Magic: Duels of the Planeswalkers 2015

 Xbox 360
User Score
4.3

Generally unfavorable reviews- based on 28 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 28
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 28
  3. Negative: 16 out of 28

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  1. RickWJ66
    Jul 22, 2014
    8
    Because this game has been getting a lot of hate, I thought I would weigh in with a different view. I have actually had a lot of fun with it, though of course it has some problems. By way of background, I was first introduced to Magic in the original Duels game in 2009 and have played each version since then, and also have been playing with the real cards since M11 as well (Scars ofBecause this game has been getting a lot of hate, I thought I would weigh in with a different view. I have actually had a lot of fun with it, though of course it has some problems. By way of background, I was first introduced to Magic in the original Duels game in 2009 and have played each version since then, and also have been playing with the real cards since M11 as well (Scars of Mirrordon, Innistrad, Ravnica, and Theros blocks). But with the duels series (unlike with the real cards) I rarely play multiplayer on-line -- I just enjoy going against the ai, and I have not been playing much of the two-headed giant, so that is less of a factor for me.

    I purchased the ipad version (which came out a week early), played through it for a week starting with the blue-black Dimir deck (a lot!) and then purchased and played the xbox 360 version when it came out the next week (using a different starter deck, the red-white boros deck). I actually found the campaign fun to play through multiple times, including the challenge of going against different ai decks, but that is the sort of play I have always enjoyed, so that is just me. And I found it clever the way it allows the player to visit five different planes, including a healthy sample of cards and mechanics for each of those planes. I have also enjoyed unlocking packs of decks from each plane (which can all be done for free but some people consider it to involve too much grinding) to use the cards to build my own decks.

    I agree that the starting dimir deck is very weak and boring until you unlock enough cards to improve it. Boros worked a bit better.

    It is difficult to compare this version to the prior versions as it is somewhat apples and oranges. I do miss having the pre-made decks ready made to both play against and to adapt for use as my own, but I also enjoy coming up with my own decks. Unfortunately, you simply cannot make comparable decks from the cardpool as was available in prior years' decks -- the decks you can make this year are quite a bit weaker. But I think the game should be evaluated based upon its own merits rather than comparing it to what other versions had (e.g. two headed giant). On its own terms, it is a fun and engaging way to play a limited version of Magic.

    I think the criticisms as to the pay-to-play have some merit but are a bit overstated. I did buy all the premium cards on the ipad version, just because they are fun. But, for the xbox version, I am challenging myself by making most of my decks without using any premium cards. You can still make strong decks that way -- the premium card pool (which is basically one-sixth of all available cards) just allows for a bit greater flexibility. I do plan to give multiplayer on the xbox a try to see how my decks do against other players.

    I enjoy the new interface and I like the unique black-and-white graphics (which matches the visual theme of the M15 packs). But I also agree there is some clunkiness there, and I particularly agree that the mana-tapping is a huge step backwards (it often defaults to bad choices, forcing you to heavily micro-manage how the mana taps and penalizing you if you are not paying attention, particularly with multi-color decks). With respect to changing your decks after each game, it is a bit clunky, but there is actually a shortcut you can use to change your decks from whatever screen you are on (by clicking on your icon in the bottom left corner and then clicking the deck icon) but it is not explained very well so you have to figure it out for yourself.

    Notwithstanding those problems, I still have had a lot of fun playing this game over the last two weeks, which is why I feel compelled to give it an 8 (I probably would actually rate it 7.5 if that were an option).    … Expand
  2. Meshen
    Jul 17, 2014
    3
    All of the build up to this game has revolved around the fact that true deck building has finally been implemented. This seems like great news, until you realise that there's a measly card pool of approximately 300, which has been split into a 'basic' pool (unlockable by playing) and 'premium' pool (only unlockable via cold hard cash). This 'pay to win' approach would be a little moreAll of the build up to this game has revolved around the fact that true deck building has finally been implemented. This seems like great news, until you realise that there's a measly card pool of approximately 300, which has been split into a 'basic' pool (unlockable by playing) and 'premium' pool (only unlockable via cold hard cash). This 'pay to win' approach would be a little more palatable if the rest of the game was rife with content, but it simply isn't.

