Duels of the Planeswalkers 2012 Review

[Invariel]

I'm impressed that the article didn't mention how bug-ridden the game is, on all of the platforms it is available for. The game looks pretty, but it needed a bit more polish on the back end before being released.

That's not to say it is a bad game -- all of the things mentioned in the article are true -- but there are quite a few bugs that need to be fixed, and soon.

 

[MetallicaRulez0]

The only downside of this game is it has me seriously considering getting back into real Magic: The Gathering, and my poor wallet just can't take a blow like that! I still have haunting memories of smacking down $250 on my Affinity deck for regionals one year.

 

[pwnsore]

Karn is hard is he? Well I gotta show off, I pulled him out of a booster a few weeks ago. Restarting the game ftw.

 

[StygianInq]

The only thing that pisses me off is there's no option that lets you tap your own mana. This is especially problematic in decks like the Blue/Green ramp deck, where you want to leave your greens open for a post-combat ramp spell or something, but it leaves you with 3 blue up instead.

This is the one main failing to this game. It's predecessor had a worse mana distribution but it only shows in this new game when it is crucial. I remember that I was casting an artifact for 1 colourless mana and I had 2 islands and a swamp in play and I also had a Tidehollow Styrix in my hand which costs 1 blue and 1 black. I wanted to cast the Styrix on my second main phase but when I cast the other artifact first, it tapped my only swamp and since there is no undo or verification step I was stuck with not being able to cast my Styrix until the next turn. This didn't happen a lot but it happened usually at very crucial times.

 

[StygianInq]

When the hell was magic cool?

Anyway, red/white or red/black for the win.

Hey does anyone know if I download the DLC for the original planeswalkers (specifically the 'different tables') will it work on the 2012 edition?

No, they are completely separate games. I have both the Original DOTP with DLCs and DOTP 2012 and there is no added content from the original's DLCs.

 

[jp201]

I found karn pretty easy although i may just have been lucky.

The problem I have been having is beating nicol bolas and his insane deck you can't unlock that is specifically made for archenemy.

 

[theskadudeguy]

I've not played either of the MtG games on Xbox Live. To be honest the whole "not being able to make your own deck from scratch" puts me off.
I have a tonne of cards in a box and used to play a lot, one of my favourite parts of the game is sorting my cards...

As for planeswalkers, love em or hate em i you get one out it can be pretty epic;

Lilina Vess, brings back all monsters from all graveyeards and puts them under your control

 

[Gametek]

I was thinking to do a review about this game to. For the actual fact, I posses bot this game and is predecessor, and it annoy me in a strange way.

For sake of truth, Magic: Duels of the Planeswalkers is a good game. Completely oriented to console players, and annoying to play without an XBLA controller onto a PC, but a good game overall.
The first MDoP presented interesting deck build and interesting one-turn challenge, for a card game oriented game. But, the degree of deck personalization is incredibly low, the interface sucked, and the game was incredibly short.
Screw that, the important bit is the absence of deck personalization, the other bit are forgivable. The personalization of a magic deck can reach incredible peak, and it maybe the most interesting aspect of MtG. This game series is completely lacking that, falling behind a pair of YuGiOh game, Duel Master game, and even the historical Pokémon TGC game [another Wizard of the coast game]. And this only against the Game Boy console.

Incredibly to say, MDotP2012 is still a huge improvement over is predecessor: as Greg empathized, it have better UI, better opponent AI, more playable deck, a major degree of personalization over the deck, more game mode [the Archenemy and two head giant]. Still this doesn't excuse the lack of possibility to build our own deck.

Side note: Wizard of the Coast proved once again to have no skill at all with 3D graphic: aside from forgettable game like M:Battleground and M:Tactic, the 3D background of MDotP is still sucky. And I wish so much that they could cross bred this game with Magic the Gathering Online, this game is the opposite of MDotP, shitty graphic and good deck personalization.

Recommendation: Console Casual gamer. If you are a PC Casual gamer, sorry bro, this game is made for a XBLA/PS controller, and not for your mouse. But if pressing Tab/Space everytime you want to either say Oky Docky or stop the timer don't annoy you, go for it!

I played Magic before and well after it was cool

You, sir, love to start flame war.

 

[Riobux]

I was going to review the game myself, but alas laziness prevails. I'd say the only thing you missed was it got it's own rules wrong, which is unforgivable in any game, especially one published by the people who made the original game. One rule it did get wrong is your inability to block for your team mates, something that I've typically been able to do when playing two-headed giant or arch-enemy. I was also incredibly bothered at you being unable to build your own decks, something I know would draw so many more sales if you could. However, generally, it is a decent game. It's good and will attract Magic fans, but yet I can't help but get the impression it only attracts Magic fans because there isn't really an alternative.

