[XBLA] Magic the Gathering: Duels of the Planeswalkers Review

[DoctorFinger]

Magic: The Gathering - Duels of the Planeswalkers Review

Title:Magic: The Gathering - Duels of the Planeswalkers
Platform: Xbox Live Arcade
Developer: Stainless Games
Publisher: Wizards of the Coast
ESRB Rating: T (Teen)
MSRP: 800 Microsoft Points/$10
Editor: Michael 'DoctorFinger' Chauvet
Online Record: 1-5

What's Hot: A wonderfully efficient and smooth system of dealing with the myriad rules that govern the game. Addictive multiplayer.

What's Not: You can't create your own deck, and in many cases can't substantively alter pre-made decks.

Ah, memories. I can recall in my younger days spending endless days playing Magic: The Gathering (M:TG). Hours and hours went into creating and refining the perfect deck(s) with which to spend more hours challenging my friends. I eventually drifted away from the game, but I still carry many fond memories of it. So grabbing Magic: The Gathering - Duels of the Planeswalkers off of XBLA was for me a no-brainer.

If you've never heard of Magic: The Gathering, here's the Cliff's Notes version. Using a deck of special cards, you draw a hand. From this hand you get spells and the mana with which to cast them. These spells include creatures, enchantments and sorceries, all with the purpose of draining your opponent's life points. If you've ever played an RPG, a lot of this stuff will be familiar, but the random elements of the game give it another layer of strategy. It can also get very, very complicated, with tons of rules and guidelines.

Don't worry, the game gives plenty of hints and tips for newbies

Duels of the Planeswalkers's greatest achievement is making those myriad rules accessible to new players, without actually dumbing them down. The tutorial goes through the basic rules - phases of the game, types of cards, how to attack, etc - without bogging down with the more advanced situations. After just a few minutes even a complete neophyte will be able to play their first game. As you play the more advanced rules, including modifiers like first strike, trample, regenerate, are explained via pop-ups. There's a lot to learn, but Duels of the Planeswalkers does an admirable job feeding it all to you gently. Advanced players will also find a lot to enjoy, as the game streamlines some of the more onerous tasks found in a regular game. Some of the more insanely complex cards and concepts are kept out of the game, but only the hardest of the hardcore players will notice the lack.

Once you finish the tutorial - which I'd recommend even for more experienced M:TG players - you have some options. Do you jump right into the campaign mode, where you unlock new decks by dueling AI opponents? Tackle an online match against a human player (or players)? Why not try your hand at Challenge Mode? Challenge Mode is one of those activities which really couldn't be done with M:TG outside of a video game. In it you're given a scenario: certain cards in play and in hand for both you and your opponent and only one turn to beat them. These puzzles require a lot of thought, but also train you in the more advanced 'power moves' of the game.

The cards look just as good in the game as they do in real life

As much fun as the single player modes can be, the real draw of the game is - in my mind - the multiplayer. Hop right into a one-on-one bout, or get a party together for a four-player free for all. They even included co-op play - local or online - based around the 'two-headed giant' variant. All of the MP modes require different strategies than you can use against the computer AI, and generally produce a different sort of experience. Stratagems which work wonders in a one-on-one match may not be worth a damn when it's a four player room.

Presentation wise, Duels of the Planeswalkers does a good job, but no one will be blown away by the graphics and sound. All of the cards have the authentic art work, and the playing surfaces have some nice character. But at the end of the day, you're still dealing with a virtual card game, and there are only so many bells and whistles you can add. Animations are limited to a handful of spell effects and the moving of the cards themselves.

There is only one major complaint I have with the game, but it's a doozy. You cannot make your own deck. At all. Deck management is limited to minor edits of the extant pre-made decks. While ready made decks are a necessity, I can't see why the developers won't allow wholly custom decks. If it's a question of multiplayer balance, then make it a filtering option in matchmaking (play with custom decks? yes/no). Crafting your own, personalized deck is one of the simple joys of M:TG, and that absence is notable in Duels of the Planeswalkers. It's still a tremendously fun game to play, but the inclusion of a real deck builder would have made it epic. Editing the ready made decks only gets interesting once you've unlocked some of the more advanced cards for it.

A 4-person multiplayer game

If you're at all a fan of Magic: The Gathering, this is a game you should own. If you're a fan of strategy games, this is a game you should at least try. At $10 there are few games out there - retail or downloadable - which give you as much bang for the buck. You'll find yourself planning out

Score: 4 out of 5 Cogs


Michael says, "Almost all the fun of Magic: The Gathering, in digital form. The multiplayer alone will keep you coming back for months to come. If you could only make your own decks from scratch, it would be an Editor's Choice award winner."

[Sandman]

Nice...I was curious if it would be a complete magic game. I'll have to pick it up. I imagine they will have deck or booster pack DLC to let you create or edit the existing decks.

