Heroes of Might and Magic III: Complete - Collector's Edition

aka: Heroes of Might and Magic 3: Complete, Heroes of Might and Magic III: ZÅ‚ota Edycja, Might & Magic: Heroes 3
Moby ID: 2474
Macintosh Specs
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Description official description

This compilation contains:

The three games fit on 2 CDs and are accessed from a single executable (version 4.0, compatible online with The Shadow of Death patched to version 3.2). The only documentation included is PDFs of the original manuals and a brief install guide.

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Credits (Windows version)

71 People (67 developers, 4 thanks) · View all

Reviews

Critics

Average score: 78% (based on 2 ratings)

Players

Average score: 4.0 out of 5 (based on 44 ratings with 2 reviews)

A flawless turn-based strategy game that'll keep you addicted for many months.

The Good
Heroes of Might and Magic III was a great game when it was first released. The patches, one by one, fixed up the bugs. Then came Armageddon's Blade, which added new creatures, features, a whole new castle type, and more. And then Shadow of Death, with its own slew of additions.

All together in the Complete addition, this is simply a perfect package. Sure, it could be better, but I mean perfect as in, everything that is in the game is done just right. All the features have been perfected over 4 games (Including the prequel to the HoMM series, King's Bounty) and 3 expansions, so you can be sure that the game is pretty much flawless.

The game, you see, is really just an enhancement off the previous versions. Better graphics, neater interface, a couple new hero types-- but essentially it's the same game you're playing. Those who have played HoMM 1 or 2 will have no problems diving right into 3.

Is there anything wrong with that? No! Quite to the contrary, it means that the game has essentially had an extra 10 years of beta testing and experience behind it.

The basic idea of the game is that you have Castles, which produce troops and Heroes to command the troops and lead them around the map. There are Artifacts you can find and wield to enhance hero's, or your troops, power.

Recourses are necessary to accomplish anything in this game. You get them from mines-- or lying around the map, but mines are the only constant source of income. With these recourses, you can build things in your castle; make better buildings to get better or enhanced troops, to defend your castle better, etc. Some very powerful troops require recourses to be hired.

There are seven levels of troops per Castle, and two types of heroes-- one of might, one of magic-- to command them. The castle types vary from the goodly Castles and elemental Confluxes to the foul Necropolises and smoldering Infernos. All of these troops will have unique powers; some can shoot, fly, have two attacks, etc. All units have varying attack, defense, damage, and speed ratings.

Heroes enhance their troops with their Attack and Defense skills. They can also cast spells, the power and amount of which are derived from their Knowledge and Power skills. These four skills are the main defining attributes of a hero. Four different elemental schools and five levels of power are available to draw spells from. These spells can be learned by visiting Mages Guilds, which require increasing amount of resources to be built in castles at higher levels. Spells can totally change the course of combat; a well-placed Meteor Storm could smash that stack of archers and the pesky enemy first aid tent, or a thoughtful Cure could save your last angel by being killed from that horde of pikemen.

Heroes also have eight secondary skill slots which they can fill with a great selection of skills. Logistics allows you to move faster over the adventure map, Armorer lowers the damage your troops take, Sorcery increases the damage of your spells, and the four elemental magic skills enhance your spell power in that field. Each of these secondary skills has three levels of mastery, and one skill can be chosen or enhanced for every level the hero gains.

Combat is handled from a side-view that is very attractive and gives you a nice, close-up view of the beautifully rendered units. Units come in stacks, and up to seven stacks can be used per army. Additionally, there are three battle tools available (along with the default catapult for sieges): Ammo Carts, Ballistas, and First Aid Tents.

Combining all these different unit types, with the spells it is possible to cast, the way the skills of the hero greatly effect the troops, terrain advantages and disadvantages, and the battle tools, you will find that although troops are important, a good general is what really wins the war. When you win a victory in this game at 2 to 1 odds, you'll know you really deserve praise. It takes real tactics and skill to think things out right, and while anyone can win at the lower difficulties, only experts will be able to brave the more advanced ones.

There are also a multitude of spots on the adventure map to visit, like Seers who give quests, Garrisons where you can leave troops, and Creature Dwellings to recruit various types of creatures at (and flag to enhance the output amount of your own castle).

The Complete version is packed with scenarios to complete. I'd estimate around 120, maybe more. I have had this game for two years and I haven't completed thirty yet. There are enough maps here for you to keep playing on for years. Along with that, there is a random map generator (introduced in Shadow of Death), which is [i]extremely[/i] well made and makes really fun maps to play. [b]And[/b] there is the map designer for you to make your own.

Additionally, there is The Grail somewhere in most of the maps, which can be found and brought to a castle of your choice to bring a special bonus upon your side. Digging for it is tiring work, and you'll want to find pieces of the puzzle map hidden on Obelisks all over the world.

The game has many other features, but that is most of it. Check out the screenshots for some examples of how it looks

The Bad
Nothing. I couldn't even rave about what they could have put in; the game is so packed with extras that I wouldn't want any more.

The Bottom Line
The Complete edition of HoMM III is a wonderful game that I would recommend to anyone, strategy fan or no. Original, addictive, enthralling-- this is a real classic.

Windows · by ShadowShrike (277) · 2003

One of the best and most unique TBS games ever made

The Good
Highly addictive and well designed gameplay, massive selection of single scenarios, a random map generator to ensure high replay value, a good variety of campaigns, beautifully colored and detailed graphics that even appeal today, and very well implemented strategy/RPG elements. Virtually every aspect of this game has been worked to near perfection, with depth and complexity that make it a great gaming experience. And now, thanks to the strong following that continues today, there are lots of mods and patches available (and/or being worked on) that make the game even better.

The Bad
This is just my opinion, but combat mode is a little clunky, not to mention the combat music is pretty repetitive compared to the rest of the soundtrack. The vanilla game (with both official expansions and no added mods/patches whatsoever) is kind of starting to show its age.

The Bottom Line
When it comes to fantasy (or any type of) turn based strategy games, virtually nothing beats out Heroes of Might and Magic 3, which easily stands out as the best in its series, and one of the best ever made. If you haven't played it, it can be purchased DRM-free on Good Old Games for only $10. I would recommend using the Heroes 3 HD mod, which allows you to run the game at higher resolutions, and fixes a lot of bugs and annoyances, thus creating a more polished experience. Also don't forget to check out other fan made mods and expansions, such as Horn of the Abyss and WoG.

To sum it up, I'll have to agree with Robert Coffey from CGW: "Ultimately, the rewards of Heroes of Might and Magic III far outweigh its few drawbacks. [...] [This] is a game that strategy fans should absolutely be playing."

Windows · by OrcishGrunt (114) · 2014

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Contributors to this Entry

Game added by andyhat.

Macintosh added by lilliputian.

Additional contributors: Xoleras, Plok, ZeTomes.

Game added October 12, 2000. Last modified March 17, 2024.