Magicka 2 Reviews
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.
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.
Magicka 2 takes some getting used to and even after getting used to it, it can still be unwieldy at times. Playing co-op is the way to go, and can even be rather fun that way. Just keep in mind, it can get frustrating and downright mean playing solo.
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.
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.
Although it hits the marks in several key areas, there's no shying away from the fact that Magicka 2 can feel monotonous in parts. This may be eradicated (in part) when playing with friends locally or online, but not everyone will have that same privilege. There's an overriding focus here on combat that could have been invested in other, more interesting pursuits such as puzzle solving or even platfoming. Still, it's a competent action game that has made a beautiful transition from its original PC roots and one that will no doubt garner a new console-based coven.
Magicka 2 is fun in the right circumstances - i.e. when you've a friend or three in tow - but even then it's a case of an all-too-familiar experience to the first game. That's not in itself a bad thing, as the Magicka formula is a solid one, but it is disappointing - there's hardly any progress from the first game. For a sequel that took four years to hit, that's just not good enough.
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.
[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
If you want to pat yourself on the back for getting in-jokes and you can drum up enough play pals for co-op, you might find Magicka 2 [Borat voice] very nice! Like its references, though, Magicka 2 is just a retread.
Magicka 2 is good for some multiplayer laughs, but just how much fun you and your friends derive from it depends heavily on your willingness to repeat the cycle of casting a spell or two, running around like crazy until the cooldown on your revive spell is up, and bringing back one of your dead companions seconds before your enemies reduce you to an unmoving pile of wizard meat.
Ultimately, Magicka 2 fails to adequately build on its first outing. It feels more like an expansion to the original Magicka, or an unusually faithful remake.
It lies somewhere between a fully formed game in which wizards learn to chain elements into powerful spells and a low-rent improv show.
The opportunity here was to bundle up the wild brilliance of Magicka and finally deliver a campaign that was as exciting and unpredictable and astonishing as the powers you have at your disposal. Maybe next time.