Last week, Gathering Magic was able to get their hands on a preliminary copy of Duels of the Planeswalkers on Steam.  The game was released last year for Xbox Live to much fanfare but those without the Microsoft console found themselves out of luck.  This month, Duels of the Planeswalkers makes its way to Microsoft's other mega-gaming platform - The PC.

If you haven't already tried Steam, it's essentially Xbox live for the PC.  After a small app-install you're able to download games, share in-game achievements with your buddies and duel other players via the internet.  Steam has caught fire as one of the most popular online gaming vehicles on the planet.  If you haven't already taken the plunge, DotP is a great first step into the world of Steam.

So what's it like?

As far as we can tell, the game is a direct port from the Xbox version.  Here are the basics if you haven't played the earlier version.  As always, you are a planeswalker in control of powerful magics.  You duel against other planeswalkers for control of the multiverse.   There are several different modes to experience: Campaign, Challenges and Online Play.  There are also custom duels and co-op mode to mess around with if you get a chance.   In the main Campaign Mode you start out with just one deck (Chandra's Hands of Flame).  After defeating other planeswalkers and their decks you are able to play with several other theme decks as well.  Each time you defeat an opponent with one of the decks in your arsenal you unlock a new card for said deck.  In Chandra's deck, the first cards you unlock are Shivan Dragon and Dragons Claw.  Both of which are normally yawn-worthy but in this game, where your deck has a playset of Goblin Sky Raiders you're going to be begging for those unlockables.

You're basically playing with a beginner's mono-colored sealed deck against other mono-colored sealed decks.  It feels a lot like playing limited in that you end up using cards that you would never otherwise play with.  This is both bad and good.  I loved seeing some of those combos that I'd never otherwise see but at the same time, I like playing with what I know to be more powerful spells.  Campaign mode can be frustrating because often, the decks you're playing against already have their cards unlocked and you're trying to send a second Goblin Sky Raider their way whilst they already have  Serra Angel and Reya Dawnbringer chillin' on the battlefield.  No amount of skill or magical prowess can get you out of these situations sometimes. Frustrating to be sure.  To the extent you're able to customize your decks, you may find yourself wanting more control.  You're able to move your unlockables in and out but you aren't able to do much else.  Like I said, it feels a lot like limited/sealed to me (which isn't necessarily a bad thing!)

Challenge Mode is by far my favorite part of Duels of the Planeswalkers.  If there were a game that just included 100 planeswalker challenges, I'd buy it, no question.  In this mode, you are plopped down into the middle of a duel that needs to be ended on this turn. You have a hand, land and there are usually a ton of permanents on the table already.  In one scenario, you're at 1 life and Nissa is at 26 and you've got to find a way to do that damage in one turn or you'll lose.

I love the introductions to the challenges as well.  It really draws you in to the situation at hand.  Think you've got the skills to make this 25 life point swing happen?  We'll see.  As opposed to campaign mode, these challenges are no joke.   For example, in one challenge the solution involves *spoiler alert!* putting Pariah on your opponent's Platinum Angel and using Brion Stoutarm's ability to throw your own Knight of the Skyward Eye at yourself!  I'm still patting myself on the back for nailing that one.  The challenges are the best part of Duels of the Planeswalkers as far as I'm concerned.

I didn't get a chance to check out the Online Modes. This was a press version of the game and, needless to say, there weren't a ton of people waiting for a game.  I can tell you that this mode allows you to play a random match, co-op match or planned match with a friend.  You're using the same decks you saw in campaign mode so you'll want to unlock all of the cards before you try your hand online.  I even saw an option to simply pay a dollar or two to unlock the decks or make them 100% foiled so that's always an option if you're just trying to get online.  Playing online looks like fun for beginners but I think older players will get frustrated at the lack of overall deck-control.  Your games will surely start to feel like they're predestined.

Who's this game really for?

[caption id="attachment_10644" align="alignright" width="198" caption="Mark, meet Steve. He's kind of a big deal."][/caption]

We actually joked about the supposed "target audience" when this game was originally released on the Xbox.  In order to have played this game already you have to a) own an Xbox, b) have Xbox live and c) you have to play Magic the Gathering and want to play the game digitally outside of MTGO.   That's a very specific target audience for any product and while I'm sure there's a lot of overlap, it just isn't a product that I can recommend for everyone in every circumstance.  Now that the game is on Steam, we can open that recommendation up to players who simply have a PC.  Sorry Mac users, Wizards of the Coast hasn't caught the Apple bug just yet.  Maybe someone should send Mark Rosewater an iPad for Christmas this winter. Maybe he just hasn't heard of the little upstart Cupertino company yet?   If you're a PC user who also plays Magic the Gathering and doesn't own the game already, I think beginners and old-schoolers alike will find something worth their while in this game.  This is also a great way to teach the basics of a Magic game to newcomers.  You'll still have to show them the advanced stuff outside of DotP but what a great way to introduce new players to the game!  We've always said that playing the game online is a great way to learn the rules and cards in this game.

I already have this game for Xbox Live.  Is there any reason to buy it on Steam as well?  Do I get a discount?

If you already own this game for the Xbox, I can't really recommend it as it seems to be a direct port.  Steam does, however, allow you to play on the go ie on the bus, on a plane, or even at work (though we don't condone it!).  If you have never played Duels of the Planeswalkers I'd go ahead and take the plunge on Steam.

With the Xbox Live version, buyers got a free Garruk Wildspeaker Foil with purchase, will I get something this time?

Yep, if you pre-order the game (as I have) you'll get a code that is good for a Nissa Promotional Foil card.  No alternate art this time and no Steam set symbol (as speculated).  But hey, it's free!  Take a look:

How much does it cost and when is it released?

The game is only $9.99 but that includes the 1st expansion pack for free if you pre-order.  The game is available "sometime in June 2010" but you can pre-order now.

As one of the only people on the planet to have played this version of the game... do you recommend it?  Rate the game out of 10 stars!

We're not huge fans of giving games a numerical score.  What does a score of 7.8 vs a score of 7.9 really mean to anyone?  But let me say this:  If you haven't played the game before on Xbox live and you enjoy casually playing Magic the Gathering, you should pick up this game, if only to try those challenges!  You'll also get a free limited edition foiled planeswalker card.  At $9.99 you'll get at least 10 hours out of this game's single player mode and potentially unlimited time spent playing with people online.

Interested?  Pre-order Duels of the Planeswalkers on Steam here.

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In case you missed it, Wizards let loose a smattering of spoilers on Friday.  Take a look at our Magic 2011 Spoiler page for all the latest. (Oh, and hold on to your Baneslayer Angels because they're going to be legal for some time.