Heroes of Might and Magic® 5: Bundle

Never played with HOMM 3 so I can't understand all the comparisons down there So, I speak only for this sort of mix D&D+Warhammer (Dungeon army is embarassing from this point of view). I start with a consideration: I find the turn based system more intriguing since it forces you to develop strategic and tactical thinking in place of the more technic skills that require real time (in Warcraft and similars, winning or losing is entirely up to the quickness of acting, more similar to an action than a strategic game). So this is a huge pro for me. To the game: the Campaign can be a little boring; the story isn't anything new. Multiplayer vs AI is quite challenging on hard difficulty (yeah, the AI cheats a lot... but knowing that you can take some countermeasures), easy and normal are for starters (1-2 plays is enough), heroic is too much frustrating (resources are too low...), only for hardcore players. All races have their characteristics and their tactics and is very funny to try every aspect and every use of the hero skills. Multiplayer vs humans: don't know, couldn't find anyone... Maybe the community is dead? Duel mode is a little pleasant adding that helps you to elaborate tactics with a pre-formed army. The new race is a little unbalanced but quite funny (the funniest for me remains Sylvans and Dungeon). Some mechanics are clunky and frustrating, based entirely on luck... for example the random encounters of creatures on map, spells in towns, magic artifacts, and the heroes' skills tree (in 30+ plays with Inferno I've NEVER been able to obtain the ultimate Gating skill, even knowing exactly which other skills were needed). But for these inconvenients there are tons of mods and a great map editor so the players can try to balance the problems and create his own maps and campaigns. So, a good game - not a masterpiece of course - that can offer you nothing more and nothing less that a lot of hours of fun.

In the HOMM series, it's understandable that HOMM3 has a nostalgic following, even I have suffered from it at times. But the truth also be fully told, in giving this version of HOMM, I have learned to appreciate many of the refinements that it has. The game is elegant, and has been built on elements of HOMM3, and bringing in new ones that HOMM3 did not have . The Graphics, general ideas, and play are somewhat different, and not at all HOMM3 but should it really? I think any new good version of a series should bring in new things, and not just cater to restricting itself to nay older versions. I think HOMM V will find a place with player who appreciate innovations, and improved graphics and added concepts. I'd give this game a fair try, and you might be as surprised as I was at refreshing news ideas, and fun. The settings and other features have maintained the re-playability of the game.

Just the Random Map Generator is worth the price of admission. Excellent Graphics & Gameplay.

I had not expected that anybody could do a worthy remake of HoMM3, but Nival pulled it off. As I am one of the few fans of HoMM4, I would have liked a little more of the gameplay improvements to go into part 5. But it still is a magnificent work and sits in the hall of timeless fame right besides HoMM3. One quirk about the GOG description, though: Because Jon van Caneghem sold the rights to the Might & Magic brands, but not to the story and world, each and any Might & Magic game made after HoMM4/M&M10 are not taking place in "the Might & Magic world". Which is a shame, because the story was really good, especially Tarnum's tale. At least the legendary Chronicles of Might & Magic are also available on GOG, so you can go see for yourself about Tarnum.

One of the first games in the series I played, it is magnificent. Very underated, the satifaction of conquring, expanding and simply growing in power in this game is simply said satisfying. Love it!