In my first Backlog Busting review, I said that logic dictates I’ll find some hidden gems in my game collection eventually. Well, in only the second review in this series, I’ve found one. Each entry in this series is comprised of my thoughts on a previously unplayed game (usually from my Steam library) after I’ve spent no more than two hours playing it. The idea of the Backlog Busting series is to help me play more games from my backlog, but not necessarily to finish them. My subject today may be the first exception to that rule, however.

This particular hidden gem I’ve unearthed is of such high quality that I’m quite excited to tell you about it. What we’ve got here is Astrologaster, a brilliantly funny and often historically accurate visual novel developed and published by Nyamyam. Astrologaster is set in London in 1592, when the real-life version of the city was in the grip of an outbreak of bubonic plague that was officially said to have lasted until December of 1593. Astrologaster takes full advantage of its setting in ways that are equally likely to hook some players in or to turn others away.

You play as “Doctor” Simon Forman, whose title necessitates quotation marks because he seeks to treat the sick despite not having a medical license. Simon is inspired to take up this calling when his knowledge of astrology leads him to discovering a tincture that cures him of the plague shortly before it would otherwise have killed him. Simon concludes that if he could cure his own case of the plague by reading the stars, it must be a sign from God that this is Simon’s purpose in life.

Simon really does think that’s a sign from God. Remember, Astrologaster is set in 16th-century London. That mainly means three things: Hostility between different religious groups is boiling over, accepted medical science and practices are vastly different than they are today, and no one has yet thought to implement any kind of doctor-patient confidentiality laws. That’s what I meant when I said Astrologaster takes full advantage of the time and place in which its events unfold. I feel compelled to mention that some parts of Astrologaster, especially the prominence of religion, may be a turn-off for some players.

The majority of Astrologaster’s story is accompanied by short musical ballads performed in the style that was common among minstrels and bards at that time. These songs are both really funny and exceptionally well-performed. The same is true for all the writing and the voice acting within Astrologaster. As I said, Simon intends to provide medical assistance to those in need despite lacking a formal medical license. Considering the state of London’s society in 1592, though, he can still get away with that if you do your best to help him play his cards right.

It’s revealed fairly early on that Simon once pursued a medical license from the University of Cambridge, but ended up dropping out because he couldn’t afford to keep paying his tuition fees. Thus, it follows that he must at least have some amount of medical knowledge that he can combine with his understanding of astrology to provide effective treatments for the sick. However, you’re under a lot of pressure to do your job well. If word gets out among the townspeople that you’re a quack, the College of Physicians will come after you and likely see you arrested.

That’s why Astrologaster’s core gameplay loop depends heavily on your ability to use the information provided to you to make accurate logical deductions. Patients will describe their symptoms to you as much as 16th-century parlance and ideas of modesty will allow. You’ll then combine that information with the current positions of the planets and stars to diagnose and treat each patient. Standard medical practice at that time revolved around the “Four Humors” theory, which means you’ll need to address any imbalance in those four “vital fluids.”

For example, Astrologaster may tell you that at the moment when you treat a patient, the planet Venus is domicile in the zodiacal sign of Libra (whatever that means). This suggests that there’s an imbalance of phlegm, one of those four critical fluids that have to be kept in balance at all times to maintain good health. The suggested imbalance of phlegm can be combined with the patient’s complaints of lower back pain and burning during urination to conclude that the patient is suffering from kidney stones. You then prescribe treatments according to whatever your conclusion may be.

Astrologaster will present you with several options that will lead you to different conclusions. This is why you have to carefully consider all the information you’re given when treating each patient if you want to have any chance of helping them, or at least not harming them further. On many occasions, I’ve been right when I went with my gut instinct, but the true answers aren’t always obvious. The feeling I get when I make correct deductions in Astrologaster is borderline addicting. I’m a sucker for games that make me feel smart without also being condescending towards me.

You won’t only be helping those who are ill, however. You’ll occasionally be called upon to read the stars and offer advice for people who come to you with entirely non-medical matters. A priest comes to you at one point because he has the opportunity to invest in the voyages of one of two ships heading to the “New World” to bring back highly valuable cargo. The priest asks you to read the map of the heavens and advise him on which of the two ships would be the wiser investment. That’s not something I would see a doctor about, but oh well.

Simon can actually obtain a medical license if you help him do his job well for long enough. You’ll see most patients on multiple, separate occasions. If you make the correct deductions and give them accurate advice each time you see them (or at least don’t get everything totally wrong), they’ll be more likely to write a letter of recommendation for you. Once you have letters of recommendation from eight of your patients, you can petition the University of Cambridge or the Archbishop of Canterbury to grant you a medical license. That will protect you from the wrath of the College of Physicians.

After you conclude each appointment with any of your patients, Astrologaster will show you how well you did in terms of deducing a correct diagnosis and treatment for them. You’ll also see a progress bar that shows how close that particular patient is to writing you a letter of recommendation. I wish Astrologaster provided a bit more detail about what you did well or poorly during each appointment, but the information it does provide is at least better than nothing. That’s one of a few minor complaints I have about Astrologaster, but its positive aspects far outweigh its shortcomings.

I won’t get into my personal opinions of astrology or the state of society and medical science in 16th Century London. Nor will I discuss the prevalence of religion within Astrologaster beyond acknowledging that it’s a touchy subject that could be a deal-breaker for some players. What has firmly sold me on Astrologaster is its particularly appealing sense of humor, the care that was clearly put into its development, and the chances it gives me to flex the logical part of my mind. Now, I’m off to a scheduled appointment for some coitus post consultatio, or to phrase that more bluntly…

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Astrologaster

$9.99

8.5

Score

8.5/10

Pros

• Great sense of humor.
• Excellent voice acting and music.
• Highly engaging core gameplay loop.

Cons

• The prevalence of certain topics could be problematic.