Magic outside the medieval times?

[skywolfblue]

Bioshock has magic. ADAM is the "tech" excuse but it's very much typical fantasy magic. Fireballs, Frostbolts, yadda yadda.

Alan Wake has literary style magic. Where crazy shit just "happens" because it was written on paper, no logical explanation or "tech" excuse.

 

[thatryanguy]

The obvious answer is Shadowrun. Magic is a very important part of the lore, and it currently takes place in 2074 (they keep moving up the date).

It even has dragons, trolls, goblins, etc.

I was hoping I wouldn't be the 1st to mention Shadowrun. Love the concept, just too bad I've never had a DM that wasn't actively trying to party wipe us.

 

[DoPo]

The Darkness is a magical being, so I guess that counts?

Could be, haven't played it.

Oh, I was thinking primarily of games in the digital medium for some reason...

I'm pretty sure I can think of some more settings if that's the case. Probably.

Well, I had to resort to non video game examples, since video games suck amazingly hard at it. Only The Secret World and Arcanum seem to be doing any half-decent job at being not set in the Middle Ages and have fairly expansive magic in them. Even then, Arcanum is mostly a Steampunk D&D.

I will actually disagree, you can find plenty of games if you look for them.

Well, why do I need to look so hard for them? I made an entire thread, so I can bring them to about a dozen so far.

The problem with having magic in the future is that you can just explain away magical effects with technology without breaking the sci-fi genre.

Future = sci-fi, really? Why cannot we have a world of future magic then? Also, Shadowrun would want to have a word with you - cybernetics, street magicians, hackers - all mingling nice together. WoD has the supplements Infinite Macabre and Bleeding Edge which are about space operas and cyberpunk, receptively. That is, sci-fi with mages, werewolves, vampires and all other sorts of supernatural critters. Start Wars has the Force which is totally magic (before the prequels, when it turns into germs). So it's possible. Not only that, there is plenty of room to add more.

I'll say we are a lo-o-ong stretch from having "plenty" of these games. "Not enough" is more like it.

Shadowrun

Shadowrun

I actually mentioned it already

 

[thatryanguy]

Shadowrun

Shadowrun

I actually mentioned it already

Huh. Indeed you did. My apologies good sir, I must have skimmed over that X^

 

[Melondrupe]

The Parasite Eve series comes to mind, especially the first whose magic abilities seemed reminiscent of medieval fantasy.

 

[eimatshya]

Yeah, I forgot to include it in my list. Mage, Shadowrun and WH40K (for the most part) aren't video games, either, but tabletop.

There are Shadowrun video/computer games, too.

Technically, Anarchy Online (a sci-fi MMO) had a class called the Metaphysicist that was essentially a technomage.

Also, if I recall correctly, Tabula Rasa was originally supposed to be a Sci-fi MMO with magic, but then it got overhauled into a Space troopers fighting aliens game.

The Longest Journey games have magic in them, and while it is mostly relegated to the Fantasy world of Arcadia, it does sometimes bleed into Stark (basically a futuristic version of our world).

 

[DoPo]

Yeah, I forgot to include it in my list. Mage, Shadowrun and WH40K (for the most part) aren't video games, either, but tabletop.

There are Shadowrun video/computer games, too.

The "for the most part" was supposed to apply to both WH and Shadowrun.

Also, if I recall correctly, Tabula Rasa was originally supposed to be a Sci-fi MMO with magic, but then it got overhauled into a Space troopers fighting aliens game.

So, I didn't imagine it! I remember I heard about Tabula Rasa and how it would supposedly have some innovative magic system. I thought it was fun and I should keep an eye on it but I forgot. After it came out, I checked some reviews and it was about shooting stuff in space. I felt somewhat cheated.

 

[eimatshya]

Yeah, I forgot to include it in my list. Mage, Shadowrun and WH40K (for the most part) aren't video games, either, but tabletop.

There are Shadowrun video/computer games, too.

The "for the most part" was supposed to apply to both WH and Shadowrun.

Also, if I recall correctly, Tabula Rasa was originally supposed to be a Sci-fi MMO with magic, but then it got overhauled into a Space troopers fighting aliens game.

Oops, sorry. Somehow I missed that "for the most part".

So, I didn't imagine it! I remember I heard about Tabula Rasa and how it would supposedly have some innovative magic system. I thought it was fun and I should keep an eye on it but I forgot. After it came out, I checked some reviews and it was about shooting stuff in space. I felt somewhat cheated.

Yeah, they suddenly decided to completely redo the game towards the end of its development cycle, and the end result wasn't all that interesting. It's too bad, because the original game sounded like it could have been pretty neat.

 

[Alssadar]

I can't really think of any major games with magic, as they always find a way to scientifically explain them (though not really) in a way that make the ideas seem plausible, which is what scientists would try and do in a situation where humans can suddenly toss objects 50 feet away from them at 100 mph at precise targets. In the medieval ages, superstition and acts of magic/religion permeated through a lack of official education, allowing for beliefs and the idea of sorcery to remain without anyone to disprove ideas other than the existence of God or magic itself. Modern science disproves magic and, therefore, if it ever is to exist, science would find a way to explain it.

