Magic: Duels of the Planeswalkers first released in 2009 for consoles and was quickly picked up by long standing Magic The Gathering fans and TCG lovers who did not know of the game. It stands as a great way to get new players introduced to the game without having to play against decks that people have been building and tweaking for years. It also gave them a chance to understand how vast the strategic possibilities you can use with card combinations thanks to a puzzle mode that players can complete. The puzzle mode places players in a situation where the next turn will determine whether or not the player would win or lose. It was up to the player to figure out the combination of cards to play in order to turn the seemingly bleak scenario around and win. With the Release of Magic: Duels of the Planeswalkers 2012, players got a first look at the Trading Card Game’s 2012 Core Set expansion months before its physical release. It also introduced a new game mode which could be played in real life table top games, provided you had the required special cards, along with a slew of new challenges. Magic: Duels of the Planeswalkers 2013 did the same with the 2013 Core Set, challenge list, and released another new game mode. Magic: Duels of the Planeswalkers 2014 will follow suit and give players a first look at the 2014 Core Set, and introduce a new game mode as well.

Magic: DotP 2014's campaign will have players partnering with Planeswalker Chandra Nalaar in her quest to find a dangerous and manipulative planeswalker. The game has received an overhaul visually, completely changing the UI that has been used in the previous games. The interface is still easy to navigate, but far prettier in my honest opinion. From the opening menus, to the campaign selection screen, even to the deck selection screen, the visual quality and presentation have been significantly upgraded. I could be seriously geeking out though. I am a little biased when it comes to Magic the Gathering, just like I am with Square Enix. I don’t think I could handle it if they worked together on something. But that is far from the point.

Like previous installments of the game, Magic: DotP 2014 will introduce 10 new starting decks, showcasing the 2014 Core Set, and will release more decks as DLC to coincide with expansions sets as they release in real life. It will also feature new challenges, and a new game mode, of which I was not able to receive any info for, other than “There will be a new game mode.” What a surprise that I’m kept right on the edge of my chair waiting for that juicy piece of news.

Magic: Duels of the Planeswalkers 2014 does not have a set release date yet, but will release on XBLA, PSN, PC, iPad, and for the first time ever, on Android tablets. Android tablets will support ad-hoc for local multiplayer on release with online multiplayer being worked in at a later time. But for now I’m going to jump into a game of Planechase on Magic: DotP 2013 and hope that keeps me sane until 2014 releases.