Starswirl Academy is a visual novel created by the Zap Apple Project team of Rosin Entertainment. Originally based on My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic, it has since become its own unique story, separate from the show.
You play as a new transfer student, Tom, fresh off the train. Since you're a senior, it seems as though every one of your classmates knows exactly what their talents are. You couldn't be more directionless, but that's why you chose to come here, right? It's time to find out exactly who you are.
A demo is available here
. The full game has since been confirmed cancelled, with the art assets available at the same link.
Tropes used in this story are:
- Captain Ersatz: Due to breaking away from My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic. It's still pretty easy to tell who's based on who from the first letters of their names. It's also possible to restore the names via a text file in the game directory. In order...
- Tái: Twilight Sparkle
- Robin: Rainbow Dash
- Annabel-Jean: Applejack
- Rosalyn: Rarity
- Polly: Pinkie Pie
- Faith: Fluttershy
- Childhood Friends: Tom and Tái. What type of friends they are or end up as largely depends on which route you take.
- Desperately Looking for a Purpose in Life: Tom. He even laments the fact that everyone else he comes across seems to have their interests so nailed down.
- Elaborate University High: Starswirl Academy is one of the most prestigious schools in the country, and the campus is huge.
- Ordinary High-School Student: Tom, who has to find out just where he fits in with all of the different characters, clubs and groups around the school.
- Prolonged Prologue: The second demo of the game covers the entirety of the prologue, and it takes about two hours to get through.
- Reasonable Authority Figure: Headmaster Solomon. Tom and Tái are late to their first meeting, and she doesn't seem to mind. The two students are still intimidated by her, though.
- Satchel Switcheroo: Just as Tom is about to try and settle into his dorm, he finds that his luggage and Tái's luggage were switched by Dixie. Naturally, it contains Tái's underwear, so Tom has to march across the campus with it.
- School Festival: The first night ends with a "Stargazing Festival," where all the students gather on the school lawn and turn off all the lights on campus to gaze up at the stars. Depending on your choices, Tom can attend with Tái, go alone and meet someone else, stay alone through the festival, or skip it altogether.
- Story Branching: Depending on which clubs you pick and which girl you want to be Tom's love interest.
