone within earshot.

The story is an adaptation of Akira Kurosawa's benchmark film, Seven Samurai.

Gameplay

7 Mages is a dungeon crawler that features gameplay similar to the original Gates of Skeldal. The player moves squares in real-time, but battles are turn-based. Each mage has some specialization, such as being a warrior or archer.[2]

There are multiple types of magic, such as elemental magic and musical magic.[3] Musical magic uses instruments, and its effect weakens with larger distances. Magic can heal, refill mana, resurrect dead companions, etc.[2]

Reception

7 Mages' iOS version received universal acclaim, holding a 90% score at Metacritic.[4]

TouchArcade praised the gameplay. The reviewer praised its puzzles, although "its approach is probably not going to gel with everyone." Other positive comments were given on the combat system and dungeon design. The story was also noted to be a weaker part of the game.[5]

7 Mages won the Czech Game of the Year Award for the Best story.[6]

References

  1. ^ "Tea Club #16: Jindřich "Rohlík" Skeldal o svém RPG Brány Skeldalu 3 - Games.cz". Games.cz. Archived from the original on 1 April 2016. Retrieved 24 July 2016.
  2. ^ a b Smutný, Aleš. "Brány Skeldalu 3: Sedm mágů - recenze - Games.cz". Games.cz (in Czech). Archived from the original on 13 June 2016. Retrieved 23 June 2016.
  3. ^ "7 Mages - Napoleon Games talks us through its musical old-school turn-based RPG". Pocket Gamer. 17 March 2016. Archived from the original on 1 July 2016. Retrieved 23 June 2016.
  4. ^ "7 Mages". Metacritic. Archived from the original on 20 June 2016. Retrieved 23 June 2016.
  5. ^ Musgrave, Shaun (23 March 2016). "'7 Mages' Review – A Magnificent Ode To The Classics". TouchArcade. Archived from the original on 18 June 2016. Retrieved 23 June 2016.
  6. ^ "Samorost 3 od studia Amanita Design se stal Českou hrou roku 2016". Pražský deník (in Czech). 10 February 2017. Archived from the original on 11 February 2017. Retrieved 11 February 2017.