    Gone are the prebuilt decks that were great to just jump in with on a level playing field, and also gone are fan favourites in the Two Headed Giant and Challenge modes. Deck building should have been a separate element to coexist with the format DotP fans have come to love. For those who wanted deck building as the centrepiece of the game there has always been MTG Online, so to take away so many great elements and replace them with a limited, micro-transaction filled husk of a game is appauling. Shame on you, Wizards.    … Expand
  3. Sielas
    Jul 19, 2014
    0
    A huge step back from the previous games, which weren't perfect to begin with.
    -Two Headed Giant mode removed,not replaced with anything. making the only multiplayer mode free for all.
    -Less singleplayer content than previous games. -28$ of premium cards, which are simply better than the base ones. -Even counting the premium cards 2015 has the smallest and least interesting card pool    A huge step back from the previous games, which weren't perfect to begin with.
    -Two Headed Giant mode removed,not replaced with anything. making the only multiplayer mode free for all.
    -Less singleplayer content than previous games.
    -28$ of premium cards, which are simply better than the base ones.
    -Even counting the premium cards 2015 has the smallest and least interesting card pool of all games in the series.
    -Hamfisted deckbuilding with very little room for creativity due to the extremely limited amount of cards you have available, made even worse by completely unplayable or sideboard cards.    … Expand
  4. ChildOf1981
    Jul 18, 2014
    3
    Duels of the Planeswalkers has always offered a nice casual way for new and experienced players to enjoy some casual magic. After several games that were pretty much as good as you could get they did almost everything wrong on this one. The only part they got right was the actual interface when you are playing a duel. I am going to presume that you are familiar with prior duels games forDuels of the Planeswalkers has always offered a nice casual way for new and experienced players to enjoy some casual magic. After several games that were pretty much as good as you could get they did almost everything wrong on this one. The only part they got right was the actual interface when you are playing a duel. I am going to presume that you are familiar with prior duels games for my pros/cons.

    Pros: Mouse over text removes the need to zoom in on a card to see what it does.

    Cons:
    Premium (not just cosmetic) cards only unlockable via premium purchase.
    Automated Mana Tapping has regresses to worse than other duels games
    AI gets cards that you don't (and you can't unlock)
    User interface is unnecessarily slow
    Less game modes as compared to prior DotP games

    And perhaps the worst part of this Duels game is how shallow it is. The Single player is not nearly as compelling as prior titles and you never get the sense that you have grown from a scrappy little mage to a powerful planeswalker. They added in deck building and took away any remains of a carpool you would even want to build with (without paying extra).

