Might & Magic 9 is a great RPG, even though it could have been a lot better. Once you get over the first hour, you can’t stop playing it. Gameplay is addictive as ever, music und sound effects are as good as ever and the RPG system is still one of the, if not the most motivating out there!
Congrats to John van Caneghem and NWC/3DO for creating this game, but shame on you, for failing in its PR as well as making it easy to access. I doubt, the series will gain new fans with MM9. I doubt there will be a MM X, (reg the recent layoffs at 3DO). I doubt, MM9 will be a bestseller and bring 3DO a lot of money.
Story erstaunlich lahm geraten [...] keine gescripten Events und die Rätsel und Nebenquests sind kaum der Rede wert. [...]eine lebendige, atmosphärische Rollenspielwelt entsteht trotz der ausgesprochen schönen Grafik nicht
Lieber Heinrich Lenhardt: wenn Grafiken alles sind, warum benennt Ihr GameStar nicht gleich in GraphikStar um und bewertet nur noch die Grafiken???? Wenn alles, was ein RPG ausmacht, mies ist, das Game aber trotzdem 84% bekommt, dann stimmt doch etwas nicht ..... oder?We fully intend to continue and expand the Heroes series. A couple expansion packs are already in planning, as well as the longer-term release of Heroes 5. John Van Caneghem will be very hands-on in all of the Heroes projects, directing the design with less delegation than for past projects. [...] One of the patches is almost done, but it does not include the multiplayer patch. We are having a lot of internal discussions on what is the best way to get the patches out to help Heroes4 gamers. The development group has closely followed all the concerns and reports. We want to make sure that what we release addresses the most important issues, and are not just 'cosmetic' patches.
Die Fans der Heroes of Might & Magic - Reihe können sich also freuen. Die Patches stehen kurz vor der Veröffentlichung und neben einem Addon zum 4. Teil steht auch schon definitiv fest, dass es Heroes 5 geben wird.John (Van Caneghem) is looking at that right now. He is very much aware of the mixed reviews the game has received. Yet, Might and Magic IX has also sold a lot more units than we expected. I gave John your questions about the future of the series, but we don't have definite answers for you quite yet.
Die Verkaufszahlen von MM9 liegen also deutlich oberhalb der Erwartungen, das Ergebnis der Reviews dagegen trifft die Macher sehr, insbesondere von den Allgemeinen Gamessites, die RPGs eher steifmütterlich betrachten.After all that, do we really need to add a conclusion that details how disappointing Might and Magic IX is? This is more of a cheap attempt to cash in on the legacy of New World's esteemed franchise than it is to actually live up to classics such as Mandate of Heaven and Clouds of Xeen. It's only for serious series completists, people who prefer braindead clicking to real role-playing, and those who can't wait to see if Morrowind is more deserving of their time and money.
Mit 66% fällt der Testbericht von MMworlds etwas besser aus:really like this game, though 3DO seems to have gone out of their way to make me hate it at times. The NWC (ex-NWC?) team of RPG designers turned out a masterwork here, finally restoring the Might and Magic series to the levels of MM6 and before. They crafted the best classic RPG for the computer from any developer over the past 10 years. What they turned over to the software, documentation, and QA groups to implement was superb. We can only guess at what the software team could have accomplished if 3DO had given them the time and resources to let them finish the package, before releasing it.
Offenbar werden sich die Wertungen mit 60-70%-Bereich einpendeln.So, here’s what you really want to know: Does it capture the feel of the earlier HoMM games? Is it nearly as addictive? Is it worth my hard-earned dollars? The answer to all three questions is an unequivocal YES. Like my previous review of Freedom Force, I had to pry myself away from the game long enough to write this review. I think HoMM4 will keep you satisfied for a long time.
