Magic the Gathering Views

          Taken from 2 letters from Carolyn Brown

I noticed recently that 'Magic the Gathering' had been released in
a special double pack together with the data disk 'Spells of the
Ancients'. I quite fancied trying this game when it was first
released last year, having read the reviews in SynTax and
elsewhere.  However, I held back as I am not a great strategy fan
and I was reluctant to spend so much money on something that I
might not like.

Seeing this double pack reminded me of the game and I re-read the
reviews, and was coming round to the idea that it might be
something I would enjoy. Anyway, last Friday I was on my way home
from work, on my way to catch the bus and, as I had five minutes
to spare, I nipped into a local toyshop which half-heartedly sells
PC games. The only thing about them is that they usually have a
bargain bin and I occasionally drop in to see if they have
anything half decent. They never do. However on this occasion,
they actually had the original 'Magic the Gathering' inn the
bargain bin for the amazing sum of œ4.95! I couldn't believe my
luck, and bought it before they could change their minds.

Having got it installed, I was rather dismayed to see how
complicated it is. I had never played the original card game, and
I found the whole thing totally confusing. I played and replayed
the tutorial until I was sick of it and, with frequent reference
to the manual, tried experimental duels until I had a thumping
headache from trying to read the cards. Anyway, by Sunday night I
hadn't won a single duel but I was getting a better hang of what
to do. I think I am actually learning something now, and I can see
that the game could become quite addictive if I persevere with it,
but it is hard work. I haven't ventured into Shandalar itself as I
don't thing there is much point until I have learned how to duel.

The cards are beautiful and I can understand people wanting to
collect the real thing. I do wish the text was more legible
though, as I cannot read it on certain backgrounds.

@~Later Carolyn wrote again ...

I spent a good part of last weekend with 'Magic the Gathering'
practicing dueling. and eventually managed to win a few games, at
which point I decided to have a go at the main game. I found
myself agreeing with Alex van Kaam and James Judge in their
reviews of MtG in SynTax last year that the Shandalar graphics are
a bit tacky, but it is the cards which are important, and they are
lovely. After reading your comments about how you were able to
jump straight into the game with no difficulty, without even
having to watch the tutorial, I began to feel very thick indeed.
However, on re-reading Alex's and James's reviews, I noticed that
they, too, had a bit of trouble finding their way around the game
initially, and so I felt a little better.  I still have lot to
learn, but it certainly makes a change from RPGs, and I like the
way you can choose to simply have a quick duel if you have just
half an hour to spare. It will probably stay on my HD for a long
time for this reason alone.


I still find some of the cards a bit difficult to read, and in the
Shandalar section you can't click on them for help. I was reduced
to squinting at the screen through a magnifying glass last night,
and that's even though I was wearing my reading specs at the time!
Oh, for a 17" monitor!

@~Some friends of mine have just got their first PC and it came
@~with a 17" monitor - I hadn't appreciated before how much
@~difference it makes but everything is MUCH clearer. Shame
@~they're still so dear ... Sue









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