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| By Chris McVeigh In the ephemeral space of a single breath, everything changes. The clash of the mighty swords causes a cascading explosion so powerful that it shatters reality as surely as it splits the earth beneath your feet. The massive firestorm surges towards you at an incredible rate. As you turn to flee, you spot a glowing light in the distance. It calls to you, beckons you closer, and envelopes you in its bright embrace. Everything around you slows to stop, and suddenly, there is nothing. |
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 As you set forth into a mysterious new world, you’ll confront countless
beasts and hostile armies.
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“Heroes of Might and Magic IV is a top-notch strategy experience reinvented for the next generation of gamers,” says Chaz Fitzhugh, Heroes Marketing Brand Manager at 3DO.
Send your heroes across an unfamiliar landscape to seize resources and conquer foes!
3DO’s Heroes of Might and Magic IV is an absorbing strategy game that follows your heroes (learn more about Heroes in the “Heroes For Hire” sidebar on page 2) across the mysterious new world of Axeoth. As you explore the unfamiliar landscape, you’ll confront an array of vicious beasts and hostile armies that stand between you and the spoils of war. “Heroes of Might and Magic IV is the most immersive Heroes game ever,” says Chaz Fitzhugh. “Whether you like amassing armies, casting devastating spells, devising cunning battle strategies, or simply exploring vast worlds, you’ll find yourself hooked for hours on end.”
Strategy and More
Heroes of Might and Magic IV is billed as a turn-based strategy game, but many argue that this description is far too narrow. The game features several distinct forms of game play, including resource management, role-playing, and of course, strategy.
Over the course of the game, you develop armies composed of specialized hero characters and troops of creatures. You’ll move these armies over both land and sea, seeking natural resources, creature nurseries, power-ups that increase your skills, and treasures that increase your wealth. The game features six massive campaigns and over twenty individual scenarios that further the storyline. Capturing towns is the objective of many scenarios, and for good reason — towns that have succumbed to your wrath supply you with new hero characters, creatures, magic spells, and gold. Unlike previous titles in the series, however, it’s possible to successfully complete a scenario without having conquered any new towns.
You can find new heroes in many places,
including the local tavern.
including the local tavern.
James Dickenson, Heroes of Might and Magic IV’s producer at 3DO, explains that the game “blends the rich storytelling of the Might and Magic role-playing series of games with the turn-based, resource management of the original Heroes of Might and Magic.” It’s a sentiment echoed by Greg Hines, Heroes IV’s lead tester, who notes that the game “combines elements like city building and troop placement with role-playing elements such as exploring unknown areas, acquiring artifacts, and advancing the skills of your heroes.”
Battles occur when your army comes face to face with an opposing army or a clan of monsters. A close-up of the battlefield then appears, placing your troops across from the approaching enemy. Hero characters and creature troops can each face one of eight different directions, engaging in either hand-to-hand combat, ranged combat, or magical combat. You select a specific target and attack for each member of your army, and then watch sparks fly as the opposing forces take turns striking one another.
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It’s important to understand the strengths and weaknesses of your heroes and troops, too. An effective strategy is your only guarantee of success.
A New Perspective
Although Heroes of Might and Magic IV differs from its predecessors in a number of ways, the most obvious changes are graphical. Dickenson notes that 3DO worked very hard to overhaul the game’s graphics engine to provide a new isometric view that showcases a richly detailed landscape. “Players now have a much more dramatic bird’s eye view of the action,” he says.
Menacing Black Dragons fly over the battlefield.
Fitzhugh is equally buoyant. “The new [viewing perspective] and increased animation make the game so much more visually appealing,” he beams. “This is a key reason fans will flock to the game — they’ll see the screenshot on the box and immediately see the difference.”
Heroes of Might and Magic IV also includes editing tools that let you design your own campaigns and quests, extending game play indefinitely. “The Campaign Editor allows players to lead their armies to new realms and battlefields straight out of their own imaginations,” says Fitzhugh.
Made for Macintosh
Games involving strategy, role-playing, and resource management have always been popular within the Macintosh community. “Mac users are generally very creative,” explains Dickenson. “They enjoy the feeling of accomplishment that comes from creating and controlling entire kingdoms.” Fitzhugh happily adds that Mac users “tend to be more cerebral, preferring games with substance instead of flash.”
Your actions will shape villages such as Rocky Springs.
It comes as no surprise, then, that 3DO and Contraband Entertainment have worked hard to bring Heroes of Might and Magic IV to the Macintosh. The game includes multiplayer features not originally offered with the PC version. Senior Engineer Chris Jacobson notes that his development team has made every effort to ensure the game is optimized for the next-generation operating system, and points out that the game “runs exceptionally well under Mac OS X.”
“As 3DO’s lead tester, I have spent hundreds of hours playing the game,” explains Hines. “And as a Mac user, I can’t wait to get my hands on the final version so I can start playing it at home!”
Jump into the Portal
Heroes of Might and Magic IV is a gripping strategy game that invites you to explore — and conquer — an entirely new world. Visit the online Apple Store, your local Apple retail store, or a certified Apple reseller near you to begin your journey today.
If you liked this game, check out:
Age of Empires II: Gold Edition Myth III Star Wars Galactic Battlegrounds Warcraft III
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Check out the line-up of eager heroes, learn what skills are available to them, and even see how to cheat if necessary. In addition, we have a selection from Prima Games’ strategy guide for you to absorb.     
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