Magic: The Gathering - Duels of the Planeswalkers 2013

 iOS
User Score
6.0

Mixed or average reviews- based on 30 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 14 out of 30
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 30
  3. Negative: 9 out of 30
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  1. avwynin
    Jul 21, 2014
    0
    Easily the worst balancing ever in any game. The AI cheats like mad to compensate for the fact that it would otherwise be completely inept, even on lowest difficulty. AI always draws the right card at the right time (e.g. playing 3 identical fire spells at the same time? Seriously?) No variety in deck building except for paying $4 dlcs. The mulligan system is fundamentally flawed, and whenEasily the worst balancing ever in any game. The AI cheats like mad to compensate for the fact that it would otherwise be completely inept, even on lowest difficulty. AI always draws the right card at the right time (e.g. playing 3 identical fire spells at the same time? Seriously?) No variety in deck building except for paying $4 dlcs. The mulligan system is fundamentally flawed, and when they implemented it into this iOS version, each hand that's drawn is so blatantly rigged that it's not even funny. Over half if not most of the time, the player will either have too few lands or too few spells. Not uncommon at all to draw 5 or 6 cards in a row without drawing a single land.

    The only redeeming factor is the fact that it's on iPad, which is portable. Only if you have absolutely nothing better to do, or if you're on the go, is it by all means an OK game. It really does the actual card game no justice.

    Update: Turns out that for some reason, the more cards you unlock, the more unstable the game becomes on your machine. It crashes after every match, so it is nearly impossible to make any progress whatsoever. The design of the save system is absolutely moronic, i.e. new unlocks are only saved when you return to the menu screen and not if you continue playing. So, if you don't regularly quit to the menu, you could easily lose an hour (or more) worth of gameplay. Utter nonsense.    … Expand
  2. jin44jim
    Dec 13, 2020
    0
    What can I say every card game past 2012 has predetermined draws and cards to counter and set for anything you do. You expect me to believe that the A.I. can play 12 of the same cards in a row every match to make a barely win or a defeat, when you can only have 4 of the same cards in your deck legally? I made a deck of elf card, no cards in this deck would of been useless because of theWhat can I say every card game past 2012 has predetermined draws and cards to counter and set for anything you do. You expect me to believe that the A.I. can play 12 of the same cards in a row every match to make a barely win or a defeat, when you can only have 4 of the same cards in your deck legally? I made a deck of elf card, no cards in this deck would of been useless because of the way I built the deck but magically every match I pull nothing but mana for up 17 turns sometime and I do mean literally 17 turns I pulled nothing but mana cards. It is recorded on video. I played about 5 matches of this happening and uninstalled the game. The mana cards are set automatically and I have only 24 mana cards in my whole deck and still pull that many mana cards. Card games need to be random not data collecting predetermine matches to make the game feel like a movie or something. TRASH game! It blows my mind 23 mana cards in a 60 card deck and I pull almost my entire mana pool not once but 5 times in a row. WOW!!!! What a joke. It should be illegal for you to have my data to use against me without my consent.… Expand
  3. Enlil
    Jun 24, 2012
    5
    Back in high school I plaid quite a lot of Magic, but stopped later due to lack of playing partners. When I saw that a Magic: The Gathering game is coming for iPad I knew I had to get it. Sadly the part I used to enjoy most, deck building, is the part the game doesn't allow you to do. You can make some modifications to pre-made decks, but that's it. For me that takes a huge part of the funBack in high school I plaid quite a lot of Magic, but stopped later due to lack of playing partners. When I saw that a Magic: The Gathering game is coming for iPad I knew I had to get it. Sadly the part I used to enjoy most, deck building, is the part the game doesn't allow you to do. You can make some modifications to pre-made decks, but that's it. For me that takes a huge part of the fun and the motivation away, since I always enjoyed making new decks with interesting strategies much more than actually playing the game. I am surprised that this doesn't seem to be an issue for any commercial reviewers.

    The interface of the game looks quite beautiful, but has some flaws. As pretty as some of the animations look it get's annoying to have to watch the 1-2 second tapping animation so often. That doesn't sound like much but sums up. Want to attack with you pack of 10 wolfs? Well you will have to wait for every tapping animation to finish before you can tap the next creature. This alone wouldn't be that bad, but it contributes to to make the game feel very slow. This behavior also makes the interface feel wonky at times, because slow starting animations like tapping, don't give immediate feedback and needs some getting used to.
    Most other board and card games are much faster in the computer versions. Not so with this game. You have to wait for a timer for every phase of the game to finish, even if there is no action that possibly could be taken. This makes especially the first few round feel unnecessary slow.

    Overall it's an OK game, but could have been so much more. Just a little interface polish and the option to build you own deck (which Magic is all about) and this could be one of my favorit games.    … Expand
  4. Acolon
    Jul 2, 2012
    8
    Great game. Some aspects are missing like custom deck building, at this point you can only make changes to pre made decks. Some animations are kinda slow on my iPad 2 too. But overall a very nice game. Hope they fix those issues on next updates.
  5. mtgmtgmtg
    Jul 30, 2014
    10
    This version of the game single-handedly taught me how to play MTG. I'm a huge fan now. The tutorial portion is very easy to follow and the touch response is right on target. The music isn't too shabby, either.
  6. Mpbpl
    Aug 9, 2018
    5
    Deck Limitations and stifle this game
    You get a choice to select a deck with pre arranged cards and colours that completely take your hand and decide for you which path you will take, since cards are randomly dropped you don't get a chance early on to really decide for yourself which color or style you want play, you will need to change to a preferred color and use **** deck until you get    Deck Limitations and stifle this game
    You get a choice to select a deck with pre arranged cards and colours that completely take your hand and decide for you which path you will take, since cards are randomly dropped you don't get a chance early on to really decide for yourself which color or style you want play, you will need to change to a preferred color and use **** deck until you get good cards that work with each other.
    Old cards are not accessible, so if you are an old player you won't be much interested.
    Very good card game, with a campaign mode, arcade, and multiplayer but with the Magic IP this is simply not enough to impress.    … Expand

Awards & Rankings

14
#14 Best iOS Game of 2012
46
#46 Most Discussed iOS Game of 2012
55
#55 Most Shared iOS Game of 2012

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
90

Universal acclaim - based on 15 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 14 out of 15
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 15
  3. Negative: 0 out of 15
  1. AppGamer
    Jan 15, 2013
    70
    Yes there are a couple of niggles but for the most part Magic: The Gathering - Duels of the Planeswalkers 2013 is still very much the same, albeit cut down, game I fell in love with back in the day.
    Read full review
  2. SpazioGames
    Sep 11, 2012
    80
    Magic The Gathering Planeswalker 2013 is a great start for the brand on iPad and probably the best version on the market.
    Read full review
  3. Games Master UK
    Jul 24, 2012
    90
    New cards are a big attraction, but this year it's the multiplayer that shines. [Sept 2012, p.101]
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