PC

  News 
  Reviews
  Previews
  Hardware
  Interviews
  All Features

Areas

  3DS
  Android
  iPad
  iPhone
  Mac
  PC
  PlayStation 3
  PlayStation 4
  Switch
  Vita
  Wii U
  Xbox 360
  Xbox One
  Media
  Archives
  Search
  Contests

 

Might & Magic IX

Score: 40%
ESRB: Teen
Publisher: 3DO
Developer: New World Computing
Media: CD/2
Players: 1
Genre: RPG

Graphics & Sound:

New World Computing's new RPG, Might & Magic IX (MM9), isn't a big departure from previous Might & Magic games in terms of graphics or sound. This game does have a new 3D engine (the LithTech engine), but the graphics don't look any better than they did in Might & Magic XI, XII, or XIII. Actually, they sometimes look worse!

The graphics are functional, but the textures are dark and blocky, and overall the effect is not pleasing. On top of this, when your party fights or casts spells, there really isn't any appropriate feedback to indicate you've just hit the enemy. Combat is largely unsatisfying for this reason alone.

Beyond all of these problems, NPCs and buildings all generally look the same. There is very little variety in the game, so you can easily tell it has all been created in a cookie cutter type of way, and this makes the game boring graphically.

Sound is fine, but it not terribly inspiring. The sound effects and music all help the game's ambience, but not in any sort of original manner. Also, the opening sequence of the game has graphics and animation that look primitive, and really detract from the overall game.


Gameplay:

Gameplay is very similar to previous games. Combat seems more balanced, and some things have changed. You can only start out as either a magic user or a fighter, and it isn't until later in the game that you can specialize your class. This is a big departure from the previous games, and for the most part works well. This does make for a lukewarm beginning to a game that really doesn't have much going for it, though. One of the enjoyable aspects of most RPGs is 'rolling' your character, and that is basically absent from MM9.

Very little information is provided as you play the game. There is almost no background information, and quest details are basically completely missing. As you interact with NPCs, you really have no idea what you need to get from them or how. The automap and quest log don't help very much, and since they are not annotatable, you have to keep track of your own notes separately.


Difficulty:

Compared to previous Might & Magic games, combat is more reasonable in Might & Magic IX, and there are enough options to customize the game so it is not as impossible as it used to be.

Unfortunately, the difficulty of the game comes in terms of figuring out what you are supposed to do, and why. For some this might be welcome, and they might enjoy the mystery of figuring it all out. This reviewer found it all very frustrating.


Game Mechanics:

Similar to previous games in the series, Might & Magic IX 's user interface is functional but unappealing. As mentioned before, very little feedback is given when fighting or even when attempting to outfit your party. The provided manual is sparse, so figuring out some of the details will force you to check online forums and FAQs.

New World Computing should be ashamed of themselves for producing derivative game after derivative game. Might & Magic VI was an excellent game in many respects, but it's sad to see the company producing a game today that really isn't any better that it was three years ago. Needless to say, I don't recommend this game to anyone except those who are diehard Might & Magic fans.


-Gordy, GameVortex Communications
AKA Gary Lucero

Minimum System Requirements:



Windows 95/98, PII 400, 64MB RAM, 3D Accelerator, 1024MB available HD, sound card
 

Test System:



Windows XP Professional, 384MB RAM, NVidia Geforce II Ultra with 64MB RAM, Soundblaster Live!

Windows Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance Windows The Elder Scrolls III: Tribunal

 
Game Vortex :: PSIllustrated