Might and Magic Kroniki: Antologia PC

Might and Magic Chronicles: Anthology is a set of six games from the extremely popular fantasy RPG series titled Might and Magic, launched in 1986 by New World Computing. The set, prepared in cooperation with 3DO Company and despite the slightly misleading title, has no ambition to be a complete anthology of the series. Due to its long history and the fact that the first installments of the series are vastly different when it comes to technology compared to the games published in recent years, the set included only games published in 1998-2002 which still remains quite attractive on modern PCs.

Might and Magic Chronicles: Anthology includes four main installments of the popular series, which are: Might and Magic VI: Mandate of Heaven (1998), Might and Magic VII: For Blood and Honor (1999), Might and Magic VIII: Day of the Destroyer (2000) and Might and Magic IX: Writ of Fate (2002). The whole this is complemented by two spin-offs, i.e. the TPP action game Crusaders of Might and Magic (1999) and the online multiplayer game Legends of Might and Magic (2001).

Story
Compared to the five classic parts of the Might and Magic series, subsequent games tell completely new stories, unrelated in any way to the storyline of the predecessors, but intertwined with the events known from the sister turn-based strategy game series Heroes of Might and Magic. In each of these games we visit slightly different regions (continents) of the same world, controlling a party of different heroes, fighting enemies and completing numerous story and side quests. Crusaders of Might and Magic focuses on a warrior named Drake, seeking vengeance for the massacre committed years ago in his hometown. The last of the aformentioned titles, Legends of Might and Magic, due to its strictly online nature, is virtually devoid of a dedicated storyline.

Mechanics
In terms of mechanics, the main installments of the Might and Magic adopt the solutions known from the classic parts of the series. We are dealing with thoroughbred RPGs with all the characteristics of this genre, such as a multitude of main and side story tasks, an extensive character progression system or turn-based combat. However, the creators introduced a few previously absent novelties into the game, e.g. a transition from grid-covered maps to free movement, or the possibility to play the battles in real time. Two spin-off included in the set stand out compared to the major installments of the series, namely Crusaders of Might and Magic and Legends of Might and Magic, which are third-person action games, focusing on a dynamic combat system based on melee weapons and magic.

Game modes
Due to the specificity of the genre and the entire series, most of the games included in Might and Magic Chronicles: Anthology are games designed exclusively for single-player fun. The only exception to this is the online multiplayer Legends of Might and Magic, in which characters representing various classes fight against each other in a series of locations known from the universe in four modes: Sword in Stone, Save the Princess, Warlord's Escape and Kill the Dragon.

Technical aspects
Might and Magic VI-VIII games use the same - only slightly modified - technology, which is a compilation of two graphics engines: Labyrinth and Horizon. For this reason, in comparison with the majority of modern productions, they present themselves rather poorly. The both spin-offs Crusaders of Might and Magic and Legends of Might and Magic give off a similar vibe, offering modest movement and combat systems despite employing slightly different mechanics and much greater dynamic. The best item in the set is certainly the 2002 Might and Magic IX: Writ of Fate, which, thanks to a completely new, advanced LithTech 2.5 engine, presents itself as the best of all the parts of the saga so far.

Last updated on 14 February 2017

Game mode: single / multiplayer
Media type: 1 DVD

Age restrictions Might and Magic Kroniki: Antologia: 12+