After the new MMO in the Magic universe, Magic: Legends, has shown its first gameplay trailer, it has received criticism on sites like MeinMMO or on YouTube. Apparently, the game is not exactly what players expected from a “new MMO-ARPG”.
So here’s the criticism: The first voices from the community about Magic: Legends are mixed and at times quite negative. Just today, on January 9th, the developer Cryptic Studios showed the first gameplay, which looks a lot like Diablo.
The video has fairly balanced ratings: 839 positive to 816 negative votes (as of January 9th at 19:40).
What does the community say? There are various reactions to the gameplay, which can at best be described as subdued:
- Ferrety6012 on YouTube says: “They could have mentioned beforehand that it’s an ARPG… I expected something completely different.”
- Doran Noir also says on YouTube: „ (…) I never thought of this when the developers said they were working on an MMO. It looks like Diablo mixed with a mobile game. That’s… not an MMO.”
- Meinmmouser on MeinMMO says: “I don’t want to say that the game will be bad, but why did they have to use the name Magic? The existing fanbase will hardly be attracted to such a hack-and-slash game.”
- Robin on MeinMMO says: “A ‘MMORPG’ with up to 3 players. Where is the MMO in that? Sounds more like an RPG with coop elements. Too bad.”
- But there is also positive feedback. Sapius on MeinMMO says: “Finally, it’s not just a pure TCG Magic game. I’ve been waiting a long time for this, so I don’t care if it’s MMO, MMORPG, ARPG, tactics, strategy or anything else. As long as it plays well and the lore is well implemented.”
- Also, the system that is supposed to do without loot and consist of card decks piques curiosity. Cameltoetem writes on MeinMMO: “No loot is a bit odd at first, but why not? It’s about cards in MTG. So there must be some way to collect them to form a build. If that’s done by reaching a goal at the end of the task, then I’m fine with that as a loot replacement.”
Magic: Legends – Wrong Expectations?
How the problem arose: In the first details about Magic: Legends from September 2019, the new game still sounded a lot like an MMORPG. Players take on the role of a planeswalker and should fight legendary beings.
Even the first trailer gave the impression that it was an MMORPG. The description of the game has also frequently changed in recent weeks:
- on December 1st it was still called “Next generation MMORPG” and “Action MMORPG”. There was even talk of a next-generation MMORPG, which sparked a lot of desires
- By the end of December, the designation had already been toned down to “MMO Action-RPG” on the official channels
- On the developers’ website Cryptic, it now only says “online Action-RPG”.
It is precisely these expectations that were raised, which currently cause some disappointments. This is also often reflected in the reactions. For example, Leyaa on MeinMMO writes:
Oh what a pity, I was really full of joyful expectation when I first read that an MtG:MMO was to be made. I also enjoy action RPGs/hack’n’slays, but nothing makes my heart race like a well-made MMORPG.
So far there is only the information that there will be PvP duels and coop quests. But it is quite possible that further MMO features will be announced. However, they will then be within the framework of a hack & slay game.
Why is Magic as ARPG a risky choice? As an ARPG, Magic: Legends is in competition with many other games that will be released in the future and which are already highly anticipated:
- Path of Exile is rebooting with “PoE 2”
- Diablo 4 is in development and may release by 2021
- In addition, two strong games from Korea are in development with Lost Ark and Project TL – Lost Ark has already launched in Korea and Russia and is considered excellent
- And also Torchlight Frontiers or the mobile game Diablo Immortal are also due for release in the West
Perhaps Magic: Legends will also surprise and become a huge hit. However, as an MMORPG, the demand for a Magic game would have been significantly higher:
