Tag: might & magic

Not only heaven, but the Mandate of heaven. Also known as Might & Magic VI. Also known as “oh noes, shitty engine, let’s rate it below 80%”. Also known as “oh noes, can’t move in battle!”. Also known as “oh noes, realistic portraits are ugly!”. Also known as “oh noes, VII and VIII are cheap rip-offs!”. I can keep this up for a few more hours, but I’ll spare you that. So I recently bought the original Might & Magic VI box with a lot of goodie contents (reference, thick manual, cloth map!). I do have to admit I like VII a little bit better, or maybe even VIII for that matter. I started playing Might & Magic thanks to Day of the Destroyer, the 8th revision, which everybody seems to despite.

Well Look at that. A cardboard box! Golden Age.

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RPGs aren’t that rare anymore (good ones are), especially not on the console. Developers like to copy previous used techniques and concepts as it reduces the effort needed to finalize their own product, ànd this gives a familiar look which mostly means guaranteed sales. But are these mechanics good enough? Do they work? Are you roleplaying or watching a scripted scene full of soulless characters? Let’s have an in-depth look at nowadays Roleplaying Games with their biggest strengths and weaknesses.

There is so much to be seen and done in a typical RPG, it’s impossible to write a short article about. Instead, let’s review some of the basic and most used aspects of computer/console Roleplaying games. Below is a short breakdown of several concepts. They will get updated regulary, hopefully.

1. NPC interaction techniques | Watch NPC reaction videos! >>
2. Correct Item Placement
3. (Over)world systems and travelling
4. party building
5. member customization
6. battle sequences: random or not?
7. do’s and don’s of level grinding

I should warn you however, before you continue to read one of the article’s contents. Some negative criticism can be rather subjective. If you disagree and would like to enlighten us further, please do leave a comment as everything is of course open for discussion. Oh and there could be slight spoilers present without my direct knowledge. Sorry about that.

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In the year 1999 the then-existing company New World Computing released version seven of their honored Might & Magic series, subtitled “For Blood and Honor“. Most Might & Magic (MM) fans were quite happy since VII is by many people marked as (at least one of) the best in the series. Sadly, even New World Computing disappeared in 2003 and Ubisoft the gaint looking evil company bought all NWC rights. The Might & Magic VII Publisher, 3DO also closed their doors. What’s up with that? Is this some kind of bad disease, creating a brilliant game no-one cares about and thus nobody likes to play except hard-core fans? Let’s not try to blame it on EA again.

Anyway, welcome to a world of furious Power, angry Magic, dirty Politics and above all: a big pixel fest!

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