[Telefrog]

It should be noted that when you say "editing" of the decks, the game will only allow you to add more cards to the base deck. The game will automatically add more lands to the deck as you add more cards, but you'll still be essentially screwing yourself by making your decks bigger thereby lowering your chance of getting a particular card when you draw.

The only other complaint I had is with the choice of starting decks. The green deck is fine for beginners because it's very basic, but the lack of cards that counter flyers is a real handicap. I think you only start with 2 spider cards that have the ability to block your opponents' flying creatures.

[SpacemanSpiff757]

I'm interested in this. I started playing the LotR TCG way back when it came out, but it was always impossible to find people to play with other than going to the stores. They did have an online portion of the game that I did play for a while and enjoyed, so I may end up with this one this weekend.

[Iron Past]

Does the multiplayer allow for computer controlled characters? I mean, if I can't take the game online, can I still play matches outside the "campaign mode?"

[DoctorFinger]

Originally Posted by Iron Past

Does the multiplayer allow for computer controlled characters? I mean, if I can't take the game online, can I still play matches outside the "campaign mode?"

You can duel against the computer. You choose which AI/deck they use, too.

[Panthera]

I played right up until it went straight through block and deal damage without letting me play an instant. Unless I'm missing something, this ain't magic.

[DoctorFinger]

Originally Posted by Panthera

I played right up until it went straight through block and deal damage without letting me play an instant. Unless I'm missing something, this ain't magic.

I think if you hit X to stop the timer, you can play instants.

[rein]

How much different is this version compared to the 1998 PC release? Is this an updated port or a completely different game?

[Telefrog]

Originally Posted by rein

How much different is this version compared to the 1998 PC release? Is this an updated port or a completely different game?

It's really a totally different game.

[DoctorFinger]

Originally Posted by rein

How much different is this version compared to the 1998 PC release? Is this an updated port or a completely different game?

Totally different. I remember (and in fact still own) that game. It was good, but this is worlds better.

[Gerbs]

This title is so worth the 800 MS points if you're a magic fan. Even with the included decks there is a lot of playtime available. Multiplayer is good times.

[shunoshi]

Yep, I can attest to this. There are a few crashing issues with it and the lack of deck building is a bit of a downer, but it is well worth the $10 if you like Magic.

That blue/black artifact creature deck keeps kicking my rear end.

[Kielaran]

Originally Posted by Gerbs

This title is so worth the 800 MS points if you're a magic fan. Even with the included decks there is a lot of playtime available. Multiplayer is good times.

Originally Posted by shunoshi

Yep, I can attest to this. There are a few crashing issues with it and the lack of deck building is a bit of a downer, but it is well worth the $10 if you like Magic.

That blue/black artifact creature deck keeps kicking my rear end.

QFT. This is a great game that really pulls on the nostalgia strings. It was very easy to ge 10$ out of this one.

[ClannerDelta]

Yeah, just an FYI. If you're fighting a blue deck that's only using flying creatures. Don't beef your wall up to 13/16... with trample. Totally not going to do anything.

[rein]

Originally Posted by Telefrog

It's really a totally different game.

Originally Posted by DoctorFinger

Totally different. I remember (and in fact still own) that game. It was good, but this is worlds better.

Damn! I was kind of hoping it was the same so I would not be tempted to buy it.

[Khrymsyn]

Originally Posted by Panthera

I played right up until it went straight through block and deal damage without letting me play an instant. Unless I'm missing something, this ain't magic.

There's a timer between each card play that allows for instants to be played. If you don't hit "X" to stop the timer to play the card (or don't just play the card fast enough), you won't get your instant in time.

Stops those games that take 25 days because someone can't determine if they want to use their counterspell for that card or not...

[Wilkz07]

i've wanted to try magic for awhile but always assumed it was too complicated. may check out the xbla game i see a lot of you nerds... er guys playing it.

[LongStepMantis]

Originally Posted by DoctorFinger

Totally different. I remember (and in fact still own) that game. It was good, but this is worlds better.

Really?

The PC version was one of the most epic games ever. Let me also say that I'm in no way arguing with your assessment. But Planeswalkers for PC had the adventure mode and you could make you own decks from scratch, so no matter how pretty this game is, it's still lacking imo.

I can see and understand how this version is obviously graphically superior and probably a lot more polished...but as a former tournament MtG player, not being able to make your own deck is unforgivable. Balance issues be damned, you just don't do that. My 2 cents.

Not saying it's bad, or isn't worth the price. But Magic with no deck building...WTF?

[DoctorFinger]

Originally Posted by LongStepMantis

Really?

The PC version was one of the most epic games ever. Let me also say that I'm in no way arguing with your assessment. But Planeswalkers for PC had the adventure mode and you could make you own decks from scratch, so no matter how pretty this game is, it's still lacking imo.

I can see and understand how this version is obviously graphically superior and probably a lot more polished...but as a former tournament MtG player, not being able to make your own deck is unforgivable. Balance issues be damned, you just don't do that. My 2 cents.

I totally understand that. But I remember having some hellacious issues with the Microprose game, and those aren't apparent on this version.