AKA Harry Potter and the Harem Ending
So it’s possible that you saw the title of this preview, and said, “wait a minute, didn’t Josh already write up Scholomatch?” The answer to that would be a resounding yes. I covered it earlier in my broader SIX preview piece. But then I found a little time to check out the Steam demo without any interruptions, and found that I wanted to revisit the game in more detail, showcasing clearly why I think this romantic match-3 adventure is a game well worth checking out.
Whatever you say, my queen.
The demo was pretty meaty, and let me wander around slinging spells and smooching supernatural hotties for about 2 hours. I actually thought at one point the game would let me keep playing without end, but realized that wasn’t the case when my usual choice of spending time with up to 4 characters suddenly narrowed down to just one. But that’s perfectly all right, since I was so hooked by the story and characters that I plopped down the first time for an hour straight. And according to the Steam page, experiencing everything can take up to 15 hours, which combined with 11 characters is a lot of content.
As for what’s happening at the Horizon Wizarding Academy, the answer is quite a lot. Sure, you’re there to learn and flirt, but there’s some undercurrents of drama that I found equally compelling. The headmaster has gone missing, and not only did he found the academy, but he set up the wards and enchantments that keep it standing. A young wizard named Riley has taken it upon himself to keep things running, which though admirable, I couldn’t help but worry about some cataclysm later on. In fact, I got a hint of it spending time with one of the romanceable characters named Miko.
Cassie doesn’t need to be a Siren to get your attention, but it doesn’t hurt!
Pretty early on, Riley informs you that the school’s students have a very open idea of what constitutes a relationship, and that many people are using their time to experiment with multiple partners. Which of course means you can get a harem ending, at least in my experience with this type of adventure. This made me feel a little less guilty about spending time with a variety of lovely ladies, though the game also has many eligible bachelors. While I definitely preferred the likes of Cassie the Siren, Amara the Kuela, Miko the oracle and Charlie the vampire hunter, I’d be lying if I said I didn’t resonate with some of the boys. Specifically a young man named Heron, who loves animals and cooking in equal measure.
The gameplay is also very smart, and illustrates the personalities of the different characters. For example, Amara the ice queen, who I tried and failed to woo at SIX, I finally was able to proceed with in the Steam demo. She’s hard to get, and as such, casting spells with her requires matches of 4 or more to get any points. Or take Riley, who’s incredibly easygoing, so his matches take less effort.
Everybody needs a friend like Miko.
Depending on who you spend time with, you’ll get access to different cantrips and spells. The former are powered by something called Pure, a special type of tile. There’s also Chaos tiles, which when matched reduce the strength of your current spell, setting you back and costing you precious time.
In case it’s not abundantly clear, I’m really fond of Scholomatch thus far. Not only is it gorgeous, but it features capable writing and an interesting premise. Likewise, the gameplay is well tuned, and though occasionally challenging, never gets in the way of enjoying the story.
Honestly my only question is how much there will be to do in the final game next year. Because though I love the story and characters, I think it would be a smart idea to include reasons to replay, such as freeplay or some sort of post-game rogue-like mode. Regardless, I think Dire Kitten Games has a very steamy adventure cooking up nicely in Scholomatch!
