I can seldom consider a transmedia cross-over extra acceptable than the emergence of Magic: The Gathering X Closing Fantasy, an imminent growth to the beloved card accumulating and battling tabletop title that brings the worlds of Closing Fantasy into Magic’s mechanics.
Followers are nonetheless eagerly ready to get their palms on the units, however over the course of the final a number of days Wizards of the Coast has steadily begun revealing an increasing number of of the contents of the growth. That is all a hearty promotional train, but it surely virtually isn’t wanted: so keen are the followers and so good is that this cross-over conceptually that FF is already the best-selling Magic set in historical past.
However, individuals are thrilled to see the playing cards that’ll be rising from booster packs in June – studying in flip which characters, places, and traditional FF iconography will make the minimize. Seeing this, and myself being one of many folks excitingly tabbing by way of reveals regardless of already having pre-orders working into the a whole bunch in place, I’ve realized one factor: regardless of what number of playing cards this set encompasses, it’ll by no means be sufficient. Wizards of the Coast has opened a proverbial Pandora’s Field.
Closing Fantasy is wealthy, large, and its predilection for throwing every part out and beginning over for every numbered entry implies that it’s far too deep to be summarized in only a few hundred playing cards. Already, I can see the discourse shifting amongst followers. Some hope for extra playing cards from 12, or from the much less instantly iconic NES classics. Folks with love and lightweight of their hearts hope Closing Fantasy 9 is especially well-represented.
A curious paradigm has emerged within the nature of the FF growth, which is solely put that there are 4 video games which can be notably well-represented. Closing Fantasies 6, 7, 10, and 14 are all featured because the video games driving the 4 ‘Commander Decks’ that make up a serious part of the discharge. Commander is a novel MTG format that helps bigger decks, and has fashioned a serious a part of most spin-off ‘universes past’ units to date. However for FF, these 4 decks find yourself feeling unusually inadequate.
With Fallout, as an example, 4 commander decks did certainly really feel ample. Two decks channeled Fallout 4 and Fallout 3, providing completely different gameplay types that evoked the themes of every recreation. A 3rd was all about New Vegas, and the ultimate set revered the unique two CRPGs. Broadly talking, the entire collection was represented.
Wizards of the Coast has clearly chosen rigorously for FF. You might have probably the most beloved 2D FF, a very powerful 3D FF, and the on-going concern MMO with an enormous fanbase. And 10, which is wildly beloved. I respect it – however I additionally begrudgingly take a look at this launch slate and conclude Wizards of the Coast goes to depart this growth with unfinished enterprise so far as Closing Fantasy goes.
Whereas each different FF is represented within the normal boosters and the final set of playing cards, the sprawling nature of Commander Decks implies that the 4 FFs which have a Commander Deck themed round them naturally have an enormous benefit – their characters, tales, and worlds are much more closely represented than the others.
A part of the issue is of WOTC’s personal making, after all. That is such a superb synergistic match, the cardboard artwork and recreation design so rigorously and splendidly crafted, that followers can’t resist. That is clearly no cash-in, it’s a rattling good product. Folks need extra good things! Who knew?
However the door is now open – individuals are going to need extra of this. Rabid FF followers are going to need extra of this. These folks gained’t be happy with this one growth. Actually, for those who take into account elevating the illustration degree throughout the numbered collection and fold in a number of spin-offs, there’s ample scope for a second FF growth. And with this primary drop already set to be its best-ever promoting growth pack, WOTC ought to be well-minded to ship that, in time.
For now, I await my pre-order and additional card reveals, praying for higher FF9 illustration than we’ve seen to date, and likewise hoping that the widely maligned 13 and 15 don’t get utterly shafted. And I ponder how the folks behind the aggressively-mid FF Buying and selling Card Sport from Sq. Enix have to be feeling. These poor guys.
