| The Magic Flute | |
| by Measle (stephen_masel@hotmail.com) | |
| Simmic’s Review | |
The Magic Flute is by Measle (stephen_masel@hotmail.com) and is designed for Low level parties. It was entered into the Short Competition and placed 3rd.
It’s nice, for once, to play through a scenario that is funny. Relieves the usual doom/gloom feeling you get when playing most other scenarios. The Magic Flute was one of these; the obvious reason is the designer, Measle, is the only successfully (and avidly) humourous scenario designer as yet. Even he had his grim point, with Johnny Favourite.
Really, what can I say is bad about it? For me, the only problem were the annoying grammar absences, a sure sign of someone typing too fast. This, I noticed, was also in most of the other scenarios by Measle, especially Farmhands. Most people wouldn’t really notice; I get subconsciously annoyed about things like that, I’m not sure why.
So, with the bad point out of the way, I’ll go on with the good points. Like Johnny Favourite, The Magic Flute was a “stolen idea” — this time from an opera by Mozart. Although I’m not familiar with it, and thus can’t comment on how true he was, it was most definitely funny. The plot? What can I say about the plot? Well, I can say, like most operas, it isn’t particularly brilliant. But then, Measle isn’t to blame; Mozart is. Measle just presented it in a more humourous way. It involves singing and a cowardly and cocky boy. I shall say no more.
As this is the 4th scenario by Measle, one can only expect a good use of special nodes. Still, nothing stood out, but special nodes aren’t really the thing that makes a player enjoy the scenario most.
Combat. Ah, yes. When I began playing this, I let out a sigh of relief and said, “Finally, a scenario which doesn’t make you work hard to win the fights.” Playing Nephil’s Gambit was fun, it was the first majorly challenging scenario I’d played combat-wise. Playing Justice was downright difficult. After a few others, I began to get very sick of battles designed to challenge. So — in this scenario, there is one really tough bit, everything else is a breeze. Good for me, bad for others.
Overall, highly recommended. I give it a 9.4.