GOTY 2011: Worst Disappointment – Might & Magic Heroes VI

I loved the Heroes of Might & Magic series since the second installment and the simple yet plausible story it told about princes, betrayal, loyalty and the in-fighting that can destroy a mighty empire.

I also loved it because it allowed my 12 or 13 year old self to discover a world filled with every strand of fantastical creature and magic but also with strong resolute human, elf and dwarf warriors ready to die for me in a turn and hex based engagement.

I was sorely disappointed with both Heroes IV and V and had high hopes for the name change Might & Magic Heroes VI, which promised to return to the core of the series both when it comes to mechanics and to the story.

Unfortunately the game has only managed to move half-way to this worthy aim and the developer seems more interested in courting a larger audience than in regaining the trust of long term fans.

The mechanics of the game, especially when it comes to the city development, have been widely simplified but the combat is still complex and allows for a variety of tactics.

The enemy Artificial Intelligence is often cheating but also handles itself quite well on the battlefield.

The fiction tries to borrow too much from something like A Game of Thrones but the different viewpoints allow for a good look at all factions and how they interact with another.

Even the online features Ubisoft added are divisive, adding some bonuses based for performance while resulting in loss of playtime when the Internet connection happens to be down.

This game is a decidedly mixed bag but it fails to represent a true return to form for the turn based strategy genre and for Might & Magic Heroes VI.

Might & Magic Heroes VI can be played exclusively on the PC, although given the nature of what the series has become a console port might be a good idea.