    When I reflect on this purchase I wish I had taked the money I spent on Duels 2015 and spent it on Magic Online instead. When I was writing that last sentence it dawned on me what the problem with this game is. With Duels 2015 Wizards has not made a Sweet Supercharged Duels of the Planeswalkers game, they made an inferior Magic Online.    … Expand
  5. justasock
    Jul 19, 2014
    5
    I started playing this series back with 2013 and loved it. It taught me alot about Magic which lead me to start playing the physical game. It is addictive and very fun. When I bought 2014 I loved playing the challenges, two headed giant and playing around with different decks. When I bought this game the first thing I noticed was that the menu music was a bit glitched, but I don't careI started playing this series back with 2013 and loved it. It taught me alot about Magic which lead me to start playing the physical game. It is addictive and very fun. When I bought 2014 I loved playing the challenges, two headed giant and playing around with different decks. When I bought this game the first thing I noticed was that the menu music was a bit glitched, but I don't care about that much. Then I had to go through the tutorial, which I feel should be skip-able for someone who answers that they have played alot of magic beforehand, but I got past it. The first thing I notice is that I am able to pick my own deck to use. I naturally go for the blue/black deck since I love Dimir. What I failed to realize after picking this deck that turned out not to have the play style I had hoped, I could not switch it out for another deck after completing the tutorial. Much to my dismay I was forced to use this ONE deck throughout the campaign. The deck wasn't even that good, and I had to tone the difficulty down just to complete the first set of missions to unlock multiplayer. The campaign ended up being hard (due to the sub-par deck) and tedious, although later on and after opening a few packs I did begin to enjoy both the play-style of my deck. the last oss fight is challenging and I give the creators props for that. So after completing the campaign, I go to multiplayer. the first thing I notice is the lack of any challenges and team modes which is a big disappointment. They brought in ffa games (3 and 4 player ffa) which is fun, but nothing compares to playing alongside allies. Perhaps the most disappointing feature of this game is the pay-wall. While I can tolerate micro-transactions to a point, this game is clearly pay-to-win. Every player has access to the standard set of cards, but only those willing to pay cash to buy "premium boosters" will have access to the best cards. How is this fair? I'm giving this game a 5 because it still is fun to play, but many good things about the series have been taken out, and a pay-to-win system has been put in place. I will be very hesitant before buying next year's iteration.… Expand
  6. Kriostyx
    Jul 26, 2014
    0
    First things first : Do not buy this game. It is an absolute pay-truckloads-of-cash-to-play (a.k.a. free-to-play) scam, a massive downgrade from Duels 2014 and the opponent AI has been **** to the point of hilarious unbeatable challenge.

    Okay with that out of the way, let's concentrate on the issues a bit more. First off, unless you want to grind hundreds of hours for absolute crap    First things first : Do not buy this game. It is an absolute pay-truckloads-of-cash-to-play (a.k.a. free-to-play) scam, a massive downgrade from Duels 2014 and the opponent AI has been **** to the point of hilarious unbeatable challenge.

    Okay with that out of the way, let's concentrate on the issues a bit more. First off, unless you want to grind hundreds of hours for absolute crap cards, you need to take a loan from your local bank to afford the premium boosters and deck unlocks that cost enough to make you lose your house. The features have been stripped from Duels 2014 with shocking viciousness and anti-consumer philosophies in mind. No Two-headed giant, no challenge puzzles, even the battle board has been erased of all color and vividness and has been replaced by a depressing bland grey table of terrible design.

