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The Heroes of Might & Magic series, born from the now-defunct 3DO, has had a tumultuous history, particularly after the pinnacle of its success with Heroes III over two decades ago. Ubisoft’s Might and Magic: Heroes VI aimed to revitalize this iconic franchise, promising a nostalgic return to form with modern innovations. This review of the Might & Magic: Heroes VI Complete Edition explores whether it lives up to that promise.

Might and Magic: Heroes VI sets its story in the mythical world of Ashan, 400 years before the events of Heroes V, weaving tales of epic proportions, political intrigue, and even romantic interludes. The Complete Edition bundles the base game with two DLC packs, Pirates of the Savage Sea and Danse Macabre, as well as the Shades of Darkness expansion, adding substantial content for dedicated players. But does the gameplay and execution hold up? Let’s dive in.

A Rich Mythological Narrative (and a Lackluster Delivery)

The story unfolds with the assassination of Slava, Duke of Griffin, by his own daughter, Anastasya. This sets off a chain of events that plunges the land into war as factions clash to uncover the truth. Beyond this central conflict, the narrative explores a demonic invasion, shadowy conspiracies, and the ambitions of the Undead, creating a multifaceted world ripe for exploration.

Slava's assassination triggers the main conflict

While the narrative foundation is intriguing, its delivery falls short. Lifeless cutscenes, awkward dialogue boxes interrupting gameplay, and uninspired voice acting diminish the impact of the story. The potential for an epic tale is squandered by a lackluster presentation. Opportunities to emotionally connect with the characters are missed due to the unconvincing voice work and melodramatic dialogue.

Dialogue interrupts gameplay

Classic Gameplay with a Twist (and Some Missteps)

Heroes VI retains the core turn-based gameplay that defines the series: managing resources, constructing buildings, recruiting armies, and engaging in tactical combat. Players choose from five factions – Haven (Humans), Necropolis (Undead), Inferno (Demons), Stronghold (Orcs), and Sanctuary (Naga) – each with unique units and abilities. The Shades of Darkness expansion adds the Dungeon faction (Dark Elves), offering a more strategic and cunning playstyle.

Diverse factions offer unique playstyles

The game emphasizes the role of heroes, empowering them with greater influence on the battlefield. The “Tears and Blood” system allows players to shape their heroes’ development, choosing between paths focused on support and defense (Tears) or aggression and offense (Blood), further enhancing replayability.

Heroes gain more influence on the battlefield

However, some design choices detract from the experience. The simplified skill system makes heroes feel homogenous, lacking the specialization of previous entries. The introduction of Forts, while offering a new strategic layer, removes the element of surprise attacks and resource raiding, diminishing the tactical depth. The option to destroy mines with a skill feels like a poorly implemented workaround.

Fort system changes resource management

Challenging Maps and Unbalanced Difficulty

Heroes VI boasts detailed maps filled with secrets and challenges, encouraging exploration and strategic thinking. Players must balance completing side quests, uncovering powerful artifacts, and managing their armies to achieve victory. The maps offer a good amount of variety, forcing players to adapt their strategies based on the terrain and available resources.

Exploring the map for resources and artifacts

Unfortunately, the difficulty curve is poorly implemented. The game can shift abruptly from effortless victories to brutally challenging encounters, leaving players scrambling to adapt. This is especially pronounced in the Shades of Darkness expansion, where the difficulty spikes are particularly jarring.

Challenging battles require careful planning

Bugs and Technical Issues

A significant drawback of Heroes VI is its persistent technical issues. Throughout the game, players may encounter unit abilities malfunctioning, graphical glitches, and even game-breaking crashes. The mandatory Uplay integration further exacerbates the issues, adding unnecessary complexity and slowing down load times.

Bugs and glitches can hinder the experience

Conclusion

Might & Magic: Heroes VI Complete Edition offers a nostalgic return to the classic turn-based strategy formula with some intriguing new ideas. However, its potential is hampered by a poorly executed narrative, questionable design choices, unbalanced difficulty, and persistent technical problems. While fans of the series may find enjoyment in revisiting the world of Ashan, the flaws prevent it from reaching the heights of its predecessors. A more polished experience and a more balanced difficulty curve would have significantly improved this entry in the Heroes saga.