If you’ve played
Might and Magic VI or
VII, you know what to expect. It’s a mix of turn-based and real-time fighting. In
MM8, you’re out to save the world from the Destroyer. Typical
Might and Magic fare, neh? Those who are not new to the series will appreciate coming back to the world of
Might and Magic.
Unlike the previous games, you recruit characters instead of starting off with them. This gives you less choice than the make-your-own situation of the previous games, and as such, is something of a loss. You can play as a Necromancer, Cleric, Knight, Troll, Minotaur, Dark Elf, or Vampire from the beginning, and later on can recruit a Dragon. Of course, if you’re a cheap bastard like me, your best bet is probably the Dark Elf so you can bow-and-arrow your enemies to oblivion without ever getting hit. It’s cheap, and it’s a problem with the engine, but it works just fine.
And therein lies the problem. When MM6 came out, the whole real-time/turn-based thing was novel and different, and a helluva lot of fun. Now with MM8, it’s just not enough to really make you want to spend your hard-earned money. Sure, there are jillions of quests to do, and the plot itself is pretty interesting (if not all that surprising), but Might and Magic VIII just doesn’t offer enough new stuff to make it all that worthwhile.
