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IGN Review of Might & Magic Clash of Heroes
The Might and Magic franchise has been around for decades now. Since its dawn in 1986 the franchise has seen dozens of games and multiple spin-offs, and while hardcore gamers agree that it's a powerhouse in the realm of strategy games it's safe to say that for most gamers out there the series has lost some serious steam as years go on. For that reason alone I'd expect some gamers to roll their eyes at a Might and Magic DS release; especially one that dons a new anime-influenced look. I picked the game up for the first time at this year's E3 with a common notion: "Well, this is some spin-off Might and Magic game...looks nice, but not sure I care." The end result: my preconceptions couldn't have been farther from the truth. Ubisoft and independent developer Capybara Games (known best for its work on the award-winning puzzler Critter Crunch) have put a surprising exclamation mark on the end of DS's 2009 with a game that screams "sleeper hit of the year." DS is a crowded market filled with some seriously top-notch games, but there's no doubt Might and Magic deserves to sit with the best of the best.
First things first, though. Might and Magic isn't a traditional game within the series, and as such it's a game that doesn't expect you to know or even care about Might and Magic's illustrious past. This is the first game in a new franchise, titled Clash of Heroes, and if it wasn't for the marketing power behind the Might and Magic name players would have no idea it was even taken from the same concepts. In every way, shape, and form, Clash of Heroes is an original IP. It's new for Ubisoft, it's new for Capy Games, and it's new for gamers. In all honesty I actually wish it didn't hold the Might and Magic name, as that implies something other than what it is. Toss out all those preconceptions though: this is a must-play strategy game on DS.
Clash of Heroes could best be described as a mix of role-playing game and card battler elements, mixed with some seriously strategic unit movement and open-ended customization. The battle mechanic has two players facing each other, with the front lines pointing towards the gap between the DS's two screens. Each player alternates by taking their turn -- usually allowing for three "moves" -- and then control is passed over to their opponent. Battles kick off with each set of armies rushing into place in a random formation, but from there it's all up to how you want to play the game. A horizontal connection of three like-colored units results in a wall, whereas vertical stacking -- almost like a game of Solitaire -- connects the units into a formation. Each type of unit has different stats and limitations, including a specific charge time before their attack (measured in turns) and attack power. As turns go on formations tick down in charge time while building up power, eventually attacking up towards the other army in an attempt to breakthrough and deal damage to the opposing hero.
It's a bit much to take in at first, but after seeing the game of attack and counter-attack begin to build up an endless amount of strategies emerge. Even within just one of the game's races there's a huge level of strategy and customization. Take the humans, for example. Do you bring only bow-wielding rangers to the fight, relying on their quick charge time despite their weak attacks? Do you invest in spearmen who have longer reach and can actually take out enemy units without hurting their own attack in the process? Or do you dive deeper, bringing in expensive elite units like knights or priests for added attack power or healing during the heat of battle? These are choices that'll make each player's experience unique to their play style, while also keeping things surprisingly balanced along the way.
Clash of Heroes includes a wireless multiplayer mode for local battles, and once you really get the feel for how matches carry out you will -- like me -- be out to convert DS-owning buddies to pick the game up just so you can test your strategies. There's unfortunately no online mode included, but that doesn't mean you'll be short-handed as far as overall depth to the game. Might and Magic's campaign mode is no joke, spanning the game's five alignments -- Haven (human), Inferno (demon), Sylvan (elf), Academy (mage), and Necropolis (undead) -- and lasting well over 30 hours to complete the main quest, side quests, and puzzle battles. In fact, I've put in over 45 hours on the game spanning both single-player and multiplayer battles, and there's still secret units I haven't found, bounties I haven't completed, and puzzle battles left to conquer. The game is massive.
And while the sheer length of Clash of Heroes is enough to keep players drawn in, Might and Magic delivers the total package from nearly every angle. The music is well-composed and beautifully executed, taking inspiration from the Super Nintendo era and franchises like Final Fantasy, Breath of Fire, and Chrono Trigger. On the visual side of things, the world of Clash of Heroes again feels almost stripped directly from the Super Nintendo age, combining a Super Mario World map design with plenty of beautifully crafted locales, some impressive sprite animations, and plenty of visual trickery to show off scale. The attention to detail is extremely impressive, with tiny animations for fireflies and running water, all combined with extravagant set pieces that showcase statues, castles, city streets, and undead-inhabited catacombs. You won't see any 3D or technically masterful achievements outside of the pixel art itself, but if you were a fan of the classic SNES era of gaming Capy's work will pull you in instantly.
