Most games would be content to play host to a series of Wizard Wars and frantic tactical multiplayer arena combat is almost certainly the focus of Magicka’s immediate future, but the wizards at Paradox have a few other tricks up their sleeves, and hidden beneath their robes. First up is the Dungeons and Gargoyles DLC, a continuation of Dungeons & Daemons. There’s a trailer for that below, as well as a video of Wizards of the Square Tablet, which is now available on PC following its debut on the titular tablets earlier this year. I didn’t play it back then but it sounds like a devious little time-killer, like Bruce Willis in that one film. I might take a look this weekend and I’ll definitely be playing some Wizard Wars. A multiplayer killathon that I’m not terrible at!

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I don’t think anything else has quite gripped me in the same way this year. The current version of Magicka: Wizard Wars features only one map, and is suffering some network woes, but the Early Access release of Paradox’s arena-PvP reboot of slapstick spell-combinating hit Magicka is shaping up to be a triumph.

Let me combine the magic of words with the arcane energies of meaning, and use a ray of physics to put them all in your face.> (more…)

UPDATE: I am having trouble connecting to games, seems it might be over-subscribed.

And I am going to jump right in, so expect some thoughts on it soon. I’ve been itching to get my hands on Magicka: Wizard Wars – Paradox’s pared down team combat version of Magicka – since I saw it in action at GDC earlier in the year, and I believe it could well be the arena-combat type game that suits my personal sensibilities as a giant dork. Paradox explain: “two teams of four wizards each will do their best to incinerate, refrigerate, and defenestrate one another in chaotic combat, utilizing the versatile, element-combining spell system of Magicka. With friendly fire in full effect, wizards will have to think on their toes and mind their aim as they contend with imps, enemy players, and each other.” A frankly rather weird new trailer creates fanfare for the appearance of the game, which you can see below.

The early access page is here and there’s a Steam page here.

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