The Yu-Gi-Oh! trading card game (TCG) has been around for decades, treating players to a rich lineup of Duel Monsters, magic artifacts, deadly traps, and more. Maze of Millennia, its latest release, will introduce some nostalgia into the mix, as it turns back the clock to revisit a few familiar icons.
As reported by Dicebreaker, the new booster pack focuses on translating favourites from the Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters anime to real-life cards, including those dating back to more than two decades ago. A recognisable sight for longtime fans would be the Eye of Illusion, the special card used by classic villain Maximillion Pegasus in the second episode of the show.
In it, Pegasus plays the card to control Yugi’s Dark Magician in battle, after sucking him into a TV and stealing his grandfather’s soul. Instead of the Equip Spell it was before, Eye of Illusion is now a Quick-Play card activated by controlling a Spellcaster or Illusion monster, which triggers any one of the following three effects:
- Your Illusion and Spellcaster monsters cannot be destroyed by battle this turn.
- During your opponent’s turn: Target one face-up monster your opponent controls; take control of it until the End Phase.
- When an opponent’s monster declares an attack: Target one face-up monster your opponent controls, except the attacking monster; change the attack target to it and perform damage calculation.
This marks its TCG debut 25 years after the anime’s premiere, joining other classic cards from other eras of theYu-Gi-Oh! series. The likes of Fighting Flame Swordsman, Earthbound Servant Geo Kraken, Bonfire, and more can also be found in the Maze of Millennia deck, which features 11 Ultra Rares, 16 Super Rares, 57 Rares, and one Quarter-Century Secret Rare.
The announcement comes just a week before the TCG’s 25-year anniversary event — taking place from 3 to 4 February in Tokyo, Japan — and after the recent rollout of the English Edition for Asia sets. As for those new to the hit anime series, here’s the synopsis:
“Yu-Gi-Oh! follows the adventures of a boy named Yugi and his friends who love the newest card game that is sweeping the nation! In this game, players pit monster against monster in high intensity duels. But there’s more to this game than meets the eye. Yugi solves an old Egyptian puzzle that infuses him with the energy of an ancient spirit. Their forces unite to form a stronger, more confident duelist, for Yugi needs all the help he can get!”
Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth’s theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia’s greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really.
Gerald
