Returning home after several years away, Mari has mixed feelings as her feet touch the ground. Things have changed in the small town; the buildings are taller, the streets are busier, and the people are older. I played Mari’s Magical Deliverers and found a charming story about the twists and turns of life and how to get back on course again. I played this game to celebrate the second annual Otome Games Celebration from May 4th to 11th. I received a review copy of the game for the event.
Moving back home, Mari puts her broom to use right away, helping her dad with his delivery business. She manages to carry heavy packages into the sky, mindful of the way one could tumble free. I pictured Mari with a messenger bag on the end of her broomstick for the packages. I thought that Mari and her dad got along well, but I could feel the strain time had left on them, as if they weren’t fully sure what to say. I liked that you could feel how much time had passed for Mari. Her comments on the city are small, but impactful for relaying her feelings about returning. She mentions how busy places have become and the way she doesn’t recognize the stores in the mall anymore. Plus, now they have a permanent carnival with a beautiful Ferris wheel lighting up the skyline. Delivering packages is a great way to have her naturally run into old friends again.
There are three love interests that the player can have Mari romance. The first package Mari delivers takes her to the carnival, where she reconnects with Cherise at her own job as a clown. I thought her outfit was super cute. She’s very outgoing and believes in the idea of letting go of the reins every once in a while and going with the flow of life. Her twin brother, Castor, whom I romanced, works in an arcade that doubles as a game store with card tournaments. Castor believes in enjoying the now and not rushing forward towards the future. It’s never too late to change things. With such similar philosophies in life, I was surprised to learn the twins hated each other. I saw one scene where they interacted, and both characters acted cold in a way I hadn’t seen before. The last love interest is Hans, a shy, reserved man who is driven and working hard on his future. Mari thinks he needs some help to learn how to relax. I think each character echoes worries that Mari has now that she’s home. Cherise and Castor let Mari know life happens, and you can’t control it all. To live in the moment and find the magic in the present is rewarding. You don’t have to have life planned out in one day. Hans, on the other hand, is all about the future and working hard towards set goals. Mari must help break him out of his shell, though, in return.
Mari comments a lot about what life would have been like if she had attended college in her hometown instead of leaving, and I think that adds more to her character building. It feels so natural to visit home once you move out and wonder what life would have been like. In Castor’s route during the final romantic cut scene, she felt angry about having to come home. She doesn’t know why she no longer feels that way, but it was the way she felt about returning home. During the romantic cut scene, the player finally learns why Mari came back home, and I think all her feelings stem from sadness. I enjoyed slowly learning about Mari; she wasn’t just a self-insert character for romance; she was her own character.
I thought all the characters were well-written, from the main love interests to side characters. The delivery system in the game is a unique feature that allows players to choose which characters they interact with the most. This way, I was able to complete the romance route of my choosing while also getting involved in the antics of the side characters; my favorites were the vampires. The gameplay structure is split into several delivery days and then a break day, where the player can meet up with a romance option of their choosing. There is an extra gameplay mechanic that lets you decorate Mari’s room. It was relaxing, and I lost myself there for a bit. There are so many paints to choose from for her walls; your favorite color is sure to be there.
Mari’s Magical Deliveries is described as a bite-sized otome game on Steam, and I can confirm that Casters’ route took about an hour. I recommend picking this game up for a romantic stream double feature night or if you’re looking to get into otome games. Do you like having mini games in your otome games?
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