Gamescom 2011

Might & Magic Heroes VI Impressions

Giancarlo Varanini
By Giancarlo Varanini, Senior Editor

The long-running turn-based strategy series returns with an updated look, story, and gameplay mechanics.

Though it was just recently announced, Might & Magic Heroes VI (notice the name change) is on display at Gamescom in Germany in the form of a very brief demo. But before jumping into that, we got some background on the game in development at Black Hole Entertainment. The first thing we were told about was the story, which takes place 400 years before the events that transpired in Heroes of Might & Magic V. Members of Ubisoft demoing the game said that the story won’t follow the typical fantasy outline of a young boy who sees his family killed and takes up arms against those responsible. Rather, Might & Magic VI’s story will be a bit more complex than that, revolving around five brothers and sisters who chose very different paths in life that will ultimately be reflected in how their individual campaigns pan out. Ubisoft representatives even went so far as to say that the game’s story would have more in common with something like the Song of Ice and Fire series of books.

As for the gameplay, the development team has spent a lot of time refining and attempting to perfect the formula that has made Might & Magic such a fan favorite over the years. In fact, Ubisoft and Black Hole Entertainment even set up a special message board for VIP fans of the previous games to discuss what they would like to see improved or changed for Heroes VI. For example, many people complained that the 3D in Heroes V made it difficult to see items and other objects, so that has seemingly been addressed already for VI.

But one of the bigger changes we know about so far deals directly with resource management. All resources are linked to castles in Heroes VI, so if you choose to attack a castle and you win, you automatically get all of the resources tied to it as opposed to just fighting for a single resource--over and over. Additionally, once in possession of a castle, you can decide what you want to do with it. You can convert it completely to your class (for example, if you’re a necromancer, the castle changes accordingly) or decide things like how it can defend itself. When engaged in turn-based combat on the battle maps, you’ll see an initiative bar that shows you the attack order (units can have only one action per round). Hero characters will also have special faction capabilities, and there will be alternative objectives for some battles that may require you to do things like rescue a specific character or just survive. Also, 40 percent of the creatures per faction will be entirely new, and there are also two whole factions that have yet to be revealed. And finally, the last bit of gameplay info we gleaned from the demo is that there will be boss battles. We didn’t get to see one in action, but we did get to see the cinematic leading up to a confrontation with what appeared to be some kind of water dragon.

Even at such an early state Might & Magic Heroes VI looks quite detailed (the new jungle tile set looks especially impressive), and it seems like the foundation for the gameplay is well in place. Of course, we’re curious as to how it plays given that there seem to be so many relatively minor modifications--most of which we don’t even know about quite yet. It’s also nice to see a continued effort toward making games like Might & Magic a bit more accessible through user-interface customization (deciding which spells you want immediately accessible and where). We’ll have more on this and other details before the game’s release in 2011 for the PC.

Giancarlo Varanini
By Giancarlo Varanini, Senior Editor

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41 Comments

  • arruu2000

    Posted Oct 4, 2011 3:21 pm GMT

    this game looks very similar to HOMM V, doesn´t it. I think it´s going to be a cheap sequeal... I will play though, i liked HOMM V so i guess i liked this as well,.. besides, I want to know how the story continues. I hope the story is not cheap.

  • nyran125

    Posted Jul 15, 2011 6:27 pm GMT

    i didnt like Heroes 5 at all. I just want an updated graphics engine without the stupid bulky childish Warcraft 3 graphics that Heroes 5 had. I prefer the top down view of Heroes 3 also. Heroes 3 owns and still does. Just everything about it (Accept Devils are really underpowered compared to everyone else). Heroes 3 is seriously still one of the best turn based MP strategy games of all time. Its still yet to be beaten.

  • evaneself

    Posted Feb 6, 2011 9:41 am GMT

    @tenaus Excuse me, I wrote something about Activision?

  • tenaus

    Posted Feb 2, 2011 12:54 pm GMT

    @evaneself actually Activision has nothing to do with this game. Personally, i'm looking forward to it.

  • dark_sith_

    Posted Feb 2, 2011 8:18 am GMT

    For me Heroes of Might and Magic ended right about the same time New World Computing did. I still play both HoMM 3 and 4 and like them both, but Ubisoft is just ruining the memory of a great franchise with their so called sequels. If you wish to play something reminiscent of the old HoMM games, get yourself King's Bounty: The Legend and its expansions.

  • remiaw

    Posted Jan 29, 2011 7:35 pm GMT

    homm3wog 4ever!

