Heroes of Might and Magic V.

The exhilarating experience gained from the Heroes of Might and Magic (HOMM) series seems to get enriched and embellished with each reincarnation.

Each new version breathes a spell of fantasy and fable, delivering an experience unparalleled by any other role-playing game (RPG).The game proves that a simple yet innovative concept that is well executed is a foolproof formula to develop a great game.

 
The basic premise of HOMM is controlling individual heroes and cities. Heroes move over a map with resource piles and production structures. Offensive and friendly armies of creatures represented as a single unit on the terrain. Numerous treasures are represented in the form of artifacts or treasure chests containing gold or experience points and various neutral structures that enhance abilities or provide mercenary units for a price. Players take turns, which boil down to limited movement points of all the heroes. In addition to the heroes moving across the map, the players can visit their cities and add or upgrade structures per turn that will provide the city with resource benefits or new units: The battle sequences are turn-based as well.

Each unit type is depicted by a single have the gating ability that lets them summon more units of the same type at the battle scene. Each race has a city that has a hierarchy of structures that cost, one of six resources available including gold, coal, crystal and mercury. The structures provide eight army unit types ranging from the basic to the most powerful unit. The army units can be upgraded to their advanced form.

Humans, for example, can produce the basic peasants and archers to the cliche knights in shining armour and the archangels. Initially, it seems as if the game has inherited the traditional throng of mythological creatures. However, they are presented rather well in the game and combined with the variety of units and their unique combat skills, the gameplay is far from boring. This has a lot to do with the fantastic transition into 3D graphics. The map looks alive with lush green trees and fields of sunflowers swaying in the breeze and the terrain varies from rich country to the barren realm of the demons where the rocks glow with veins of magma. The surface imagery is complemented with an underground network of caverns. From seaside to sandy deserts the landscape is as diverse as the units, and the creativity of the game's developers outshines that of others in the genre. From the majestic pearly white unicorn to their demonic counterparts, the nightmares, with manes of flame, with the awe inspiring titans encompassed in waves of electricity to the exotic emerald dragons of the Elvin glades, the characters personify such finesse that one often zooms in to marvel at the details put into their individual design. Even the cities look great as players can now rotate and zoom in to admire their kingdom.

The game offers six campaigns that can be played in sequence and once for each faction. It starts off with the Griffin Empire's king Nicholi, who is attacked by a demonic horde on the day of his wedding. His queen to-be escapes, and wears the armour to return to his aid, but there are other forces at play that she does not know about. The' storyline is well developed and intriguing as it makes its transition from race to race. It is narrated through some in-game cinematics, which are surprisingly unimpressive.

 The game also has standalone missions. The music and sound once again is outstanding. With the expected operatic score for games as such, t!1e tracks are as entertaining as the game itself.
The fifth remake of the HOMM series is still a great game 'to play despite the fact that is being done over and over again. It is the same sundae recipe served each time in a better bowl and with more whipped cream and nuts, and thus is one of those treats that retain their heart warming taste. 

The losing hero vanishes from the map, but can be rehired at the towns. When attacking a town, the defenders fight from within a defensive fortress (provided that one is built). The only drawback of this game is that there is no way for a player to quit the fight once it has started. When players implement a bad strategy, they either have to finish the battle or resort to the automatic battle option and wait till its all over before reloading the game. HOMM otters a wide range of diverse characters that make up the players' army. There are six playable races; the demonic horde, the undead swarms, the noble knights, the academic wizards, the nature inspired elves and the underground dwellers, each with their own distinctive cities, warriors and special abilities. The demons for example animated representative that has the number of units displayed. Units move on the screensized battleground to encounter opponents, turn by turn reducing their enemies' ranks depending on their attack strength and their foe's defences. The hero units have the option to cast spells that they have learnt or to attack any unit on screen. The strategies are unlimited as some focus on the strength of the units whereas others would rather take out the powerful units with a range attack ,before they rain hell on one's own army.

_{source Spider Mag.}