Might and Magic

Might and Magic
developer	New World Computing
Publisher	New World Computing 3DO Ubisoft
Designer	Jon Van Caneghem
First title	Might and Magic: Book I - Secret of the Inner Sanctum (1986)
Last title	Might and Magic X (2014)
Platform (s)	various, u. a. DOS , Windows , Mac OS , PC-98
Genre (s)	Computer role-playing game , turn-based strategy game

Might and Magic is a series of computer role-playing games developed by Jon Van Caneghem . In addition to the role-playing games, there are a few other offshoots, such as the Heroes of Might and Magic strategy game series , whose plot is closely interwoven with the Might and Magic games.

After the bankruptcy of 3DO and its subsidiary New World Computing , Ubisoft acquired the rights to the series. After that, starting with Heroes of Might and Magic V, a completely new game universe was created in which the background plot takes place; since then there is no longer any connection to the framework of the previous games.

Might and Magic

Might and Magic I.

→ Main article : Might & Magic: The Secret of the Inner Sanctum

In 1986 the first part of this series of New World Computing , Might and Magic - Secret of the Inner Sanctum , appeared first on Apple II and a year later on PC. It closed a playful gap between the relatively simple Ultima parts and the Wizardry series, which many beginners found too difficult. The optics in the pseudo-3D look, which one wandered through step by step, the operation by means of the keyboard and the rule system with the usual role-playing classes and battles behind this game corresponded to the time, and so the game made a quite solid entry into the market. This part and the two following ports were ported to the C64 and Apple II as well as to most game consoles of the time.

Might and Magic II

The second part, Gates to Another World , which came out in 1988, was one of the most successful titles at the time. Although based on the predecessor, the extensive improvements in the graphics, the scope of the game and the story told were appealing.

Might and Magic III

The third part, Isles of Terra , broke new graphical territory. In the VGA look, which in 1991 was far from being the standard for role-playing games, the series appealed to career changers, which was supported by the easy handling and the moderate level of difficulty. For the first time, chance encounters were dispensed with. Instead, you could see the enemy groups from afar. This game also provided the basis for the following parts in the years to come in terms of technology and game system, so that there was a high recognition value. It is also the first part published in German (title: Die Insel von Terra ).

Might and Magic IV / V

→ Main article : Might & Magic 4

→ Main article : Might & Magic 5

Parts four and five, Clouds of Xeen (1992) and Darkside of Xeen (1993), again offered something special. If you owned both games, you could combine them into one big world and explore them in one piece. This game variant was then called World of Xeen and was also sold as a bundle under this name . Otherwise there were hardly any innovations, apart from the extensive use of digitized speech output. Interestingly, in the year of the fifth part there was also a mod for the game called Swords of Xeen , which later became an official part of the World of Xeen cycle. This player-made expansion was characterized above all by a significantly higher level of difficulty and was very well received by the die-hard fans of the series.

Might and Magic VI

A few years later, the entire game system was radically changed, and in 1998 the sixth part Mandate of Heaven was published . In addition to a simplification of the system of skills and objects, the group was reduced in size and people now moved in real time in a free 3D environment. These changes made it possible, of course, to represent a much more realistic world and to fill it with more life. So this game was also quite successful.

Might and Magic VII

The versions reappeared in quicker succession. So in 1999 the seventh part, For Blood and Honor , was released, which fell back into old habits and barely offered any new elements apart from minimally improved graphics. The sales figures were correspondingly cautious. One game in the game is Arcomage , a card game that can be played in the taverns. This game was later sold separately.

Might and Magic VIII

Part eight, Day of the Destroyer , was released the following year. The game system was once again subjected to a complete overhaul. Only the graphics used remained - apart from the usual cosmetic corrections - the same. However, the following things brought with them far-reaching innovations: If you used to control a whole group of 6 to 8 people, which later shrank to 4, this time it was only one protagonist to lead who his group members were looking for in the context of the game plot had to. The race and class system was put together, and the handling of the skills (English. Skills ) greatly simplified. Despite this regression, the players hoped for a new upswing in the series after the developer showed courage to make changes.

Might and Magic IX

However, this hope was not fulfilled when the ninth part (2002, unofficial title Writ of Fate ) was published. Once again there were extensive changes to the game system, returning to leading an entire group. The skill system and the magic area have been simplified and streamlined again. Although the graphics were noticeably improved with the LithTech engine, they lagged significantly behind the standards common for the time. The development time was only a few months because of 3DO's financial worries, the hoped-for success did not materialize and so the rights had to be sold to Ubisoft. Also due to the limited development time, the game remained in an unstable state with the last patch 1.2. However, there is a community patch by the community that fixes the biggest problems.

