So what happens when the most popular trading card game turns digital: the tabletop turns into a Battleground. Magic: The Gathering- Battlegrounds combines the world of Magic, in all its complexity, into a real-time fighting world. Think Mortal Combat meets trading cards in a complex world of face-paced spell casting and combat. Oh yes, the Magic has just begun.
So, if you are a Magic fanatic, this game is for you. It’s the closest interpretation of the Magic: The Gathering card game you will find to date. What does this mean? It means you will be using the strategy of casting fast paced spells strategically in a duel to the death. What makes this game challenging is that everything is going on at once on a 3D fighting court. Collect mana orbs, cast creature spells, magic spells, enhancement spells; try to do all of this and still evade your opponent’s attacks. Can you reduce your opposing mages life from 20 to 0 before he/she does the same to your mage? It all happens on the Battlefield.
What we have here with Battlefields is a live action fighting game with the sophistication of spellcasting. Magic takes Mortal Combat out of its element and into the elements. And if you though planning which kick to throw was tough, try deciding between nine spells, while running from a goblin warrior.
So what makes this game so good? Think multiplayer. Through the single player mode, you’ll learn the basics of the game. Its actually one large tutorial, and it can be really challenging at times. But through the end, you’ll be one hell of a good spellcaster. The single player will develop your skills so that you can throw down with the skilled online.
Multiplayer uses multiple connections, Gamespy being the most used. As you would expect, online play positions you against a live spellcaster. Your 15 card deck will be pretty limiting, and you’ll see a lot of the same spells, but every online game is different. What does make a difference is home turf. If you’ve got a cable connection, you have no worries. If your using dialup and are playing an away game - plan on being skilled. Of course on Xbox live, everyone is broadband, so lad shouldn't be a problem.
The graphics and the sound presentation of Battlegrounds aren’t that spectacular, but then again, who cares. It’s the multiplayer we’re after anyway, right. The bottom line is this, Magic Battlegrounds rocks online. If you’re in to that, buy the game or get the demo. If you’re an old Street Fighter fan, you’re a demo candidate. Battlegrouds sets the stage for a rocking live action fighting game through the Magic lens.
