As a longtime fan of the Heroes of Might and Magic series, I must admit that my initial reaction to the unveiling of Olden Era was a mix of excitement and hesitation. On one hand, it’s fantastic to see the return of the “Heroes” in the title and a nod to the iconic font from HoMM4. However, on the other hand, the graphics and interface seem to have taken a step back rather than forward.
It seems that many of us, including myself, may have assumed Ubisoft had abandoned the Heroes of Might and Magic series for good, given it’s been nearly a decade since the release of the seventh installment, which was not particularly well-liked. However, it looks like we might get a chance to redeem ourselves as a new game is being developed that serves as a prequel to the entire series! We’ll be revisiting the planet Enroth, specifically the Jadame continent. The upcoming Heroes were unveiled at Webedia’s Find Your Next Game event during gamescom.
Let’s explore the happenings leading up to the first match, specifically the appearance of Lord Ironfist in Enroth. Veteran players will encounter familiar faces, while novices can dive into a world that has been around for several decades.
By fans for fans
The “Heroes of Might and Magic Olden Era” was created by the Unfrozen studio, who previously developed the popular title “Iratus: Lord of the Dead“. Now we learn that Unfrozen has been busy over the past few years as they’ve revealed an abundance of pre-prepared content for this new game: the foundation of the gameplay, all mechanics, user interface, map editor, random map generator, arena mode, and online mode are already ready.
Heroes of Might and Magic Olden Era, Unfrozen
I attended a presentation by Unfrozen showcasing their work on the HoMM Olden Era, and it gave me a glimpse of what they’re developing. The developers are known enthusiasts of the series, with Heroes 3 being their primary source of inspiration. Some aspects suggest that Unfrozen aims to revisit the past in their creation.
Heroes of Might and Magic Olden Era, Unfrozen
In ancient times, three-dimensional models were used on maps and during battles, but the camera was fixed, creating a two-dimensional effect. One of the pleasurable aspects of the latest game is its incorporation of designs reminiscent of the third Heroes installment. Spotting the Stone of Knowledge, the star, the observatory, or the dragon utopia made me feel like Leonardo DiCaprio in that scene from “Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood,” pointing his finger knowingly.
Olden Era is supposed to be HoMM 3+
In their continual assertions, the creators have underlined that the third edition serves as the foundation for their game. Yet, they aim to incorporate additional elements to offer a fresh experience for players who have been engaged with this series for more than 25 years. The question remains: will these changes spark interest among gamers? Given that those who grew tired of playing Heroes of Might and Magic 3 would likely cease play, the alterations thus far do not appear radical enough to deter devoted fans… for the time being.
Essentially, the fundamental essence of gameplay stays consistent: building up our cities, collecting resources, and battling adversaries. Yet, there’s a twist – minor systems have been enhanced or subtly altered. However, in an Olden Era, no devils as we know them from Inferno existed (or at least were not depicted).
Heroes of Might and Magic Olden Era, Unfrozen
In addition to other features, every soldier in the military must have an active skill, ensuring that even a common peasant brings more than just cannon fodder to the table. The skills of these heroes have undergone an intriguing alteration. When advancing or acquiring a new level of a specific skill, players are also prompted to choose an upgrade. For instance, advanced command could boost army morale by +2, but players can also opt for a bonus that grants a +1% chance for an extra turn for the unit for each morale point below zero in the enemy army’s morale, or a +5 morale boost for the unit at the end of the next turn if it received negative morale during its turn. Naturally, players will soon determine which upgrades offer the most benefit.
Regarding the development of playable characters, or heroes, I find myself yearning for the class system similar to that found in Heroes of Might and Magic 4 (HoMM 4). In this game, the unique blend of skills transformed the hero’s class. For instance, a combination of magic associated with death and chaos would result in a lich character, while fusing combat skills with death magic led to an assassin. Implementing such a system would enhance the role-playing aspects within our game.
The artifacts seem to be reorganized into groups or sets. It seems that gathering just three of these six items will grant access to all the benefits and bonuses, meaning you won’t need to find every artifact for the boosts you desire.
The transformations weren’t always clear, even though they were depicted. For instance, in urban settings, each unit has three variations: a basic one and two enhanced versions. Nevertheless, it’s unclear whether, as in the fifth game, we have two choices to make, or if the developers opted for the dragon path from the second Heroes, which implies enhancing a specific monster twice.
The soul of HoMM 3 in mobile graphics
The things I like least about HoMM Olden Era are the graphics and interface. The whole thing looks like a mobile game, and the most stereotypical one at that. It’s very colorful and cartoony. The graphics affect the reception of the entire game and even the city models, which are usually an element I really like in Heroes of Might and Magic games, didn’t impress me.
Heroes of Might and Magic Olden Era, Unfrozen
The designs of these units appear more somber and could seamlessly fit into any strategy or RPG apps on smartphones without raising suspicion. Yet, their interface resembles that of the sixth Heroes title, but something is still missing. Despite the minimalist UI in Heroes of Might and Magic 3, it had a captivating atmosphere that Olden Era, for now, seems to lack. However, I acknowledge that this version of the game is not yet final.
Heroes of Might and Magic Olden Era, Unfrozen
I, too, find the hexagonal battlefields less convincing. Instead, I’d prefer an option to activate a grid system, as it seems to me that the developers may have been overly influenced by Songs of Conquest, a game with a unique, cohesive style. In earlier times, this design philosophy doesn’t mesh well with the overall graphic aesthetic.
Perhaps the quality of the music will improve how I perceive it, as it was absent from the provided resources, which could have influenced my initial impressions. I’m hoping that Paul Romero is composing the score, as his work significantly contributes to the charm of the Heroes of Might and Magic series.
Reviving a corpse or a worthy successor?
I’m really looking forward to the upcoming “Heroes of Might and Magic” release! It’s great to see the title character, “Heroes,” back in its rightful place, and the logo reminiscent of the fourth game’s font definitely brings nostalgia (though that might not be the case for everyone). The announcement hints at a promising game. While I have some concerns about the artistic direction, if the gameplay is strong, then graphical aspects will be less important.
Heroes of Might and Magic Olden Era, Unfrozen
While I have concerns about aspects other than the gameplay in Olden Era, I can’t help but recall the performance and AI issues that plagued Heroes of Might and Magic 7 (HoMM7). These problems significantly impacted its success, and it is crucial to avoid a repeat with Olden Era. We are yet to see how the servers will manage online gaming, as technical aspects can greatly influence the game’s reception. Additionally, brand recognition plays a significant role. If Unfrozen is responsible for creating a prequel, they have added extra work for themselves. A weak campaign could potentially disappoint many fans.
There’s also the question of earning money through the game. Initially, it will have six cities to play in, but the creators plan to include more with downloadable content (DLC). I’m just being cautious, but this might suggest they’re considering additional ways to make money, which could potentially grow and make the initial version of the game seem less attractive to new players.
I’ll certainly include the game on my wishlist and keep track of its development during early access. I hope it thrives, but I harbor some doubts. What intrigues me most is whether Unfrozen can captivate players who have been deeply immersed in the professional HoMM 3 HotA scene for years, for an extended spell. For this to happen, Olden Era needs to be exceptional.
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2024-08-22 20:32