Heroes Of Might & Magic V Announced!

[Blake00]

Hi guys.. over my years on the net there was one constant thing that I found when chatting to people online was that a lot of people love the Heroes of M&M series of fantasy strategy games.

After the release of the 2nd add-on pack for Heroes IV a few years ago the long time creator of the series New World computing was closed down when their publisher 3DO went bankrupt (party due to Heroes IV being a rushed out screwup). :( But then the might and magic name was bought out by the European company UBISOFT and up until this point I’ve been watching and waiting for their official announcement on a new sequel and it has finally come with a new website and screenshots of Heroes of Might & Magic 5!

http://www.mightandmagicgame.com

Here’s 1 of the screenshots they released. You can see many of the traditional heroes map buildings here with beautiful detail. Oh and I’ll point out that these shots are showing off the engine so I’m sure that when playing the game normally you will still be in the traditional top down view that the previous Heroes games were played in.

http://www.mightandmagicgame.com/ss/screen_01.jpg

[FreeFreddy]

Well, looks good so far. We'll see. Heroes of Might & Magic IV was graphically and combat-oriented quite good, but the music and the story wasn't that incredible compared to part 3 or 2. Let's just hope this one will go up again. :max:

[Mad-E-Fact]

Heh, people didn't believe me when I posted this on April 1st... :P

[Lizard]

This WONT be Heroes of Might and Magic....It would be just strategy with same name, and some ideas/monsters/events from HOMAM with it....

[Tulac]

It looks like an RTS...

Here are the confirmed features...
-there will be six towns;
-the game will use a 3D engine;
-the game will lean more towards strategy than RPG;
-the system requirements will remain low, and offer some scalability;
-a simultaneous turn system is considered, but only as a means to
speed up the early parts of the game;
-there will be a demo
-demons and the undead might form separated factions again;
-the multiplayer mode will focus on Internet play, but hotseat might be included
-there will be a unique storyline for the single-player campaigns;
-the story style will be the faction switching / linked storyline style;
-stacks, dragons, upgrades, a combat grid and other basic concepts from the previous games will be back;
-a combat-grid resembling the one in H3 will be implemented;
-towns will seem more "alive" than before;
lots of changes/improvements in the combat-phase of the game;
-heroes will probably not participate in combat as in H4, but they'll be
more involved than in H3;
-diplomacy will not be a major key in the game, but creating alliances during missions will be possible;

[NrmMyth]

Well the 3D engine is good, maybe (*the upper picture*) :ok:

[swordsman]

i think what HOMM4 was a stupid game but HOMM3,HOMM2 are a good games!HOMM5 i think bee a good game

[Lizard]

Let see how they make it with 3D engine...Anyway I dont put great hopes or exceptations in it....
We will see,but....(returns to HOMAM 3 again)

[Eagle of Fire]

I don't really know what to say, but I would be inclined (as usual) to say that it's bad news since the game will be in 3D... :not_ok:

[Yobor]

HOMM3 is still the best out of the series. Sometimes it would be better to leave it lie.

[NrmMyth]

Originally posted by Yobor@Apr 10 2005, 04:51 PM
HOMM3 is still the best out of the series. Sometimes it would be better to leave it lie.
:wall: I give up! :cry:

[Tulac]

Well the fact that they're bringing back many of the HOMM3 traits in this game, is a proof of which game is better, which one selled more...

[Omuletzu]

Originally posted by Eagle of Fire@Apr 10 2005, 05:47 PM
I don't really know what to say, but I would be inclined (as usual) to say that it's bad news since the game will be in 3D... :not_ok:
I agree with you, and judging by the pic above, i say it will not be that good

We'll just have to see though

[wendymaree]

I think that picture is absolutely gorgeous! If only it was an adventure game, I'd be braking my neck to play it.

Btw, just between us, Heroes of Might and Magic IV *might* be up onsite sometime soon. Just have to discover if it's abandoned and a few other things.

[Omuletzu]

Originally posted by wendymaree@Apr 11 2005, 02:23 PM
Btw, just between us,* Heroes of Might and Magic IV *might* be up onsite sometime soon.* Just have to discover if it's abandoned and a few other things.
are you sure it isn't II?
EDIT: I can do a review for the second part, if you are referring to that

[wendymaree]

It's already reviewed, but thanks for the offer, Omuletzu. I've double-checked the title and it's actually Might And Magic 4: Clouds of Xeen. This probably isn't the same as Heroes of Might And Magic 4. But it still looks an interesting game. Could be up as soon as tomorrow night (my time) if it checks out ok.

[Mad-E-Fact]

Might & Magic (the RPG) was the original series, of which Heroes... was a spin-off.

[BeefontheBone]

and was much more popular, what with being better and all, and not being in such an overpopulated genre at the time. HoMM4 is definitely not abandoned - it's still on sale all over the place. The second one might be getting close to abandoned-ness though.

[Blake00]

hmm indeed, don't get Might & Magic mixed up with Heroes of Might & Magic, or for that matter Legends of Might & Magic, and Warriors of Might & Magic LOL. :bleh:

[Omuletzu]

Originally posted by wendymaree@Apr 11 2005, 05:20 PM
It's already reviewed, but thanks for the offer, Omuletzu. I've double-checked the title and it's actually Might And Magic 4: Clouds of Xeen. This probably isn't the same as Heroes of Might And Magic 4. But it still looks an interesting game. Could be up as soon as tomorrow night (my time) if it checks out ok.
Sorry i was under the impression you said HOMM 4... :wall:

[Borodin]

Originally posted by Mad-E-Fact@Apr 11 2005, 03:32 PM
Might & Magic (the RPG) was the original series, of which Heroes... was a spin-off.
Yes and no. Same "universe," totally different game genre. Might and Magic was an RPG that first appeared in the late 1980s. Heroes of Might and Magic was a turn-based strategy game that first appeared in the mid 1990s.

