MAGIC: THE GATHERING

WINDOWS – 1997

Description of Magic: The Gathering

MicroProse’s Magic: The Gathering, one of the best computer translations of non-computer games ever made, not only deserves a Hall of Fame spot for its faithful rendition of Wizard of the Coast’s blockbuster trading card game of the same name, but also for the numerous innovations that can only be achieved through computer gaming.

For those who haven’t played Master of Magic before, Magic: The Gathering is a card game in which two players compete as powerful wizards in a magical duel, with each wizard able to cast spells, summon creatures, and activate various enchantments or curses. The game is turn-based, with each turn consisting of multiple phases. The rules are too complex to discuss into detail here; suffice it to state that there are five hues, or magical disciplines, each with its own characteristic unique to that element. Blue, for example, represents water, which favors illusions and deception. As a result, there are several blue illusion spells, and 99% of the blue monsters you may summon are capable of swimming. Green, on the other hand, depicts the Earth. As a result, this discipline contains a high concentration of regeneration cards and woodland creatures. There are other types of cards, including enchantments (which normally endure indefinitely as long as they are maintained and not destroyed), creatures (which you summon), instants (spells that can only be cast once and must be discarded after use), land (which provides us with mana), artifacts, and more.

This computer game version, unlike Acclaim’s horrendous BattleMage game based on the same license, truly brings all of the fun and subtleties of the card game to life with an elegant point-and-click interface and excellent graphics that do justice to the cards’ original intricate artwork.

Instead of simply providing players with a card game rendition, MicroProse wraps the complete card-game mechanics around an epic fantasy plot set in Shandalar. As a beginner yet noble wizard, your mission is to battle the powerful evil wizards wreaking devastation across the kingdom. After you’ve created your character, you’ll be given a random deck of cards that are quite typical (i.e., not very powerful), with the majority being the color of your choice. You can gain more powerful cards by winning duels with wandering monsters or completing tasks in the various towns via the multiple-choice interface, which is based on a simplified version of the Darklands engine.

The game also includes a new concept: gems, which are difficult to collect but may be traded for strong, permanent artifacts that increase your wizard’s power (for example, magical footwear that allow him to move faster than usual). There are five formidable wizards to vanquish, one for each color, and each lives in a heavily guarded citadel.

The bad news (and my one major complaint about the game) is that you cannot save in these castles (or any dungeon for that matter). This means you’ll have to relive countless hours of frantic duels if you die before reaching the damn room where the enemy wizard is. Of course, destroying each of them gives you a tremendous sense of success, and the greatest part is that all of the wizard’s minions are permanently removed from the game. There will be no more centaurs once you have defeated the green wizard, for example.

Another nice addition is that as you beat a creature, its boss loses some magical power (they appear to be all psionically connected). It is therefore feasible to track your progress and determine when the wizard has weakened enough for you to attack his or her fortress.

Magic: The Gathering is a must-have for any strategy gamer’s library, with virtually endless replayability, stunning SVGA cards and backdrops, an extremely elegant gameplay interface, and a formidable AI. If you’ve never played the card game before, this electronic version may convert you into a hopeless addict. And if you enjoy SimTex’ Master of Magic, which is based on the card game, you’re in for a treat. *

Note: For some strange reason, Hasbro no longer sells the original game, but they still sell Spells of the Ancient, a fantastic expansion pack that not only allows you to use more cards, but also includes the much-needed multiplayer mode (called “ManaLink”) and an authentic “sealed deck” option used in real MtG tournaments. Duels of the Planeswalkers, the final and best of the Magic the Gathering games, features a significantly better AI, more cards, and multiplayer options. It is thus the most “complete” of all MtG games, making it highly worth looking for in online stores and auction sites.

How to play Magic: The Gathering Windows

An updated version named Duels of the Planeswalkers is available, with all the Spells of the Ancients add-on, in its original format and the reworked 2010 edition. This page has the original version of the game.

Captures and Snapshots

Download Magic: The Gathering

We may have multiple downloads for few games when different versions are available. Also, we try to upload manuals and extra documentation when possible. If you have additional files to contribute or have the game in another language, please contact us!