Master of Magic is still one of the best tactical games ever!

[Griefmaker]

Hey all!

I was cleaning up my computer a few days ago when I found this old gem of a game again! I began to play it and realized that I had forgotten how great of a game it was.

The graphics are nothing to write home about, the music--well I have never gotten the music to work on any computer I have had. But the gameplay--which to me is always the most important element--is awesome. Different races with different units and abilities. Different books of magic. So may possibilites and different ways to play the game! And most especially, turn based combat (I am a big fan of turn based combat--it allows for tactical play, not just create large groups of brutes and smash the bad guy). What fun!

A major drawback is that the AI is indeed be stupid, but it is still a great game anyway!

Civilization and RPG intertwined. It's too bad they don't make any games like this anymore!

By the way, if anyone is wondering, I have played the Age of Wonders games and Lords of Magic, but for some reason they didn't have the same appeal that Master of Magic does. Lords of Magic would have been a lot better of a game if it was completely turn based combat (IMHO). Age of Wonders was fun, but I had more fun with MoM. A fairly recent game, Emipre of Magic, had an interesting concept, but apparently failed miserable as a game (I began to play it, but quickly got bored of it).

Well, I think this has been enough of my rambling for now. Thanks for listening!

[Jorath Calar]

Master of Magic is along with Colonization, the best strategy game ever made. I remember so many sleepless nights playing MOM, I agree they don't make games like it anymore...

[CerebroDragon]

I only ever played the Commodore 64 proto-rpg top down adventure "Master of Magic", which though simple, was incredibly atmospheric and fun to play - and I still haven't finished it! It has a melodic tune which I can still hum today...

The original tape I have of it has this agent dude saying "You've bought the game kid, now play it!" Ahh, the memories.

C64 fans of old can check it out in the games' database at www.lemon64.com

I think a friend of mine may have this strategy game you guys are talking about. Was it made by Micropprose?
I haven't played it but traditionally haven't been a huge strategy fan, just feel more naturally drawn to RPGs.

Cheers!
Cerebrodragon

[Griefmaker]

Yeah, it was made by Micropose. I've played a number of Commedore 64 games, but I didn't know they had one also called Master of Magic. However, the one made Micropose was made in 1994 (I think) while the one by the Commedore must have been made in the early 80s.

I understand your draw to RPGs instead of strategy games. I always liked adventure and fantasy over strategy games. Then I started to play Risk (actually it was Castle Risk, but not many people have heard of that variation of the game--it is much better though, IMHO!) a lot and decided to try a strategy computer game. Master of Magic was my first "strategy" game and I have liked them ever since. I think that is the reason why I prefer turn-based combat to real-time now.

Anyway, cheers to you CerebroDragon!

[the mighty stamar]

the age of wonders series of games is a lot like masters of magic and both are my favorite games

[Riftmaker]

Inforgrames needs to sell the rights to MoM to someone that will re-make it with beautiful 3d graphics, add better AI, Multiplayer, and an SP story of some sort.

They don't even need to do any unit design, just a new graphics engine.

[Gnarf]

There's a chance Stardock will do it... anyways; http://www.masterofmagic2.com/

Edit: And, yeah, loves the game... as well as Age of Wonders (like the sequels as well... just, not as good).

[ 01-31-2005, 01:21 PM: Message edited by: Gnarf ]

[Griefmaker]

I hope Stardock can get the license for MOM. It would be awesome to see turn based strategy games make a comeback. That is the only way to play strategy games in my opinion.

[Lucern]

MoM is so awesome. Can you believe it's 10 years old this year? It's centuries apart graphically, maybe years apart AI-wise, but I can still waste hours on it. I got it for my 13th birthday. Believe me though, the music is easily forgotten

I thought Lords of Magic was lame, even though I really tried to like it. I mean, how often do we get a turn-based fantasy strategy game? Once a year if we're lucky. After they released the special edition, it finally became plain average. I really like the Age of Wonders series, especially Shadow Magic. I agree though, that the sequels just have a different feel from the first one that's not quite 'there', even though they're quantitatively better in every way and much more interesting strategically and tactically. AoW fans love MoM, but most agree it's just not MoM (with the devs saying "Forget MoM, we liked Warlords" lol). Strategy games are tricky that way I guess.

I would love to see MoM remade, with just more of everything (races, planes, spells, players) and better AI.