Review from one of the isonews ppl

[magritte2]

Whatever else you say about it, it's hard for me to view a game with such an elaborate skill tree and an ability as difficult to figure out as elemental chaining can be referred to as dumbed down. The interface isn't terribly intuitive, but it's not as bad as all that, and I didn't have any real camera issues once I figured out how to rotate it. I'd prefer a hex map, but since you can attack from 8 directions, not merely four with the current map, it doesn't reduce tactical possibilities as much as he claims.

I am finding this under-use of the right-mouse button in modern games with a console version is beginning to irritate me, however. Is there really much of a market for turnbased strategy on X-box?

[DaemianLucifer]

Whatever else you say about it, it's hard for me to view a game with such an elaborate skill tree and an ability as difficult to figure out as elemental chaining can be referred to as dumbed down. The interface isn't terribly intuitive, but it's not as bad as all that, and I didn't have any real camera issues once I figured out how to rotate it. I'd prefer a hex map, but since you can attack from 8 directions, not merely four with the current map, it doesn't reduce tactical possibilities as much as he claims.

Smaller BFs,big squares,fewer spells,fewer heroes(just one type per town),exactly one upgrade,no FoW,...I call that dumbing down.True,skill tree is nice,but its not that complicated.I gather that there will be just two paths that everyone will follow:One for short,and one for long games.Elemental chains dont seem hard to figure out(to me at least,I fnd them quite fun to use,very innovative(Im suprised with this actually),and fun).

[Laserluger]

From what I've heard, none of the campaign maps have any AI requiring elements except for the battles, as they're all scripted. Very similar maps as the two in the demo - you have to go from place A to place B where you need to win a combat / defend a town.

I haven't heard anything about the AI in the custom maps. I guess we'll hear more shortly.

No news about the AI yet.. but more fun about the hole game.

---------------------From some warez-kiddie---------------------------
I do agree with BadManiac review.
The fifth title in serie is as bad as it can be. They've had 4 (FOUR) fucking games in their hands, and they managed to fuck up everything so badly that i doubt the game will be fixed ever. I'm clueless wtf for they released beta and promised to fix things based on testers feed back. They(testers) listed more than 100 issues with the game, but almost nothing was fixed since beta. I doubt i will play this horrid PoS.

But still i've got fingers crossed for the 500mb patch with lip sync, with redone city interface, with redone hero interface, with camera that doesn't follow relief, with somehow fixed underground areas, with customizable keyboard, with far better highlighted resources on maps, with random map generator and editor, with everything else fixed that fucking was listed on their forums.

[Orfinn]

From what I have seen, and judging from what Jolly Joker said, I'm pretty sure the game will sore in the 70% at the very least. A score in the 90% isn't unlikely either. So no, Fabrice wasn't only in it for the money.

Agree. Its clear that FC didnt do this game just for money but because its fun and interesting to be part of making games and try to revive old series to the better. FB have done a great job, I trust him that he will not screw this Homm saga up and I doubt such a disaster will happen, not with FC in charge.

[Ethric]

Well... the way the camera and interface works is pretty dreadful IMO.

[LarkinVB]

The interface is very bad and 3D didn't bring nothing to the game than bad camera. The strategic map is hard to read and the tactical map shows tiny little stacks on a chess board.

The demo was disgusting to play, back to HOMM4 + Equilibris now.

[Kalah]

Good, then you'll be ready for my campaign, once it's finished.

[Linky]

But still i've got fingers crossed for the 500mb patch with lip sync, with redone city interface, with redone hero interface, with camera that doesn't follow relief, with somehow fixed underground areas, with customizable keyboard, with far better highlighted resources on maps, with random map generator and editor, with everything else fixed that **** was listed on their forums.

We know what the city and hero interfaces look like and can honestly say that they are pretty bad. The 3d view of the city doesn't really do anything for the game. It should've been a static view where you can easily see which part is background and which are buildings you've built. They must've wasted hundreds of hours making those 3d views, but to be honest, it would be a better idea to scrap them alltogether and make something sensible out of it.

The hero interface is even worse. It really is horrible. I don't see the point of having many tabs that contain artifact info etc instead of one view with all of them.

We know the deal with the underground as well. I guess that would have to be redesigned too. I liked the brown, light underground of HoMM3. Also a yellow aura around all pickable resources on the map would be nice.

Now it would be nice to hear about the AI, too. Though I'm skeptical. Oh and multiplayer!

[Bandobras Took]

Well... the way the camera and interface works is pretty dreadful IMO.

I enjoy it IMO. Maybe I'm just in the minority, but they did go with something that would appeal to somebody . . .

[DaemianLucifer]

Well... the way the camera and interface works is pretty dreadful IMO.

I enjoy it IMO. Maybe I'm just in the minority, but they did go with something that would appeal to somebody . . .

They couldve go with just text,and no graphics at all.It would still appeal to somebody.

[Linky]

Crag Hack is mentioned somewhere within the Haven campaign. How's that for old heroes?

[ThunderTitan]

And Sandro is metioned in Lucretia's bio and an artifact in the demo. And the one with Crag Hack was already known from a screenshot way before the leak.

[soupnazii]

i thought they scrapped everything from the old HoMM univerese, didnt they?

[ThunderTitan]

They did. It's just some bloody dialogue put there as a nod to the old world. I just find it annoying.

[soupnazii]

i though it as a totaly different universe.... how did they ever even hear the name Crag Hack?!?!?!

[Derek]

If there are only 10 multiplayer maps then I'm not buying it ever. Period.

[soupnazii]

they will give you more maps in the same free patch theat gives you the Editor and fixes a whole lot of things people complained about since the demo. they couldnt delay the game any longer, so they'll answer peoples requests in the patch.

[Bandobras Took]

And if the patches show that they can coordinate player requests with game balance, then I'll still give them a job well done.

[ThunderTitan]

i though it as a totaly different universe.... how did they ever even hear the name Crag Hack?!?!?!

It's called Fan Service... they just put it there coz they though it was cool..

[Derek]

they will give you more maps in the same free patch theat gives you the Editor and fixes a whole lot of things people complained about since the demo. they couldnt delay the game any longer, so they'll answer peoples requests in the patch.

And this is why I hate PC games. Why should I have to wait before I have something? I'm paying good money to get things, balance and other features, and it sure would be nice if stuff like that was in the initial release.