Starswirl Academy

Everything About Fiction You Never Wanted to Know.

Starswirl Academy is a romantic Visual Novel developed by Zap Apple Project, part of Rosin (archived). While the characters are based on My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic, it features an original story. In development since 2012, two demos have been released thus far.

Tom has been accepted into the prestigious Starswirl Academy, thanks to her friend Tài's recommendation. Confused by the lack of direction in his life, he will make new friends and discover who he truly is.

Get the demo on itch.io.

Tropes used in Starswirl Academy Second Demo include:

Main Game

  • Blatant Lies: At the track, Tom can decide the winner of the race between Annabel-Jean and Robin, and thus lie, even though it's obvious who won. Justified, since Tom is scared of the reaction Tài might have on him (she chose Annabel-Jean as the winner).
  • But Thou Must: If you choose "We really should get to the headmaster's office" during Polly's tour, a conversation will occur, but the tour will still continue.
    • Continued urging will actually let you skip most of the tour.
  • Captain Ersatz: All the main characters have features that are lifted from their pony counterparts.
  • Childhood Friends: Tom and Tài. Their relationship can change depending on the chosen route.
  • Cloudcuckoolander: Polly, in spades.
  • Comically Missing the Point: (Board Meeting):

Tom: I was the one who got hit, you know...
Robin: So did I! And I didn't even have a helmet, I could'a been killed!

Once a Year (Bonus Scene)

"Guess the artists got lazy, huh?"

    • If you say no instead:

Polly: "Tom... You know I'm not taking no for an answer. This demo wouldn't be as fun if you said no!"

    • In the Gummy Ending:

Tom: So what now?
Polly: I dunno, end the scene?
Tom: End the scene? What- (Smash to Black)

    • In the Granola Ending:

Polly: And for those of you out there watching us, Starswirl Academy will come out in- (Smash to Black)

"Okie dokie, I'll get the battle axe and the edible confetti!"

  • Voodoo Shark: Played for Laughs. When Tom wonders how she cooked the homemade cookies he received as a gift so fast, Polly replies with no irony that she's from the future. Tom has no words.