Overview
Alright, we are back for some more inspiration continuing from our last post.
Here’s the link to our last post covering the strategy part of the series:
Might and Magic Series Part 1/2
Today, we will be covering the core part of this series that droves the stories of Might and Magic into something more and at the end of this, you will know why.
Series summary
Let me recapped on what this series is all about. Might and Magic, created by Jon Van Caneghem, has been expanded into countless of games, expanded even to every possible genre ranging from strategy (Heroes series), Action (Warrior, Legend), to RPG which is the genre we will be focusing about today.
The Might And Magic Series consists of:
- Might and Magic 1 - 5 (These are on DOS, and stories are somewhat unrelated)
- Might and Magic 6: Mandate of Heaven
- Might and Magic 7: Blood of Honor
- Might and Magic 8: Day of the Destroyer
- Might and Magic 9 (Last stand from the struggle of 3DO, and failed miserably)
We will be focusing on Might and Magic 6 - 8 where stories are occurred in the same world. Story though are sort of mixed up, for example Heroes 3 expansion pack called The Shadow of Death comes before the Heroes 3 original game. (Weird sequence, I know)
Prologue
The Ancients, protector of worlds are a being which are believe to be the one who seeds the galaxy. The ancients somehow got in a war with the demon race called Kreegans and so parts of the galaxy are cut off from the ancient’s influences. These part of galaxy are the place where Might and Magic worlds took place.
Might and Magic 6: Mandate of Heaven (1998)
Might and Magic 6 begins after Heroes of Might and Magic 3 The Shadow of Death which happens in the continent of Enroth. At that time, the situation was chaotic. Kreegans (Devils/Demons in the Might and Magic Universe) kidnapping the King of Enroth, leaving his only child to rule the kingdom. A group of adventurers decided to stop the invasion of Kreegans and the ongoing war by destroying the Kreegan’s queen and became the Hero.
This may seems like a Cliché storyline of a fantasy world, but the ending does unraveled a some what strange and interesting twist. Jon has managed to combine the fantasy world with a technological world. The Kreegan’s queen is in fact an alien from another planet utilizing a very out of the world technologies.
From sword in the beginning of the game to ancient blasters shooting lasers at the end of the game. Who would have thought that such a fantasy RPG could turn out to be a Futuristic RPG. You would think that this is just weird but the transit from these 2 genres were very smoothly blended to the storyline which created quite an amazing experience you will never have in other games.The story is so deep that you will feel connected to it in no time.
For those of you who have never try this game out, We suggest you go try it as this is probably one of the first open ended world RPG with awesome plot you will ever experience.
Also, the music is just as stunning as its counterparts, the Heroes series:
The Intros:
Outstanding Music from the Start Zone:
Adventure Town Exploring Music
Sweet Water Music
Ironfist Castle Music
Bad Ending (SPOILERS)
Good Ending (SPOILERS)
Might and Magic 7: For Blood and Honor (1999)
In this game, You are started as a long lost adventurers from Might and Magic 3 (they were simply lost at the end of that game). Accidentally crashed at the coast of Antagarich continent in the same world as the previous installment.
In this game, you have to pick a path of the angels or the devils, and each path have their own storyline. Because of this, at that time, the game was pretty revolutionary in my opinion and simply add values to the game with the ability to replay the game in different path. Giving such a devastating choice, allows you to really get caught to the storyline.It feels that you are shaping the world of your own as you continue playing. I believe that this is the best installment of all three. Plus, also the music has improve from the previous game with more orchestral feel. Check some of it out:
The Intro
Bracada Desert Theme Song
Dungeon Theme Song (Beware, It will give you goosebumps)
Nighon (Intense!)
Castle Gryphonheart (EPIC!)
Erathia
Emerald Island (The very first music that really gives a shrill feel to it)
The End (SPOILER!)
Might and Magic 8: Day of the Destroyer
It began with the Ancients believing that this world are swarmed by the Kreegans and are no longer maintainable. The ancients has a policy that if these world are beyond their control, in order to stop the spread of the Kreegans, they will have to take matters into their own hands. Escaton, one of their servants, the most powerful planeswalker is sent to this world to destroy it to seal the fate of the Kreegans. Escaton decided to release the wrath of the elementals to destroy the world for good.
Again, there are adventures who have decided to try and stop this cataclysm by helping out the elementals back to their order and destroy Escaton with the help of these elementals. The world is safe, once again.
Even though this installment, is not as popular as the previous two, it is still entertaining to play the game.
The Intro
Main Menu Music
Daggerwood Island (The Starting Zone)
The End (SPOILER!)
Conclusion
If you are still not convinced to try this game out, then I guess you have a different taste in game. To conclude this series of posts, I find this series very inspirational, from every perspective.With its deep storyline combining with such a creative way of relating fantasy elements with technological elements. Without this very series, I might not get interested to art in the first place. I might not be as imaginative as I am now.I would like to thanks Jon Van Canegham for creating this series, Paul Romero and Rob King for composing such a memorial music for these games and the community that support the series to the end and onward (Resurrection etc.)
We hope you enjoyed what we have compose with these series of post. Stay tune for more inspiring games series.
