I don't normally give games perfect scores, because I don't believe in perfect games. This is as close as they come.
User Rating: 10 | Heroes of Might and Magic III PC
HOMM3 is an ancient game by today’s standards, but it carries its age with impressive finesse. The reason? It’s timeless gameplay formula coupled with pretty, 2-D, pre-painted graphics. No simplistic 3D modeling, blurry textures, jagged lines or pop-up in sight. HOMM3 is a surviving type, a classic. What’s good now was amazing in 1999, to which date I’m basing this review on. I was just 10, and this marvel captivated me like no other game since, with the exception of Gran Turismos. Although I never did play at home (for whatever reason my PC couldn’t run the game, although I don’t remember why), the game traveled with me to friends and converted everyone I knew into a die-hard HOMM fanatic. (I was the hardest to die ;-). I even spent a good $10 on a non-pirated (what a concept!) version of Heroes 3 when I traveled to Russia (where the game is relatively popular) with family in the summer of ’03. There… I turned more friends into addicts. Every time I load the game, set up a scenario, or enter a town for some breathtakingly epic music, each time I feast eyes upon the lush and vivid Rampart… Something just warms me inside. This game’s the most passionate one I’ve ever played, and that’s saying something. Gameplay – 10/10 I won’t go into my usual repertoire and overview all the gameplay elements. That may take too long, with my affectionate attitude towards Heroes 3. ;-). I’ll just say that the Heroes gameplay formula isn’t the most stable in the industry. It’s not a staple strategy, nor is it a fantasy adventure game like Might and Magic, nor is it an old-school RPG. If executed improperly, Heroes could have been a less-then-average game. (Even Heroes I for the GB: C sucked, after considering the hardware…) Much-deserved kudos goes to New World Computing (which is now sadly out of business) and lead designer Greg Fulton for such a great job. Heroes III comes with the most addictive gameplay I’ve ever experienced. If you have work, family, or responsibilities, I suggest you steer clear of this “Just one more turn…” stuff. Three A.M. comes quickly. It’s meticulously balanced, packed with intelligent AI (that doesn’t cheat too much), and in general very compelling. Online plays well too (or at least it did at one point, since I doubt hosting still exists), as well as “hotseat”. Sadly, the slow-paced gameplay immediately turns off some gamers, with some maps taking a good 3 hours to finish, or more. This coupled with elements that may be frustrating to beginners (the unfamiliarity of magic spells, button location, why can’t I do this… etc.) means that some gamers (cough…NukeouT…cough…) must be led by the hand before they discover the sublime beauty underneath ;-). That’s enough rambling, though, and I’ll conclude with the opinion that the gameplay is flawless. If I could go back and change anything, I wouldn’t. Graphics –10/10 I loved HoMM3’s gorgeous graphics in 1999 and I do now. What strikes one first is the presentation – smooth, clean, detailed. Menus are sinfully pretty, as are the world map and hero screens. One of the reasons for HoMM3’s great graphics even in this day and age involves the fact that it’s entirely 2D and 2.5D. A First Person Shooter from 1999 wouldn’t look so hot now when paired with Halo 2, Doom III and Far Cry, but 2D graphics don’t get much better with time. And that’s a good thing, as it makes the game truly timeless. Again, if I could go back and change something… I wouldn’t. The lush environments and sharp sprites and character art are that good. Sound – 10/10 Music plays a big role in any multimedia entertainment, and it certainly doesn’t disappoint here. HoMM3 has the best fantasy-themed “weird-classical” music I’ve ever heard, seriously. Each castle has its exclusive theme, and each menu, battle, and background track is better than the last. Coupled with great sound effects for the sprites and static background noise, this calls for a wonderful score. John Williams must be confounded. Value --10/10 The claims of hundreds of hours (or at least a hundred) of gameplay aren’t erroneous. This game is very addictive, and with six extensive campaigns and around forty standalone scenarios, there’s a lot to do. Exploring each town’s strengths and looking for ways to expand into the delightfully packed maps is tons of fun. And since the game is now value-bin priced, it’s an absolute must-buy. If you can get your hands on the expansions, especially Armageddon’s Blade but also Shadow of Death, I recommend them for the extra campaigns and scenarios each brings, as well as other slight improvements and add-ons. Tilt – 10/10 I love this game! (Random Comments) Heroes IV is heavily marred in comparison to this game, or at least it feels that way to vets like myself. I have the highest of hopes for the impressive-looking Heroes V planned for a Q1 2005 release, wit a grain of salt and some reservations.