Might and Magic X

→ Main article : Might & Magic X: Legacy

In 2013 Ubisoft announced the tenth part of the series with the subtitle Legacy , a co-production of the German development studio Limbic Entertainment with Ubisoft Paris. The game was released as a download title in an early access version in September 2013. On January 23, 2014, the final version was also released in an "Old School Deluxe Box".

Franchise products

Heroes of Might and Magic

→ Main article : Heroes of Might and Magic

A very successful adaptation in the turn-based strategy sector has been there since 1995 with the series Heroes of Might and Magic , which gave the subsequent parts of the game King's Bounty a well-known name. This series currently comprises six parts with various extensions in the form of add-ons . A seventh part has been announced and the release is dated 09/2015.

Crusaders of Might and Magic

In 1999, a role-playing game / adventure mix called Crusaders of Might and Magic was released , in which you run through your 3D environment in the classic third-person manner, solving simple tasks and puzzles and doing your fights in real time. This game was ported to the PlayStation , where the successor Warriors of Might and Magic appeared in 2001 . A PlayStation 2 version was also later released.

Warriors of Might and Magic

Released in 2001 for PC and PlayStation. There was also a Game Boy Color adaptation with the same name. There is the game to The-Legend-of-Zelda - clone , with tiny and pixelated graphics, very simple plot and a nearly untauglichem combat system.

Legends of Might and Magic

The online shooter Legends of Might and Magic, based on the Lithtech engine, was also released in 2001.

Dark Messiah of Might and Magic

→ Main article : Dark Messiah of Might and Magic

Dark Messiah of Might and Magic is the third action offshoot of the series, which was developed by Arkane Studios together with Floodgate Entertainment on behalf of the new rights holder Ubisoft . It was released in Germany on October 27, 2006. The game uses the Source Engine ( Half-Life 2 ) and includes both single and multiplayer modes. As a fighter, magician or assassin you immerse yourself in the completely new and gloomy Might and Magic world of Ashan, building on the plot of Heroes of Might & Magic 5 (approx. 50,000 copies sold in Germany).

Arcomage

In Might and Magic VII and VIII , this was a game within a game. Due to the high addiction factor, it was also released as a solo game. The aim is to tear down the wall and the tower of the opponent with different cards.

Might and Magic: Clash of Heroes

Might and Magic: Clash of Heroes was released in Germany on January 14, 2010 for Nintendo DS. The part was produced by Ubisoft. In 2011 the game was also released for PC.

The Might and Magic series

• Might and Magic: Book I - Secret of the Inner Sanctum (1986)
• Might and Magic: Book II - Gates to Another World (1988)
• Might and Magic: Book III - Isles of Terra (1991)
• Might and Magic IV: Clouds of Xeen (1992)
• Might and Magic V: Darkside of Xeen (1993)
• Might and Magic VI: The Mandate of Heaven (1998)
• Might and Magic VII: For Blood and Honor (1999)
• Might and Magic VIII: Day Of The Destroyer (2000)
• Might and Magic IX: Writ of Fate (2002)
• Might and Magic X: Legacy (2014)

The Heroes of Might and Magic series

• Heroes of Might and Magic I - A Strategic Conquest (Late 1994)
• Heroes of Might and Magic II - The Succession Wars (late 1996) and add-on The Price of Loyalty
• Heroes of Might and Magic III - The Restoration of Erathia (end of 1998) and the add-ons Armageddon's Blade and The Shadow of Death as well as a five-part (+ two downloadable) offshoot Heroes Chronicles (each part a campaign)
• Heroes of Might and Magic IV (2002) and the add-ons The Gathering Storm and Winds of War
• Heroes of Might and Magic V (May 2006) and the add-ons Hammers of Fate (November 2006) and Tribes of the East (November 2007)
• Might and Magic Heroes VI (October 2011) and the add-ons Shades of Darkness and Pirates of the Savage Sea and Danse Macabre
• Might and Magic Heroes VII (September 2015)

Web links

• Official website of Dark Messiah of Might and Magic
• Might and Magic at MobyGames (English)
• MightandMagicWorld.de - extensive German-speaking fansite with a large community
• Might and Magic Tribute (English)
• Official Might & Magic website from Ubisoft (German)

Individual evidence

1. ↑ What is TELP's 1.3 Patch for MM9? ( English ) telp.org. June 19, 2003. Accessed December 2, 2011: “ TELP's 1.3 patch is an unofficial, fan-supported update to 3DO's Might & Magic® IX. It was written and released so that gamers can enjoy MM9 without concern or pre-researching for various bugs. "
2. ↑ MMx Release Date ( English ) polygon.com. March 24, 2013. Retrieved July 8, 2013: “ Might and Magic X Legacy is set for release in September as a downloadable title on Windows PC. "
3. ↑ Release of Might and Magic: Heroes VII . Retrieved June 30, 2015.
4. ↑ Nintendo DS game database DSi-Fans.de ( Memento of the original from December 18, 2009 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.