<s>
Master	B-Application
of	I-Application
Magic	I-Application
is	O
a	O
single-player	O
,	O
fantasy	B-Application
turn-based	O
4X	B-Application
strategy	I-Application
game	I-Application
in	O
which	O
the	O
player	O
plays	O
as	O
a	O
wizard	O
attempting	O
to	O
dominate	O
two	O
linked	O
worlds	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
From	O
a	O
small	O
settlement	O
,	O
the	O
player	O
manages	O
resources	O
,	O
builds	O
cities	O
and	O
armies	O
,	O
and	O
researches	O
spells	B-Application
,	O
growing	O
an	O
empire	O
and	O
fighting	O
the	O
other	O
wizards	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
was	O
developed	O
by	O
Simtex	O
and	O
published	O
by	O
MicroProse	O
for	O
MS-DOS	B-Application
in	O
1994	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sometimes	O
described	O
as	O
a	O
fantasy-themed	O
spin-off	O
of	O
classic	O
Civilization	B-Application
or	O
sci-fi	O
themed	O
Master	B-Application
of	I-Application
Orion	I-Application
,	O
it	O
has	O
proven	O
to	O
be	O
quite	O
enduring	O
,	O
becoming	O
a	O
cult	O
classic	O
in	O
its	O
niche	O
of	O
fantasy-themed	O
4X	B-Application
strategy	O
games	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
last	O
official	O
patch	O
version	O
1.31	O
,	O
released	O
in	O
March	O
1995	O
,	O
fixed	O
many	O
of	O
the	O
bugs	O
and	O
implemented	O
updates	O
to	O
the	O
AI	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Slitherine	O
Ltd	O
.	O
now	O
owns	O
the	O
IP	O
from	O
Atari	O
and	O
has	O
added	O
a	O
DLC	B-Protocol
,	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
releasing	O
the	O
game	O
on	O
Steam	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
player	O
can	O
customize	O
the	O
skills	O
,	O
spell	B-Application
choices	O
and	O
appearance	O
of	O
their	O
wizard	O
,	O
choosing	O
one	O
of	O
14	O
races	O
for	O
the	O
starting	O
city	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Apart	O
from	O
the	O
Player	O
's	O
first	O
city	O
,	O
cities	O
are	O
established	O
by	O
settlers	O
,	O
then	O
upgraded	O
by	O
adding	O
buildings	O
,	O
which	O
in	O
turn	O
improves	O
the	O
economy	O
,	O
availability	O
and	O
strength	O
of	O
units	O
,	O
city	O
's	O
growth	O
rate	O
,	O
mana	B-Application
and	O
economics	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Cities	O
produce	O
food	O
,	O
gold	O
and	O
mana	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Military	O
units	O
require	O
at	O
least	O
food	O
and	O
often	O
gold	O
upkeep	O
;	O
spellcasters	O
consume	O
mana	B-Application
in	O
combat	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
While	O
the	O
player	O
is	O
exploring	O
and	O
colonizing	O
new	O
territories	O
,	O
new	O
magical	O
spells	B-Application
are	O
researched	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Spells	B-Application
can	O
be	O
used	O
during	O
or	O
outside	O
of	O
combat	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Master	B-Application
of	I-Application
Magic	I-Application
splits	O
spells	B-Application
into	O
six	O
schools	O
of	O
magic	O
:	O
Life	O
Magic	O
,	O
which	O
heals	O
and	O
protects	O
;	O
its	O
antithesis	O
Death	O
Magic	O
,	O
which	O
drains	O
life	O
and	O
creates	O
undead	O
;	O
Chaos	O
Magic	O
,	O
which	O
warps	O
targets	O
and	O
spews	O
destructive	O
energies	O
;	O
Nature	O
Magic	O
,	O
which	O
controls	O
the	O
weather	O
and	O
turns	O
it	O
against	O
the	O
enemy	O
;	O
Sorcery	O
,	O
which	O
manipulates	O
the	O
air	O
and	O
subverts	O
the	O
effects	O
of	O
the	O
other	O
schools	O
;	O
and	O
Arcane	O
Magic	O
,	O
which	O
is	O
a	O
general	O
school	O
and	O
free	O
for	O
all	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Players	O
