Magicka 2 Sneak Peek Experience

[Mr_Purple]

1. Game does not operate simple gamepads like Esperanza or Media Tech. I really enjoyed playing Magicka 1 on gamepads for extra hard mode with spell stick. Is M2 only for Xbox controllers? Would be poor.
2. Very little robe colors at the beginning. I want my mr.purple
3. Graphic has bug like M:WW. Changing resolution or disabling V Sync, stretches screen incredibly.
4. No key configuration. I enjoyed mouse+keyboard configuration like in Magicka 1. Here it's little confusing.
5. Game is little slowly, not because of my PC performance (it's good), but game itself has little dynamics.
6. White circle does not follow 1:1 game cursor. It slides aside at the borders.
7. 1280x1024 resolution still views as panoramic screen.
8. Enemies are somehow hard to kill rather than in Magicka 1, but it's a gray thing.
9. Because we have option to cast spells and move during it in the same time, there should be stop button or some function. Casting in Magicka 1 stopped our Sorcerer. Here You can fall from the highs if You're not careful.
10. Casting beam spell and trying to walk backward makes Your beam twist. Little disadvantage to the aiming system.
11. No magicks fuse like FIRE + WATER = STEAM circle. We have two separate circles that works as steam. By the way, we cannot make RQEASS any more, I guess.
12. No air push as a standard attack, but it's somehow an idea for new spell, like it has been done.
For now that's all from 30 minutes play. Little disappointed with M2, but still will play it to the end

 

[ZapZebra]

I tried it with an xbox controller and didn't have any problems with the control system.
I experienced some trouble with the single player reviving, it respawns you right where you were standing when you died, even if you are standing on a deadly trap, and the short invincibility you get after reviving is not long enough to throw up a good enough shield to survive. I also got thrown off the screen by a bomb in challenge mode, and revived off screen not being able to move, so I hope that these can be fixed.
I also share your frustration at the removal of the ice and steam elements as this severely decreased the number of spells combinations.
I think that the thing that saddens me most however, is that there is very little new content introduced from the first game. Aside from moving while casting, quick magicks and 'game changing artefacts' (which just alter gameplay slightly, e.g. decreased health, increased speed, disable moving while casting), it has so far felt like just another Magicka DLC.
On the plus side, the music is nice, it still maintains classic magicka sense of humor (although "not a vampire" gag is getting a bit stale), and character customization is great (including the 'Arnold' voice option)
Looks like it will be an overall good sequel, but a lot of wasted potential.

 

[Mr_Purple]

I can agree with You in almost all of the sentences. Again, it's very poor that M2 doesn't support cheap standard gamepads. I'm not going to spend a lot of money for Xbox controllers, which 4 of them aren't a cheap basket. Maybe Xbox controller emulator will help with that fact.
I also found a little bug, at the very beginning, I was shooting heal beam and I walked above the hole in the first area, I stand between the wall above me and the hole below me and I couldn't move. Hard to explain with words, screenshot would be better but don't have one.
The music is ok. It was adoreable to hear little remixed Magicka Theme in main menu, but music seems to be little artificial during game. But I'm warning You, I played only 30 minutes. Still a lot of content in front of me.

 

[nsfranklin]

I agree mostly. What I find is that it feels really dumbed down and with tacked on features to 'satisfy' magicka 1 players.

The main problems I have with sneak peak. They magicka slots are nice but I don't care for them I would like no to see it but there is no option. In addtion the inability to view magick combination without right clicking the icons is very annoying. Furthermore magick's feel like they will be dumbed down confragration, lightning bolt, vortex. not possible unless they have dumbed down the combinations. Also the game says there is no restrictions to when you use magicks if you use combinations but here clearly is.

Other problems include: lighting seems not to ever go to sensible targets it will go 90 degress to you instead of hitting something infront of you, Then it will shot past something right inform of you., Furthermore (I like furthermore) moving while casting is a nice change but it does not work to strafe properly beams seem ineffective because of it as you can't keep them focused. Fire seems to be the only thing that feels right. Lighting is better in M:WW,

Finally, simple things are missing like changing volume outside of the main menu so you can't even see if things are right without repeatedly starting and exiting games and text prompt blocking most of the screen and scrolling for hours.

