King's Bounty

The Good
Often thought of as the predecessor to HOMM, this is a misleading as in many ways Kings Bounty is different, and some ways it is superior. I've always found HOMM a pleasant but rather aimless and meandering gaming experience - pleasant to dip into but not truly 'addictive'. Although Kings Bounty is very simple, its simplicity, and the way in which the player accumulates leadership points makes for more compelling gameplay. There are also a few nice game elements missing from HOMM. For example to progress and win 'Kings Bounty', the player has to find and besiege castles overrun by treacherous warlords.

The Bad
I bought this on e-bay and played it for the first time in 2004. It felt like a truly retro gaming experience. The game was on 5.25 disks and the graphics were blocky and pixellated, which was fine. There was virtually no sound, however, and I missed the sumptuous and kitch classical music of HOMM.

The Bottom Line
Worth seeking out. Buying an old PC and playing this on it is definitely a better way of spending £30 than buying the latest of the endless HOMM upgrades and spinoffs.