Magic Cat Academy-All you need to know about

Magic Cat Academy is a charming series of browser games created as Google Doodles to celebrate Halloween. The first installment, released on October 30, 2016, introduced players to the world of Momo, a sorcerer cat attending a magical school. The sequel, Magic Cat Academy 2, arrived on October 30, 2020, continuing Momo’s adventures, this time beneath the ocean waves. In this article, we’ll delve into the story, gameplay, and development of these delightful Halloween-themed games.

The Story:

Magic Cat Academy kicks off the enchanting journey of Momo, a feline sorcerer attending a magical school. Momo’s peaceful school life is disrupted when a mischievous ghost snatches her precious spellbook. With her trusty magic wand in paw, Momo embarks on a quest to retrieve her stolen spellbook and restore tranquility to her school.

Gameplay of Magic Cat Academy

The gameplay in Magic Cat Academy revolves around defeating ghosts and bosses across five distinct levels, each set in a different part of the school:

Library: The adventure begins in the school’s library, setting the stage for Momo’s magical journey.

Cafeteria: Momo’s quest takes her to the bustling cafeteria, where she faces more ghostly adversaries.

Classroom: The third level unfolds in the classroom, presenting new challenges and enemies.

Gymnasium: Momo’s magical battles continue in the gymnasium, where she confronts powerful foes.

Rooftop: The climactic showdown occurs on the rooftop, as Momo strives to reclaim her spellbook.

To defeat the ghosts, players use their mouse to click and swipe in specific directions corresponding to the symbol above each ghost’s head. These swiping directions include a horizontal line, a vertical line, a “v” shape, a “ʌ” shape, and a lightning bolt. The lightning bolt, in particular, summons lightning to weaken all onscreen enemies. Additionally, players can occasionally swipe in a heart-like shape to regain health.

Magic Cat Academy 2: Journey Under the Sea

The Story Continues:

In Magic Cat Academy 2, the adventure takes an aquatic turn as a relentless ghost escapes from Momo after their first encounter and dives into the ocean. Once underwater, the ghost possesses various marine animals, turning them into formidable foes. Momo must venture into the depths to confront these ghostly adversaries and put an end to their aquatic rampage.

Gameplay Advancements in Magic Cat Academy 2:

Magic Cat Academy 2 retains the core gameplay mechanics from its predecessor but introduces two new movements:

Circle: By executing a circle motion with the mouse, players can activate a shield, providing temporary protection from enemy attacks. However, the shield lasts for only one attack, adding an element of strategic timing to the gameplay.

Spiral: The spiral motion is a powerful move that allows players to push back all monsters on the screen. This ability proves invaluable when facing hordes of ghostly enemies.

The game comprises five stages, each taking place at progressively deeper levels of the ocean. Along the way, Momo battles a variety of ghost-possessed marine creatures, including an immortal jellyfish, a bank of bogues, a vampire squid, and an anglerfish. The ultimate challenge awaits at the end, as Momo confronts the final boss—an underwater volcano.

Development Insights

Collaborative Effort:

The creation of Magic Cat Academy was a collaborative effort among four different design groups, each focusing on a crucial aspect of the game’s development:

Art Design: This team was responsible for crafting the game’s charming visual style, including character design, animations, and backgrounds.

Engineering: The engineering team played a pivotal role in ensuring the game’s technical functionality, making it accessible to players through web browsers.

Production: The production team oversaw the coordination of various elements, ensuring that the game’s components came together seamlessly.

Music: The music team crafted the game’s enchanting soundtrack, enhancing the overall gaming experience.

Evolution of Ideas:

The journey from concept to the final game involved numerous brainstorming sessions and iterations. Several concepts and ideas were explored and, in some cases, discarded:

Original Concept: Initially, the game’s concept revolved around Momo making soup that could resurrect dead spirits, reflecting the Halloween theme of the game.

Rejected Concepts: The development team considered including more elaborate symbols for players to draw, such as a “Cat Hat” spell. Additionally, there were ideas for unique boss enemies, including a chef ghost and a Venn diagram ghost.

Momo’s Real-Life Inspiration:

The character of Momo, the sorcerer cat at the heart of Magic Cat Academy, was based on a real-life cat owned by Juliana Chen, one of the Google Doodlers involved in the game’s creation. This personal touch added an extra layer of charm to the game’s protagonist.

Continued Adventures:

Momo’s popularity extended beyond the Magic Cat Academy series. In 2021, Momo made a return appearance in the Doodle Champion Island Games, another Google Doodle adventure, further solidifying her status as a beloved feline icon in the world of online gaming.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Magic Cat Academy and its sequel, Magic Cat Academy 2, offer delightful and engaging experiences for players, combining whimsical storytelling with intuitive gameplay mechanics. These Halloween-themed Google Doodles serve as a testament to the creativity and collaborative efforts of the teams behind them, and they continue to enchant players with the magical adventures of Momo, the sorcerer cat.