Dieses Fazit verdeutlicht, wie gut Heroes of Might & Magic 4 angekommen ist. Sicherlich sind die "wahren" Fans kritischer, aber die Hauptsache ist und bleibt, dass einem das Game Spass macht. Oder etwa nicht?I don't want to beat a dead horse here so let me just say that it is really a shame that the game was allowed to be released before it was tweaked sufficiently. Unfortunately, these are major problems that greatly affect the gameplay and game players. Let's hope for a good patch to be released very, very soon.
Auch ToTheGame ist nicht unkritisch, wie nachfolgender Textasuzug zeigt:I’ve enjoyed Might & Magic IX, honestly. But I’m left with a feeling that this could have been done a lot better. I had a blast playing it, and I’ve blasted a lot of monsters. If you are reading this, I suggest you click on our game info link to see other reviews, and check out other info available here. I have no problems recommend this game, but remember this is my personal meaning. I’m also afraid this could be the last pure M&M game. If so, damn!
Für die Fans der Reihe werden diese Reviews sicherlich keinen Grund liefern, sich das Game nicht anzuschaffen. Ob sich aber neue Fans damit finden lassen ....The character and NPC graphics and animations still look pretty damn awful, some of the conversational text is nonsense, there are too many rooms in the game that serve no purpose. [...] Might And Magic IX is one of those games that draws you back to it time and again without you really knowing why. Maybe it's the clever design of certain levels, or the feeling that you are in a very big and real game world, or the multitude of quests and simple but effective class advancement system. Whatever the reason, for the first time Might And Magic has done more things right than it has done wrong, and that can never be a bad thing.
Diesem Statement schliesse ich mich gern an.Our first and foremost priority right now is finishing a pair of patches for Heroes IV. The first patch is nearly done and will address technical issues, the second will add multiplayer support and will follow shortly thereafter. Where possible, one or both patches will include new game-enhancing features (such as improved AI or a combat grid, for example).
At the same time we are also beginning work on an Expansion Pack for Heroes IV. As we usually do, the Expansion will include several new campaigns, a slew of new maps, plus any tweaks to the system that we feel would enhance gameplay and balance. At this time I don't have any release date information, but I'm sure our PR department at 3DO will be making a more formal announcement soon enough.
HoMM 4 hat wenig mit RTS Spielen gemein, sondern orientiert sich streng an dem Gameplay der Vorgänger. Wer dieses schon nicht mochte, wird auch an HoMM 4 keinen Gefallen finden. Wer jedoch von HoMM 3 schon begeistert war, wird in HoMM 4 einen würdigen Nachfolger finden
Der gesamte Text ist sehr interessant geschrieben, Ihr solltet ruhig mal vorbeischauen.New World has every intention of doing an expansion pack for Heroes 4, and of creating Heroes 5.
Was aber im Endeffekt aus der Might & Magic-Reihe werden wird, kann nun keiner so richtig einschätzen. Sicherlich hatten viele nicht geglaubt, dass es überhaupt eine Might & Magic 9 geben würde, aber die aktuelle Entwicklung läßt wenig Freude aufkommen.. Unlike in the beginning of the game, where you're presented with few options, you can finally start fine-tuning your characters by giving them specific classes and boosting them in certain skills. While the game never evolves into anything more than a straightforward dungeon crawl, it does develop an energy that can carry you along to the conclusion. Quests assume more importance as you work to unite the clans, and monsters get more interesting, as do the magical items and spells you acquire. The dreary sewer of Beet Hoven at the start of the game, for instance, is nothing at all representative of the spooky ruined temples and crypts you'll explore later.
Die zweite Review stammt von IGN.PC und liegt mit einer Wertung von 6,7 von 10 möglichen Punkten in der Region der vorgenannten Review.Generic is a good word for this game. It's got reasonably good balance, fine graphics and exciting combat, and the old sense of humor is still there in out-of-the-way places (Robert and Douglas, Ludwig Van's Beet Hoven, etc). But the wild imagination and pull of distant desirable goals -- to walk on water, to fly over inaccessible mountain peaks, to visit far off cities only hinted at in the early game -- is gone. Certainly playable, M&M IX just isn't memorable.
