I actually consider World of Xeen and Isles of Terra to be the stars of this set. I was not expecting it. I just thought I'd quickly check them out since they're in the package, and fully expected myself to find them too outdated and abandon them within an hour. I ended up being addicted by the time I solved the first quest in town and left to explore the mines. I finished the games and I expect to replay them some day. I think Xeen belongs to my RPG top 10 now!

These games have wonderful design. They don't frustrate, they give constant rewards, there's always a goal. Boring stuff like micromanagement and trekking back and forth has been minimized. They're just FUN! They don't take them too seriously! I wish there were more games like this.

Amen, my friend! I've been singing the praises of M&M 3-5 for years & years. Easy to learn, not overcomplicated, pretty to look at, fun to play!

I found this really good article about MM3-6 RPG design: http://www.gamebanshee.com/editorials/whatanoldrpgcanteach1.php

The writer pretty much sums up my opinions as well. I think these games should be mandatory for anyone who wants to design an RPG. It's funny, but I was playing Oblivion at the same time I was playing World of Xeen, and Xeen was clearly more fun to play.

I love M&M VI, but I`ve tried MM III - fantastic, and now l play IV+V- perfect
Nice, wonlderfull flashback on AMIGA times.

Look, my son plaeyd Gothic IV, original version, with bonus materials, artwoks etc. almost 4 hours. Graphics- may be better, linear and stupid action (girl friend was dead on end of tutorial), no relationship with older pieces of serie (new game studio)...BORE

And me? MM III- 2 months of fantastic entertainment.

This seems like a good place to ask.

I'm a fan of old school RPG's, but not quite sure I'm actually up for the tediousness of the originals. I don't think I want to break out the old graph paper.

I never did play any of the MM series though. Which should I start with for some nice CRPG nostalgia but without the graph paper level of tediousness? I don't mind keeping my own "quest journal" type of note taking.

Start with Might and Magic 3. It has a great automap. MM2 has a simple automap, but it might be too big and too old school for you.

MM3-5 should suit you nicely. I actually haven't played 3 yet, but 4 and 5 (which combine to form the super-game World of Xeen) is fantastic and there's no need to make your own maps like you have to in MM1 and 2. MM3 is similar to World of Xeen but, I've heard, not quite as good, so it's a good place to start so that when you get to World of Xeen it will be even better!

You might want to take a (careful) look at the cluebooks included with the games as well. For World of Xeen, my memory is that the cluebook basically offers a complete walkthrough, with maps and everything, in case you ever get stuck. And it's REALLY nice for looking up items, because otherwise you have to get the identified in-game which is really tedious. To avoid spoilers I usually just search for the item I want in the PDF file of the cluebook. This goes a long way towards removing some of the hassle of the game.

Thanks.

It occurred to me while looking at them some more that I actually did play a little of MM3 back in the day. I don't think I ever got too far with it and my memory of it is vague. I think it's just one of those games I got while I had a lot of other stuff going on and I just never got around to playing it. So I decided to start with 4&5 so it would be completely new and wouldn't hit an "oh yeah, I remember this" an hour into 3.

So far it's great. Exactly what I was looking for. Might go back and try 1 & 2 sometime in the future if this gets me in the right frame of mind for some real tough old school fun.

I want to go back and play some of the old Wizardry games at some point too. I only played 7 & 8 of that series, but Crusaders of the Dark Savant might still be my favorite ever.