Master of Magic Remake: Bringing a Beloved Game to a New Generation

The concept of the "Master of Magic" remains a fascinating topic in various cultures and mythologies across the world. These individuals, often depicted as wise and knowledgeable, possess an exceptional command over mystical forces. Whether they are called wizards, sorcerers, shamans, or mages, these masters of magic continue to captivate our imagination. In ancient times, the belief in magic was prevalent in many societies. People sought the assistance of these magical beings to solve their problems, protect their communities, and gain insight into the unknown. These masters of magic were often seen as intermediaries between the mortal realm and the spirit world.

There is a notable selection of races to rule over and your initial choice determines your racial politics, though it does not restrict you from ruling over the others as you find and conquer them. There are fourteen races in total and these range from barbarians to high elves to gnolls to dragonmen and so on. Each has its own quirks that will grant boons and penalties to your empire, such as dwarves receiving significant boosts to their economy while barbarian units throw their weapons for an additional attack before engaging in melee. Which generic unit types are available varies from one race to the next, though they all provide at least one unique unit of their own that provides a significant punch to whatever the faction’s military composition is.

As such, his enemies would do well to expect hordes of undead as well as dangerous black magic weakening their forces while strengthening and transforming his own. As long as those items noted above are not deal-breakers, I could see most experienced 4X players enjoying themselves even if they don t have their minds blown by the game mechanics of 1994 as innovative as they may have been at the time.

These masters of magic were often seen as intermediaries between the mortal realm and the spirit world. The idea of the "Master of Magic" has evolved over the centuries, with different cultures adding their own unique interpretations. In some cultures, these individuals are portrayed as solitary hermits, dwelling in remote locations, such as mountaintops or deep forests.

Master of Magic remake from Thea developers and Slitherine

Developed by MuHa Games and Eerie Forest Studio, the studios behind Thea series.

Master of Magic is a combination of an RPG and a strategy game, a remake of a classic from the 90s.

In Master of Magic you take up the role of one of 14 unique and diverse great wizards who compete with each other to dominate the worlds of Arcanus and Myrror.
Choose from different schools of magic and fantasy races to command, then lead your minions and expand your influence and power across the land.

Recruit and command mighty armies of elves, dragons, dwarves, orcs and many more. Support them with powerful spells. Fight tactical turn-based battles and affect the outcome with your magic.

Research new spells, engage in alchemy, perform rituals and use your arcane powers to change the world around you.
Always beware of the machinations of your rival wizards, who seek to reach your same goals. But in the end, remember: there can be only one Master of Magic.

• 14 unique playable powerful wizards
• 5 schools of magic and 18 traits to customize your wizard
• Over 60 special abilities
• Over 200 spells to research
• 14 fantasy races to command, including elves, dwarves, trolls, draconians, orcs, klackons, gnolls and many more
• 196 unique unit types
• Over 250 unique magical items, as well as custom crafting
• Two parallel dimensional planes, Arcanus and Myrror

Hobo Elf

Arcane

Scroo

Female Quota Staff

Axioms

Arcane

What I am hoping is that they don't hew too closely to the original design. It was cool and impressive *at the time* but it is backwards and limited now. Graphical updates or adding a couple new spells isn't worth buying a new game, especially at Slitherine prices.

Infinitron

I post news

Arcane

I’m skeptical that anyone will respectfully remake the original, but these guys seem to have a good track record in their community. What’s the Codex consensus on Thea?

Also anyone who hasn’t played the original should go do so. It’s UI is a little clunky, but the game is a masterpiece.

Higher Game

Arcane

I’m skeptical that anyone will respectfully remake the original, but these guys seem to have a good track record in their community. What’s the Codex consensus on Thea?

Thea is good, Thea 2 is on average about as good as the first one except it has more very good and very bad ideas, so it's an acquired taste.

Master of Magic is an unbalanced mess by modern standards but was good in its time. I think this remake will be good.

Space Satan

Arcane

Fedora Master

Arcane

Looks worse than the pixelart of the original.

There is also no reason for this because the GOG/Steam versions of MoM are perfectly playable in DOSBox.

Galdred

Studio Draconis

What I am hoping is that they don't hew too closely to the original design. It was cool and impressive *at the time* but it is backwards and limited now. Graphical updates or adding a couple new spells isn't worth buying a new game, especially at Slitherine prices.

How so? The original still holds up against all the recent fantasy 4X, including Endless Legends and Age of Wonders. Its main issues were AI and UI, but these can be improved by a remake.

PrettyDeadman

Guest

Fantasy General 2 wasn't too bad.
Also, please explain why are you excited for this one if you haven't played Deity Empire?

AgentFransis

Cipher

Someone needs to take these guys aside and gently explain to them that a remake is expected to look better than the original.

Silentstorm

Learned

I guess these days, the idea that 3D automatically means it looks better still exists, or that something being more modern in look means the same.

Zboj Lamignat

Arcane

Joggerino

Arcane

Narushima

Cipher

I guess these days, the idea that 3D automatically means it looks better still exists, or that something being more modern in look means the same.

I imagine it's mostly due to the fact that it's probably easier to recruit 3D artists than 2D ones for a video game.

AgentFransis

Cipher

I guess these days, the idea that 3D automatically means it looks better still exists, or that something being more modern in look means the same.

I imagine it's mostly due to the fact that it's probably easier to recruit 3D artists than 2D ones for a video game.

Not doubt. I imagine it's even harder to find an artist with actual skill and understanding of such arcane concepts as visual clarity.

Galdred

Studio Draconis

That is a bit excessive. Most of their titles are "serviceable", but it is true that it feels like they sometimes just aim for "good enough"(but they published Field of Glory 2, and nuHarpoon, so it is not always true).