Might and Magic 9 startet mit einem sehr differenzierten Bild. Liebgewonnene Features aus den Vorgängern wurden zu Gunsten der neuen Grafik-Engine entfernt, die Steuerung selber wurde auch in Teilen geändert, so dass selbst Fans der Reihe sich in Details umstellen müssen. Auch startet das Spiel eher schwach, in den ersten 1-2 Stunden ist das Anspruchslevel eher gering. Hat man aber diese Zeit "überwunden" und sich an die neue Steuerung gewöhnt, erwartet den Spieler ein sehr kurzweiliges Rollenspiel mit stark einer ansteigenden Spannungsquote. Die Möglichkeiten der neuen Grafikengine wurden zwar nicht bis zum Optimum ausgenutzt, aber das Flair des Spiels liegt weniger in der Grafik, sondern im Lösen der Aufgaben und in den Kämpfen. Gerade die verbesserte KI der Gegner bringt neue Taktiken und Strategien mit sich. Das neue Konservationssystem mit über 400 Textpassagen interessant umgesetzt, teilweise verliert sich die Story jedoch im Verlauf des Spiels.
Fans und Neueinsteiger können aber auf jeden Fall ein Hack & Slay - Game alter Schule geniessen. Sicherlich läßt sich das Game weder mit Action-RPGs wie Diablo 2 oder einem Wizardry 8 vergleichen, wenngleich gerade zum letzteren gewissen Anlehnungen im Bereich der Darstellung und der Features festzustellen sind. Nach den ersten beiden Stunden und den beiden viel zu schwachen Anfangskarten startet Might & Magic 9 aber durch und präsentiert sich deutlich gereifter gegenüber den Vorgängern, so dass man die beschriebenen Schwächen sehr schnell verzeihen kann.
Sollte es 3DO schaffen, gewisse Details in der Darstellung und im Gameplay noch per Patch zu beseitigen / zu verbessern, könnte man die Wertung eher im oberen 80%-Bereich ansiedeln.
Heroes of Might and Magic IV is a worthy addition to the series, despite the lack of flourish in the combat sequences. But 3DO needs to patch the game to deliver on its promises -- namely multiplayer support, more maps, and greater stability. Even with its shortcomings, however, it's the ideal continuation of a storied franchise. It not only plays a different game, it plays a better game.
Die zweite Review stammt von Computer & Video Games, deren Wertung ebenfalls bei 84% liegt:. In sheer value for money terms, Heroes IV is as good as it gets. Full marks to New World Computing for offering so much in the box when they could have just held out and released a lot of this material in expansions (like just about everyone else does).
GS: Looking back, is there anything you would have done differently? Or anything you had hoped to include that didn't make it into the game?
JB: I sure would have loved to include multiplayer in the box. In hindsight, we also shouldn't have used live fantasy creatures while testing combat for the game. PETFC (People for the Ethical Treatment of Fantasy Creatures) gave us some serious heat for that. Other than that, there is nothing I would have done differently.
The official order:
1. Management decides about new game
2. Dev team members are notified of precise details via Russian fan Web site
3. GameSpot story
The Heroes multi player patch will be available next week.
Also können sich die MP-Fans freuen, nicht mehr lange und auch Ihr könnt "richtig" loslegen.MMworlds was launched today on GameSpy's RPGplanet -- a site dedicated to complete coverage of 3DO's Might and Magic RPG series. MMworlds already contains more than 60 pages of data, and 400 images for the one-week old Might and Magic IX. Full walkthroughs, maps, summary charts for skills and magic, hints, quest summaries, and reviews are already awaiting the MM gamer. No site on the web has yet approached this level of detailed MM9 coverage.
MMworlds will work closely with it's "sister site," Celestial Heavens (the GameSpy experts on 3DO's Heroes of Might and Magic) on StrategyPlanet, to provide extensive coverage of 3DO's complete M&M game line. CelstialHeavens and MMworlds will share some key news and forum resources. Additional dedicated MMworld forums are expected to open early next week.
