Gameloft's Castle of Magic

[mkrishnan]

I just wanted to start a thread about this game, since I haven't seen one (if I missed it, please tell me and I'll merge this in).

[app]Castle of Magic[/app] is a $5.99 (as of now) Gameloft platformer. Standard premise, evil wizard transported you to his evil castle and kidnapped your girlfriend.

It's 2.5D, to me fairly reminiscent of the main side-scroller segments of Crash Bandicoot in terms of gameplay, or perhaps like the rendered SNES and DS Donkey Kong Country games. It's a port of a mobile title of the same name, although it's, in its defense, a pretty high quality port, and makes good use of the iPhone's gameplay.

I'm on the second world, playing through leisurely, right now. It's rated as about 3-4 hours of gameplay going straight through.

Anyway, fun game! Anyone else playing?

Also what do the three star ratings for each completed level mean? I didn't see anywhere where what each of the three stars corresponds to. Are they just how many of the powerup blocks with the same logo that were collected? They don't seem to correspond to the usual accomplishment metrics in platformers, e.g. how fast (doesn't seem to be a time limit?), how many jewels collected, etc.

 

[leosagara]

I just wanted to start a thread about this game, since I haven't seen one (if I missed it, please tell me and I'll merge this in).

hey can you help me?you said you are in the second world, and im in the first one the green labyrinth along the winding path.when i finish it nothing happens im stuck at the end i dont know what to do i try to jump using the arrows to climb up the walls and i just cant find the exit i really like this game can you please help me?

 

[macjram]

This game looks great. However, I hate paying for apps -_-, but maybe one day I'll cave in .

 

[mkrishnan]

hey can you help me?you said you are in the second world, and im in the first one the green labyrinth along the winding path.when i finish it nothing happens im stuck at the end i dont know what to do i try to jump using the arrows to climb up the walls and i just cant find the exit i really like this game can you please help me?

Ahhh, yes, that's a tricky one. The pictures below are a spoiler, so don't look unless you really want the answer.

If you want the hint only, here it is: this level is very, very difficult to beat if you don't have the "hunter" (Robin Hood!) power-up.

Here are the pictures:

 

[leosagara]

Ahhh, yes, that's a tricky one. The pictures below are a spoiler, so don't look unless you really want the answer.

If you want the hint only, here it is: this level is very, very difficult to beat if you don't have the "hunter" (Robin Hood!) power-up.

so ,where is the 'hand sign" i have to use the arrows to go up and find the little diamonts?then walk where?lol im lost but i will try it,and thank you

 

[mkrishnan]

so ,where is the 'hand sign" i have to use the arrows to go up and find the little diamonts?then walk where?lol im lost but i will try it,and thank you

The hand sign is immediately to the left of the first picture, on the upper level, right about where the door to the bonus area appears. You can either go straight up if you're already the hunter or you can go around to the right, down, get the feather, and then jump back up to that position. Once you follow that wall up a screen, finding the end of the level should be self-explanatory.

I think it's just bad level design, though. Normally, levels in platformers should not be designed in such a way that one can get stuck in a situation where one cannot complete the level but stays alive and has to manually die to start the level from the checkpoint again. But that essentially happens here, since if you use up the feather that is in this area and then get hit by a monster, it's quite difficult (if it's even possible) to get up there.

 

[leosagara]

The hand sign is immediately to the left of the first picture, on the upper level, right about where the door to the bonus area appears. You can either go straight up if you're already the hunter or you can go around to the right, down, get the feather, and then jump back up to that position. Once you follow that wall up a screen, finding the end of the level should be self-explanatory.

I think it's just bad level design, though. Normally, levels in platformers should not be designed in such a way that one can get stuck in a situation where one cannot complete the level but stays alive and has to manually die to start the level from the checkpoint again. But that essentially happens here, since if you use up the feather that is in this area and then get hit by a monster, it's quite difficult (if it's even possible) to get up there.

lol i know what you mean i kept committing suicide and yes it shouldnt be design like that it reminds me of toki tori,right at the third level there`s one you get stuck and you have to restart the level but i gor frustrated with toki tori so i just angrily press the home button and havent tried again since weeks already lol i see you like challenges you should try the toki tori and see if you can beat it thanks again im gonna try it now

 

[leosagara]

man i just cant do it im frustrated now i hate the game i wanna get pass this stupid level but i just cant and it ****ing sucks

 

[rumzdog]

I don't get it...

Wait... I'm seeing all these awesome screenshots of this game, and it looks great, so I downloaded it, and I got a similar game but not nearly as good! it has only 3 levels, one boss, and around 1 hour of play time tops. No transforming into animals, either. I don't understand, the game was called "Castle of Magic" and it has the same character. Can someone PLEASE explain this to me? Do I have the right to call Sprint and say "Hey look, I bought this game based upon its reviews, and it clearly is not the same game I wanted, so I'd like my money back"? DAMNIT! I want to play the good version, why do I get the crappy one?