Conclusion, It looks great but it seems dumb down and rushed

Edit: Just realized alot of these problem might be caused by the need to make it good on PS4 as if you ever tried magicka 1 controller support it was dreadfull

 

[Soup Nitschke]

3. Graphic has bug like M:WW. Changing resolution or disabling V Sync, stretches screen incredibly.
4. No key configuration. I enjoyed mouse+keyboard configuration like in Magicka 1. Here it's little confusing.
5. Game is little slowly, not because of my PC performance (it's good), but game itself has little dynamics.
6. White circle does not follow 1:1 game cursor. It slides aside at the borders.
7. 1280x1024 resolution still views as panoramic screen.
9. Because we have option to cast spells and move during it in the same time, there should be stop button or some function. Casting in Magicka 1 stopped our Sorcerer. Here You can fall from the highs if You're not careful.
10. Casting beam spell and trying to walk backward makes Your beam twist. Little disadvantage to the aiming system.
11. No magicks fuse like FIRE + WATER = STEAM circle. We have two separate circles that works as steam. By the way, we cannot make RQEASS any more, I guess.
12. No air push as a standard attack, but it's somehow an idea for new spell, like it has been done.
For now that's all from 30 minutes play. Little disappointed with M2, but still will play it to the end

I agree with this, I feel that this game is almost like M:WW instead of being inspired more from Magicka. I am very disappointed in the Steam/Ice thing, the movement not stopping for casting, air push, and the overall assets it takes from M:WW and not Magicka. It is a sequel, take after your predecessor, not your spin-off! But I will be able to get over these. I just think it would be a more "Magicka" experience if they fixed these things.

 

[aethel27]

I agree with this, I feel that this game is almost like M:WW instead of being inspired more from Magicka. I am very disappointed in the Steam/Ice thing, the movement not stopping for casting, air push, and the overall assets it takes from M:WW and not Magicka. It is a sequel, take after your predecessor, not your spin-off! But I will be able to get over these. I just think it would be a more "Magicka" experience if they fixed these things.

very sad I thought it was going to be another MAGICKA not another Wizard Wars :/

maybe it will be fixed.... but at the very least its still better than anything CA will be releaseing
Although I particurally dislike the interface, using keyboard and mouse it keeps asking me for xbox controller buttons........

edit can we also get a choice to go back to the old movement system? pls?

 

[ZapZebra]

Despite what other people are saying, I like the moving while casting mechanic. It wasn't so good when I played with the keyboard and mouse, but with a controller it worked really well (I prefered using controller from Magicka 1, don't ask why).
I also like the new gamepad control scheme (but not the lack of custom control presets), although it took some time to get used to, it's much faster than the old spell wheel (which should mean there is less need for easy magicks)
Also, it's a minor thing but I miss the unique robe and staff abilities from the first game, not just boosting elements, I hope there are still some in this one.

 

[reapy]

I've been stuck at work for like 15 hours so I haven't been able to try the sneak peek yet, but wizard wars does have a stop button in it for walking. I think it defaults to space bar? Possible that is here, that'll keep you from walking places you don't want to go and is pretty natural.

I learned magicka via WW and I had a tough time going back to magicka 1 with the control scheme. I haven't done 5 elements in the queue yet so should be fun there I hope.

 

[biip]

wut.

 

[Trapfly]

wut.

Shocking.

 

[JKX]

8. well maybe it's not the enemies that are hard to kill but rather the beam spells are a bit underpowered maybe?

 

[nsfranklin]

I agree. However that might be in part because you can't make lightning beams. But I also believe the controls have something to do with it.

In my opinion there are some really good changes. eg the adsorbing wards and artifacts. But other basic things are missing like viewing what effects your staff and weapons have using tab, keybinding, controller mapping, good pc controls. I agree the controller controls are very good I agree the quick magicks for controller us.