select	O
spellbooks	O
from	O
desired	O
schools	O
,	O
allowing	O
them	O
to	O
research	O
and	O
cast	O
spells	B-Application
from	O
said	O
schools	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
number	O
of	O
spells	B-Application
a	O
wizard	O
can	O
learn	O
from	O
each	O
school	O
is	O
dependent	O
on	O
the	O
number	O
of	O
books	O
chosen	O
for	O
that	O
school	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
There	O
are	O
global	O
spells	B-Application
that	O
affect	O
targets	O
throughout	O
the	O
world	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Unit	O
or	O
city	O
enhancement	O
spells	B-Application
can	O
boost	O
the	O
potential	O
of	O
its	O
target	O
,	O
such	O
as	O
increasing	O
the	O
movement	O
and	O
attack	O
speed	O
of	O
units	O
,	O
enabling	O
them	O
to	O
regenerate	O
wounds	O
and	O
increasing	O
the	O
power	O
of	O
their	O
attacks	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
player	O
can	O
research	O
combat	O
spells	B-Application
,	O
which	O
include	O
direct	O
attacks	O
,	O
debuffs	O
and	O
traps	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
final	O
spell	B-Application
learned	O
is	O
the	O
Arcane	O
Spell	B-Application
of	O
Mastery	O
,	O
which	O
takes	O
enormous	O
resources	O
to	O
research	O
and	O
cast	O
but	O
instantly	O
wins	O
the	O
game	O
for	O
the	O
casting	O
player	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Master	B-Application
of	I-Application
Magic	I-Application
takes	O
place	O
across	O
two	O
worlds	O
,	O
Arcanus	O
and	O
Myrror	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
worlds	O
are	O
populated	O
by	O
traditional	O
fantasy	B-Application
races	O
like	O
elves	B-Application
and	O
halflings	O
,	O
plus	O
races	O
which	O
were	O
introduced	O
early	O
to	O
gaming	O
via	O
Simtex	O
's	O
games	O
,	O
like	O
the	O
insectoid	O
Klackons	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Master	B-Application
of	I-Application
Magic	I-Application
was	O
a	O
nominee	O
for	O
Computer	O
Gaming	O
Worlds	O
1994	B-Application
"	O
Strategy	O
Game	O
of	O
the	O
Year	O
"	O
award	O
,	O
which	O
ultimately	O
went	O
to	O
X-COM	B-Application
:	I-Application
UFO	I-Application
Defense	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Early	O
versions	O
of	O
Master	B-Application
of	I-Application
Magic	I-Application
were	O
riddled	O
with	O
bugs	O
and	O
had	O
a	O
terrible	O
artificial	B-Application
intelligence	I-Application
(	O
AI	B-Application
)	O
,	O
frustrating	O
a	O
lot	O
of	O
reviewers	O
with	O
its	O
crashes	O
and	O
ignorant	O
enemies	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Despite	O
that	O
,	O
it	O
was	O
announced	O
as	O
the	O
Runner-up	O
Strategy	O
Game	O
of	O
the	O
Year	O
by	O
Strategy	O
Plus	O
magazine	O
,	O
coming	O
in	O
behind	O
its	O
older	O
sibling	O
Master	B-Application
of	I-Application
Orion	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Bill	O
Cranston	O
of	O
GameBytes	O
also	O
savaged	O
other	O
aspects	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
,	O
constantly	O
comparing	O
it	O
against	O
the	O
1991	O
hit	O
Civilization	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
however	O
reviewed	O
the	O
same	O
version	O
and	O
called	O
it	O
a	O
must-have	O
for	O
strategy	O
fans	O
with	O
great	O
gameplay	O
and	O
many	O
spells	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Master	B-Application
of	I-Application
Magic	I-Application
version	O
1.31	O
was	O
released	O
in	O
March	O
1995	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
rectified	O
many	O
more	O
bugs	O
and	O
implemented	O
a	O
few	O
changes	O
