I would be lying if I said I was a fan of League of Legends. To be honest I know next to nothing about the game. Sure I may have dabbled in a round or two at a friend’s house ages ago and I’ve seen the previews for the Netflix series while scrolling for something to watch, but that’s about the extent of it. What I do know is that Digital Sun Games was responsible for a little indie game gem known as Moonlighter, a critically acclaimed action-RPG roguelike and my personal Game of the Year in 2018. And when I found out that Digital Sun was taking its passion and expertise and was developing a League of Legends spin-off game, that was all I needed know to turn me into sudden fan of the IP. The Mageseeker: A League of Legends Story is a fast-paced action-RPG that also incorporates some pretty robust base-building mechanics. And after spending quite a bit of time with The Mageseeker, I can confidently say that Digital Sun has created a remarkable adventure that transcends the boundaries of its source material.
The Mageseeker is set in the kingdom of Demacia, a region that has witnessed its fair share of war. You take on the role of Sylas, a former mageseeker who possesses a unique skill that allows him to sense other’s magical abilities. This particular gift makes Sylas a critical tool in the ongoing war against mages. The primarly role of a magerseeker you see is go hunt and exterminate every last mage. On one tragic day, a young Sylas loses control and for his transgressions, is locked up. After fifteen bitter years of imprisonment, Sylas busts out of confinement and is soon drawn into a conspiracy involving the recent assassination of the King of Demacia. Sylas doesn’t particularly distance himself from the accusation either, as he quite enjoys the idea of people being afraid of him. With the entire kingdom in turmoil, you set off to murder all remaining mageseekers as the legend of your exploits spreads throughout the lands. The narrative is dramatic, engaging, and is by far one of the most compelling aspects of The Mageseeker.
Digital Sun has written characters that are easy to sympathize with and who are also multilayered and flawed. The mythos is remarkable and it honestly makes me wonder what greater lore I’m missing out on by not being a League of Legends devotee. Early on you’ll encounter a character named Leilani a local leader of a small but well-organized rebellion based out of the forest. It is here that you will forge new friendships and become the bastion of hope for mages across the continent. The forest base is for all intents and purposes your home now, and it is where Digital Sun masterfully links its narrative and gameplay into an utterly mesmerizing and satisfying experience.
Gameplay is tied to Sylas’ ability to steal and harness the magic of others into the long chains that dangle from his wrists. After snatching a spell from an enemy, you can store it and fling it right back at their unsuspecting face. You are going to be doing quite a lot of this, drawing a fiery spell from one mage and then chucking it at a hapless ice mage, and vice versa. Since these spells are one-time use, you will mix up the action with light and heavy melee attacks from your chain weapons, all the while dodging incoming strikes and looking for the next best opportunity to spell steal. You can permanently unlock these spells back at your forest base by speaking to Leilani and spending a few hard-earned Ability Points. The controls are tight, responsive, and easy to manage. While it seems like there is a lot going on – and trust me there is – it never felt out of hand. Dodging enemies and getting in a few well-timed thwacks with my chains while preparing myself to steal a spell from an out of reach enemy felt fluid.
Throughout your journey you will encounter mages that offer crucial upgrades to your base and make mageseeker murdering all the more…efficient. The blacksmith for example will grant additional spell slots and will unlock permanent stat boosts for Sylas. Another upgrade allows you to train apprentices to accompany the mages you have recruited to your cause. These mages – whom I like to consider as ‘generals’ – can also be dispatched on side missions to rustle up more recruits, and gather resources and the like. You will also be able to take up to two mages you have from your base along with you on missions. Aside from the extra fire power, each brings a special ability to your mission. One of my mages brought a powerful AoE fire spell that was vital for crowd control, while the other performed a dazzling combo that ended with an ice-elemental ground pound. These abilities don’t require Mana/MP to execute and are essential when trying to deal the proper elemental-type damage to the proper foes. And trust me, you will need to juggle your elemental attacks effectively if you wish to survive. Altogether, it creates a bombastic synergy of spell-swapping that keeps you on your mage-killing toes.
There is a highly enjoyable element of rock-paper-scissor to the magical abilities in The Mageseeker. Ice and Fire Magic for example work wonders against each other, and Wind and Nature Spells go head-to-head. Static and Mystic Magic round out the other pair of of spell types that you’ll be flinging throughout your adventure. After you have permanently unlocked your spells, you can equip them at the start of each mission, and craft a load-out that is best suitable to the enemies you will be facing. Fortunately, you’ll have a handy scouting report courtesy of your peeps in the forest base so you’ll have some idea of which spells to bring along. This however does not take away from your all-important spell-stealing powers as it is entirely possible to slot a spell that is wholly ineffective against a new enemy. Thankfully, there are plenty of shrines located throughout the map that not only restore health but also allow you to swap out spells. This becomes especially important as you familiarize yourself with the boss fight mechanics.
The boss fights in The Mageseeker: A League of Legends Story are truly outstanding in both creativity and challenge. Each boss presents a unique set of obstacles that require different strategies to overcome. Utilizing the overworld map at the War Table will help you plan your approach by providing details on these high-level clashes. In one early boss battle, you’ll need to dodge and weave to avoid the enemy’s attacks while searching for an opportunity to break down a gate and free a captured ally. Meanwhile, you’ll need to deflect enemy spells and deal as much physical damage as possible to keep them at bay. Later in the game, you’ll encounter a massive boss that changes elemental affinities mid-fight, forcing you to switch up your spell loadout to keep your the offensive onslaught flowing. I should also point out that there is a Custom Difficulty Slider in case things prove to be too challenging. But no matter how tricky things can get, The Mageseeker looks and sounds incredible regardless of who is dishing out the damage.
When it comes its graphics and design, The Mageseeker is an absolute stunner. Building upon the exceptional sprite work in Moonlighter, Digital Sun has outdone itself. Everything from the cutscenes to the in-game pixel art has a beautiful style all its own. The animations and particle effects are nothing short of perfection as Sylas zips and zaps across the landscape and evokes flashy, screen-filling spells. Level design is doubly detailed as the team has taken extra care to make traversal fun. Dashing across small pitfalls and using your chains to leap over large gaps adds a bit of thoughtful platforming between the action – or sometimes even during. The HUD and World Map are beautifully stylized and do not distract from the pretty pops of color that jump off the screen during fight sequences. The soundtrack is equally impressive as thunderous sound effects and atmospheric tunes make combat all the more exhilarating.
The Mageseeker : A League of Legend Story is an early contender for my Game of the Year. I got lost in its deep and dramatic story all the while enjoying its superb gameplay. It honestly rivals every action-RPG I’ve played in recent memory. The base-building mechanics are a fantastic piece that adds that extra bit of magic, and makes your cause and rebellion feel a bit more grounded, tactical, and genuine. Digital Sun has another hit on its hands and I hope its collaboration with Riot Forge is the beginning of a long and fruitful relationship. If this was able to excite a League of Legends know-nothing like me, then its fanbase is going to lovingly gobble this one up.
*A Review Key for The Mageseeker was provided by Riot Forge and was played on PlayStation 5. The Mageseeker will also be available for PC and all other consoles on April 18th, 2023. *
