My impression from the people who are disappointed with the set is different from yours though. I think people are complaining that buying a low number of boosters is much more risky than in regular sets, which you point out in the end:
This means that for people not to lose when buying masters 25 they have to cash out on a box (or something close to that), which is already a high entry barrier for what is supposed to be a celebration set.Buying individual packs is much more of a gamble, given the higher price, but booster boxes will pay out their expected value.
I don't know, just leaves a bad taste in your mouth knowing that WoTC is basically forcing you to spend a lot of money for you to get a decent return on your investment. Not to mention that I'm a bit skeptical about the value retention capacity of many cards from the mythic and rare list after the market gets flooded with more copies. Anyway, I think the conclusion is that if you have the money to buy a box and wants to, there is no harm in doing that, but don't try to gamble on individual packs.
Oh yeah, now we are talking. This is why I love the new core sets (not as much m13 and m14, but this one is NICE). They have to create some flavorful, interesting, stand-alone card that you just want to have in your deck because it is fun, like Cyclops Gladiator and Vengeful Archon.
Oh, I honestly think if jace was what this guy seems to think it was then he would be an amazing card. Gives you draws, bounce in a pinch. But no, it is just crap card selection.
Seriously, the only thing good about this card is its loyalty. But I really don't see anyone bothering to attacking it when it is such a mediocre threat and would take two more turns to ultimate. It is just sad what jace has become.
No advantage. No board impact. Win-more ultimate.
WHY is this a good card? WHY?
'Oh, he is deceptively good, he can see play in corner case X or not-appealing case y'. Nope. He sucks. End of story. No card advantage in jace? Bouncing a nonland permanent? Not even a permanent for -3? The only thing good about this card is the ultimate, and no one uses walkers just for the ultimate, just check gideon champion of justice. This jace sucks big time, greatest disappointement of what was being a nice core set until now.
If ANY control deck try to use this card... I don't know, it is so unplayable. He is just a fog because his ultimate is relevant, and that's it.
The black soul sucks even more than the blue one. Nothing to see here.
This is just a bad card for constructed formats. And I wouldn't use it in edh either, since we have much better options in duplicant, steel hellkite and other haymakers in the format. The red one is the best one for me so far, followed closely by the green one.
So, I suppose the Gods will be ordered :
Keranos (good general, possibly playable in many decks) > Athreos (needs a shell, but can work nicely) > Iroas (don't think he will stick, but I guess he stands for RW beatdown decently) > black abyss of eternal doom > Kruphix (this sucks so much) > blackest abyss of a much more eternal doom > Pharika.
Mythic is interesting, but depends on a shell to work out. The fact that is not legendary is a very positive addition. Best option would be to run it with bloodrush effects. That way you get to pump it, and cast the creatures that you reveal from it.
Red strive card... meh. Fun in edh I suppose. I don't see many real applications in constructed. Could be fun in limited.
It will be hard to find a home for this one. Something that run planeswalkers and creatures, benefit from +1/+1 counters and eventually can do something with lifegain. Still, 5 mana to take a dreadbore or hero's downfall to the face. I don't think it is impressive at all.
Look up for Nemean lion. He was virtually unbeatable, Hercules had to defeat him by strangling the lion with his own demi-god hands, since swords, spears or similars were useless.
I love useless constructed-playable planeswalkers, they always find a home in my commanders.