I played HoMM3 a bit as a kid but struggled to get into it. Decades later I'm giving 2 a try because it has plenty of fans as well. Loving it! The art is cute, the gameplay is the kind of casual strategy I need right now, but best of all THE MUSIC really blew me away. Each castle has a different theme and some of them are epic original dramatic pieces that are enhancing my adventure.
PROS: *rich worldbuilding. in-game literature and the manual set the stage for funny, ominous world that is both unique and pays homage to familiar fiction *gameplay is fun when working smooth: ENORMOUS game world including many planets and huge expanses of territory within each, giving commands to crew feels like being part of a star trek crew CONS: *primitive saving system can be frustrating to get in the hang of, had to do internet searches and reading forums to troubleshoot *punishingly hard at first: can easily run out of fuel, be crushed due to high gravity, attacked by local life forms etc. I wouldn't normally label this a "CON" but combined with the technical difficulties, almost discouraged me from playing. CONCLUSION: now that i've overcome starting hurdles i'm enjoying the story and flavor and excited to keep going. if you don't have a nostalgic connection but can get the BIG barrier to entry this game is super great so far - i feel like i'm still just getting my toes wet and there is a lot more to see and do!
this game is a deep dive into the mindset of medieval the japanese warrior elite during an age of crisis. after decades of gaming, this is the first role playing game that pushed me to actually role play (rather than just behave like myself). it compelled me to internalize the aspirations and concerns of my lord, estate, and dynasty. this is not an easy game at first. reading the manual and/or focused practice through trial and error is essential for success. the effort expended makes accomplishments in the game feel all the more rewarding. at first i worried that the controls were sticky or unresponsive, but after hours of trying and playing and learning it finally *clicked.* newcomers may be turned off by the challenging controls (particularly in duel combat) or the difficulty (even on the easiest setting it took days of effort to become Shogun), but for me it all heightened the stakes and danger - and, like a growing samurai lord, i eventually mastered it through trial and error and focus, all the while balancing my moral duties. some visuals look dated (unsurprising for a 3 decade old title) but in other areas it holds up beautifully even today - the melee combat pixel art is gorgeous, for example. as simple as some of the mini games might appear, the context and stakes made them some of the most exciting action sequences for me - like rescuing my kidnapped son from a manor full of guards. while wounded. not for everybody. a lessen in stoicism and virtue (of a particular sort). clearly made with love by people who took to their task with a samurai's level of resolve. i never played this as a kid (i discovered this game in 2021) so nostalgia doesn't factor into my feeling that this game is a nearly flawless masterpiece.
