Magicka is described as “an action-adventure game set in the fantasy world of MidgÃ¥rd, where elemental magic rules the land, goblins and trolls are perfectly harmless — well, perhaps not entirely, and all the villagers are wise-cracking smartalecks.” Though technically correct, to rely solely on this description would be to overlook some of the key subtleties contributing to the game’s unique charm. Magicka strikes a delicate balance that involves both comical elements and serious gameplay, giving the game an overall feel very reminiscent of Castle Crashers.
Story
As the description says, Magicka has a storyline rooted in fantasy and magic, and centered around a student who has been chosen to travel to the city of Havindr to defend it from recent Orc attacks. The game is divided into chapters, with a short intro before each to lay the groundwork for the coming scenes. However, the storyline is not terribly impressive, and would, in fact, be worth skipping altogether were it not for the amusing references sprinkled amongst the bland plot. Well-known scenes from popular sci-fi and fantasy books, movies, and TV shows are often quoted or parodied; for instance, in Chapter 4, one “Admiral Agnar” alerts his platoon to an ambush by yelling “IT’S A TRAP!”
In the end, the storyline just plain doesn’t matter. Magicka doesn’t play out like a novel, with true plot arcs or characters of any substance. However, to mark these words as criticisms would be to imply that the game was trying to incorporate these elements and simply fell short – which does not seem to be the case at all.
Gameplay
In a nutshell, the gameplay revolves around casting spells by combining elements. And indeed one can get through the game simply by spamming different combinations of keystrokes and mouse clicks. However, Magicka goes from a worthwhile waste of time to a must-play when you use some measure of strategy along the way. Combining certain elements creates new ones; for instance, combining fire with water makes steam. Additionally, some enemies are weak to some elements, and likewise resistant to others.
Each spell can be cast in a beam, as an AOE, or on the player himself, each having a different purpose. Beam attacks are most useful against a single target, AOE versus multiple targets, and self-casting for beneficial spells like heals and shields.
There is also a multiplayer aspect that allows up to four people to work together in a party. Players can play online with their friends or with random others in public lobbies. And even though the multi-player adventure mode is cooperative, it is possible (and too easy) to kill your teammates. Watch those AOE attacks! Don’t worry though, players can be easily revived after dying as long as at least one party member is still alive.
Graphics
Magicka is a suprisingly beautiful game. For a $10 indie game, I was expecting flat cartoon graphics with no extra frills. But it turned out to be frilly as all get-out; if a character becomes wet, water droplets are shown dripping off his robes. If he is frozen, he turns light blue. This level of detail made for a more immersive gameplay experience that drew me into the game’s world much more than did other similarly lighthearted games.
Audio
Magicka‘s soundtrack quite charmingly complements the game’s fantasy-based storyline and gameplay. And the voices of the characters are downright silly, underscoring the tone of the game and also bringing up the mood so that it doesn’t become too serious.
Overall
Magicka is truly an amazing game. It quite literally came out of nowhere (this is Arrowhead Game Studios’ first game), and still seems to have flown under the radar of many. When first released, the game was rife with bugs, most of which have been fixed by now, making for a nearly flawless gameplay experience. Whether played alone or with friends, Magicka provides hours of entertainment, and is at must-buy at only $10 on Steam.