1998 · Mythos Games · Action · Real-time strategy

Magic and Mayhem

Magic & Mayhem is a real-time strategy game. It combines elements of role-playing with strategy, action and puzzles. You play a young mage, Cornelius, who seeks to uncover the mystery surrounding the disappearance of his mentor. The result is adventures that will span three islands, which will uncover new mysteries and make new friends, and force you to face a multitude of challenges, puzzles and enemies.

Released: 1 November 1998
Platforms: Windows
Genres: Action Real-time strategy Role-playing Strategy
Developers: Mythos Games
Publishers: Virgin Interactive Bethesda Softworks Suntendy Interactive Multimedia Co.,Ltd.
Modes: Multiplayer Single-player
Perspective: Bird view / Isometric
Themes: Action Fantasy Historical
Country: United Kingdom
Age ratings: ESRB T
Time to beat: 10hmain story19hwith extras28hcompletionist

About

Magic & Mayhem (working title: Duel: The Mage Wars) is a fantasy/mythology-themed real-time strategy game designed by Julian Gollop and developed by Mythos Games. It was published by Virgin Interactive Entertainment (European release) in late 1998, and by Bethesda (North American release) soon after in 1999. Although the game received generally positive criticisms, it met a quiet public reception.

Magic and Mayhem was designed by Gollop as the next incarnation of his successful Chaos video game concept, involving the same mythical wizard combat. Like in Chaos, the player assumes the role of a wizard that can cast spells and summon creatures in order to defeat the other wizards in the battle.

›Story

You're an aspiring sorcerer on a quest to find your missing uncle, a quest that takes you through over 35 mythical regions, including Celtic, Greek and Medieval realms.

Media

The articlegameplay, story, development, reception

Gameplay

The player's primary character is their wizard, and who can cast spells, summon creatures and (in the campaign) interact with other characters. The wizard and any summoned creatures are controlled, as in most strategy games, by dragging selection boxes and using the mouse buttons to interact and issue orders. Casting spells and summoning creatures uses mana. Wizards replenish their mana by occupying "Places of Power" with their creatures, or using up one-use "mana sprites" that are picked up around the map. Magic and Mayhem is built into an isometric grid, with creatures occupying (or flying above) squares on the board.

The game includes two game modes; the campaign progression and a "quick battle" option, similar to a deathmatch. The campaign is single-player only, but quick battle can be either single or multiplayer over a LAN network.

Story

Magic and Mayhem is set in three mythological/historical realms; Albion, Greece and Avalon, covering Arthurian, Greek, and Celtic themes respectively. In the campaign, the player journeys their way through each realm in order, with map designs and terrain corresponding to the current realm. For example, maps set in Albion may include medieval gothic castles, whereas Greek maps contain classical mediterranean architecture.

Geographically, each realm is not strictly adherent to their historic counterparts; for instance, the "Greek" realm is modified slightly, with Colchis and Crete separated from Greece by only a thin stretch of ocean channel. Myths, such as Jason and the Golden Fleece, are also modified slightly, with Cornelius rather than Jason retrieving the artefact.

Development

The game was announced in January 1998. In January 1999, Virgin Interactive signed a US publication and distribution deal with Bethesda.

Reception

The game received favorable reviews according to the review aggregation website GameRankings. Computer Games Strategy Plus and PC Accelerator gave the MSN Gaming Zone version favorable reviews, a few months before it was released Stateside.

According to Manveer Heir from Voodoo Extreme, the game was a financial success in Europe.