Might & Magic Heroes Online Previews

We have rounded up a couple of previews for the browser-based Might & Magic Heroes Online, which hopefully should prove a title worthy of the Heroes of Might and Magic heritage.

God is a Geek:
Combat in the is extremely strategic, it all takes place on a hex-grid pattern, with each character taking turns to either move or attack. Our first engagements came against some rather angry trees, and later wolves, bigger wolves, and eventually other power wielding maniacs on horseback. The progressive nature of the battle difficulty did an ample job of showing me the ropes.

Between the battles you'll find the usual exploration fuelled gameplay, requiring you to look under every rock and round every corner to find collectables and people to talk to. One interesting feature of the combat system is that when you find the battle is becoming overwhelming, you can invite a fellow player in to help you out. The other player benefits by getting a share of the spoils and stat points, and you benefit by, well, not dying.

The full game, we are told, will offer numerous opportunities to customise your character, as well as giving you the choice of focusing on Might or Magic abilities.

Eletric Theatre:
Already very close to replicating that Might & Magic Heroes experience, the turn-based battles see the player taking direct control over a group of units. Playing to their strengths and weaknesses, including speed, attack ability and special attributes, players must manoeuvre their units and execute a plan of attack that will see them suffering minimal casualties as they take out the enemy units. This is never more evident than in the Staged Battles; feats of endurance that will see the player fighting numerous selections of enemy units directly after one another without respite, outing extra strain on the player's resources.

Referred to as Hex Combat, these stages are lorded over by the player's own visualisation, dealing damage to any enemy on the grid regardless of positioning. These heavy attacks can turn the tide of the battle, but relying on them is foolhardy; the player needs to establish a force and series of tactical advances capable of taking down the enemy alone, as enforcing justice through the use of your general alone will soon see your numbers dwindle.