Although some creatures can be selected and controlled using the mouse, there is hardly the time to direct the movements of a particular unit while continuing to cast spells and keep pace with the opposing wizard. Again, this would not be as much of a problem if the player were allowed to physically move the wizard on the screen, perhaps to take advantage of some of the strategic elements of a particular map. There is nothing quite as frustrating as finding that a spell has been wasted because a summoned creature is unable to reach its target.
Second, there have been many instances in which the creatures summoned have become trapped in the hazards on a particular map. At the very least, a split-screen would be helpful in allowing the player to more easily target the enemy. Since certain spells require that a target be selected, this means that the player must take the time to scroll across the screen and center the mouse cursor on the targeted enemy. This would not be such a bad thing, except for the fact that I have not yet been involved in one Duel where both wizards can be viewed on the screen at the same time. First, each wizard is an immovable object – once the wizard is planted on the map, the player is hopelessly stuck with the position in which he is placed. It is in the Duel mode that this game falls terribly short of hitting the mark, and there are many reasons why this is the case. In Duel mode, the player must tap (cast) the various spells contained in the wizard’s spell tome in an attempt to defeat the opposing wizard, who is also tapping spells. Attack another territory in the Campaign mode and you switch to Duel mode.
But anyone expecting Acclaim’s real-time strategy adaptation of the card game, Magic: The Gathering – Battlemage, to cause a similar stir will be sadly disappointed.īattlemage consists of two modes of play The Duel, which allows the player to assume the persona and spell tome of any of six wizards and launch into battle with another wizard on any one of thirty different battlefields and the Campaign, which pits the selected wizard against the other five in a map-based battle.
The game achieved widespread popularity very quickly. When the original Magic: The Gathering collectible card game was released in August 1993, an unsuspecting and ravenous public quickly purchased all product in sight.
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