Member version also maintains player histories including won-loss records, match histories, and player ratings |
When you think of where the future of online gaming is headed, the idea of mixing a boardgame like Stratego with a collectable card trading game like Magic: The Gathering probably wouldn't be the first thing to pop into your mind. However, this is exactly what the folks at Kellogg Creek have cooked up. The result is an interesting twist of popular genres fused into an online experience that is both fresh and engaging.
At its core SpiritWars is a turn-based boardgame where two online players battle on a hexagonal board to destroy each other's castles. Players use the crucial energy (like mana in Magic) from energy spirits to cast spells and summon creatures that will explore the playing board and find and then destroy the other player. SpiritWars does have many similarities to the popular Magic: The Gathering card game. For instance, players build dungeons (decks) from the six different magic classes (Darklands, Wetlands, Highlands, Woodlands, Flatlands, and Drylands) in the game (vs. the five in Magic). Many of the principals should be familiar to Magic veterans; for example each class of magic has its own unique strengths and weaknesses and certain spirits are rarer than others, making them more valuable in trading or more costly in losing.
Whenever possible, keep units in their home terrain. Energy pieces will produce an extra energy; combat spirits will do +1 damage, and receive 1 less damage when hit |
SpiritWars currently has some 400 spirit (or card) types. The spirit types include Energy (energy producing spirits), Magic (direct effect spells), Combat (foot soldiers), and Defensive spirits. Even some of the spirits themselves will have a ring of familiarity to veteran players of Magic, like the Prince of Atlantis, a wetlands leader who can boost the attack strength and spotting range of other Atlantis units. Despite some similarities though, SpiritWars forges boldly into some very new territory.
Each class (color) of spirit has a natural ally in the world of Valhalla. They also have two classes that are considered to be their opposite and their natural enemies |
The players don't battle it out with playing cards; instead they struggle across a terrain-based hexagonal board. Their objective: to find and ultimately destroy their opponent's castle while protecting their own. The result is a Magic-like game, but played out on a board where players must acclimate to the added complexity of maneuvering and plotting on a battlefield.
The icing on the cake is that players can enjoy two versions of the game. There is the pay version found on the Kellogg Creek site (www.spiritwars.com), and the free version that can be found on WON (won.net). While the free version lacks the card trading aspect and regular tournaments of the pay to play game, it does offer players the chance to experience the full potential of the game, with 350 spirits to experiment with and a pre-made deck for a fast start. The pay version offers only 200 spirits but players can quickly acquire new spirits by trade or winning.
Defeat! Newcomers will probably see this screen a lot when they first start |
The WON version is quite enjoyable and gives you a good feel for the game, but it's the pay version that really gives you the full dynamics of play. The pay version has a well thought-out design that benefits the new player while challenging veterans. Many aspects of the design are somewhat unique, like the benefit that new or lower ranked players receive in random migrations (getting new spirits regardless of win or loss), while expert players don't benefit from migrations and lose more spirits if they fall in battle. Sure, this balance favors those in the middle, but it's intended to make sure that players of all skill levels can enjoy the world of Valhalla.
SpiritWars has a lot going for it. With a familiar theme it's easy to jump into, and the game does have a fairly intuitive interface. Right clicking on spirits can give you the vital information needed, such as the cost and special abilities. Still, SpiritWars does lack some small things you normally take for granted, like a pop up description on terrain hexes, which can make it tough for newbies trying to figure out if a certain hex is a homeland.
Both versions at your finger tips |
The game also has a few other minor shortcomings. Trading spirits can be a bit tedious; SpiritWars lacks a sideboard where players can easily reference and trade each other's cards. Instead players either keep notes of their spirits or print them out and then discuss them through chat before proposing a trade. Still, the problems are few and far between, and playing it can become quite addicting.
The most impressive thing is, with two versions of SpiritWars to choose from, players can make up their own minds. Both versions offer players a unique combination of freedom in playing philosophy and a multi-layered strategy experience. If you're looking for something outside the repetitive world of hype and trend followers, you might want to check this one out.
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