Dark Messiah of Might and Magic: Elements

"A Blunderful Game"

I myself was a very big fan of the PC version of Dark Messiah and came into this game with very high expectations. Unfortunately, all of the joy and fantasy of the original is all but lost in this game. The original was a very great RPG-type game, with endless customizability; you could start off as one class, and then later completely change your persona (i.e. you could be a warrior with the ability to charm your enemies and heal yourself).

Graphics: 6/10 The graphics do not hold up as well on the 360 as they do on a high performance computer. They are by no means ugly, however, they earn a six because they do not compare to the spectacular graphical capacity of the original PC version.

Freedom of Playing Style: 2/10 The original Dark Messiah had almost endless class options, rivaled only by the Elder Scrolls Franchise. In this version of the game however, you're forced to choose one of four rigid classes, meaning that you are unable to even wield a sword if you choose to be an archer. This greatly cuts down on the ‘enjoyability' of the combat system.

Combat System: 5/10 The PC version of the game was a completely combat oriented game, where the combat system was seamless. The entire combat system was remodeled for the 360 with all of the luster of the original lost. The 360 port of Oblivion has fantastic controls, and since the controls of Dark Messiah and Oblivion were nearly identical, one would think that the 360 version of Dark Messiah would have nearly as fantastic controls as well. This however is not accurate. The controls feel very sluggish, with the combat system not utilizing the environment nearly as much as the original. One of the most enjoyable elements in the original for me was to use the freeze spell on the ground near a fire and have my enemies slip on the ice into their fiery demise. Unfortunately, fire no longer causes any pain to enemies. The adrenaline system was arguably the most fun part of the original game. In the 360 version however, you are unable to see the kill as it is made. The camera has the annoying tendency to aim directly at the ground as you thrust your daggers through the collar bones of your unfortunate victim.

Sound : 6/10 The sound in this game is not terrible, however, it does not stack up to the PC version. Certain characters sound inexplicably different, and battle sounds often sound out of place in relation to the image on the screen. The sound no longer carries the same epic feel of the original. No longer does it feel as if you are Lawrence Taylor when you impale an enemy as they are on the ground.

Dance Factor: -1/10 Not once during the entirety of this game did I see one of my enemies dancing. There were no dragons doing the disco, no Cyclops busting a move, and not a single use of “the worm”. It was just horrible. I feel like crying.

Overall Score: 3/10 This is an unsuccessful port of a fantastic game with all of the wonder and amazement of the original completely lost.

Reviewer's Score: 4/10, Originally Posted: 06/02/08

Game Release: Dark Messiah of Might and Magic: Elements (US, 02/12/08)