Would Starcraft and psionic powers count? Sure, it's like 40k in that aspect, but the mental ability to do so is rather unexplained.

That being said, I think it'd be cool if there was a game like STALKER (I mean, survivability and paranormal activity) where you can throw out a fireball and then take shots as enemies flee from their burning cover. It could allow for some decent strategic input other than "wait for them to pop out of cover."

 

[DoPo]

Would Starcraft and psionic powers count? Sure, it's like 40k in that aspect, but the mental ability to do so is rather unexplained.

Yes, another one I forgot initially. Sure it's Warhammer-y but I think it qualifies.

That being said, I think it'd be cool if there was a game like STALKER (I mean, survivability and paranormal activity) where you can throw out a fireball and then take shots as enemies flee from their burning cover. It could allow for some decent strategic input other than "wait for them to pop out of cover."

Yeah It could make the hordes of zombie games (pun intended) that have been coming out lately to be somewhat more interesting "Well, I have two shotgun shells and a clip for my pistol... why don't I just teleport the zombies away or call the spirits of those I killed to battle them."

 

[Chimpzy_v1legacy]

Bloodlines has already been mentioned, but Vampire The Masquerade: Redemption also counts. Half of it is set in modern day London and it's vampire disciplines are arguably more magical than Bloodlines, allowing you to summon creatures and rain lightning and fire from the sky (and confusingly enough also indoors).

 

[Nieroshai]

Shadowrun, a good several Final Fantasy titles. Aside from that, magic is simply forces and technology we cannot currently explain. So yes, sci-fi games would generally try to explain "how magic works." Does that make it non-magic?

 

[bigj231]

You also have weird time-traveling games like Chrono Trigger too. It set the cataclysm in 1999 A.D. albeit with domes covering the cities. It has magic, sci-fi, and modern tech (Luca's guns and stuff, kind of a stretch) all rolled into one convoluted package.

 

[Basement Cat]

Stars wars is probably one of the closest fits.

The Force in Star Wars. Enough said.

In the Star Wars' EU Force wielders summon storms, hurl lightning balls, use clairvoyance, psychometry, telekinesis, heal people, suck the life out of people, transfer their minds to different bodies, summon killing shadows, etc.

Heck, they even use the term "Sith Sorcery".

It's not in the two trilogies, but dig enough and you'll realize that the Force in the EU is almost up there with D&D.

Plus the science fiction of droids, interstellar space ships, lightsabers, etc.

It may go against the grain for a lot of people, Star Wars fans, too, but Star Wars fits the bill better than most.

 

[Bostur]

Terraria has magic and machineguns. But it's more of a mashup between several settings so it probably doesn't count.

Vortigaunts in Half-Life seems like they cast magical beams of something, very much like lightning bolts. Of course it probably does have a scientific backstory.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJPzkMiJ8SE

 

[ironkex]

Anything Warhammer 40K.
Set in the future and magic is everywhere.

There is no such thing as inossence only a degree of guilt

 

[DoPo]

Bloodlines has already been mentioned, but Vampire The Masquerade: Redemption also counts.

It does, but as part of the same franchise, it's not doing anything original. Not to mention it already falls under the World of Darkness label.

Shadowrun, a good several Final Fantasy titles. Aside from that, magic is simply forces and technology we cannot currently explain. So yes, sci-fi games would generally try to explain "how magic works." Does that make it non-magic?

OK, I'm after more "traditional" magic, as in somebody waves their hands and/or staffs wands around, probably mutters stuff and stuff happens. Or something along those lines - you get what I mean. Mystical kind of stuff. Besides, plenty of other works have explained exactly how magic works and still it's distinct from the sci-fi explanations. I guess it's the difference between something inherent to people/places/the world/universe/whatever vs something only available after the world has advanced enough to create it in the first place. Using a crystal ball to scry on a distant location and pressing a button to get a live video feed both achieve essentially the same result but I think you'll agree one is more magical than the other.

Vortigaunts in Half-Life seems like they cast magical beams of something, very much like lightning bolts. Of course it probably does have a scientific backstory.

I...yeah. I didn't think of that. They do seem to have the whole Vortessence thing going on.

 

[CAPTCHA]

Devil may Cry
Ninja Gaiden
E.Y.E: Divine Cybermancy (unless you count that as technology)
Pain Killer (sort of)

I can think of a bunch of games with ESP powers, but that's cheating as it weak-sauce magic.

 

[Riddle78]

I WOULD say Artemis Fowl,but that's novels. Warhammer 40k has magic,and technically Mass Effect has magic,what with the biotics. But,I do agree;magic in a non-medieval setting seems to be rather rare in video games. This must be rectified.