From a qualitative standpoint, Heroes of Might and Magic IV has brought turn-based strategy back into the limelight of PC gaming. The title takes everything that has ever been great about the series and elevates it to the next level. The changes revitalize the Heroes formula and provide more strategic gameplay than the series has ever offered. Although the title takes some minor steps backward with the interface and some rough visuals, I'm going to be playing Heroes IV for a long time. Even without online multiplayer or the map editor, the development team has packed about three standard games worth of content into the package. Anyone who's a fan of quality PC gaming should not hesitate to pick up Heroes IV.
Heroes 4 knüpft damit an die Wertungen des Vorgängers an.Avoid Might & Magic IX at all costs, unless you are completely bored with your life, in which case better kill yourself than play this so-called adventure! I lack words to properly describe my disgust with this game. This game looks like somebody made the developers design it at gunpoint. AND they are not ashamed to claim that the game has been designed according to players' requests. No, I don't think so; if you gathered all morons in the world not even they would sign a petition to make a game this feeble. You should see their pretentious site; even on it, you can see all the sense fading away as you start off from the first sequel and proceed towards the ninth.
Ich habe im Bericht nichts, aber auch wirklich gar nichts gefunden, an dem ein gutes Haar gelassen wird. Wollen wir hoffen, dass dieses nicht die Meinung aller Kritiker wiederspiegelt....Well, me old muccas, it's time to celebrate! Time to raise our glasses to Heroes of Might & Magic 4, to the return to the old values, to the living (or at least resurrected) legend! Hang on, we're off… Heroes 4 rule! Now what would you say if somebody offered you a sweet turn-based strategy game on two CD's claiming that it has no 3D graphics in this GeForce 4 era? OK stop swearing! Heroes of Might & Magic 4 ARE what I just described, a good old turn-based RPG-strategy, which is designed and devised well enough to remain competent in the age of 3D multiplayer shooters like Ghost Recon.
Was als "schwach" angesehen wird, sind die wenigen, dafür zu langen Kampagnen. Wie ist Eure Meinung dazu?Heroes IV has a lot of new additions, but ultimately, it still plays like a Heroes game. That's definitely a good thing, as the Heroes formula clearly stands the test of time in Heroes IV and is every bit as enjoyable as it's ever been in previous games. An overly cynical (and not entirely accurate) way to assess the game would be to call it a revamped version of Heroes III with a new coat of paint--or many, many layers of paint. However, it's really to New World Computing's credit that the developer was able to incorporate so many new and interesting features into this sequel while still making sure it kept all the core elements that made all the previous games so great. Heroes IV is clearly a worthy successor to the series and has very clearly been worth the wait.
Unter dem nachfolgenden Link könnt Ihr die gesamte Review lesen, die zwar kurz, dafür aber gut geschrieben ist.Graphics: 90%
The graphics are all beautifully drawn and animated, giving the game a fresh and colorful look in a beliviable fantasy world. All menus are well designed, and user friendly. The intro movie is very impressive, but I kind of miss the movie sequence between the campaign levels. All in all a very good job from New World Computing.
Sound: 95%
The music is one of the best features in Heroes IV. The music is very atmospheric and varied. Folk music inspired and fantasy music mixed in a lovely sound-cocktail. The sound effects also make the game great, but as stated earlier, the fading sometimes gets annoying.
Gameplay: 100%
I thought about giving it less, but why should I? It's the best game I've ever played, and after many hours, I know I will spend hundreds more hours playing. When completed all campaigns, I'll play them again on a higher difficulty level. The single scenarios are also a blast. And with the map editor included, many new maps will probably be available to satisfy my new religion (We have not tested the map editor).
Total Impression: 95%
Lots of gameplay, beautiful for ears and eyes - things that more than justify the price on a game like this. If you like these kind of games, or wonder if you do - do yourself a favor and buy this baby.