Blake00

Learned

haha I see the good old remake debates on "they're not changing enough" vs "they're changing too much" are kicking off again.

Well I said over in the classic Master of Magic thread here at the codex recently that it was a good time for Master of Magics fans thanks to Implode's Multiplayer HD MoM project, Seravy's Caster of Magic for Windows, and the hints that Slitherine were working alone or with someone else on a MoM remake/sequel.. and sure enough the day has come confirming they've been working with Thea creators HuHa on a MoM remake!

I run the Master of Magic fan Facebook and Discord communities and everyone is already going bananas in them lol! I hope Slitherine shared with MuHa the super MoM sequel/remake wishlist thread I and the communities put together on the Slitherine MoM classic forum. Cause if those guys are doing this without listening to the MoM fans I think we know from history how things will go lol.

I missed the live stream but I've seen the 2 videos, all the pictures, and the info on the new MoM Remake steam page. Looks and sounds pretty good! The lack of multiplayer will probably piss people off but doesn't bother me.

Morblot

Aberrant Member | Star Trek V Apologist

Lacrymas

Arcane

I don't want it to be 3D. MoM still holds up after a few fan-made patches, so they have to try really hard to make this work. Are they going to balance this or going full death magic and summoning wraiths immediately will still break the game? I wouldn't say no to a few hand-crafted campaigns too.

rezaf

Arbiter

"You have come to late. Work on the remake has already begun."
"If that is the truth, . "

Why oh why does every strategy game these games have to go to the Civ5 visual style?
The old MM had more much more visual clarity and "atmosphere" than these screenshots depict.
Also . that manga-style intro makes me cringe a little.

I think a good MoM remake should aim to recreate the original beat for beat, like OpenXCom, or at least reasonably faithful, like in Remnants of the Precursors did with MoO.
And then expand on that with higher resolutions, modernized graphics as close to the original atmosphere as possible, and maybe new features that ideally can be toggled on and off by players to their liking.
I had high hopes for Implodes remake for a while, but this was years ago, he obviously just lacks SupSupers "drive" / energy / passion / time, whatever it may be, but . things are moving SLOWLY, with complete standstills in between.

As for Slitherines attempt . I fear it'll fall in the traditional re-imageing trap of having grandiose ideas on how to make the game more appealing to modern audiences.
We'll see.

FG2 seems to have been decent, but far removed from the original FG. I loved Panzer Corps, which was a reasonably faithful Panzer General remake, but haven't warmed up to the more modern Panzer Corps 2.
I also have heard many good things about Shadow Empire - I even picked it up, but didn't really have the time to spend time with it myself, yet.
So, unsurprisingly, it seems to be up to the developer.
My Steam library says I own Thea, and I HAVE played it, but it hasn't left enough of a distinct impression in my memory to remember off-hand why I didn't like it.

I wish I wasn't so jaded.

They dedicate their lives to studying the arcane arts and harness the powers of the universe. In other cultures, the "Master of Magic" is depicted as a powerful and influential figure, advising rulers, shaping the destinies of nations, and wielding immense supernatural abilities. They become revered and feared by their communities, as they possess the potential to bring about great change and upheaval. The image of the "Master of Magic" has also been popularized in literature, film, and other forms of entertainment. From Merlin, the legendary wizard of King Arthur's court, to Gandalf, the wise and formidable wizard from J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth, these characters continue to captivate audiences and inspire new generations. However, the portrayal of these masters of magic is not limited to fantastical stories. Throughout history, there have been individuals who claimed to possess extraordinary magical powers. Some claimed to have control over the elements, the ability to heal, or the power to foresee the future. These individuals often rose to positions of power and influence, commanding respect and fear from those around them. In modern times, the concept of the "Master of Magic" continues to thrive in various forms of media and popular culture. From video games that allow players to assume the role of spell-casting protagonists to books and movies that explore the complexities of magic and its consequences, the fascination with these mystical beings persists. In conclusion, the concept of the "Master of Magic" remains a captivating and enduring topic in mythology, literature, and popular culture. From ancient civilizations to modern times, these individuals, with their profound knowledge and command over mystical forces, continue to evoke a sense of wonder, awe, and curiosity within us..

Reviews for "Master of Magic Remake: Balancing Tradition and Innovation"

- John - 2/5 rating - I was really excited to play "Master of Magic Remake" after hearing so many great things about the original game, but I was left disappointed. The graphics and gameplay were extremely outdated and didn't live up to the modern standards. The AI was also terrible and made the game feel tedious and unchallenging. Overall, I was expecting a much better experience and this remake just didn't deliver.

- Sarah - 1/5 rating - "Master of Magic Remake" was a complete waste of my time and money. The controls were clunky and unintuitive, making it difficult to navigate through the game. The visuals were lackluster and didn't do justice to the original game. The lack of updates and improvements in this remake left me feeling like I was playing a relic from the past. I would not recommend this game to anyone.

- Alex - 2/5 rating - I had high hopes for "Master of Magic Remake", but unfortunately, it didn't live up to my expectations. The game lacked depth and strategic elements that made the original game so engaging. The battles felt repetitive and the AI was predictable, making the gameplay feel stale. While the graphics were updated, they still didn't add much to the overall experience. I was hoping for a revitalized version of the game, but all I got was a disappointment.

- Emily - 3/5 rating - As a fan of the original "Master of Magic", I had mixed feelings about the remake. While I appreciated the effort to bring back the nostalgia, the execution fell short. The game had potential, but it lacked proper balancing and the AI was too easy to defeat. The graphics were improved, but they still didn't match the quality of modern strategy games. Overall, it was a decent attempt at reviving a classic, but it didn't capture the essence of the original game.

Master of Magic Remake: Recapturing the Magic of the Original