    As a Duels 2013 veteran I am used to the fact that sometimes the campaign opponents cheat so much it causes unneeded frustration (such as Duels 2013 Revenge Campaign Grenko, you who have played that, know what I'm talking about), but that issue was more or less resolved in Duels 2014. Now get this : Even before the actual campaign the "Final Chapter of the Tutorial" cheats so hard it is ridiculous. In a game such as this the challenge very simply is and always has been for descent players this : Is the match winnable or not, without any middle ground, since a good player what is the best move in each situation. And this statement tells everything you need to know about the cheating unbeatable AI in this game : I played flawlessly experimenting with different colored decks and the final *TUTORIAL* level just spawned mathematically unbeatable matches one after another and it absolutely destroyed me *fourteen times in a row* before finally giving a winnable scenario. That is not just bad design, the coders actively hate MtG players and wanted to sabotage their own game. Wow. Just wow. It is insane how terrible this piece of garbage is. A massive money grabbing scam woven into a frustration automaton made out of crap and bullsh*t. It doesn't even count as being a game. Do. Not. Buy. This.    … Expand
  7. saratrotter73
    Nov 16, 2014
    1
    First I love magic and actually bought this game 3 times on different xboxs so several of us could play. To say I am massively disappointed is an understatement. The card pool is boring, the AI cheats to the point of ridiculousness in the single player. They removed It is nice to be able to build your own deck but every other part of the game became horrible.
  8. beano
    Nov 27, 2014
    5
    I have played all the 360 Magic games, and I love them dearly. After buying this one for $5, after an hour, I was ready to throw my controller at my TV. I have come around a little...I am having fun with the explore Innistad part. This is just a different game. No more decks....it's all build, collect and hone. There is still fun to be had here, but still, you really have to faultI have played all the 360 Magic games, and I love them dearly. After buying this one for $5, after an hour, I was ready to throw my controller at my TV. I have come around a little...I am having fun with the explore Innistad part. This is just a different game. No more decks....it's all build, collect and hone. There is still fun to be had here, but still, you really have to fault Microsoft for creating a game that is so slow and clunky, and is missing features that would clearly make this a much better game. It's not a tragedy, because at least the earlier games exist. Anyway, buy it for $5 like I did...you'll still have some fun. But be prepared for the irritating stuff...it is real.… Expand
  9. hevers1981
    Dec 5, 2014
    4
    While the playability and general appearance of the game is nice, it doesn’t follow the real game mechanics the way that it should. There is a big difference between killing, exiling, and destroying a creature. Also it doesn’t allow you to select which lands you tap when casting spells. Other than that its an okay game. If they fixed these two major problems I have with it I'd probably buy it.
  10. JPNixion
    Dec 15, 2014
    1
    Interface is fine. Graphics are artistic. The speed is a bit slow. The AI is much improved. They still degrade your shuffle as the difficulty level increases (you know - to make things more difficult for you) while granting your opponent an extraordinarily "lucky" hand that seems to counter your deck very nicely. You get to select a deck (color combo) in the beginning, and everyInterface is fine. Graphics are artistic. The speed is a bit slow. The AI is much improved. They still degrade your shuffle as the difficulty level increases (you know - to make things more difficult for you) while granting your opponent an extraordinarily "lucky" hand that seems to counter your deck very nicely. You get to select a deck (color combo) in the beginning, and every victory grants you a booster pack. The first dozen levels in the single player are quite fun.

    But what really gets my rating down is that regardless of which color combo you start your deck with - sooner or later you hit an opponent that your chosen colors will simply not be able to overcome without a most fantastic shuffle (see earlier comments)... Where does this leave you? In the gift shop, paying to unlock all the cards from this expansion or that world... There are not enough opponents in each world/section to allow you to unlock all the cards from that world. Whats more, you never quite get enough cards of colors outside your initial choice to build a functional deck of any other color.

    If you don't mind Apps that micro-charge you to get ahead in the game, you will have no problems here.. But charging your XBOX account for a full game ($40-50) and then trying to nickle and dime us... To make it worse, you don't quite realize what they are doing until you hit that infuriating opponent that stomps your pride into the ground and gets you all primal-brain ... that's when you start seriously looking at a $5 charge to unlock one section of cards. I guess they are counting on parent funded children or young adults who wont admit they can't get past a certain point in the game. Really, quite infuriating... Not so much the game itself, but the way they built a cash register into it.

    Please do the world a favor - don't positively reinforce this kind of larceny. If you bought the game - enjoy it for what you can do. If you haven't bought it yet - I hear cocaine is more fun while you sell your life away to an unscrupulous dealer you can actually meet.    … Expand

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
64

Mixed or average reviews - based on 5 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 5
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 5
  3. Negative: 0 out of 5
  1. Official Xbox Magazine UK
    Sep 3, 2014
    50
    A comprehensive intro to Magic, but Duels is hardly the showcase it needs to be. [Oct 2014, p.92]
  2. MondoXbox
    Aug 20, 2014
    60
    Magic 2015: Duels of the Planeswalkers finally adds a deck editor, but cuts away many previous game modes resulting in a quite poor offering compared with the older games in the series. We didn't like the too-invasive microtransactions model, too.
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  3. IGN Italia
    Aug 4, 2014
    55
    A dumbed-down version of Duels of the Planeswalkers with less game modes than the previous entries. Yes, there is a full deck-building option now, yet it is marred by a clear shift towards microtransactions.
    Read full review
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