 

[Optimystic]

I really like the UI and the overall polish of both the previous version and 2012. Unfortunately, the inability to actually build decks shows that Wizards really wants to use this as a slick way of getting you interested in either MTGO or the physical game. Since all you can do is add or remove the cards you've unlocked, you'll end up with huge decks full of weak cards. It probably explains the inexpensive pricing for the game, too.

If the last DotP is any indication, they're going to sell "keys" or somesuch via XBLA that you can use to free up more and more of your favorite deck. This'll turn competitive multiplayer into a cash grab once again, so I'll stick with single-player or close friends.

 

[josemlopes]

NERDS!!!

Nah, just kidding, I played Magic too (sigh)

 

[Hristo Tzonkov]

Greg,what's wrong with your speach in the video review?You sound like Sid from Ice Age.

 

[Rack]

I played the demo and drew something like 120 lands and 20 spells in 8 games. Customisation isn't in the demo but it doesn't seem like you can tweak the insane land-count, and for the most part it just seemed like the upgraded cards were either total jank or direct replacements for blatant chaff in the decks themselves. Unfortunately it just doesn't look like there's a game in here.

Also why won't Fantasy Flight make Warhammer Invasion online? It seems like there's no way to play a CCG online that costs less than $500 a month.

 

[Crimson_Dragoon]

Wait, wasn't there a two headed giant campaign in the original game? Why would they take that out? Playing that locally with a friend was my favorite part.

 

[StygianInq]

One thing I didn't like about the Archenemy mode was that each of the three players could play the same deck making using similar theme decks (like Jace's illusion deck) which would buff each other a frequent go-to strategy. I much preferred the originals two-headed giant system whereby both players on a team had to use different decks. I deliberately avoided the same deck for all players strategy when playing the campaign but it is still frequently found online especially when one player is playing as 2 with two controllers.

 

[Canadamus Prime]

I haven't seriously played Magic: The Gathering since I was in Jr. High school which was waaaaaaaaaaay back in the early 90's. I've played the odd game since then, but nothing serious. So if you think your knowledge is out of date, I might as well be a newb.

 

[VladG]

I really found this game to be terrible. Not MtG in itself, just the pc version of Duels of the Planeswalkers 2012. Everything takes forever to happen, the animations are horribly long (and I even disabled what I could), it takes forever to get past victory/defeat screens, the interface seems kinda cluncky (loading screens are very short though... a few seconds). This is not a rig issue, my pc doesn't even break a sweat running this thing, capped at 60fps, proc never goes over 40%. So it's either some wierd pc issue, or just bad game design.

I've played the pc yu-gi-oh games back in the day, and they all seemed much better from a gameplay perspective. Animations were fast, interface very straightforward, cards were displayed with full information on the side on mouseover (so no more zooming in and out if I want to check out a card), phases were very well defined and card activation was much more straightforward with fewer unnecessary animations that made for a very streamlined experience. Duels of the Planeswalkers just makes me click my mouse and mash my keyboard in frustration while I wait for the damn thing to let me play.

 

[Saelune]

I like how they have included more of the Planeswalker storyline into this game although it makes a lot more sense if you have read the books and other tie in material. I really found myself missing the cheesy porno music from the first game though, the music in the second is bordering on actually quite good.

Also it features Nicol Bolas, EVERYTHING is better with Bolas.

.I doubt Id ever read the books, but the quotes and stuff at the bottom of the real cards were always interesting. Plus I feel good when I find a RL card that mentions stuff from the games.

 

[Saelune]

One thing I didn't like about the Archenemy mode was that each of the three players could play the same deck making using similar theme decks (like Jace's illusion deck) which would buff each other a frequent go-to strategy. I much preferred the originals two-headed giant system whereby both players on a team had to use different decks. I deliberately avoided the same deck for all players strategy when playing the campaign but it is still frequently found online especially when one player is playing as 2 with two controllers.

Would be better if there was more "team" stuff. Like if I could block attacks against my ally and such. Then it would be better to play different decks that compliment eachother better. (If one plays a more monster heavy deck to protect ones that need more defense, for example)

 

[Danceofmasks]

Nice game.
I have a few serious issues with it, though.

Right up there is the UI issues with a mouse. Trying to navigate the menu, or *gasp* deck management is a nightmare.
Ok, fine, so time is not of the essence so the process just takes a fuckton longer than it should. Whatever.

My biggest beef is with online multiplayer.

If a search fails to find a game, the entire feature no longer works. I can't even host a game, and I'll have to quit & relaunch. Well, so long as enough people are playing at the same time in close proximity to me there isn't a problem ... yeah, fat chance of that.
Seriously ... are they running FUCKING GAMESPY or something?
(don't answer if they are, I'll just rage even more)

Keeping the previous point in mind, why the hell does conceding a game kick me out to the main menu?
I know I'm going to lose in 2 turns. I just want to say "you win" and have a rematch.
Conceding should be exactly the same as a loss, no?
Well, FUUUU.
Now I know, I just play out every game. But it's irritating nonetheless.