Heroes of Might and Magic III: The Restoration of Erathia
Description official descriptions
Heroes of Might and Magic III: The Restoration of Erathia takes place long after the ending of Heroes of Might and Magic II: Price of Loyalty and partially concurrently with Might and Magic VI: The Mandate of Heaven. Receiving news of her father's death, Catherine Ironfist, Queen of Enroth, sails for Erathia to attend her father's funeral. Fearing the worst, she assembles a military fleet as her escort. Arriving on the coast of Erathia, Catherine finds an allied wizard's tower, devastated from battle and abandoned. There she learns Erathia is falling to its enemies. Mustering local armies, Catherine marches to Erathia's capitol, restoring lost land along the way.
The Restoration of Erathia retains the bulk of the gameplay from its predecessors, with significant additions and modifications. It features 8 entirely distinct towns with 7 creature levels each, but this time all creature levels (save for neutral-only ones) can be upgraded. Also new are war machines, a total of 122 artifacts, overhauled spell list, new and edited map locations, an alignment mechanic which affects interaction with some of the map locations and spells, and 7 single-player campaigns with a vast set of single scenarios which can be played against the AI or other human players.
Spellings
- Герои Меча и Магии III: Возрождение Эрафии - Russian spelling
- 魔法門英雄無敵3 (主程式) - Traditional Chinese spelling
- 魔法门之英雄无敌III:埃拉西亚的光复 - Simplified Chinese spelling
Groups +
- Fantasy creatures: Dragons
- Fantasy creatures: Dwarves
- Fantasy creatures: Elves
- Fantasy creatures: Goblins
- Fantasy creatures: Mermaids / Merpeople
- Fantasy creatures: Minotaurs
- Fantasy creatures: Orcs
- Fantasy creatures: Unicorns
- Games that include map/level editor
- Games with randomly generated environments
- Heroes of Might and Magic series
- Middleware: SDL
- Middleware: Smacker Video
- Might and Magic universe
- Protagonist: Female
- Protagonist: Female (option)
- Protagonist: Royalty
- Sound engine: AIL/Miles Sound System
- White Label releases
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Credits (Linux version)
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Reviews
Critics
Average score: 87% (based on 39 ratings)
Players
Average score: 4.0 out of 5 (based on 169 ratings with 11 reviews)
The Good
Heroes III is without a doubt a great visual improvement over its predecessor, and also features digital music tracks (MP3s) as well as some modifications to the rules of the game. However, the game itself is essentially the same, and as such all that I said of Heroes of Might and Magic II applies, with the following difference:
Graphics! Heroes of Might and Magic III is simply astounding. Amazing! The graphics in this game are beautiful! Landscapes lush and realistic, cities simply magnificent. On the visual side, you just can't beat this game.
The Bad
Again, braindead AI (although somewhat improved over Heroes II) is the main problem with this game. And, as history would have it, the campaigns in Heroes III still suck. Sorry guys, just stick with the scenarios.
Also, I don't think a graphic overhaul justifies a completely new game in the series. Essentially Heroes III is just like Heroes II with thoroughly improved graphics - so why should you have to spend a fortune on the same game?
The Bottom Line
A great graphical improvement over an already well-established predecessor. Fetch this game - you won't regret it.
Windows · by Tomer Gabel (4539) · 2000
The Good
This is the game that finally released me from my obsession with Diablo II (LoD) and helped me make the permanent transition to Linux. There is a map editor for Linux ftp://sunsite.auc.dk/pub/os/linux/loki/extras/heroes3/ which makes the game that much more fun (Sim City anyone?) though I wish I could include my own videos and art. If version 4 were released for Linux I would be one of the first in line for it. This is one of the most interesting strategy games on the market because of the ease of use, yet complex tactical situations you have to think about.
The Bad
Not quite as complete as the Heroes of Might and Magic III version I got for Windows which came bundled with Armageddon's Blade and Shadows. Loki will be sadly missed - RIP Loki. Enemy ranged troops seem to have a big advantage stationed in a castle, AI seems a bit shakey.
The Bottom Line
If you liked Archon on the C64 then you'll love Heroes of Might and Magic III. HOMM picks up where Archon left off adding quests, a role playing slant, better graphics, and an editor which doubles the fun of the game.
If you're unfamiliar with Archon or HOMM, both games involved a sort of chess-like playing field on which a variety of monsters could do battle. But this is about where Archon left off. HOMM by contrast is much more involved: you can go on quests for the holy grail, take over enemy castles and build them up, build legions of armies, turn monsters into skeletons, etc.
Though by today's standards this game isn't cutting edge, it remains one of the most playable strategy games ever - risk doesn't even come close!
Linux · by Charles McColm (2) · 2004
The Good
Audiovisuals are the best bet of HoMM3. Graphically is pleasant, and creatures are well designed and animated (and it's a TBS game). Music is also excellent, and sound effects don't fall from the standard.
The Bad
Replayability suffers greatly from repetitive gameplay. Although there are many campaigns to choose from, every game quickly becomes the same as the previous. It's a matter of improving your cities as soon as possible, therefore improving your creatures. Then, raise as many creatures as you can: in battle, your best chance is outnumber the enemy, even with weaker units. But most important is to find the best hero/monster/spell combination (like regenerating vampires under command of a hero with Vampire specialty). Once found, the game becomes easy even at the King level.
I don't understand also why forests and hills block travel completely: It's a poor way of simplifying and I think shows the designers paid more attention to visual aspects than to game itself. The list of spells is far from being large, and creatures are actually half of the total, as "minor" versions quickly become obsolete.
Supposedly, the Map Editor expands replayability, but making your own scenario needs patience, too much patience. And what's the fun of exploring a world you already know from head to toes? Perhaps playing maps created by others... but as I said every game is the same.
The Bottom Line
Nothing more to say... I think HoMM3 may appeal more to RPG gamers than Strategy ones, as it focus on Heroes (curiously), and has a strong Fantasy paper-and-pencil RPG feeling.
Windows · by Technocrat (193) · 2002
Trivia
Mythology
Heroes of Might and Magic III made a complete major screw-up in Greek Mythology. This refers particularly to: the Gorgon and the Medusa.
In Heroes, the Gorgon is a fire breathing/death staring Bull from the swamps. In Greek mythology, the only creatures that closely fits this description are the Khalkotauroi. The Khalkotauroi were a pair of fire-breathing bulls forged from bronze by the Smith God Hephaistos as a gift for Aeetes, King of Kolkhis. These bulls were later killed by famous Greek hero Jason, in his quest for the Golden Fleece.
Now the Gorgon in Greek Mythology actually refered to a race known in Heroes as the Medusa. Gorgons are a race of vile creatures that had hair of live snakes, necks covered with scales, they have tusks similiar to of a boar, golden hands and bronze wings. Oh, and they're famous trade mark: anyone looking at them would be turned to stone (due to their extreme ugliness).
Initially there are 3 known Gorgons (other sources say there were more): Stheno, Euryale and their most famous sister: Medusa. Medusa was later killed by the Greek hero - Perseus.
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Related Sites +
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Celestial Heavens
Tons of informations and dozens of maps & campaigns -
International Web Site
International Web Site -
Torre de Marfil
Spanish fansite of the saga
Identifiers +
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Contributors to this Entry
Game added by MAT.
Macintosh added by Kabushi.
Additional contributors: Indra was here, tarmo888, Xoleras, Silverblade, DarkDante, Stratege, Paulus18950, Shu Nin, Patrick Bregger, Plok.
Game added May 27, 2000. Last modified March 28, 2024.