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Magic Duels: Origins Review – Engaging Card Battles and Enchanting Lore

Magic Duels: Origins Review – Engaging Card Battles and Enchanting Lore

Magic Duels: Origins

7.5

Score

7.5/10

Pros

  • Faithful representation of Magic: The Gathering gameplay
  • Rich story mode featuring iconic planeswalkers
  • Robust deckbuilding features with helpful tools and suggestions
  • Competitive gameplay with reward system

Magic Duels: Origins, developed and published by Wizards of the Coast, takes the intricate and immersive world of the popular trading card game, Magic: The Gathering, and brings it to life on your digital screen. This collectible card game combines strategic gameplay, a wealth of lore, and beautifully designed card art to craft a satisfying free-to-play experience that engages both newcomers and seasoned Magic veterans.

  • Developer: Wizards of the Coast
  • Publisher: Wizards of the Coast
  • Release Date: 2015
  • Platforms: Microsoft Windows, Xbox One, iOS
  • Official Website: Magic Duels
  • Genre: Digital Collectible Card Game

Gameplay

The core gameplay mechanics of Magic Duels: Origins strictly adhere to the rules of the physical trading card game, Magic: The Gathering. Players start each game with a life total of twenty and a deck of sixty cards. These decks are comprised of lands, which generate mana for casting spells, and a variety of spells including creatures, instants, sorceries, enchantments, and more.

The game also introduces a unique Story Mode where players can learn about the backstories of five iconic planeswalkers, each offering a unique game scenario that captures key moments of their origin stories. Completing these stories not only immerses the player in the Magic universe but also rewards them with coins that can be used to purchase boosters, thereby expanding their card collection.

Magic Duels: Origins offers a robust Deckbuilding feature, equipped with filtering and suggestion tools that aid players in assembling the perfect deck. Additionally, the Autocomplete system helps players fill up their deck automatically when they are unsure or short on time.

After completing the Story Mode, players can challenge each other or AI opponents in the Battle Mode using custom decks assembled from their card collections. Engaging in ranked battles against real opponents rewards more coins, thus encouraging competitive play. Additionally, the game introduces a unique Two-Headed Giant Mode, allowing players to team up for two versus two battles, providing another layer of strategic depth and camaraderie.

Graphics

The aesthetic design of Magic Duels: Origins captures the essence of the original card game, featuring highly detailed artwork that brings each card to life. The interface is clean and intuitive, making it easy for new players to navigate while still providing depth and detail for more experienced players. The battlefield is visually pleasing and functional, providing clear indication of game phases and player’s life totals.

Conclusion

Magic Duels: Origins offers an engaging and immersive collectible card game experience. Whether it’s the deep strategic gameplay, the rich lore, or the stunning visuals, Magic Duels: Origins serves as a delightful digital representation of the beloved Magic: The Gathering franchise.

Magic Duels: Origins System Requirements

Minimum Requirements

  • Memory: 1 GB RAM
  • Graphics Card: 512MB DirectX 11.0
  • CPU: Intel Pentium 4 2.0 GHz
  • File Size: 1 GB
  • OS: Windows 7/8/10