Cozy games! Wholesome games! Farming simulators! Post Stardew Valley, the genre is on a seemingly infinite upward trajectory as developers across the world seek to release their own slices of agricultural nicety. I, for one, am living my best life as a child of Harvest Moon. While Ova Magica, which recently launched in early access, is not the best I’ve played, the foundation is incredibly solid.
So, here is a farming/life sim combined with crafting, creature collecting and light battling. A familiar mix to be sure, but Ova Magica does just enough to stand out in a meaningful fashion. The battle system, for instance, draws from Final Fantasy’s of yore and takes an active time battle approach. This adds a touch of freneticism to otherwise classic rock-paper-scissors elemental fights, and ensures that no two encounters are ever really the same.
Fighting with your blobs is also used as a means to further your relationship with other characters, providing a boost to the heart meter. Honestly, this isn’t a side of Ova Magica I found particularly engaging. The battles are fine, and you can speed them up so it’s not too much of a bug bear.
Personally, what I love in these games is getting to settle in a location and live alongside its locals. While events are limited due to the early access nature, Ova Magica shows a lot of promise here. Characters are uniformly charming, and already show depth beyond what they initially display. For one — Ruby. I found her cloying initially, but as she developed I began to feel sympathetic and genuinely backed her in her goal of becoming the town’s champion battler.
There’s also Lazuli. She’s very different to the rest of the cast — you’ll only ever find her at home and you can rarely battle her. She’s chronically ill, and housebound. The sensitivity shown in her writing and portrayal is genuinely touching, and commendable even in a genre which champions inclusivity. Can you think of another game that has a chronically ill character, who struggles but yearns to live? I genuinely can’t and… well, I bloody love that for Ova Magica!
Reviewing a game in early access feels a bit difficult to me. My predominant issue with the game is that the farming and economic balance feels tilted more towards grinding, which can be tweaked with balance patches. Some dialogue repeats, but it changes with each event. There’s a lack of polish in how actions are performed — no animation for filling a watering can or going to bed for instance. Fixable things.
So, the core is promising, bar a battle system I cared little for, and the characters are endearing. So far, so farming-sim. These games live and die on their sense of place I feel, from the melancholy of Story of Seasons: A Wonderful Life’s Forget-Me-Not Valley, to the seedy underbelly of Gleaner Heights. Ova Magica’s Clover Town is, for me, one of the most charming going.
While small, the atmosphere is firmly Bavarian with mountains and tall trees, and the most welcoming little beer hall I’ve ever seen. It feels homely, and ClaudiaTheDev should be proud of how she’s represented her home.
Ova Magica is easy to recommend — it’s charming, lively and packed full of potential. I can’t wait to see how the rest of the game develops over its early access period, and I feel I’ve barely begun to scratch the surface.
Ova Magica is available now on Steam.
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