Waaaaay back in high school, I remember getting together with some buddies on weekends and playing some Magic the Gathering. I obviously had a kicking social life back then. Nevertheless, Wizards of the Coast have brought their game to the XBox Live Arcade and if you’re a fan of the card game this version will not disappoint.
Duels of the Planeswalkers has a ton of modes for players to enjoy. The campaign is pretty meaty, with a whole bunch of challenging and diverse AI opponents to take on each with their own unique strategy of beating you down. As you climb the ladder, the decks get more and more powerful and eclectic which should keep you on your toes. Beating them unlocks a card (or you can use MS Points to buy keys to unlock the deck) which you can use to upgrade your deck with.
When you’re done the single player, there’s a Revenge mode which has you taking on the same AI opponents but with new strategies to take you down. There’s also a Planeswalker mode which is a four player war with a dice that gives players the chance to uncover and remove cards during play as well as several Challenges that are tough as heck. There’s also multiplayer for those that wish to pit their decks up against others.
Gameplay is simple and not too exciting. You basically tap and untap cards. But the beauty of it is in the strategy. Having to deal with your opponents that use annoying enchantments and abilities that take you out of your gameplan can be annoying but it’s super satisfying once you get past them. Knowing what to play and when as well as when to attack and not are all keys to victory and it takes some serious strategizing to get it right. There’s really nothing beyond pressing the button that the screen tells you to. One thing I’m not a huge fan of is that you can’t build your own customized deck.
Visually the game looks spectacular. The art in this game is some of the most gorgeous looking art I’ve seen in a while. I can’t remember a game in where I was looking so forward to the loading screens. Th gameplay board itself is also visually appealing. The deck of cards to the players right is a nice touch and I love how during attacks and abilities there are animations that occur. It adds a visual flair to what could have been a dull and simple game.The music isn’t anything special and the sound effects are a nice touch but overall the game looks great and sounds as good as it needs to.
I can’t say enough abut this game if you’re a fan of the Magic franchise or if you’ve always wanted to be one. It has everything you could want in a video game version and tons of reasons to go back and keep laying. Now you don’t have to look like a huge nerd playing out in public. You can do so from the comfort of your own home. Who needs the exercise of going outside of the house anyways?
