Magic: The Gatheringis one of the biggest names in the tabletop sphere, and they have a lot of big crossover sets known as Universes Beyond.These sets are usually released to mixed reviews, and the latest two highlight the reasons why. There are a lot of different franchises that have come toMTGover the years, but some of them work a lot better than others.
TheFinal Fantasy set forMTGhas already shown off some of the commander cards coming out. It’s not the first video game franchise to get theMTGtreatment,as theAssassin’s Creedset came out not that long ago and didn’t receive as much attention. Meanwhile, a Spider-Man set has also been announced, and it is coming out in late September. Together, the two sets highlight some of the issues with this kind of set inMTG.
Final Fantasy Is Perfect For MTG, But Spider-Man Isn’t
There Are Big Differences Between These Sets
Fans ofFinal Fantasyhave been caught by this set, with the art from a number of games and the lean into the world. This works largely because of the setting.MTGis a high-fantasy setting, typically, and theFinal Fantasygames have a similar aesthetic. They have wide-sweeping scenes, epic adventures, and a lot of beautiful scenes. It’s a great combination, and fans of the series who also likeMTGhave flocked to it.
After 6 Years, I’ve Started Playing Magic: The Gathering Online Again - Here’s Why You Should Too
After years of not being able to play MTG consistently, finding Magic: The Gathering Online has been a great experience with plenty of rewards.
Despite that, and despite the overall popularity ofSpider-Man, that set has fallen a little more flat. The art isn’t terribly unique, and there’s a distinct difference between this one and theFinal Fantasyset.Final Fantasyjust has the right aesthetic for a trading card game, and there is likely already a fair amount of crossover between the two target audiences.
Even With Superheroes, New York Isn’t A Fantastical Setting
Sometimes The Setting Makes All The Difference
UnlikeFinal Fantasy, the setting of Spider-Man comics is a little less fantastical. New York is a city.A densely populated, overcrowded, and highly tourism-focused city that does not feel magical, at least not in the same way. New York just doesn’t hit the same in a franchise that has traditionally had a very strict overall aesthetic. While there have been some wild Universes Beyond sets in the past, New York is still just New York at the end of the day.
There’s another component that I think factors in as well.Superheroes can feel oversaturated at times, and this feels like a crossover that is just there to collect money. The art doesn’t hit as well,because there are already plenty of games with fantastic superhero art, and the comics with a lot of great art already exist.Final Fantasycan bring out some truly spectacular and unique art, whereas another superhero set doesn’t work as well.
Right now, there are no hints at anMTGcommander setfor this one, which is also one of the problems that existed with theAssassin’s Creedset.It feels odd to not use some of these sets for their most popular format, and that’s one of the biggest reasons they often don’t do as well as projected. PerhapsMTGneeds to learn that commander is where these sets work best.
MTG Collaborations Will Always Be Divisive
Some Things Never Change
Even with the best intentions and the best art,these kinds of collaborations will always feel a little bit like a cash grab, no matter how good they are. Particularly as many of these franchises have card games of their own, which makes it feel like a strange decision forMTGto produce their own sets. It’s hard to get away from that idea, no matter what the developers do and how they present it. Even when theLord of the Ringsset did well, the One Ring unique card came with its own controversy.
Magic: The Gathering’s New Movie & TV Universe Has A Built-In Reason For A D&D Crossover
Magic: The Gathering has a bright future in live-action TV, with a potentially amazing Dungeons & Dragons crossover baked into its TV universe.
While I do believe there is room, particularly in a game like this,for strange, out-of-pocket worlds that do not necessarily fit the same aesthetic, I would rather those sets be unique and something new, rather than a franchise grab. I’d prefer to support those games individually, as opposed to a game that doesn’t necessarily need it.
It is hard for these collaborations to feel unique and justified, although theFinal Fantasyset comes as close as it could. These sets both highlight some of the best and worst thatMagic: The Gatheringbrings to the Universes Beyond sets, and that will always be a divisive thing for fans to reckon with when these sets release.
