Magicka 2 Reviews
Magicka 2 flashes potential in its gameplay, but can't come up with a way to turn that potential into a good game. Couple the boring design with the technical issues and it's a difficult game to recommend.
As a co-op game, this is a treat that should be on any co-op gamer's shelf. The multiplayer brings up the fun at any gaming weekend, and is likely going to become a favourite in most gaming circles. However, without people to play with, Magicka 2 turns very boring very fast, and its sometimes unfair difficulty and even unwinnable extra missions do not help against that. If into co-op, Magicka 2 is a must-buy. If not, it is a game that should be passed on.
You'll need three forgiving friends and a silly sense of humour to make the most of Magicka 2. It's an utterly sensational cooperative romp that refines the series' superb spellcasting into hilarious yet surprisingly tactical chaos.
There's not a lot to separate Magicka 2 from its hallowed predecessor. But give it time. Paradox aren't ones to sit idly by, particularly when it's as popular a series as Magicka. And besides, as throwaway party-style fun with a deceptively complex core, it's a tried and tested formula. Like death-death-shield.
Magicka 2 offers a smoother, more comfortable experience than its predecessor, but that doesn't mean the series has lost its signature charm. It's still insane, madcap fun, that somehow manages to make an absolutely unintuitive control system into a strength rather than a weakness. Played as a drop-in multiplayer game, it's an entertaining, amusing hack and slash. With a group of friends, it's an absolute riot.
The game has some rather fun elements but there isn't enough game to really deserve a higher grade. Being able to play alongside your friends is fun enough, but even that doesn't seem like a big enough perk.
Much like its predecessor, Magicka 2 is a flawed game whose faults generally contribute to its charm. There's something wonderfully engaging about a game that knows exactly what it is, doesn't try to be anything more, and succeeds on nearly all fronts.
It's a good game that leads to bundles of fun when playing cooperative, but on your own, you are best to go somewhere else, as this combat-focused sequel just isn't made for a single player's mind and will frustrate more than the fun it brings when battling with three other masochistic wizards.
Magicka 2 is a game that focuses entirely on the mage class by emphasizing combination attacks and effects. The challenge can be brutal, but persevere, and there's a satisfying, laugh out loud adventure waiting to be had.
Magicka 2 doesn't mess much with the formula of the first title. If the hours you spent traipsing through Midgård before grew tedious, the sequel may not wield enough magic to hold your attention. However, if you dropped the first game quickly due to the plethora of game breaking launch bugs, or missed this gem of series altogether, it is more than worth your time for an excellently priced $15. It's challenging, it's quirky, and it's just plain fun, especially with friends.
[T]he value of Magicka 2 rests on one question: Do you have anyone to play this game with? If the answer is no, we don't recommend playing. If the answer is yes, Magicka 2 is worth checking out.
Unambitious, sturdy, chaotic, fun
With its flexible, unpredictable magic system and fun co-op skirmishing, Magicka 2 is still a co-op hoot. All the same, it's not that different from the first game, and nowhere near as smart and anarchic as Helldivers on PS4. By playing safe with its surprise cult hit franchise, Paradox has failed to take it to a higher level.
With care and attention there's hope for Magicka 2. Patches and DLC could fill in gaps and deal with the game's brevity, but it's hard to recommend based on that assumption. At the moment it's functional, sometimes fun, but only something that should really be considered if you've got three chums who are guaranteed to play with you. Even then, you might be better off with the original Magicka and its slew of DLC or Wizard Wars, which is free-to-play.
Powered by a compelling magic system that allows limitless possibilities, Magicka 2 offers imaginative excitement that's best enjoyed with others.
Magicka 2 is here, boasting the same elements, same spells, and pretty much the same, well, everything.
Pieces Interactive has done a very good job in continuing the Magicka series. While there have been some growing pains, Magicka 2 still manages to be an extraordinary cooperative game when played with the right people. If you have a group of friends that are tired of playing Borderlands and Helldivers, then make sure you give Magicka 2 a spin.
It lies somewhere between a fully formed game in which wizards learn to chain elements into powerful spells and a low-rent improv show.
If Magicka 2 had a far more single player campaign – and some more visual substance to make it pop – it's be a classic along the lines of, say, Gauntlet Legends. As it stands, it's too flawed to fully recommend, although if you know a few friends that don't mind casting spells at mindless monsters, it'll cast its spell on you.
Magicka 2 is Magicka refined - the same wizard-killing simulator co-op fans love with the fixes and improvements players craved. While it doesn't break new ground or surpass the original, it's a blast to play with friends.