LifeisXbox’s Maggie the Magnet Review | Physics are something we all experience in day-to-day life but it doesn’t tend to have words such as ‘happy’ and ‘enjoyable’ associated with it; that’s all about to change when we get into the physics-based puzzle game Maggie the Magnet. Your objective is simple – use just one button on your controller to determine when to pull yourself to your exit on each level whilst collecting optional bolts along the way. The concept will have you throwing yourself all over the place, trying to work out your timing and momentum for each differing level. Maggie the Magnet has been developed by Eastasiasoft Limited and Khud0 while also being published by Eastasiasoft Limited, bringing us simple yet effective gameplay in levels that keep changing, from difficulty to layout, obstacles and secrets!
ℹ️ Reviewed on Xbox One S | Review code provided by PR/publisher. This review is the personal opinion of the writer.
What we Liked!
- One-button controls | How many games can you say only require you to press one button to play? Probably not many but that’s all about to change with Maggie the Magnet. The way you play Maggie the Magnet is by simply pressing or holding A to move your magnet in the correct direction by using the attraction element with the other magnet on screen to create momentum and movement, allowing you to reach your goal. I would say it’s possible for anyone to play because of the bare-basic control. Just be warned there is still some degree of logic involved though.
- Physics-based gameplay | Using the same physics magnets always do with there positive and negative attractions, you can both push and pull yourself in different directions with the correct timing and location of your magnet in regards to the other placed on screen. Not only will you have to move around but sometimes also interact with other objects on the screen which can require precise timing, momentum, and placing. This can mean you have to press switches, move boxes to break fans, or even navigate your way through crazy lasers. Each will test your ability to get from A to B successfully using both basic and complex physical science at its finest.
- Fun and simplistic visuals | All of the visuals are made to look cute and do adapt over time, with the screen changing colour every so often with the soundtrack for a small but welcomed change, keeping things looking fresh and vibrant. The hue of colours do remind me of GameBoy and the visuals aren’t that far off either. It’s got the right amount of delightful appeal to keep the game looking good while not delving too far into the retro appearance, giving it the modern approach needed to shine.
- Light-hearted background music | The music that accompanies the gameplay is certainly a great match that is pleasant to listen to while navigating through each level. It’s cheerful, playful and at times makes me feel like I’m perhaps at a circus and that alone increases the fun factor given off by Maggie the Magnet. I guess you are flying around the screen the majority of the time, making you somewhat of an acrobat! Due to its positive energy, it manages to expel any stressful feelings that may come up during some more complex levels, making even those seem relaxing and calm to complete.
Mixed Feelings
- Collectable bolts | In each level of Maggie the Magnet, there are three optional bolts to be collected by simply passing through them. These do have more than just a collectible element to them as you are required to collect a set amount to unlock the advanced levels. Having the extra element did give me something else to focus other than finding my way out but to make things more interesting, I think there could have been more to collect or they could have been harder to reach. Not necessarily in all levels but should they have been situated nearer to dangerous and hard-to-reach locations, I would have felt far more challenged.
What we Disliked
- Breeze-by levels | Although the levels do progressively get more difficult in Maggie the Magnet, with the inclusion of additional hazards and harder physics, the levels overall still felt far too easy for my liking and could be completed with very little issue. I believe either the levels should have been made harder from the beginning or there should have been an optional difficulty setting included for people who prefer a bigger challenge. This way Maggie the Magnet could have appealed to a broader audience. Furthermore, it could have added to the replayability value as there is currently little to none unless you miss any bolts or secret areas.
- Not enough levels | Due to the levels being, in my opinion, implausibly easy to beat, the number of levels seemed lacking in quantity. There may seem to be plenty to play with all 150 levels to play but I feel there could have been hundreds more to be honest meaning more gameplay for everyone. I tend to believe 99% of the time there can be more content added to games and Maggie the Magnet certainly falls into that percentage. More threats, dangers, or complex mechanics could have easily been created and added to further increase the potential of Maggie the Magnet.
- Completion isn’t required | Unfortunately, like many other smaller titles released the past year or so, you aren’t actually required to finish the entirety of Maggie the Magnet to get the full 1000G which I think is a real shame. As mentioned above, with there being a total of 150 levels, there isn’t too much to play through naturally. However, with there being the option of level select from the very beginning, it is possible to skip to those where achievements are obtained. I almost wish that this wasn’t an option, making people play the game for the fun it is and not just being used as another achievement title.
How long to beat the story | Approximately 2-3 Hours
How long to achieve 1000G | Approximately 1-2 Hours
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Hello, I’m Victoria. I’m from the UK and have been playing video games for as long as I can remember; back on DreamCast. I’ve pretty much fallen for Xbox since I was around eight years old and remember BioShock being my first game on the Xbox360. Although I find it thoroughly enjoyable to not only experience gameplay, I also find comfort in getting lost and engrossed in the online worlds that sometimes differ greatly from what we know. Another side of my Xbox passion would be achievement hunting and gamerscore. I thrive when I hear the little sound of one popping up on the screen and I’m always finding ways to work on my backlog when possible. Horror is my favourite genre so if you have any recommendations, don’t be afraid to send them my way!