  • fatasi_rpg_pl

    Posted Jan 3, 2011 10:41 pm GMT

    1 - On pictures you can only see 4 ressources...Really??? Won't that be too easy? I liked the variety of ressources.
    2 - Don't f*** the game up with a stupid game protection that will probably fail anyways plz... 3 - I hope they will let the choice of upgrade you want like in Heroes 5 exp. It was really intresting.
    4 - I' m not sure abt this one...but interaction with the in-battle map would be a good add-on for the strategy aspect. Some thing like in old Heroes, when you get reduced range damage if behind obstacle...
    5 - I think the in-battle mini quest like keeping a creature alive, or wtv. is a good idea.
    6 - If they do as they said and puts a cool story (with emotions, not only useless blah blah) it would add an very important point to the game. Now days games are getting very soft on story...they concentrate on useless protection, on glitchy graphics, on sometimes-failed gameplay but they forget the story. -Paying a game is in parts fun because you are able to live another life as someone else...so an intresting story would be appreciated (dragon age origins had a good story bro in arms hell's highway was greate 2 for exemple)

  • D4rkey

    Posted Dec 5, 2010 7:54 pm GMT

    I dont understand wasting so much time trying to come up with a new piracy-protection system, that in the end just ruins the fun for those who buy it.
    Is there one game out there that hasnt been able to be cracked? I see games with that big fat protection, everyone that's bought it is being tortured, one week later, a cracked version comes out, wich totally removes the protection. And the guys who bought it is downloading the cracked version just because it runs better.
    Dont they realise that the guys cracking games do it because they love the challenge? Stop challenging them and maybe they'll grow bored.

  • Shardz7

    Posted Nov 17, 2010 6:55 pm GMT

    I've been an avid Heroes fan since the first game came out and have grown fond of every version and relative expansion to date. Heroes V complete (with all addons and patches) is a masterpiece - even with some of the nitpicking issues some may have. The production values on that game are incredible and a sheer joy to jump into and get lost for a while - and that is what makes this series so great.

    I'm reading these new mechanics changes lined up for Heroes VI and some features are sounding like the dreaded old "watered-down-for-consoles" trend that all PC users despise in general - much like Ubisoft's draconian copy protection that will leave most out in the cold, including myself. Was anyone really complaining about capturing individual resource locales in the previous games? Now we just simply capture the castle and it auto-captures...well, what if I just needed a gem mine so I could have units to attack with first? Yup...this is headed straight to the XBOX on the same path that Civilization Revolution took and won't be doing fans any favors at all. When you throw in Ubisoft's loser Connect-O-Matic copy protection scheme into the mix, this is sounding more and more like I'll be having Heroes V Complete on my hard drive until some other peace-loving company buys out this franchise from Ubisoft's failed policies. Time will tell I suppose, but I'm not betting big money on this carnation.

  • Lukozer

    Posted Oct 11, 2010 2:47 pm GMT

    Loved HOMM 3 and 5 and would be really looking forward to this... if it wasn't for the fact that Activision are doing their utmost to kill PC gaming from within. There is no way i will even think of purchasing this if it has the same DRM infestation as their other recent releases. I've no problem with DRM, IF it doesn't interfere with playing the game at all. This fails miserably at that, so i'm one of a growing number of people who will not buy an Activision game, no matter how good it may be, while it still has this "feature".

  • vadagar1

    Posted Oct 10, 2010 5:10 pm GMT

    omg 2011 for all the good games....

    I'M DYING HERE XD

  • evaneself

    Posted Oct 2, 2010 4:48 pm GMT

    Please, no DRM, no Activations. Sell this game for collectors, for fans. Piracy will exist anyway, do not despise the fans.

  • Djolejada

    Posted Sep 15, 2010 2:11 am GMT

    Sadly I am quite pessimistic that MMH 6 (dont get the name change) will be quite good like HoMM 3. Judging by images it look like it will be very similar to HoMM 5. So probably this game will have great graphics and impressive atmosphere with lots of different creatures but with not so good gameplay. Still I am 100% sure I will buy this game

  • fredrikslicer

    Posted Sep 2, 2010 4:29 pm GMT

    DRM or not im getting this game!

  • flashn00b

    Posted Aug 27, 2010 12:18 pm GMT

    I'd vouch for this game if not for the ubisoft DRM.

  • Zarzha

    Posted Aug 23, 2010 6:37 pm GMT

    I can see boss battle being inspired by the Capybara's Might & Magic from the DS. The boss battles on the DS was over the top amazing. Even when I couldn't handle the pain (cough, stupid lich, cough), I always go back because the boss battles are so different and done so well. Using this inspiration, I can see boss battles in M&M VI Heroes being very amazing. Please don't let it be just a different hero with bunch of troops, make it a real boss battle.

  • malavos

    Posted Aug 21, 2010 8:24 pm GMT

    New factions... Interesting.
    New mechanics.
    400 years before.

    One pre-order please?

  • RO-nIn187

    Posted Aug 21, 2010 11:26 am GMT

    damn, i remember my summers in romania playing homm 3 armageddons blade all day long with friends on one pc just to go party all night part 4 was the worst so far but still playable and i loved 5 cant wait for this one! my wife will kill me if i play through the nights but who cares

  • Cocoloto

    Posted Aug 20, 2010 3:12 am GMT

    I was hoping that if they will make a heroes of might and magic VI WILL CONTINUE THE STORY OF V GAME.BUT.........................IS NOT.