Combat in RPGs is often split into three distinct types: melee, magic, and stealth. With magic being a cornerstone of the modern RPG, it’s no surprise that players put a lot of emphasis on finding an iteration that suits their tastes. Luckily, new games that innovate in their field and createbrand-new magic systemsare not the exception but the rule. That said, satisfying magic combat is hard to nail, and it is easy to miss the mark.
Elemental magic is magic in its rawest form, invoking basic concepts like fire, wind, ice, lightning, and earth as the basis for spells. This type of pure representation of magic, while not rare per se, is still uncommon, especially as a fully-fledged magic system. This is because in most RPGs, Magic is a spell-based concept, with players having access to a limited number of predetermined spells and elemental magic being only a single facet of the picture.
5Mages of Mystralia
A Colorful Blend Of Might And Magic
Mages of Mystraliais atop-down RPGwhere players take control of Zia, a prospective mage journeying across the world in order to hone her skills. The game features colorful, low-poly graphics with a gorgeous art style and a decently sized campaign that takes roughly 14 hours to beat.
A key mechanic ofMages of Mystraliais the spell crafting system. This allows players to customize their basic fire, frost, and lightning spells to do something different. Adding range to the fire spell, for example, turns it into a long-range projectile, and that’s just the beginning. Players can customize their spells to inflict chain effects, create shields, dash to safety, add homing properties, and even duplicate the effects. The result is an in-depth, intricate system that’s easy to experiment with. Combat and enemy AI leave something to be desired in this game, but the magic crafting is top-notch.
Outward’stake on spellcasting is something that’s rare to see inopen-world action-adventure games, as it doesn’t stick to the simple formula common in most RPGs. Instead of selecting a powerful spell and pointing it at an enemy,Outwardwants its players to combine different spell effects for massive damage. Spark, for example, is a spell that barely tickles enemies when cast on its own, but when used while standing on a Sigil of Fire, it transforms into a powerful Fireball that obliterates most low-tier enemies in one hit.
Additionally,Outwardis unique in that instead of using a unified spellcasting system, it offers players the choice between six completely distinct magic trees that all function differently from each other. The Rune Sage combines Rune Alphabets to cast unique spell effects; the Kazite Spellblade imbues their weapons with different elemental enchantments; the Philosopher is the pure mage who uses fire, ice, and chakrams to deal damage, and so on. Another great aspect of this system is that each specialization has universal skills and specialization skills (Breakthroughs), with universal skills being available to everyone regardless of specialization, allowing for the combination of different magic schools to tackle different scenarios.
Spellcasting inThe Elder Scrollsfranchise has always been a point of contention for fans of the series, as Bethesda has, over the years, dumbed down what a dedicated mage can do. The best and the most complex iteration of mage gameplay is inMorrowind, where spell crafting custom spells to suit any situation is on the cards, allowing prospective Wizards to alter the range, area of effect, and even magnitude of the spells.
Morrowindpromises ahardcore mage gameplay experiencewhere spells can fail, Magicka is hard to recover, and classes and birthsigns have a huge impact on the viability of the build. Unfortunately, the only area where this game falls short when compared to its sequels is the inability to charge spells for increased damage or cast two-handed. That said, the combination of hard-to-cast yet insanely overpowered spellcasting makes mages in Morrowind the most satisfying class to play, especially for players who manage to slog through the early-level grind without giving up.
Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteousis a CRPG based on the Pathfinder 1st Edition tabletop game (similar to Dungeons & Dragons). Developed by Owlcat Games,Pathfinder WotRis an incredibly complex game with a huge emphasis on class and subclass diversity. Players have the freedom to choose between 25+ classes, each with multiple archetypes that drastically change how the class plays. These classes range from simple melee fighters like Barbarians to tool-based classes like Alchemists to summoner classes like Rangers and everything in between.
Naturally,Pathfinder WotRalso has its share of magic-based classes like Wizard, Sorcerer, Cleric, and Paladin. But if it was just that, this game wouldn’t be any better in terms of Elemental magic than, say,Baldur’s Gate 3. What makesPathfinder WotRbetter in this specific category is its class diversity. Skalds combine melee and arcane magic, Witches cast hexes, Oracles are divine spontaneous spellcasters, Magus enchant their weapons on the fly, Bloodragers cast arcane magic using their very life force, Arcanists combine the best of Sorcerers and Wizards in one class, and finally Kineticists are fling pure, raw elemental blasts using their innate abilities to devastate entire battlefields. For players looking to embody the role of a mage in-tune with the natural elements, Kineticists are a dream come true.
No game nails the feeling of mastering the elements better thanMagicka, a title where manipulating the elements to create custom spells comes as naturally as breathing air.Set in a fantasy world, players take on the role of a mage with access to eight basic elements, which can either be cast alone or combined with each other for more potent effects. The story, while serviceable, is secondary. The only reason to playMagickais the magic and using it to mow down enemies, navigate terrain, and complete objectives. The sheer joy of spellcasting in this game is unmatched.
Spellcasting inMagickaoperates on a common-sense system, meaning combining opposing elements like fire and cold doesn’t do anything. But combining fire and earth, for example, creates a Fireball, and just casting pure fire without augments spews out a potent flamethrower. Spell types are also split into multiple types like Beam, Area, Self, and Boost, each having a different effect. The sheer amount of permutations of the elements possible in this game is staggering and what puts it at the very top of this list.
There are two main game modes inMagicka. In the campaign, players go through a fairly linear storyline, gradually learning how to combine the elements into potent spells to defeat enemies. In Arena mode, wave after wave of enemies rush the arena, and it’s the player’s job to take these enemies down without succumbing to the horde’s assault. Both modes inMagickacan be played co-op, which not only makes the game significantly easier but more fun.
