I played HoMM 2 and 3 religiously, so I was intrigued with the opportunity to play the founding title. However, HoMM 1 got old fast. It lacked the impeccable finish of the sequels and showed its age. I could not play very far into the game without getting bored and thinking continuously about small things that the sequels simply do better. Truly a great game in its day, but not in the same lofty category as 2 and 3. My main gripe: enemies on the battlefield 'exploding' into a generic red mist as opposed to having individual death animations. Seems minor, but it was pretty annoying, especially when coupled with the small scale of the battlefield.
Pure fun. Top notch graphics that still look great. Brilliant weapons and enemies. A classy, polished, artistic flair that is rarely achieved. Level design is THE BEST I can recall. Neat story, FWIW. One of the best characters gaming history. An edginess that pushes the game to the apex of entertainment. A game to be played by generations to come!
A game from the golden age of 2d gaming. Tight gameplay mechanics, balance, and strategic elements. Wonderful and memorable graphics. Great sound, especially music. Just plain FUN and a game that will be played by generations to come.
Horrible graphics, gameplay, and plot. Way to take the fun out of the original! Obviously a rush job that struggled with adapting to polygonal graphics. I really do hate that transitional era of gaming...
I really enjoyed PG1 a lot more. The graphics and interface in PG2 are really unappealing when compared to the crisp (albeit ordinary) graphics in PG1. If only the gameplay from PG2 could be combined with a PG1 (or better) look and feel. The much smaller map scale is a step backward, too.
