It was a time before the @rcade knew what LANs were, where to find your IP address and even how to setup an online game – we were only baby @rcades when we first heard about these games. Hours were spent huddled over a colossal PC, backs arched and eyes covered as the next player would take their turn and we weren’t able to see how they plotted their strategy – amassing armies of powerful Dragons, hordes of skeletons and everything that lay in between, the Heroes of Might and Magic games, were a series that fuelled our imaginations, tested our gaming skills and caused a spat or two between friends.
The games first kicked off way back in 1995, fifteen years ago when Jon Van Caneghem started his own development company, New World Computing. This company would become synonymous throughout the world of strategy gamers as one of the top developers of turn based strategy games. The very first game Caneghem developed was ‘Might and Magic Book One: The Secret of the Inner Sanctum’. It would form the base for all future games designed by Caneghem and nine years after its release the gaming world would get its hands on ‘Heroes of Might and Magic: A Strategic Quest’. While it might not be the most adventurous or glamorous of titles it would start a series that fast became some of the most celebrated strategy games in the gaming world.
Caneghem’s New World Computing was bought by 3DO and after 3DO closed the series was acquired by gaming giant Ubisoft Entertainment. In its time the series and across all rights exchanges the series has spawned five original games, seven expansions for those games and seven spin off games, with games released for PC, Console and Handheld down through the years.
With almost twenty games under the title of ‘Heroes’ there isn’t a word count high enough to cover all of them so for that reason we will only be covering the linear five and ignoring expansions and spinoffs. (for more information on these please consult your local Wikipedia page).
The series began with ‘A Strategic Quest’ which was praised for its gameplay and generally regarded as an enjoyable game, it was slated for its poor development and production and a storyline that was lacking. It was followed by ‘The Price of Loyalty’ in 1996 and for the next 12 months it was the best selling game in various European countries. Developers gave the game a facelift going on what their critics said about the previous title but the game was developed quickly as most of the core programming was lifted from the first title.
We’re going to skip to Heroes IV as we’ve a special place reserved for III. Released three years after the third game, IV was the next step for the developers and publishers of the series. The game had once more been remodelled and now the flat 2D battles and terrains were given a 3D feel. On top of all that other changes were made to the series and fans of the series were angered by the changes to not only the visuals but also the gameplay
All of this would be changed once more for Heroes of Might and Magic V and while they kept the 3D look for the game, many of the other changes were dropped in favour of a return to the old style of gameplay.
It is difficult to summarise the plot of every game, with multiple campaigns available in each story, offering countless hours of play and various levels of difficulty and challenge.
‘Heroes of Might and Magic III’ was the first game in the series that the @rcade got to play. Hours were well spent bent over a keyboard, eyes glued to the terrain and lands of Erathia. Released in 1999, the game featured seven playable campaigns and spawned two expansion packs. It was praised highly and is regarded as possibly the best game in the series. Between the vast campaigns, the intelligent AI, perfect blend of adventure and strategy combat and the possibility of endless scenarios with the map editor, ‘Heroes of Might and Magic III’ will always have a special place in our little @rcade heart.
If you are looking for something different to play and you find that real time strategy games are too fast for you (we don’t blame you) then the turn based games of Heroes of Might and Magic are perfect for you. The games are still available to buy with Sold Out Software or online and are a guarantee on our part to help occupy your time and quench your thirst for fantasy.
With a Heroes of Might and Magic VI set for release next year, now is the perfect chance to sharpen your skills and prepare for the next step in the evolution of this series and we are sure it will only continue from strength to strength.
Gold Coins: 9/10