Edit: Seems like a 'next gen' release. Good look sacrifing game play. If there is mod support that might fix problems

Edit 2: asked on Twitter no mod support the engine is not compatible

 

[Mr_Purple]

I've recalled another thing. Charging stone rock takes too much time and it flies very heavy. I know it's a huge heavy stone rock, but in Magicka 1 it was cool with "hey, when did the rock come from?" when You faced the dwarfs mountain.

 

[nsfranklin]

I've recalled another thing. Charging stone rock takes too much time and it flies very heavy. I know it's a huge heavy stone rock, but in Magicka 1 it was cool with "hey, when did the rock come from?" when You faced the dwarfs mountain.

I agree. I feel they have 'balanced' magicka 2 too much not considering that it is a coop/single player game not a competitive game I understand the changes in M:WW but in M2 it seems anti-fun.

Edit: Swift Key changed fun to english at first WTF

 

[Glopnir]

I agree. I feel they have 'balanced' magicka 2 too much not considering that it is a coop/single player game...

To an extent, I agree, but I can also see the other side of the coin.

In the original game, I distinctly remember the rush I received when I started to master some of the more ridiculously effective spells/magicks. When you start tearing down armoured mortar-wielding trolls with within seconds, it feels fantastic initially. But it eventually became... Well, routine. When I learned that the good ol' Steam/Lightning/Death beam ripped through most monsters like a hungry wizard through cheese, the urge to use that combo on EVERYTHING eventually resulted in a slow, creeping sense of boredom.

For that reason alone, I'm glad they tweaked the spell system. It gives me something new (and yet distinctly familiar) to learn and sink my teeth into, rather than being QFQFASA Simulator 2015.

 

[nsfranklin]

Yup I agree lighting bolt simulator 2015 would not be the most fun but that is where game design element should make up for it eg magicka 1 indoor levels and lightning and cold resistance auras. (which will probably come up later in the game).

Essentially I just want more option and the ability to M2 more like M1 and simple feature to be added back to the pc version as is currently seems like a mediocre port which disappoints me after so long waiting. I expected more polish.

 

[-skimmer-]

After trying to repeatedly solo through the challenge mode(still need to beat bananas) I actually like the gameplay and how I have to use more different spells to beat it this time. Sure, the gameplay still feels bit sluggish and not nearly as responsive as in magicka 1 and wizard wars and chapter 1 feels like yet another tutorial, but so I far I get the feeling I will really enjoy trying to beat the harder levels like this. Now I really just hope that there will be some interesting battles outside of challenge modes.

 

[Seelbreaker]

As far as i could get trough the first minute of Gameplay, first i have to say it is great that i can use combinations again like in M1!! (Yeah i like M1 more than Wizard Wars).
This was my M2-Killer if i had to use the 4 slots only, but it works so thank you for that! And since i'm residing to the combination only here are my thoughts on this:

In the Tutorial it was explained that combining elements won't loose the Focus. But everytime a Magick is castet via combining there is a 3 second pause untill you can cast the next Magick and it doesn't matter if you want to use Revive 3 times, because the chaos killed almost everybody or to use push and then safely Revive someone:
Push - 3 Second wait - Revive - 3 Second wait - ....
Revive - 3 Second wait - Revive - 3 Second wait - ...

But you can use Combining Elements and Quickslot to kill the 3 Second wait:
ASF (Haste) - Revive (Quickslot) - Haste (Quickslot) - 3 seconds passed
Sure when you use the quickslot while the 3 Seconds run also the focus Timer Runs on the Quickslot.

Which would mean the following:
Please kill this 3 Second Window for combining Elements

In this 3 Seconds there is also the Magick Animation in - currently i don't have any problems with not cancelling the Animation (in M1 you could cancel the cast Animation if you where quick enough to cast something new or again).


Keybindings:
Changing the Keys to the Way it is in Wizard Wars is an ok thing i guess, but it would be great if the Layout could be changed, because i bet many people would love to have the Area Cast on Shift + Right Mouse and Sword-Attack on Shift + Left Mouse.


