Magic Garden rules?

[DizzyChimera]

Still figuring out the exact mechanics that aren't mentioned in the "HOW TO PLAY" demo. So far I have:
- Potions seem to go up a tier for each oppie saved over the required 6, with gold being the fourth tier (so, 9+ gets you gold instantly)
- Potions get better over time while sitting on the ground
- Potions above red add one to your multiplier and reset the timer. Multiplier expires with the potion effect.
- Mushrooms are only vulnerable after drinking a blue or gold potion.
- Gold potions permanently add one red oppie to the board when you collect them.
- Angry oppies will be stunned if you jump over them.
- Running in little circles makes a message appear in the SAVED box.
Is there anything important I haven't figured out yet?

[READ PALE]

The difference between green and blue potions is the mushroom vulnerability IIRC.

[DizzyChimera]

Originally posted by READ PALE:

The difference between green and blue potions is the mushroom vulnerability IIRC.

Edited! Thank you, I couldn't figure that out.

[sgt johnson]

While it isn't really a "rule", one thing that took me a while to think of was the fact that just beating the game by reaching the save goal doesn't do just a ton for your score. The real way to earn a ton of points is to have potions ready, get a big parade behind you, then release while not being on-top of the goal. It definitely doesn't sound great to add 30+ enemies to the board, but if you're right by a potion when you do it, you can turn around and clear that same 30+ line for a massive number of points! It was crazy to see totals from my first few tries using this strategy compared to the score from my previous first winning run; there was no comparison!

I was surprised to see someone mention this as one of the more panned games in the collection because I absolutely loved it from the very first attempt! Glad to see others enjoying it, too!

[DizzyChimera]

I disliked it at first, but it grew on me.
Having a high multiplier also does a lot more than you'd think.

[der.dida83]

Originally posted by sgt johnson:

While it isn't really a "rule", one thing that took me a while to think of was the fact that just beating the game by reaching the save goal doesn't do just a ton for your score. The real way to earn a ton of points is to have potions ready, get a big parade behind you, then release while not being on-top of the goal. It definitely doesn't sound great to add 30+ enemies to the board, but if you're right by a potion when you do it, you can turn around and clear that same 30+ line for a massive number of points! It was crazy to see totals from my first few tries using this strategy compared to the score from my previous first winning run; there was no comparison!

I was surprised to see someone mention this as one of the more panned games in the collection because I absolutely loved it from the very first attempt! Glad to see others enjoying it, too!

Yeah, this you'll learn that eventually. The multiplier is where it's at.

I was wondering if there is a maximum multiplier you could get or if you can stack potions (theoretically) infinitely?

I think x4 was the maximum I got but for cherry a few of those were more than sufficient, so didn't bother with trying to get higher.

[MP83]

I'm still in the progress of trying to reach 1 million score in Magic Garden, by using the multipliers from the potions. My current personal best is 790950.[i.imgur.com]

[Platypus65]

It sure does!

*reads the actual post*

Oh.

Yeah, there are a few opaque mechanics in Magic Garden. A manual for it wouldn't go unthanked, but figuring out how things work isn't too much of a challenge.

[sgt johnson]

@Platypus65

XD

[Tiglionabbit]

Thanks for this! I noticed I'd gradually get more friendly oppies on the screen at once but I wasn't sure what was triggering it. Guess I really shouldn't be saving my gold potions early-game after all. But late game I definitely want to try and build up multiple potions and get a multiplier.

[GreedLing]

Something subtle that may mess up folks going for high scores is that enemy oppies always look in the direction they are going to hop to. HOWEVER! They will never hop to a space already occupied including a space occupied by your conga line of oppies. If they can't move to a space they are looking at because it is occupied by your oppies they will move in a random direction to an unoccupied space.

[sgt johnson]

Originally posted by GreedLing:

Something subtle that may mess up folks going for high scores is that enemy oppies always look in the direction they are going to hop to. HOWEVER! They will never hop to a space already occupied including a space occupied by your conga line of oppies. If they can't move to a space they are looking at because it is occupied by your oppies they will move in a random direction to an unoccupied space.

That was a surprisingly common run-ender during my longer playthroughs! XD