Okay buckle up, you'll be seeing me trudging through this franchise next, doing a lot for it and everything. And let me tell you, there's loads of customization from the first game alone. I have always had mixed feelings about turn-based strategy RPGs in general, and I just know I'm going to be doing a TON of these games soon enough, most in the HoM&M franchise. My initial thoughts about these games were sour due to Warsong not living up to expectations, but other games like Nippon Ichi titles have made me feel slightly better. And so approaching HoM&M, I'm actually liking it, a lot actually.
For a DOS game, the graphics are surprisingly superb, the navigation is easy to follow and the combat is also easy enough to understand. The idea of "unit stacks" is nice and allows for space to be saved. Not to forget the usage of your towns, always a key component of a turn-based strategy game but it really comes to view with this game and possibly franchise as well. The towns are EVERYTHING for your created heroes, you need those unique constructions after donating enough gold to get the best of the best troops and spells, and by the end of the game those griffins, dragons, minotaurs, etc. all with their own strengths and weaknesses, become your bread and butter as you conquer everything.
Yeah, that's another interesting selling point. HoM&M actually gives you plenty of replay value, as you only have eight scenarios to do and the ultimate goal is really to "conquer everyone". In other words don't get conquered yourself either, because your generals need to keep their composure and win everything, cause if they lose, they desert your cause. Of course, other units can be persuaded in various ways to avert such a travesty, but you really want the main heroes to be properly managed and composed so that you conquer everything well. I also appreciate how the game allows you to avert a canon sequence by allowing you to play as Ironfist's rivals; though the story is supposed to be on Ironfist himself, playing as the others is another factor for the replay value. I do look forward to the rest of the series, and hopefully with better understanding of mechanics too.