Ingame Menus:
Changing the Resolution, Sound and Keybindings while in the Game would be great! Hopefully this will come, because it is a hazzle to leave the Game to adjust the Sound of the Game while beeing in Teamspeak or when something else happens

Magicks Roulette:
I think the quickslots are the Reason that the Magicks Roulette which is accessible in M1 trough Scrolling ingame didn't make it to M2. On the other Hand i think it is ok if the 3 Second Window for combined magicks will get away.

Push:
The Range is way too short! And when you think about it, that it is now a magick... well

Now let's get down to the Elementals
Earth:
I know the first time i've played Wizard Wars at the Gamescom Earth Elemental was wayyy to op.
In M2 the Earth Elemental feels somehow slow no wonder, it takes 2 seconds longer (6 seconds) to fully charge than in M1 (4 seconds) and if it isn't fully charged it kinda seems like the rock is out of foam.
Sure in Wizard Wars there was Balancing needed and it shouldn't be toooo op - but the Enemies won't wait for you and sometimes hitting with a big rock was a good way to get further if QFQFASA didn't worked ;-)

Ice:
Another Combination which i really liked and doesn't work anymore is the Thunder-Arcane-Icemountains of Death: EQRASA
Since you can't mix Water and Frost into Ice you cancel the Water out with Thunder which would make thunder Clouds of Ice so far so well but Arcane isn't exploding :-(
On the other hand since you can't create Ice with Thunder i wanted to check how Arcane works with Stone since in the EQRASA Combination Arcane was the thing which killed you with a Bang.

So EADA makes nothing. I can safely stay infront of the casted wave of Arcane Stone while only getting something about 200 Damage while the Ice Combo had a huge blast radius and you had to think twice where to cast the Thunder-Arcane-Icemountains of Death. Maybe Arcane also needs a little Push in Damage. I mean it symbolize Death? But Fire hurts more than Death?

Ice Armor doesn't have Spikes anymore :-( So you can't create your Ice Armor, cast Haste and overrun small Enemies (The Spikes on the Armour did contact damage).

Great Thing you did with Lasers and Frozen ones! Didn't expected that and it was truly something new and Fresh!!!

Fire:
Fire is good

Overall the Damage which can be done seem to be a little bit low. Is that because you don't want me to kill my buddys so fast?

Having to use new Combinations because QFQFASA and EQRASA doesn't work is somehow ok but limits the combinations pretty much because steam and ice aren't melting together into 1 new Element

Personally i would have loved it if more combination would have come like Steam + Earth = Lava (Throwing Lava Blobs around which creates Lava Seas) Fire + Earth would have Explosive Stones therefore Steam + Earth QFD
Then we could take this further. Create the Lava Blob: Steam + Earth and add some Thunder for a fizzy Lava Blob which also has thunder ontop of the Lava Sea (QFDA).
Now this may be somehow... Op... but this is PVE

And if it rains you could make it so, that the Lava Sea will instantly harden and only the Thunder be left

I know that some people now might tell me that this is Magicka 2 and not Magicka 1 (since im pretty much want to have some M1 Stuff back).
Therefore i have to reconsider Magicka 1 when i want to give you my opinion about its successor Magicka 2 and therefore wanted to thank you for the sneek peak!

I bet you have your hands full with checking everything which has been written here and taking it into account for the Final Release which i eagerly await!

Best Regards
Seelbreaker


Edit: I Love Extending Thunder with some fresh Water!
Edit2: No Controller connected but after i killed myself something with LB or RB for the Xbox Controller has shown up?

 

[Mr_Purple]

I had a bug after killing vietnam wizard at the beginning and dying also, that after revive I could not turn around. My wizard was facing only right side of the screen. Another bug was at the goblin bridge, after talking to hidden woman I could not use my keyboard.

 

[Sinistro]

The lack of keybidings is disturbing, my mouse has a faulty (hard to press) wheel, so I binded the auto cast to space in M:WW, but Magicka 2 doesn't even have a menu to allow us to customize this.

Also, I have to agree lack of the push basic hit is worring, it was the most basic thing and could save lifes, having a CD on it is just terrible and spoils the fun.

The Steam and Ice thing also must be fixed, it was there and was amazing, deathrays of freeze and lightning! Mines and walls of pure evil. Please consider making them one element again.