A free online strategy game reminiscent of Magic: The Gathering
Might & Magic: Duel of Champions is a multiplayer strategy game for PC based on a deck of cards. Reminiscent of the famous Magic: The Gathering, the game offers the ability to make up several decks of cards that you can then use during matches in order to defeat your human opponents and obtain the best possible ranking.
A card game which favors excellence over originality
Revisiting the universe of the Might & Magic saga, Duels of Champions offers you a choice between three factions at the beginning of each match: Haven (humans with a medieval look), Inferno (demonic creatures) and Necropolis (the undead). Each faction has, of course, its own strengths and weaknesses, and you would do well to know your strengths and those of your opponent in order to win the match.
As with all card games, Might & Magic: Duel of Champions is turn-based, and requires that you position creatures on the playing field by casting spells and drawing new cards. A game with relatively little originality, but which proves to be very addictive thanks to the strategic opportunities offered and especially Ubisoft’s balancing of different cards and factions.
A simple and easy to improve interface
Might & Magic: Duel of Champions has the virtue of allowing real progress to be made on your own, prior to entering the large arena of the competitive multiplayer mode. A tutorial and an introductory campaign will be made available in order to facilitate smooth entry into the game world. However, the heart of Might & Magic: Duel of Champions is still the multiplayer mode. If you start to get hooked, we guarantee that you’ll be there for awhile!
Might & Magic: Duel of Champions, being a game of cards, has a simple, limited interface which doesn’t exactly offer thrilling options. The lack of graphic frills is unfortunate. Even if the game window is elegant, it lacks animation, or even a small touch of fantasy which would give the visuals more personality.
The interface is unfortunately not always functional, and the lack of clarity of the control mechanism (particularly when it comes to examining the cards in your hand more closely) is annoying. There’s nothing outrageously bad to point out, but hopefully the menus will be updated and modernized in the future.
The game has huge potential to be addictive which could be expensive
Like its main inspiration, Magic the Gathering, Might & Magic: Duel of Champions is based on building your deck (pack of cards) and acquiring new cards in order to customize strategy to the maximum. This type of game system is rich and exciting, but unfortunately at a price. Although Might & Magic: Duel of Champions is free to start with, players who want to be competitive in online matches will rapidly be induced to spend money getting new cards… It is possible to play without spending a penny, but be aware that the majority of other players definitely will!
Our verdict: an addictive multiplayer game with long-term appeal
Might & Magic: Duel of Champions is certainly not free from defects; especially with regard to its graphic design which at the moment is too bare bones. But the game has huge potential for fun which develops slowly with each match, and which should make it a classic online game, among the many that are launched every day, just for “a quick match between friends.
