‘Magicka: Wizards Of The Square Tablet’ Review Roundup

Magicka: Wizards of the Square Tablet hits iOS tomorrow. Here’s what the critics said about it.

Magicka was a simple yet fun Diablo III type action RPG before there even was a Diablo III. You played a wizard resembling a black mage from Final Fantasy, using element powers to kill your enemies before they killed you in a story based on Norse mythology. Enemies sounded like an overactive chihuahua wrestling with a steak bone every time they were about to attack you, adding a certain charm to the feel of a well-polished game. Developed by eight students at Lulea University of Technology in Sweden, Magicka was an instant success, selling over 200,000 copies in less than a month.

Seeing as the original Magicka depended heavily on the keyboard and mouse to control its four player games, it was surprising how well it does on a portable device, but the transition was well-done. This is a game that iPad users will be playing for hours. Instead of an overhead map, Magicka: Wizards of the Square Tablet is a side-scroller. It keeps everything that was entertaining about its big brother, and streamlines it.

You play a nameless red-robed wizard possessed by some underworld meanie, in league with a weird vampire as the two of you attempt to stop the end of the world.

Four of the eight elements remain from the original Magicka, but the interface has been simplified to the point where it won’t matter. You will still have fun creating exploding rocks and defensive barriers. If you happen to catch on fire, a simple combination of fire and water will create steam and put the fire right out. The magic system is very much intact, just simplified.

The environments are quite varied in Magicka: Wizards of the Square Tablet. You’ll fight off bad guys in pestilent swamps, beaches, and dilapidated ruins.

Magicka is quite intact; it’s just been shrunk.

What do you think of Magicka: Wizards of the Square Tablet?