Looking to the Shakespearian Stars in Astrologaster

Note: This was written Spring of 2020 B.C. (before COVID).

As an English major in college, Shakespeare and Shakespearean England is my second home. I took British Literature last semester and I’m in a Shakespeare class this semester, so I’m simply surrounded by this era in human history and it’s writing. And honestly- I ain’t complaining. It was such a fascinating time- the new world is being discovered, the Renaissance is beginning, new questions about the nature of everything are being explored, and society is in this weird period between the medieval and the modern. No one knows what they're doing, but everyone’s trying to figure it out- without explicitly saying so. 

I’ve written at least 50 pages on this time period and its literature, so when I found this game, I was SO excited. 

That said, quick preface: this entire game is written in Elizabethan English. But I promise it’s absolutely amazing and way less complicated than you thought. Astrologaster is trying to be funny above all else, so let all those fears of pretentious Shakespearean English die now. While a history or literature buff may get more of the inside jokes, anyone can enjoy this game that wants to. It’s incredibly accessible and you’ll figure out what most things mean quickly. If anything, the flowery language actually makes things funnier as people use it to avoid being upfront, rely on funny innuendos, or fail to understand each other because of it. 

So onto the game itself.

Astrologaster casts you as Simon Forman, a “doctor” who survives the Black Death in London through astrology and natural remedies. His ability to “cure” the plague leaves him as one of the last medical “professionals” left in London, allowing him to establish a clinic. 

The whole story and game are told in a storybook format, with you actively turning the page onscreen to progress. The whole interface and aesthetic are made to look like a pop-up book, with 2D and paper-doll style characters and buildings. Characters and plot points are introduced via an Elizabethan choir with each patient having their own choral number. All this adds to the whimsical, historical feel of the game and makes it feel unique.

Okay, so the actual gameplay is a mix of a choice-based narrative and playing detective. You, as Forman, need to listen to the needs of your patient and then pick the best star reading for their scenario. Don’t make the mistake I did of thinking that what the patients say doesn’t really matter because IT DOES. Sometimes they’ll drop clues without meaning to, their body language is telling, or they’ll spill gossip that’ll help you with future patients. 

You’ll see most of your patients five to six times, getting to know them and building a relationship with them. Once England declares non-licensed doctors illegal (which you are), your patient relationships become even more important as you’ll need eight letters of recommendation to get licensed. So not only do you need to give them true, relevant advice- you also have the gauge what they actually wanna hear. This leads to thoughts like: “Sure, this guy’s probably gonna die if he tries to overthrow the Queen but if I tell him to go for it, I’ll get another letter of recommendation if I tell him he's destined to be king…”. And usually, it’s harder choices like that, especially as the stories progress and your patient’s problems are less and less about medicine and more and more about relationship, financial, or heart issues. 

The good news is you only need eight letters and there are twelve patients in total, so you’re completely free to share your true, terrible opinion with a few people while saving the good advice for the others. And especially as the game goes on and one bad choice leads to five people being mad at you, this leeway is very, very nice. But this does lead me to one of my only complaints: success is incredibly random. Sometimes I just needed to listen better, sometimes I just missed a little detail, and sometimes I just didn’t read the stars right, but other times, I was just guessing into the wind and then the patient would get all upset at me. In addition, you just get to pick the general star reading with no telling how far Forman’s going to take it. 

Especially as choices and conversations become increasingly delicate and intense, it becomes impossible to know you’re making the right choice. In a way, this illustrates how astrology is not the king of everything (shocking, I know), but it can be damaging and frustrating as well. You also can’t save and try again- without replaying the whole thing that is- and that definitely damages the replayability. However, I would argue that this actually enhances the experience, as the game does hold up to multiple playthroughs and does change with different choices.  Astrologaster gives you plenty of opportunities to fix your mistakes and the increasingly complex storyline stays interesting several times over. 

Speaking of, the best part of Astrologaster is the story. The writing is just good. Some parts made me laugh out loud, others made me seethe with anger, others completely caught me off guard. Your patients are all over the wacko map and, honestly, so is Forman. Your patients are always very colorful characters, with mixed backgrounds and vibrant strengths and weaknesses. Each story is well done, exploring different kinds of people and parts of Elizabethan society. At first, you’re mainly dealing with townsfolk with belly aches and miscarriages, but eventually, you’re advising wealthy nobles and leading churchmen on political matters or next moves. These varying stories keep the game from feeling monotonous or tiring as you jump from illnesses to affairs to finances to politics to relational issues. 

The patient’s stories also become more intertwined, often in unexpected ways, which adds to the intrigue. By the end, patients that once came in with low fevers or childish crushes are now pouring out their souls to you. And you start caring. A lot. Overall, Astrologaster is a story about humans being human in Elizabethan England and it’s a beautiful, messed up hilarious, raunchy thing. 

In the end, I would highly recommend Astrologaster to anyone who enjoys a good story-based game. It’s a good balance of intrigue, romance, humor, and history- enticing anyone interested in playing. With over 10 hours of content, it’s a well-written, packed, and unique experience. Especially if you’re into Shakespeare, literature, or history- this is 100% a must-try for you, and for as little as $5 on iOS, it’s a steal.