Welcome to EXPlay, (Explain & Play) the review series where we care not for scores, but tell it how it is when it comes to every game we get our hands on, all whilst including some lengthy gameplay, to give you, the reader, the chance to form your own impressions and views while reading and watching.
In this explanatory review, we’re covering Farmagia by developer Marvelous:
Farmagia plants its roots in a fantastical realm composed of five island-monsters under an oppressive regime. Following the death of the ruling monarch, the antagonist Glaza seizes power, launching the islands into turmoil. Players step into the boots of Ten, a budding Farmagia (monster tamer), and join a resistance movement to restore peace to this world. Along the way, Ten grows monsters, forms bonds with allies, and unravels the mysteries of the islands—all while managing a farm that’s less about cornfields and more about cultivating battle-ready creatures.
The narrative wears its anime influences proudly, with character designs by Fairy Tail creator Hiro Mashima and a trope-heavy storyline. While the plot treads familiar ground, it’s buoyed by well-executed voice acting that brings depth to its cast. Unfortunately, the story stumbles with predictable twists and occasionally clunky dialogue, making the dramatic beats less impactful than they could be. There’s fun to be had in quippy dialogue and voice-acting as lines are delivered, more on that later. Fans of action-JRPGs (something I wouldn’t classify myself as) will find a lot to do here in the sprawling world and various gameplay sections of Farmagia’s story campaign.
Farmagia attempts to blend farming simulation with real-time monster battles, but the execution feels uneven. Farming is reduced to growing monster “buddies” for battle or research, but the experience lacks depth. You’ll spend mere minutes planting, watering, and harvesting before diving into maze-like action RPG combat, making the farm feel more like a chore than a cornerstone.
The combat system is ambitious but overcomplicated. Managing up to 40 monsters across four types sounds exciting but quickly becomes chaotic. Poor tutorialization leaves players guessing at key mechanics like perfect guards and Unite Counters, and the inconsistent framerate during battles doesn’t help. Add in the bloat of layered systems, and combat becomes more frustrating than fun. While it’s possible to improve with time, the steep learning curve may deter all but the most determined players.
The environments and animations fail to match the same level of care. The lack of a traversable world—relying instead on menu navigation—dampens immersion. While the colorful art style and voice acting shine, they can’t entirely cover up the cracks in the overall presentation. In my early hours of the game I spent time on my farm, running through mazes where I battled monsters, and in the town stores buying and selling items I gathered. There were characters along the way that I met and interacted with, but all in all the game kept pushing me into the combat scenarios and farming to grow my monster team without a lot of reasons for why or what the best methods of winning the game were.
Farmagia embraces a vibrant anime aesthetic that’s pleasing to the eye. Hiro Mashima’s character designs add charm, even if they don’t break new ground. The 2D artwork is polished, and the fully voiced main story scenes are a standout feature. These performances breathe life into the game’s characters and set it apart from other indie titles.
The audio design in Farmagia is a mixed bag, but its highs are noteworthy. The game’s music alternates between whimsical farming tunes and tense combat tracks, complementing the shifting tones of gameplay. While not particularly memorable, the soundtrack fits the experience well.
Voice acting is where the audio truly shines. Nearly every significant story moment features full voiceovers, delivered with enthusiasm and skill. These performances elevate even the cheesiest dialogue, adding personality to the game’s cast. Still, occasional awkward phrasing and a lack of environmental sound variety leave room for improvement. If you enjoy the over-the-top acting in most Anime and Manga shows you will be right at home with Farmagia’s colorful cast of characters and voice actors.
Farmagia feels like a game trying to juggle too many crops at once. Its charming characters and intriguing world are undercut by overstuffed combat mechanics and underdeveloped farming gameplay. While the anime-style visuals and standout voice acting give it a spark of personality, the overall experience struggles to rise above mediocrity.
For fans of monster taming and farming hybrids, Farmagia may scratch an itch, provided you have the patience to wrangle its clunky systems. But for those seeking a well-rounded masterpiece, this is one farm you might want to skip. With some of its rough edges showing in the early hours, it’s hard for me to recommend Farmagia unless you are a diehard action-JRPG fan. The polish the game could use and a better tutorial entry point could serve to help newcomers to the genre. It may also help those rusty in action-JRPG mechanics to get hooked and want to join the fight or take up farming in Farmagia for the Nintendo Switch.
Game Specifications:
Developer: Marvelous
Publisher: Marvelous (XSEED)
Platform: Nintendo Switch (eShop)
Category: Action, Role-playing
No. of Players: 1 (Single System)
Release Date: November 11, 2024
Price: $49.99
File Size: 4.4 GB
Nintendo.com Listing