For as good as the game is though, there are still a few downsides, or at least somewhat tricky elements. The character design, for one, is a bit too baby-face for my liking. It has an anime-inspired look, but a few of the characters are extremely kid-like, and it feels aged down a bit too much for how serious and truly mature (in difficulty and player expectation; not in an M-rated way) the game is. On the gameplay side there are a few additions that could have really made the game shine even further. There's no bestiary or way of checking out rival units, so the only real way to learn about an opponent's army is to just jump in and see what units do what against you, and figure out why they're either stronger or weaker than your current setup. As part of the "customizable card game" feel to Clash of Heroes there's also no way of controlling what exact units you start with once in a match, which means a bad roll of pieces could stick you with too many of the game's larger units (which can take multiple turns to even attempt to set up for a single attack) or too many of one unit and not enough of another. You can decide what units you want to bring into battle, but not how many of each will actually spawn when things get going.
That's all part of the game, and I'd even argue it's a vital piece of the mechanic, but it also brings in a bit of a luck factor, and more hardcore players (myself included) could have moments where turning the game off and just restarting the latest battle seems like the best course of action. Still, that only really comes into play if you're out to never lose units (core units are unlimited, but the game's larger pieces are purchased during campaign mode, so you're essentially losing money if they die in battle) and want to horde your cash. All in all it's a great system that works just fine.
The only other downside I found in my time with the game came with the trial and error gameplay that is sometimes needed. When challenging somebody to a battle, for example, you have no idea how strong their units are or if you're simply too early to jump in a fight with them stats-wise. Instead, you find out their unit levels after agreeing to a match. It adds a bit more mystery to it all, but a profile of that character with their current units (and levels) would have been a nice addition before challenging an opponent that's a half dozen levels above you. In the same boat are the boss challenges. Overall they rock with some amazing concepts and entertaining designs, but they can also be a bit of trial and error. You jump in with a set of units, realize that the fight is geared towards an entirely different setup, and have to take a beating or retreat mid-fight to regroup. It works, but it's something to look out for and a minor gripe. Thankfully all these gripes are minimal complaints, and the majority of the game is full of well-crafted challenges with plenty of variation throughout; there's just plenty of room for a potential sequel to improve upon.
©2009-12-01, IGN Entertainment, Inc. All Rights Reserved
First things first, though. Might and Magic isn't a traditional game within the series, and as such it's a game that doesn't expect you to know or even care about Might and Magic's illustrious past. This is the first game in a new franchise, titled Clash of Heroes, and if it wasn't for the marketing power behind the Might and Magic name players would have no idea it was even taken from the same concepts. In every way, shape, and form, Clash of Heroes is an original IP. It's new for Ubisoft, it's new for Capy Games, and it's new for gamers. In all honesty I actually wish it didn't hold the Might and Magic name, as that implies something other than what it is. Toss out all those preconceptions though: this is a must-play strategy game on DS.
Clash of Heroes could best be described as a mix of role-playing game and card battler elements, mixed with some seriously strategic unit movement and open-ended customization. The battle mechanic has two players facing each other, with the front lines pointing towards the gap between the DS's two screens. Each player alternates by taking their turn -- usually allowing for three "moves" -- and then control is passed over to their opponent. Battles kick off with each set of armies rushing into place in a random formation, but from there it's all up to how you want to play the game. A horizontal connection of three like-colored units results in a wall, whereas vertical stacking -- almost like a game of Solitaire -- connects the units into a formation. Each type of unit has different stats and limitations, including a specific charge time before their attack (measured in turns) and attack power. As turns go on formations tick down in charge time while building up power, eventually attacking up towards the other army in an attempt to breakthrough and deal damage to the opposing hero.
