Ah, Magic: The Gathering. A card game that has intrigued me since the first day I heard about it. I have always wanted to play it with others, but there has always been two barriers to that; cost, and lack of company. I was never able to afford the packs, and I never had anyone to play it with. Thankfully, Stainless Game, and Wizards of the Coast have brought us the digital version; The Dual of the Planeswalkers series, now in its 2014 edition, which I was quite excited about, if I am being honest.
Now, I would never call myself an expert on the game; more like the eager kid who blunders his way through things, but is still enthusiastic to try. What I like about 2014 is the tutorial you get at the start. It takes you step by step through every concept and mechanic of the card game, at a pace that even a total novice can pick up very quickly. From proper use of spell cards, to enhancements, instants, and when is the best time to attack. You even get the option to request help mid turn, in case you end up more confused than Gordon Freeman using Siri’s voice commands.
But, with this new help feature, the AI has been buffed up with Omega-3 oils. It’s a lot more challenging, without resorting to cheap tactics. It offers sturdy opposition, but it’s more of a healthy challenge to the player. You beat your opponent, you feel rewarded with a sense that you defeated them with greater wits than their own.
This new version has been expanded so a whole spectrum of players can jump right into this game, from fledgling Planeswalkers, to fully developed Planessprinters. And thanks to a low price tag, even someone as broke as I am can join in on the fun… Still need to get round to playing with actual people one day… one day…
Avilable on multi-formats visit www.wizards.com/Magic/Summoner for more info.