| Magic Duels | |
|---|---|
| Developer(s) | Stainless Games |
| Publisher(s) | Wizards of the Coast |
| Platform(s) | Microsoft Windows, Xbox One, iOS |
| Release | July 29, 2015 |
| Genre(s) | Collectible card game |
| Mode(s) | Single player, Multiplayer |
Magic Duels (originally titled Magic Duels: Origins) is a video game based on the popular collectible card gameMagic: The Gathering. Magic Duels is a successor to Stainless Games' Magic: The Gathering – Duels of the Planeswalkers and its annual sequels, released from 2009 through 2014.[1] The free-to-play title was released on July 29, 2015, shortly following the physical release of the Magic Origins core set.
Magic Duels Origins Ps4 Release Call Of Duty
- The core set of Magic Duels: Online comes from the recently released Origins set (well, a strong portion of it at least), and all of the familiar MTG gameplay remains intact with the exception of.
- Experience the fun now on iPhone, iPad, Xbox One and PC! Coming soon PlayStation 4. 2015 MAGIC ORIGINS MAGIC ONLINE PRERELEASE. JULY 31-AUGUST 2, 2015 PRO TOUR MAGIC ORIGINS. Magic Online Release: July 27, 2015. Initial Concept and Game Design: Shawn Main (lead), Mark Gottlieb.
- This would be an ideal situation to release the PS4 version of duels. What better way to promote the new update than to advertise it on all platfroms and all up to date content wise. I mean we only have a few mere weeks left until 2016 so if duels was to release then with the BFZ release would be the optimal time I believe.
Magic Duels, originally titled Magic Duels: Origins, is the follow-up to Duels of the Planeswalkers. It includes a new model for monetization; unlike the earlier games, it is free to play. Unlike Magic: The Gathering Online, it is possible to earn cards via 'grinding' rather than paying money. Origins was released on July 29, 2015. Magic Planeswalker 2015 was exclusive to Microsoft platforms but the next Magic game, Magic Duels: Origins, will be on PS4. It's going to debut first on Xbox, so Microsoft clearly has an exclusivity agreement with Wizards/Hasbro.
The gameplay follows that of the card game, but includes a story mode that follows the origin story of five of the game's Planeswalkers. This is the first game in Stainless' series to feature free-form deck construction and the ability to build a card library using both in-game rewards and microtransactions to purchase new cards and boosters. The game includes single player modes and online battles with other players.
Wizards of the Coast pulled the game from sale and discontinued in-game storefront features in November 2019, through the game remains playable.
Gameplay[edit]
The core game follows the standard rules of the collectible card game (except that you can only use 1 mythic, 2 rares, and 3 uncommons of any card) Magic: The Gathering, first released in 1993; each player has a deck of cards consisting of lands and spells. Lands are used to generate 'mana', the resource needed to cast spells. Mana comes in five colors, and cards may require colored or generic (mana of any color) to be cast. Spells come in many varieties, from sorceries and instants which have one-time effects, to summoned creatures which can attack and defend from opponents. Players alternate turns playing land cards, casting spells, and attacking opponents until all but one player's life total is reduced to 0.
Magic Duels: Origins frames the core game around a single-player story mode, and an online battle mode. In story mode, the player steps through the origin story of five different Planeswalkers, Chandra Nalaar, Jace Beleren, Gideon Jura, Nissa Revane, and Liliana Vess.[2] Each Planeswalker has five or more duels with computer-controlled opponents. The player uses a deck based on the selected Planeswalker, and as they complete each of the duels, enhance that deck though the pre-selected addition of new cards. These decks, with whatever enhancements they have unlocked, are also available to the player in battle mode.
Battle mode lets players use pre-made decks or to construct decks from their collection of cards, and play against either computer opponents or online opponents; match types include one-on-one matches with players tracked on leaderboards, and Two-headed Giant (two-vs-two). Computer opponents in these modes can be selected from three difficulty levels, with higher difficulties gaining more rewards for the player. The computer opponents' decks will be procedurally generated, effectively randomizing the type of decks the player will face.[2] Playing through either mode can earn the players in-game money to be used to buy new booster packs or specific cards to expand their card library; there are also various daily objectives for players to complete for in-game money, and all players are rewarded for helping to complete various community goals. Players can also purchase in-game money with microtransactions, but is not required to gain access to all cards and features.[3]
Card sets[edit]
Magic Duels Xbox One
The game was released primarily around the Magic Origins set of cards, the most recent release of the physical cards at the time of the game's introduction, with plans to expand the game to include upcoming card sets.[4] The Battle of Zendikar, Oath of the Gatewatch, Shadows Over Innistrad, Eldritch Moon, Kaladesh, Aether Revolt, and Amonkhet sets are currently available on Magic Duels.[5]
Development[edit]
Magic Duels: Origins was developed by Stainless Games who have been creating computer versions of the Magic series since 2009's Magic: The Gathering – Duels of the Planeswalkers and new titles on an annual basis. These prior games did not include the ability to construct decks or build card libraries, instead primarily using designed decks that could be customized with predetermined additional cards earned through winning matches. Later games included sealed deck play where players would be given a number of booster packs and could build a deck from those cards, but those cards would only be available for that deck. With Magic Duel: Origins, the series now includes the ability for players to collect and buy cards and construct decks as they would normally in the physical version of Magic. Wizards of the Coast's Dan Barrett stated that with this change, the computer version now is much closer to the physical version, and hopes that this will help enable more players to experience Magic and transition to the physical game.[2]
On November 26, 2019, Wizards of the Coast announced that it was ending support for Magic Duels, removing the game from digital storefront and disabling in-game purchases, though the game will remain playable with both single-player modes and multiplayer matchmaking.[6]
Reviews[edit]
It has a score of 78% on Metacritic.[7]
Caitlin Cooke, from Destructoid mentioned, 'Those new to Magic will find it easy to dive in and learn the intricacies of deck-building, while more experienced players should finally have the customization and card variety they’ve been asking for.'[8]Game Informer gave it a score of 8.75 out of 10.[3]
References[edit]
- ^Minotti, Mike (28 July 2015). 'Magic Duels is the best digital version of the beloved card game'. VentureBeat.
- ^ abcWilson, Nick (July 7, 2015). 'How Magic Duels: Origins is adapting to the evolution of the digital CCG'. PC Games N. Retrieved July 30, 2015.
- ^ abTack, Daniel (July 29, 2015). 'Magic Duels: Origins'. Game Informer. Retrieved July 29, 2015.
- ^Lamb-Ferro, Liz (March 16, 2015). 'What We Learned—Duels Origins and the Future of Magic'. hipstersofthecoast. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
- ^'Magic Duels'. Magic: The Gathering. Archived from the original on 14 December 2016. Retrieved 24 December 2016.
- ^'Ending Official Support for Magic Duels'. Wizards of the Coast. November 26, 2019. Retrieved December 7, 2019 – via Steam.
- ^'Magic Duels: Origins'. Metacritic.
- ^Cooke, Caitlin (31 July 2015). 'Free-to-play done right'. Destructoid.com.