It's a bit much to take in at first, but after seeing the game of attack and counter-attack begin to build up an endless amount of strategies emerge. Even within just one of the game's races there's a huge level of strategy and customization. Take the humans, for example. Do you bring only bow-wielding rangers to the fight, relying on their quick charge time despite their weak attacks? Do you invest in spearmen who have longer reach and can actually take out enemy units without hurting their own attack in the process? Or do you dive deeper, bringing in expensive elite units like knights or priests for added attack power or healing during the heat of battle? These are choices that'll make each player's experience unique to their play style, while also keeping things surprisingly balanced along the way.
Clash of Heroes includes a wireless multiplayer mode for local battles, and once you really get the feel for how matches carry out you will -- like me -- be out to convert DS-owning buddies to pick the game up just so you can test your strategies. There's unfortunately no online mode included, but that doesn't mean you'll be short-handed as far as overall depth to the game. Might and Magic's campaign mode is no joke, spanning the game's five alignments -- Haven (human), Inferno (demon), Sylvan (elf), Academy (mage), and Necropolis (undead) -- and lasting well over 30 hours to complete the main quest, side quests, and puzzle battles. In fact, I've put in over 45 hours on the game spanning both single-player and multiplayer battles, and there's still secret units I haven't found, bounties I haven't completed, and puzzle battles left to conquer. The game is massive.
And while the sheer length of Clash of Heroes is enough to keep players drawn in, Might and Magic delivers the total package from nearly every angle. The music is well-composed and beautifully executed, taking inspiration from the Super Nintendo era and franchises like Final Fantasy, Breath of Fire, and Chrono Trigger. On the visual side of things, the world of Clash of Heroes again feels almost stripped directly from the Super Nintendo age, combining a Super Mario World map design with plenty of beautifully crafted locales, some impressive sprite animations, and plenty of visual trickery to show off scale. The attention to detail is extremely impressive, with tiny animations for fireflies and running water, all combined with extravagant set pieces that showcase statues, castles, city streets, and undead-inhabited catacombs. You won't see any 3D or technically masterful achievements outside of the pixel art itself, but if you were a fan of the classic SNES era of gaming Capy's work will pull you in instantly.
For as good as the game is though, there are still a few downsides, or at least somewhat tricky elements. The character design, for one, is a bit too baby-face for my liking. It has an anime-inspired look, but a few of the characters are extremely kid-like, and it feels aged down a bit too much for how serious and truly mature (in difficulty and player expectation; not in an M-rated way) the game is. On the gameplay side there are a few additions that could have really made the game shine even further. There's no bestiary or way of checking out rival units, so the only real way to learn about an opponent's army is to just jump in and see what units do what against you, and figure out why they're either stronger or weaker than your current setup. As part of the "customizable card game" feel to Clash of Heroes there's also no way of controlling what exact units you start with once in a match, which means a bad roll of pieces could stick you with too many of the game's larger units (which can take multiple turns to even attempt to set up for a single attack) or too many of one unit and not enough of another. You can decide what units you want to bring into battle, but not how many of each will actually spawn when things get going.
That's all part of the game, and I'd even argue it's a vital piece of the mechanic, but it also brings in a bit of a luck factor, and more hardcore players (myself included) could have moments where turning the game off and just restarting the latest battle seems like the best course of action. Still, that only really comes into play if you're out to never lose units (core units are unlimited, but the game's larger pieces are purchased during campaign mode, so you're essentially losing money if they die in battle) and want to horde your cash. All in all it's a great system that works just fine.
The only other downside I found in my time with the game came with the trial and error gameplay that is sometimes needed. When challenging somebody to a battle, for example, you have no idea how strong their units are or if you're simply too early to jump in a fight with them stats-wise. Instead, you find out their unit levels after agreeing to a match. It adds a bit more mystery to it all, but a profile of that character with their current units (and levels) would have been a nice addition before challenging an opponent that's a half dozen levels above you. In the same boat are the boss challenges. Overall they rock with some amazing concepts and entertaining designs, but they can also be a bit of trial and error. You jump in with a set of units, realize that the fight is geared towards an entirely different setup, and have to take a beating or retreat mid-fight to regroup. It works, but it's something to look out for and a minor gripe. Thankfully all these gripes are minimal complaints, and the majority of the game is full of well-crafted challenges with plenty of variation throughout; there's just plenty of room for a potential sequel to improve upon.
©2009-12-01, IGN Entertainment, Inc. All Rights Reserved