 

[rumzdog]

In addition- I have an LG Rumor, Sprint Service. DO NOT get this game if you have this phone. Sure, it's a good play through, I actually really enjoyed the ONE HOUR i played through the game in. But aside from that, every other screen shot is from an obviously superior game damnit.

 

[mkrishnan]

In addition- I have an LG Rumor, Sprint Service. DO NOT get this game if you have this phone. Sure, it's a good play through, I actually really enjoyed the ONE HOUR i played through the game in. But aside from that, every other screen shot is from an obviously superior game damnit.

Just in case it was... for some reason... not really clear, most of the posts in the App Store sub-forum on MacRumors are about games that run on the iPhone and iPod touch.... It looks like CoM was ported by Gameloft from a game that runs on other mobile devices, but apparently they don't all have the same depth? The iPhone version has five worlds, I think, with three levels per world. The level design is pretty good, although if you compare that number of levels to, say, a DS Lite game from the major Nintendo platformer franchises, the number of levels is far fewer. On the other hand, Mario on DS Lite will cost $30-35 and this game costs $6....

 

[rumzdog]

Hey, just a quick follow up. I called Sprint and got my money back for the game, it's so misleading though.. and the game actually cost more money than the Iphone/Blackberry version of CoM (around 7.50). Haha and as to the mac forum remark - Duh - I barely even noticed, I was just happy someone made a post about CoM so I could try to find out something. It's funny though, the version I downloaded- I can't seem to find it anywhere online. Not even on Gameloft's website. They only offer trial play of the Ipod/Blackberry version, even though it says "Castle of Magic" for Mobile. So apparently the game I downloaded doesn't exist. Time to get an Iphone.

 

[ImNoSuperMan]

Time to get an Iphone.

Indeed.

BTW the game is pretty good. Just started playing it. My issues with onscreen controls aside(hate them) I find the game very interesting. But I do think it`ll drop to a lower price within a month or so(as is the case with most of the iPhone games). So waiting a bit wont be a bad idea IMO.

 

[mkrishnan]

But I do think it`ll drop to a lower price within a month or so(as is the case with most of the iPhone games). So waiting a bit wont be a bad idea IMO.

Gameloft just dropped Hero of Sparta to $0.99. Now that's a stunning value!

 

[ImNoSuperMan]

Also what do the three star ratings for each completed level mean? I didn't see anywhere where what each of the three stars corresponds to. Are they just how many of the powerup blocks with the same logo that were collected? They don't seem to correspond to the usual accomplishment metrics in platformers, e.g. how fast (doesn't seem to be a time limit?), how many jewels collected, etc.

If I m not wrong these stars represent the special star enclosed in a blueish bubble(like the one in the pic attached), placed at a fixed place in each level. I had three star ratings in the first 2 levels where I made sure I was getting all the stars, power ups etc. But in the "jungle level" I remember leaving one of those stars out as time was running up. On that level it shows 2 stars for me. So my guess is the star ratings represent those bubble stars only.

Also the place where leosagara got stuck can also be acheived without the hunter power. I too lost the feather at that point and was stuck for a while. It can be acheived by jumping on the jelly directly beneath the place in your screen shot. You have to jump on it and push down when u land on the jelly which gives you an even higher push. You still won't reach the upper floor yet and you'll have to push the jump button when you are as high as the jelly can throw you. If timed correctly you'll reach the upper floor. Also make sure the monster on the middle floor moves out of the way before you power jump on the jelly.

But yes the part was really tricky, even more so if u didn't have the bow. I managed to get myself stuck at another place where there is no other option but to restart the level if you didn't have the hunter power up. It was inside a BONUS door earlier in the same level. I collected the diamonds and jumped from one pillar but fell a bit short and got stuck in there as I didn't have the bow with me. Such gameplay designs should be strictly avoided. They take away all the fun when u have to restart the level from start.

Such minor glitches aside the game is very much playable and has great entertainment values. I have just completed the first world and reached the pirates world which adds swimming under the water to it's gameplay.

 

[leosagara]

does any of you guys know how to beat the last boss? the one at the end of the space world? i cant beat it

 

[steve knight]

I like the game but find it hard to control. when I try to float I see to push down and I can't do any fine control.

 

[Lamalika]

Castle of magic " green labyrinth"

Pleeease!! I'm so fustrated lol, I've completed all three levels in the green labyrinth and can't unlock another world :-(( I have the 3 stars in all but the I stage of green labyrinth. What am I missing!!!???? ThNk u sooooo much.

 

[LSUtigers03]

The game has been $0.99 for awhile if anyone is interested in picking it up