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By Al Giovetti, 05/29/97
Price: $60
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Release:
Developer: PopTop Software
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Programmer:
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Publisher: New World Computing
Phone: 800-325-8898
Website: www.nwcomputing.com
Requirements:BM 486/66 or greater and 100% compatibles, 8MB RAM, Double speed CD-ROM drive, 60 MB hard drive space, SVGA graphics card, Windows 95

Heroes of Might and Magic II

History

The first Heroes of Might and Magic was a simple turn based strategy game where you start with a castle, single hero, and several small creature armies. You explore, collect artifacts, and battle other wandering groups and attack structures all in top down perspective. When there is a combat you switch to a side view combat screen with your guys on the left and theirs on the right. There is some very basic tactical movements in combat.

People went nuts an dbought the game in droves.

Company Line

Having crushed his enemies, consolidated his power base and eliminated dissent at the end of Heroes of Might and Magic, Lord Ironfist settled down to rule the land of Enroth. After 25 years of peace, the land is again thrust into turmoil. Lord Ironfist is dead and the ensuing struggle for power between his sons, Archibald and Roland, has led to a state of civil war. Players must choose sides and gather their armies as they use all of their strategic wit and tactics to join in the battle for domination of the lands.

Features

Heroes of Might and Magic, a multiple award winning game, pushed the envelope for strategy games with beautiful hand drawn graphics. In Heroes of Might and Magic II all graphics have been upgraded and expanded. The computer has been given a new AI full of improvements.

Heroes II now boasts an adaptable interface, changing its look and feel depending on whether you play a good or evil character. Playing the good side will give the player more access to healing and protection oriented spells and monsters, while playing the evil side will give access to destructive spells and foul monsters.

An unusually interactive campaign storyline combined with thousands of man-hours worth of cinematic cut sequences creates a unique atmosphere that draws the player into a fantasy world rife with noble deeds and base betrayals.

In addition, two new character classes (Necromancers and Wizards), and new terrain types have been added, while the heroes' skills have been expanded to encompass everything from combat to movement and diplomacy. This adds an enhanced RPG element to the game, allowing players to continue playing certain heroes and advance their abilities through multiple scenarios.

A diverse range of features have been implemented, including approximately 40 campaign scenarios with unique 3D rendered sequences for each. Let's not forget the horde of monsters, spells, events and artifacts that made Heroes of Might and Magic so memorable. Heroes II now has over 50 monsters, 60 spells and 70 artifact types.

Game Play

This is a turn-based strategy game that involves exploration of a large map and a special combat screen with very simple tactical movement.

There is a campaign mode with 20 missions for each side, the good and the evil, for a total of 40 missions.

There are two new characters, the wizard and the necromancer which add to the Heroes 1 character types of barbarian, knight, sorceress, and warlock. The Wizard, a magic user, leads an army of Rocs, Iron Golems, Titans, and other magical creatures. The Necromancer controls skeletons, vampires, liches, and other undead creatures.

The spell system is also different. You are no longer required to memorize spells once learned. A spell point system is used and once the spell points are gone you must retain the mana points to throw spells again. Spell points are allocated in proportion to wisdom and intelligence attributes.

There are more spells in Heros 2 than Heroes 1. The new spells include the disrupting ray, chain lightning, summon elemental. Magical power takes a greater role in winning battles as well. You need to start developing and accumulating magic quickly to win the game.

The new overhead perspective mission maps are both larger and smaller than before with sizes ranging from one-fourth to four times the previous area. The side view combat area is also larger allowing room for more monsters and maneuvering during battle.

Heroes now have secondary skills that give battle advantages. One hero can learn up to eight diffferent skills from a pallette of 14 skills. Each skill has three levels: basic, advanced, and expert. As the skill advances in level extra power is conferred. Skills are conferred by gaining levels through gaining experience. Heroes can also own estates permitting them to earn more money.

Towns are enhanced with upgradable structures which can build and train more powerful creatures for your armies. Towns also have moats that slow down siege attackers. You can also hire a captain of the guard to help defend your town in case of attack.

Castles can now lower the drawbridge so that your non-flying troops can do battle during the siege. Each castle now has a special power, such as a rainbow which adds luck, a storm which adds spell power, and the dungeon which gives you greater money.

Plot

The old Lord Ironfist is dead and his sons all wanting the throne have forced the land into a vicious civil war. One of the sons is the rightful heir who must regain his kingdom and the other son is an evil usurper who now sits on the throne. You have the choice to fight for good and right or evil and might. Each side good and evil have their own set of missions to fight to win the campaign.

Graphics

The graphics are a combination of three dimensional rendered cut scenes and hand drawn artwork. Sprites and character portraits are hand drawn. All these effects are presented in 640x480 pixel resolution with a 256-color pallette.

Animation

Voice Actors

Music Score

Sound Effects

Utilities

Multi-player Features

Players can now play up to 6 people instead of 4 via hot-seat, modem, network, direct connect and INTERNET PLAY.

Cheats, Hints, Walkthrough

Journalists

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References