Magicka Vietnam DLC Review

My brow was heavy with sweat, the humidity in the jungle was off the chart. We could hear Charlie in the distance chanting away like they had just won the war after our last failed skirmish left half my platoon dead. Someone suddenly had an idea, "I know, lets use ARSE mines against the buggers"........ Hang on, Vietnam didn't have ARSE mines!?

Welcome to the 'Nam, Magicka style, the Vietnam inspired DLC for the smash hit mage suicide simulator from Arrowhead Games and Paradox. Now if you have played Magicka then you may be aware of the sheer destructive nature of prepping A R S E spells then shift clicking, if you haven't played Magicka then read our review here and just go get it.

The Vietnam DLC is an expansion which gives you a new set of gear, a challenge map and a survival map. The gear allows you to don a U.S. Military helmet appropriate to that era, a Patriot Staff which allows you to hurl grenades and a M16 assault rifle. Yes you heard right, a gun.
As with the nature of the Vietnam setting for the DLC, there are a number of weapons being used, and more importantly, able to be used against your Goblin or Troll aggressors.

However the gun play is not intended to be a replacement to the magic skills you already are accustomed to from the main Magicka content, infact it complements it quite nicely. You may pin down a squad of Goblin Charlies with someone using a M60 or RPK light machine gun while someone else preps the new spell introduced specifically for this DLC, the Napalm strike. There is nothing more satisfying than watching your foes be obliterated by this powerful spell, or your team mates for that matter.

The challenge map flies you in Cannon Fodder style and after a briefing from Vlad, you're off to complete a number of objectives, finishing off with defending yourselves from a swarm of enemies before being rescued by the chopper just when things feel overwhelming. These objectives range from destroying radio towers to rescuing captured soldiers, including none other than Arrowhead's homage to the one and only John J Rambo.
Be warned, this challenge map is not to be taken lightly, our play through has proven to be quite the struggle, if you though the original Magicka was tough in places then this will seem effing impossible. There are no check points in the entire level which puts even more emphasis on surviving the 'Nam.

The survival mode is an arena map which simply pits you against wave after wave of enemies with the aim of simply lasting as long as possible for scores. Again this is quite the challenge and with limited space to move in, you'll have to keep watchful eyes on the ground in case someone has called in a Napalm strike and you're standing on the smoke grenade marker.

Overall we feel the Vietnam DLC is an essential purchase for owners of Magicka, it feels unique enough to stand out on its own merits while still retaining the feel, fun and humour of the main game. There is enough to challenge the most hardened Magi in the harsh jungles of Vietnam and will no doubt offer hours of fun for a pittance of a price point.