to	O
the	O
AI	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
IGN	O
reviewed	O
this	O
version	O
of	O
Master	B-Application
of	I-Application
Magic	I-Application
in	O
2002	O
and	O
stated	O
that	O
the	O
ability	O
to	O
customize	O
the	O
player	O
's	O
character	O
,	O
random	O
maps	O
and	O
vast	O
variety	O
of	O
spells	B-Application
and	O
creatures	O
give	O
an	O
immense	O
replayability	O
to	O
the	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
dual	O
planes	O
concept	O
and	O
intense	O
tactical	O
battles	O
spiced	O
with	O
spells	B-Application
,	O
encouraged	O
them	O
to	O
name	O
the	O
latest	O
version	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
as	O
the	O
best	O
fantasy	B-Application
strategy	O
game	O
ever	O
made	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Tracy	O
Baker	O
wrote	O
in	O
Computer	O
Gaming	O
Classics	O
named	O
it	O
as	O
a	O
strategy	O
game	O
classic	O
for	O
its	O
success	O
in	O
implementing	O
the	O
mechanics	O
of	O
Master	B-Application
of	I-Application
Orion	I-Application
in	O
a	O
fantasy	B-Application
setting	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Master	B-Application
of	I-Application
Magic	I-Application
was	O
inducted	O
into	O
GameSpy	O
's	O
Hall	O
of	O
Fame	O
in	O
2000	O
,	O
with	O
the	O
network	O
describing	O
it	O
as	O
a	O
visually	O
stunning	O
game	O
with	O
"	O
enduring	O
replayability	O
"	O
,	O
due	O
to	O
its	O
randomness	O
and	O
large	O
variety	O
of	O
spells	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
GameSpy	O
credited	O
the	O
game	O
with	O
being	O
more	O
popular	O
than	O
Master	B-Application
of	I-Application
Orion	I-Application
and	O
responsible	O
for	O
making	O
Steve	O
Barcia	O
and	O
Simtex	O
household	O
names	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Computer	O
Gaming	O
World	O
inducted	O
Master	B-Application
of	I-Application
Magic	I-Application
into	O
its	O
Hall	O
of	O
Fame	O
in	O
2005	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
writer	O
Alan	O
Emrich	O
,	O
responsible	O
for	O
coining	O
the	O
"	O
4X	B-Application
genre	O
"	O
term	O
,	O
has	O
placed	O
Master	B-Application
of	I-Application
Magic	I-Application
in	O
the	O
top	O
position	O
on	O
his	O
"	O
Games	O
of	O
All	O
Time	O
"	O
list	O
in	O
2001	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
2012	O
,	O
a	O
retrospective	O
review	O
of	O
Eurogamer	O
concluded	O
:	O
"	O
It	O
has	O
n't	O
yet	O
been	O
surpassed	O
by	O
any	O
other	O
fantasy	B-Application
4X	B-Application
game	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Curiously	O
enough	O
,	O
Master	B-Application
of	I-Application
Magic	I-Application
remains	O
the	O
best	O
example	O
of	O
its	O
kind	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
1997	O
,	O
the	O
game	O
was	O
ported	O
to	O
PlayStation	B-Device
with	O
various	O
graphical	O
improvements	O
,	O
retitled	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
1997	O
,	O
MicroProse	O
released	O
a	O
Master	B-Application
of	I-Application
Magic	I-Application
"	O
Jr.	O
"	O
scenario	O
,	O
using	O
the	O
Civilization	B-Application
II	I-Application
engine	O
,	O
as	O
part	O
of	O
the	O
Civ	B-Application
II	I-Application
:	O
Fantastic	B-Application
Worlds	I-Application
expansion	O
for	O
Civilization	B-Application
II	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Steve	O
Barcia	O
stated	O
that	O
Master	B-Application
of	I-Application
Magic	I-Application
II	O
would	O
be	O
complete	O
by	O
spring	O
1998	O
,	O
with	O
new	O
features	O
,	O
spells	B-Application
,	O
monsters	O
and	O
a	O
spell	B-Application
designer	O
included	O
,	O
but	O
Simtex	O
