60 Second Preview of…
Legends of Might and Magic
The Specs
Legends is a multiplayer-only game for up to 16 players over the
Internet or a LAN. It's a class-based game, a fantasy variant of
games like Team Fortress, Tribes, and Counter-Strike. There are
two teams, Good and Evil, and six character classes, but only three
available to each team. The Sorcereress (good) and Archer (evil)
have long-range attacks but poor melee skills. Druids (good) and
Heretics (evil) have medium-ranged attacks and decent melee abilities,
while Paladins (good) and the Warrior (evil) are great at melee
but have poor ranged attacks.
Legends will have six different variations of play, including Rescue
the Princess, Slay the Dragon, and Find the Holy Grail. The game
will include more than 25 maps and 18 different types of weapons.
Legends will also feature familar locations set within the Might
and Magic mythos, such as the Perilous Peaks of Varn and the Dwarf
Mines of Xeen. Players will also encounter both familiar and new
hostile creatures. Games are designed to last 5 to10 minutes and
winning players are allowed to carry over "rewards" to
the next round. In other words, during the course of a play session
you can develop your character. These carryovers are not saved from
session to session, however.
The Speculation
Tom's Comments: For the
last few years, 3DO has been milking the Might & Magic franchise
for all it's worth. And then some. Heroes of Might and Magic III
was followed by somewhere in the neighborhood of seven hundred and
forty two scenario add-on packs. I believe Might & Magic MVXLII
is due this spring. Then there are Crusaders of Might & Magic, Warriors
of Might & Magic, Clerics of Might & Magic, Innkeepers of Might
& Magic, and Beery Wenches of Might & Magic. I might have missed
a few. Somewhere in all these M&Ms, 3DO is shuffling in TRIBES of
Might & Magic. Err, I mean Legends of Might & Magic. Since Legends
is using the LithTech engine, which makes for some great No One
Lives Forever multiplayer games, and since there are precious few
fantasy first person shooters that work well as multiplayer games,
there's an open niche for TRIBES of Might & Magic. Sorry, I meant
to say Legends of Might & Magic. But the real question is whether
anyone will care. I wouldn't be surprised if no one notices this
Counter-Strike homage with its fantasy variations on the theme —
swords instead of guns and princesses instead of hostages -- because
they're busy playing Counter-Strike. And without bot support, I
have to admit that my enthusiasm is low. Huzzah of Might & Magic.
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Mark's Comments: I agree with Tom about how 3DO's
had both hands on the udders for some time now, and yet strangely
I'm more enthusiastic about Legends than he is. What's so bad about
a fantasy-styled Counter-Strike or Team Fortress? I think that sounds
cool, and the graphics look great — this could be the best
looking LithTech game yet. My reservations are centered more on
how the game will be balanced and supported. Counter-Strike and
Team Fortress are continually refined; will New World continue to
tinker with the game months after it's released? Also, melee attacks,
which will be prominent in Legends, don't lend themselves as well
to the FPS genre. Sure, people enjoyed the chainsaw in Doom, but
just as a diversion. They're just not as much fun as sniping at
the enemy and ducking behind a corner. Ranged attacks rule in these
games, so I wonder if the melee classes may find themselves underpopulated
in games. Finally, how did I miss Beery Wenches of Might and Magic?
That sounds like my kind of game!
Comments? Is this a game you want to play? Post
your thoughts in our forum.
Publisher: 3DO
Developer: New World Computing
Genre: RPG
Release Date: Q1 2001
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