"The black sheep of the Might and Magic family"

Introduction -
For some people , when Might and Magic IX was announced , it was a big deal . Too bad it didn't live up to the hype . The Might and Magic Series is one of the longest going RPG series , also a loved one . Part of the reason this game had some people talking about it was the fact that Might and Magic had FINALLY gotten a new graphics engine . Too bad they did . I'll comment on that later though . While past Might and Magic games have added and helped the series grow , this game takes everything the series has worked at , tossed it on the ground , and stepped its foot down and crushed it like a bug . Good reason is ahead for why

Gameplay -
If this is the only Might and Magic game you've ever played , this game might actually be a bit fun . Heck , if you're a veteran to the series of Might and Magic you might be able to actually have a bit of fun playing it . But if you have ever played any of the more recent games : Might and Magic VI : The Mandate of Heaven , Might and Magic VII : For Blood and Honor , or Might and Magic VIII : Day of the Destroyer ( my personal favorite of the series ) be prepared for a HUGE difference in controls . While some elements are still there , like the option to switch between turn based mode and real time mode , many are gone . The controls have been simplified , a bit too simple actually , considering they were fine the way they used to be . Put simply , left click to attack and right click to cast a spell . The game has added more emphasis on jumping , which is bad . Real bad . Since if you move the mouse up or down on the screen your characters '' heads '' will bob , half the time when your jumping you can't see where you're jumping TO . example : if you want to jump out of the water you'd press the jump key . But , in order to swim without sinking you have to be looking up anyway , meaning you can't really see where you're jumping to . Also the set up of the screen is different , putting the portraits of your party on the side . Also you cant click on your characters portrait , making you rely on hot keys to access the skills , stats , spells , and inventory screens . The controls aren't abysmal however , but will take you a rather long time to get used to .

However there is one thing that can't be ignored . And that is party selection . Put simply , the party is your blood and organs of any RPG game . Your 4 characters are your party . The selections of class ( each type of character ) and race ( the species of character ) has fluctuated through recent Might and Magic games . In the Mandate of Heaven you had a choice from six classes but you couldn't change the race , it was pre set to human . In For Blood and Honor the races were brought back with four to choose from and nine classes available . In Day of the Destroyer it was unique , in which your class and race were the same with nine different character types available . THIS one has four classes , and get this , a measly TWO different classes . You can choose from Initiate or Fighter . This drastically reduces the strategy of the game , as making a well balanced party is generally the most important thing in an RPG .

Story -
Unless you read the manual ( which comes with the game as a file , so yes , you can learn it within the first 5 minutes ) you will have no idea . For the very beginning of the game you will have no idea what you're doing , or why you're doing it . If you progress through the game a bit you will learn , but it is best to read the manual .
So here it is : This huge threat of a great army is looming over the land of Chedian . Your task is to unite the nine jarls ( leaders of the different areas ) and stop them . Potentially good story right ? Well , It would have been , if the same type of thing hadn't been done in the alliance part of Day of the Destroyer .

Graphics/Sound -
After the past three Might and Magic games having the same old tired graphics engine , people were excited that they had finally changed the engine to the current one . Bad move on part of the company . Believe it or not , the old engine looked MUCH better compared to this one . Walk up close to anything and you can see that the graphics are horrible . At a distance it's not so bad . But try looking at any character , specifically a half orc , and it looks like it was drawn from a three year old child . Also , almost all the creatures of the same type of model . This means that when your fighting creatures , most notably humans , they look like they're clones .

Play Time/Re playability -
I haven't completed the game all the way through yet so I can't comment on the play time . However , I can say this . Unless you really like this game , your not going to want to play it again .

Final Recommendation -
If you're a veteran of the Might and Magic series , don't get this . If you're a complete die hard fan of the series , or if this is likely the only Might and Magic game you'll ever play , then get it . If you aren't one of the afore mentioned , then try borrowing it from someone . It isn't the worst game around . But I got mine in Might and Magic Platinum edition , so I was stuck with it . If you were thinking of getting the Platinum edition , don't let this game stop you . The other three are more than worth it .

Reviewer's Score: 4/10, Originally Posted: 01/06/04