was	O
closed	O
down	O
later	O
that	O
year	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Despite	O
the	O
later	O
emergence	O
of	O
games	O
that	O
resemble	O
Master	B-Application
of	I-Application
Magic	I-Application
(	O
such	O
as	O
the	O
Age	B-Application
of	I-Application
Wonders	I-Application
series	O
)	O
,	O
reviewers	O
like	O
Kyle	O
Ackerman	O
and	O
GameSpot	O
editor	O
Andrew	O
Park	O
have	O
stated	O
that	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
essence	O
has	O
not	O
yet	O
been	O
re-captured	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Due	O
to	O
Master	B-Application
of	I-Application
Magic	I-Application
's	O
impact	O
on	O
the	O
fantasy	B-Application
"	O
turn-based	O
strategy	O
"	O
genre	O
,	O
the	O
Age	B-Application
of	I-Application
Wonders	I-Application
series	O
,	O
which	O
some	O
considered	O
almost	O
identical	O
in	O
terms	O
of	O
gameplay	O
,	O
has	O
received	O
comparisons	O
in	O
reviews	O
of	O
the	O
latter	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
However	O
,	O
Lennart	O
Sas	O
,	O
the	O
lead	O
designer	O
for	O
Age	B-Application
of	I-Application
Wonders	I-Application
,	O
argues	O
against	O
this	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Other	O
series	O
that	O
have	O
been	O
also	O
compared	O
to	O
Master	B-Application
of	I-Application
Magic	I-Application
,	O
including	O
Dominions	B-Application
series	O
from	O
Illwinter	O
Game	O
Design	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Game	O
Informer	O
reported	O
in	O
2007	O
that	O
Stardock	O
aimed	O
to	O
release	O
a	O
remake	O
of	O
Master	B-Application
of	I-Application
Magic	I-Application
in	O
2009	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
However	O
,	O
a	O
Stardock	O
employee	O
,	O
Aaron	O
Rister	O
,	O
clarified	O
in	O
the	O
company	O
's	O
own	O
forums	O
that	O
Game	O
Informer	O
was	O
a	O
mistaken	O
reference	O
to	O
a	O
2010	O
game	O
Elemental	B-Application
:	I-Application
War	I-Application
of	I-Application
Magic	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
April	O
2013	O
,	O
Wastelands	O
Interactive	O
launched	O
a	O
successful	O
Kickstarter	O
bid	O
to	O
fund	O
the	O
game	O
Worlds	B-Application
of	I-Application
Magic	I-Application
which	O
is	O
meant	O
as	O
a	O
spiritual	O
successor	O
to	O
Master	B-Application
of	I-Application
Magic	I-Application
,	O
and	O
designer	O
George	O
Edward	O
Purdy	O
who	O
worked	O
on	O
Master	B-Application
of	I-Application
Orion	I-Application
and	O
Master	B-Application
of	I-Application
Magic	I-Application
joined	O
the	O
team	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Worlds	B-Application
of	I-Application
Magic	I-Application
officially	O
launched	O
at	O
retail	O
outlets	O
and	O
on	O
Steam	O
according	O
to	O
the	O
gaming	O
news	O
site	O
,	O
Gamasutra	O
on	O
March	O
19	O
,	O
2015	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sometimes	O
also	O
known	O
as	O
Worlds	B-Application
of	I-Application
Magic	I-Application
:	O
Planar	B-Application
Conquest	I-Application
,	O
was	O
released	O
for	O
a	O
number	O
other	O
platforms	O
over	O
the	O
next	O
few	O
years	O
,	O
to	O
mixed	O
reviews	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
February	O
2020	O
,	O
an	O
expansion	O
pack	O
was	O
released	O
as	O
downloadable	B-Protocol
content	I-Protocol
titled	O
Master	B-Application
of	I-Application
Magic	I-Application
:	O
Caster	O
of	O
Magic	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
remake	O
to	O
Master	B-Application
of	I-Application
Magic	I-Application
was	O
announced	O
in	O
May	O
2021	O
and	O
released	O
in	O
December	O
2022	O
.	O
</s>
