M:tG Game Reviews
Main Page >> John's Magic: the Gathering Page >> M:tG PC Game Reviews
Magic: the Gathering
Click on above picture for larger image
Software Developer: MicroProse
MSRP: $39.95
System Requirements:
- IBM PC 100 MHz 80486DX/4 compatible or faster
- Windows 95
- 16MB RAM
- Quad-speed CD-ROM drive
- Super VGA graphics for 640 X 480 X 256 colors
- Hard Drive (90MB free)
- Mouse
- Supported: Windows 95-compatible sound card
Recommended:
- IBM PC 120 MHz Pentium compatible or faster
- High Color graphics for 1024 X 768 X 16-bit color (2MB video RAM minimum)
This game is great! I had downloaded the demo, and already liked it. But the demo is nothing compared to the full game! You have over 400 cards to choose from! You can build your own deck (preferred), or take one of the many ready-made decks. Some of the AI opponents are not very hard to beat, but some are very good players! The CD-ROM also contains a tutorial to teach non-magic players the game.
There is also a RPG-type game called Shandalar included. In it you travel around the countryside taking up quests, battling wizards, magis and dragons. You can also trade or buy new cards for your deck. There are many cities and villages to visit. At each one there is a wise man. He will either give you a quest, or some kind of ability. The abilities include: looking at one of your opponents decks; giving you extra points for your next battle; or hints on a dungeon. Overall, this is an awesome game!
Magic: the Gathering - Spells Of The Ancients
Click on above picture for larger image
Software Developer: MicroProse
MSRP: $29.95
System Requirements:
- Microprose Magic: the Gathering for PC
- IBM PC 100 MHz 80486DX/4 compatible or faster
- Windows 95
- 16MB RAM
- Quad-speed CD-ROM drive
- Super VGA graphics for 640 X 480 X 256 colors
- Hard Drive (Additional 30MB free)
- Mouse
- Supported: Windows 95-compatible sound card
Recommended:
- IBM PC 120 MHz Pentium compatible or faster
- High Color graphics for 1024 X 768 X 16-bit color (2MB video RAM minimum)
I just picked up the M:tG Spells of the Ancients expansion set and it's awesome!! Over 130 new cards from Unlimited, Arabian Nights, and Antiquities sets - plus dual lands! This expansion is a great addition to the M:tG PC game. There is a Face Builder Utility that allows you to customize your onscreen image. The new cards are also available in the world of Shandalar! With the patch (a link appears below) the new cards are available to buy in the towns around Shandalar. The patch also fixes several other problems: The Rack and Black Vise dealing double damage, Serendib Djinn is now correctly a flying creature, and several other fixes.
Click here for Spells of the Ancients Update V2.15
NOTE: Kali seems to be going through some problem times right now. It appears that temporarily the game play is free. Enjoy!!
Magic: the Gathering Battlemage
Click on above picture for larger image
Software Developer: Acclaim
MSRP: $39.95
System Requirements:
- IBM PC 75 MHz Pentium compatible or faster
- Windows 95
- 16MB RAM
- Double-speed CD-ROM drive
- 2MB SVGA DirectX-compatible PCI video card
- Hard Drive (90MB free)
- Mouse
- Supported: Windows 95-compatible sound card
Recommended:
- IBM PC P90 MHz Pentium compatible or faster
For Multiplayer and Network Play:
- Network Play - Winsock IPX Network
- Modem Play - 28.8bps modem or higher
This game is quite a bit different from the M:TG card game! The game is about the land of Dominia. You play as one of six planeswalkers, fighting for control of the lands of Corondor. The duels against other players are in real-time! That's the major difference between the MicroProse game and this one. When dueling with an opponent, you cast as many spells as possible. There are no turns! You continue casting spells and sending creatures at your opponent until time runs out (about 5 minutes), or one of you gets to 0 life points. Some people will not like the real-time play, but I think it adds an interesting twist to the game. I have played it for a couple of months now, and I really like it!