Magicka is an action-adventure game set in the fantasy world of Midgård, where elemental magic rules the land, goblins and trolls are perfectly harmless – well, perhaps not entirely, and all the villagers are wise-cracking smartalecks.
The story begins amidst a great crisis, and an urgent quest falls to you, Wizards of the Order of Magick. It would seem that the capital city of Hávindr is under seige! So alas, you must leave your comfortable castle filled with delicious hot dogs and fancy cheeses, and hurry to the aid of the King.
In your travels you will fight your way through 13 levels, each more fiendish than the last. You shall draw upon the aid of magickal spells, freely combined from the eight elements. As you progress, you will learn the delicate art of annihilating your enemies with the awesome powers of ancient Magicks. As if that’s not enough, you can also test your skills in the various challenge modes, and duel your friends (or enemies) in player vs player battle mode.
But enough talk! Time to get your robe on!
GAMEPLAY
The adventure mode allows up to four players to explore the world of Midgård, and save it from destruction. The game is saved automatically whenever a level is completed. Depending on their successes in the previous level, the Wizards may find shortcuts and hidden paths, new ways through the adventure, which may take them far behind enemy lines.
FRIENDLY FIRE
In Magicka, spells are just as effective against allies as they are against enemies. Thus, you will have to be extra careful not to catch your friends in the crossfire... Or not...
But ye of mischievous fingers, beware!
POWER-UPS, PICKUPS & MAGICKS
Power-ups
There are three categories of pickups in Magicka. Weapons and Magical Items are kept until the Wizard dies, at which point they are dropped on the ground. Magicks, however, are permanent upgrades.
Weapons
Weapons are defensive items which might give the Wizard a boost in mêlée, or radiate a power which increases the Wizard’s likelihood of surviving the next goblin ambush. Weapon effects are described when the weapon is picked up.
Magical items
Items such as staves help the Wizard channel the power of spells, and can drastically change the effects on spells. Each item can have two different effects; a persistent effect and a useable ability.
Tomes
A tome grants the Wizard the ability to cast the ancient Magick contained therein.
Magicks
Spread throughout the world are ancient elemental recipes for the creation of Magicks, the most powerful of all spells. Magicks grant the Wizard truly awesome powers. To cast a Magick, enter the specified combination in the spellbar and cast the spell using the “Cast Magick / Boost” button.
Revive magick
In a multiplayer session, players will die. At this point, other players can simply revive their fallen comrade using the Revive Magick available to them from the start of the game.
Actions
While elemental magick is their stock and trade, Wizards occasionally engage in a few other actions besides summoning and casting the elements.
Interact
You can activate checkpoints, pick up items, talk to people and examine objects in the world. Interactive objects are clearly marked when the Wizard approaches them.
Attack
You may attack with your current weapon, which may have variable effects depending on health of the bearer or other factors. If the weapon is imbued with a spell, that spell will be cast when the weapon is next used.
Block
Hold down the button to take a defensive position. Melée attacks and certain magical attacks can be blocked, provided you are facing your attacker. Depending on the weapon and the spells enchanting the blade, other attacks may also be blocked.
Boost
Boost either an active Magick or Shield by repeatedly tapping the boost button. When a boost-action is available, it will be clearly indicated through the user interface.
Other actions
Sometimes, actions are specific to the situation, or to the items you are carrying. In such cases, the action is clearly indicated through the user interface.
ELEMENTS
Elements are the foundation of every spell. Each spell consists of at least one element, but they can also be combined in any number of ways. Spell effects may be stacked to amplify their power, and some combinations of elements even produce additional effects.
WATER (SPRAY)
• Soaks
• Knockback
• Hazardous to mix with Lightning
FIRE (SPRAY)
• Damage over time
• Causes Panic
• Opposite to Cold
LIGHTNING
• Effective vs. wet targets
• Effective vs. armor
• Hazardous to mix with Water
• Opposite to Earth
EARTH (PROJECTILE)
• High damage
• Knockdown
• Opposite to Lightning
COLD (SPRAY)
• Slows
• Effective vs. wet targets
• Opposite to Fire
SHIELD
• Protective Shield
• Can be boosted
• Opposite to Shield
ARCANE (BEAM )
• Locks on
• Explosive
• Opposite to Life
LIFE (BEAM )
• Locks on
• Healing
• Opposite to Arcane
STEAM (SPRAY)
• Soaks
• Causes Panic
• Opposite to Cold
ICE (PROJECTILE)
• Multiple Shards
• Piercing
• Opposite to Fire
SPELL CASTING
Spell casting is the most important feature in Magicka. Learning to master spell casting is what separate true wizards from those that become snacks for dragons.
Force
Spells cast using force are cast in front of the wizard. They include halfshields, projectiles, sprays and lightning arcs. Most force spells can be sustained or charged by holding the button either prior to or during casting.
Area
Area effects are used to dispatch all nearby foes. Area effects include blasts, full-shields and earth-stuns. These spells usually cannot be charged or sustained, though the Area Push can be charged prior to casting.
Self
These spells target the Wizard, and casts a single-charge effect for a brief moment.The most common use for the self-cast is the Life element, which creates a healing spell.
Other uses include for example
Water or Cold to put out a fire, or Fire to thaw a Wizard’s freezing bones. However, the wise Wizard knows that one must take great care when casting spells upon oneself. There’s many a novice been blown to bits by misdirected arcane elements.
Weapon
You may imbue your weapon with the power of an element, or if the weapon is already enchanted, the new spell is added to it. Once the weapon is filled with spells, additional enchantments dissipate harmlessly. When you use a weapon that has been infused with a spell, the spell will be unleashed upon your target, after which new spells can be bound to the weapon.
GAME MODES
Adventure
The adventure mode allows up to four players to explore the world of Midgård, and save it from destruction. The game is saved automatically whenever a level is completed. Depending on their successes in the previous level, the Wizards may find shortcuts and hidden paths, new ways through the adventure, which may take them far behind enemy lines.
Challenge
In the challenge mode you and up to 3 "friends" must survive wave after wave of enemies coming at you on a variety of maps. Easy to get into, but hard to master. Do you have what it takes to make it through all the waves?
Versus
In the versus mode you get to show your so called friends who actually is the fastest wizard in the old we...we mean Midgård. Use defensive and offensive spells to the best of your ability and be the last wizard standing.