[MrBackAlleySka]

And don't forget that horrid action game, Crusaders of Might and Magic!

[Kezz]

Originally posted by BeefontheBone@Apr 11 2005, 07:51 PM
and was much more popular, what with being better and all, and not being in such an overpopulated genre at the time. HoMM4 is definitely not abandoned - it's still on sale all over the place. The second one might be getting close to abandoned-ness though.
...You mean it isn't already? The thing hasn't been for sale in years and it came out in December of '96, well past the cutoff date. Not to mention the company responsible for the game, New World Computing, was bought out by 3DO. heck, I wonder why no one has tried uploading it already...


Anyways, back on topic. Personally I feel that the series has gone down hill since HoMM2, but I'm willing to give this new one a chance even though it will most likely have little or none of the charm that the first two captured in such large quantities. I doubt a modern game COULD capture such beauty, with the exception of something that comes out of the mind of Molyneux possibly. Nevertheless, I'm sure the game will be good even if it does stink compared to its predecessors.

[BeefontheBone]

You may have a point there, I couldn't find it for sale anywhere, and H2 Gold is up for download here (http://www.funtasticgames.com/downloads/game.php?pid=23)

Hmm, actually that appears to be some kind of sneaky trial version, so perhaps they are selling it.

[wendymaree]

Sorry to disappoint, but the word in from Tom is that Might And Magic 4/5/6/7 etc, are not abandonware.

[Blake00]

Some Updates:

There’s been a interview with the games producer Fabrice Cambounet which you can read HERE (http://www.celestialheavens.com/viewpage.php?id=396). Now considering that fact that Heroes IV was rushed out full of bugs, imbalances, and missing features due to 3DO pressuring NWC to finish the game in a short time with little staff & money I was very happy to see the below posts about Ubisoft giving more time, money and people to Nivals Heroes V production.

The announcement was originally supposed to happen last year. What took so long?
Well, the first thing is that we weren’t quite ready. :? Also, Ubisoft decided to increase the commitment and timeframe on the project, to raise the quality bar. That meant we could push back the communication start a bit further. Now we have more time and more people on board, and the contact with fans and journalists will be better.

How far are you into the development of the game? Is it playable at this point?
As I like to tease, I must say that we’ve been able to play for a few months now :? We’re starting to get this “Heroes” feeling quite clearly ! This is really a great opportunity to work on an ambitious project, with a highly motivated team. There is a mountain of work left ahead, but all this time will also be dedicated to tuning and polishing, and its not that frequent in games development.


Five new screenshots have been released at the official website http://www.mightandmagicgame.com.

Here’s 2 that got my attention:

A human hero & army of swordsman, archers (if you go to the website and look at the other pics you’ll see an upgraded swordsman (the good old Crusader) which shows their really going in the Heroes 3 direction once more which is great).

http://www.mightandmagicgame.com/ss/screen_06.jpg


Beautiful shot of a hero in grassland looking across a river into.. hell LOL, reminds me of viewing Mordor from Gondor in LOTR.

http://www.mightandmagicgame.com/ss/screen_09.jpg

[Omuletzu]

The second screenshot is beatiful, but the first one is :not_ok:

[NrmMyth]

I like the new 3D, hope it turns OK.

[Blake00]

Another Update:

Several Heroes V trailers have been released for E3. There’s several little amazing in-game trailers of the battle, map, and castle screen which are just incredible. But the big one is an amazing CGI FMV (possibly the games intro video) of the forces of Hell attacking a Human castle. You’re treated to a Devil smashing Pikemen in all directions and then a bridge while a powerful human Hero/Crusader summons an Archangel to duel with the devil. When the Archangel fails and the city is falling the hero then summons an undead Bone Dragon out of desperation.

You can get the in-game videos at gamespot HERE (http://www.gamespot.com/pc/strategy/heroesofmightandmagicv/media.html).

You can get the movie trailer from the Heroes V site HERE (http://www.mightandmagic.com/teaser/uk/archives.php?mois=5&annee=2005#11094) and for those that don’t wish download a 43 meg video I’ve put 18 screens together in 2 pictures from the amazing video below:

http://users.esc.net.au/~blake00/Heroes5/Trailer01.jpg
http://users.esc.net.au/~blake00/Heroes5/Trailer02.jpg

[Tulac]

Looks great :drool: but also very dark, I still hope it won't need too strong system to play... :whistle:

[Veloxi]

I got to see this in action at E3, and my jaw was on the floor the whole time, especially when the developer said that Nival wanted to give fans "heroes 3, but in 3D" and that the company "are huge Heroes fans." Based on what I saw, they have an excellent chance of accomplishing their goal. It looked freaking incredible.

[Borodin]

So the graphics were wonderful. Was the AI anything approaching decent? That's always been a problem of this series. And what new features have been added?

[Veloxi]

Originally posted by Borodin@May 22 2005, 11:52 PM
So the graphics were wonderful. Was the AI anything approaching decent? That's always been a problem of this series. And what new features have been added?
That's the problem. The demonstration was so canned that I can't answer any of that.