Magic: The Gathering - Duels of the Planeswalkers 2013 Critic Reviews

If you're looking to get into MTG for the first time, or if you want to rekindle your love for the game, 2013 is a must own. The game explains everything in detail, and the amount of content and modes are robust enough to keep players going for hours. This is the best Magic video game that is on the market today, and its all yours for 10 dollars. That is a great deal for what you get. I can not suggest Duels of the Plainswalker 2013 enough.

If you've played last year's version, the new decks make it exciting enough to warrant the purchase, and if you have generally held off but enjoy Magic: The Gathering, it's a no brainer.

The care and attention that went into this year's installment is obvious, and it's overall a fantastic product boasting several improvements over its previous incarnations. Duels of the Planeswalkers 2013 is the benchmark in the franchise and easily recommended to new and veteran Magic: The Gathering players alike.

An amazing game, easily one of the best I've played in any medium. Duels of the Planeswalkers 2013 is its best video game translation yet, a perfectly pitched blend of hard strategy and endless tinkering with unlocks that just keep on coming.

What really stands out about Magic 2013 though, is that whilst it is great entry into the genre for new players, with pop up help and a fine tutorial, it doesn't trade that off by dumbing down the experience for veterans. Literally the only thing missing is the feel of having a physical deck in your hands. We dare you not to become hooked.

All in all, I'm pretty happy with what Magic: The Gathering - Duels of the Planeswalkers 2013 has to offer.

The puzzle-like challenges are a great way for seasoned players to test their mettle. So is multiplayer, especially the new four-player Planechase mode, in which the rules of the game change at random through a specialized deck of cards.

Thanks to a wealth of content, solid presentation, and overall playability, the new Duels of the Planeswalkers is an excellent way to enjoy a game of Magic.

Magic fans get their money's worth and beginners are led into this world through a well done tutorial.

The overall effect is like taking a broom or a flamethrower to the rules, completely undermining the game as designed. Which is something I couldn't be happier to see, because the game as designed is in dire need of undermining. If there's anything that can breathe life into Magic the Gathering, it's a shake-up like planechasing.

This year's edition has significant improvements like multiplayer mode Planechase or improving the making of decks and uses of mana. Duels of the Planeswalkers 2013 remains indispensable for the expert Magic player and for the beginner.

Overall, new features like the stat boards, the Lord of the Rings-esque music, and the ability to tap mana have won me over, making this third edition a charm.

Duels of the Planeswalkers 2013 is, for the most part, a carbon copy of Duels 2012. The Encounters and Planechase mode are welcome additions, but the lack of diversity in the deck options seems like a bit of a step backwards in an otherwise static continuation of the series.

A better way to learn how to play.

Duels of the Planeswalkers 2013 is easily recommended to new and veteran Magic: The Gathering players alike.

With that being said, the game is good, it is very good and would be a perfect start to a player's introduction into a cards battle game, and the world of Magic the Gathering. It has plenty of challenges to throw at experienced players and enough here to teach newbies to defend themselves in deck combat.

Veteran Magic players will enjoy the new decks and challenging puzzles here, and the game is a great way for potential planeswalkers to learn the ropes of this classic geek gaming staple.

Does an acceptable job of bringing Magic into the world of video games and upgrading the 2012 version. However, there are enough hiccups in the implementation that most Magic fans will prefer to stick with the paper product-and those of us who no longer play Magic aren't missing anything by skipping it.

Despite all of these complaints, the core game is strong. Everything works as expected, the cards are translated perfectly, and the AI can play at the level of an average human. Beginners – who are the target audience here, to be fair – should have a fine time. I'd recommend playing either of the previous two games before this one, though.

Another fun installment, but it's all starting to feel a little too predictable.