Magicka Preview
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Though it looks and quacks like a comedy Diablo-clone, Magicka is underpinned by an intimidating set of key bindings. Here, the only class in town is wizard, and the letters resting beneath your left hand represent different magical elements which can be combined into spells, before being cast on yourself, allies, enemies or the environment with a press of the spacebar or a mouse button.
There are eight elements on the keyboard, but some form new elements when combined, such as steam or ice. I've yet to discover a spell which makes use of all eight keys, and such a thing may not be possible, given that some elements cancel each other out. One of the longer chains of letters I've typed (and you must dash them off between each and every cast) is something like the unforgettable qrdsr which summons zombies. Then there's the old qfasa spell which channels a bolt of foefrazzling lightning from the sky. I've forgotten what form of gibberish calls in the Phoenix kamikaze attack, or summons Death and this is perhaps as it should be. Casting spells in Magicka actually feels like you're memorising and muttering arcane rituals, rather than choosing between a variety of manaflavoured attack animations it's fitting that the more powerful ones should be tough to remember.
