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Heroes Chronicles | |
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Developer(s) | New World Computing |
Publisher(s) | The 3DO Company |
Designer(s) | Jon Van Caneghem |
Composer(s) | Paul Romero Rob King Steve Baca |
Series | Heroes of Might and Magic |
Platform(s) | Microsoft Windows |
Release | 2000-2001 |
Genre(s) | Turn-based strategy |
Mode(s) | Single-player |
Heroes Chronicles is a series of turn-based strategy video games developed by Jon Van Caneghem through New World Computing and published by the 3DO Company. The series was intended to introduce a new audience, such as casual gamers, to the Heroes of Might and Magic series. As part of that strategy, each installment of Chronicles was released as a low-cost episode containing a relatively short single-player campaign, and the difficulty level of each game was kept low. All Chronicles games are based on a limited version of the Heroes of Might and Magic III game engine, although the ability to play scenario maps and multiplayer games is not included in any Chronicles title.[ citation needed ]
The series consists of eight installments released in five retail packages and supplemented by two downloadable packages. The first two titles, Warlords of the Wasteland and Conquest of the Underworld, were released on September 27, 2000. The next two installments, Masters of the Elements and Clash of the Dragons, were released shortly thereafter on November 14, 2000. [1] In the meantime, 3DO offered The World Tree as a free download, which would install on any system with at least two retail episodes. Similarly, Fiery Moon would install on any system with at least three retail episodes. Lastly, The Sword of Frost and Revolt of the Beastmasters were released together under the name The Final Chapters on June 1, 2001. All eight games were released through GOG.com in June 2011.[ citation needed ]
Gameplay in Heroes Chronicles is similar to the campaigns included in Heroes of Might and Magic III and its expansions. A campaign consists of a series of scenarios linked with a storyline told through narrated CGI cutscenes and in-game text. Each scenario involves a mix of strategic exploration on a world map and tactical turn-based combat as the player fights enemies, conquers towns, collects items, and completes objectives. All of the installments featured eight scenarios except for the two downloadable installments, which only included five scenarios each.
The player controls a number of "heroes" who act as generals who command troops who are various types of creatures inspired by myth and legend. These heroes can also gain experience, learn skills, cast spells, and collect items that benefit their army on the world map or in tactical battles. A hero character integral to the installments' storyline would need to survive each scenario and could sometimes bring experience, spells, or other surviving heroes into subsequent scenarios with them. At the beginning of each scenario, the player could adjust the difficulty level and choose a starting bonus that usually included extra units, resources, skills, or a unique item.
The storyline of the eight installments follows the history of the tragic Immortal Hero, Tarnum. His initial rise and fall as a barbarian king is chronicled in the "Warlords of the Wasteland" installment. The second installment, "Conquest of the Underworld", follows directly, as Tarnum is reincarnated by the Ancestors and given the mission to rescue the soul of King Rion Gryphonheart, the man who defeated him. "Masters of the Elements" is a self-contained storyline in which Tarnum must prevent the destruction of the world by the Elemental Lords, "Revolt of the Beastmasters" details the creation of the Fortress faction of Heroes of Might and Magic III, and the two downloadable titles "The World Tree" and "The Fiery Moon" are a continuous storyline in which Tarnum must stop the mad Ancestor Vorr. The fourth and the last installments, "Clash of the Dragons" and "The Sword of Frost," serve as sequels to Heroes of Might and Magic III: Armageddon's Blade and set up the events leading to Heroes of Might and Magic IV , where Tarnum reappears.
Might and Magic is a series of role-playing video games in the science fantasy genre developed by New World Computing, which in 1996 became a subsidiary of The 3DO Company. The original Might and Magic series ended with the closure of the 3DO Company. The rights to the Might and Magic name were purchased for US$1.3 million by Ubisoft, which rebooted the franchise with a new series with no apparent connection to the previous continuity, starting with the games Heroes of Might and Magic V and Dark Messiah of Might and Magic.
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Heroes of Might and Magic III: The Restoration of Erathia is a turn-based strategy game developed by Jon Van Caneghem through New World Computing originally released for Microsoft Windows by The 3DO Company in 1999. Its ports to several computer and console systems followed in 1999–2000. It is the third installment of the Heroes of Might and Magic series.
Might and Magic VI: The Mandate of Heaven, commonly abbreviated to Might and Magic VI or simply MM6, is a role-playing video game developed by New World Computing and published by 3DO in 1998. It is the sixth installment in the Might and Magic series, the sequel to Might and Magic V: Darkside of Xeen and the first of the Might and Magic titles to take place on the same planet as Heroes of Might and Magic. It continues the storyline of Heroes of Might and Magic II, and takes place at the same time as Heroes of Might and Magic III in the series chronology. The game was compared favorably to its peers, role-playing video games such as The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall. Critics praised it for its non-linear, user-friendly premise, an interactive, detailed game world and a polished, bug-free initial release. A Limited Edition version of the game was also released, including a cloth map of Enroth, a strategy guide and the first five games of the series on CD-ROM. It was followed by three sequels, with Might and Magic VII: For Blood and Honor directly continuing the story arc.
Heroes of Might and Magic IV is a turn-based strategy game developed by Gus Smedstad through New World Computing and published by the 3DO Company for Microsoft Windows-based personal computers in 2002. A Macintosh port was subsequently developed by Contraband Entertainment and released by the 3DO Company. The fourth installment of the popular Heroes of Might and Magic franchise, it is the sequel to Heroes of Might and Magic III, and was the last to be developed by New World Computing.
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New World Computing, Inc. was an American video game developer and publisher founded in 1984 by Jon Van Caneghem, his wife, Michaela Van Caneghem, and Mark Caldwell. It was best known for its work on the Might and Magic role-playing video game series and its spin-offs, especially Heroes of Might and Magic. The company was purchased by and became a division of The 3DO Company on July 10, 1996 from NTN Communications, after NTN purchased New World Computing for $10 million in stock.
Jon Van Caneghem is an American video game director, designer and producer. He is best known for launching development studio New World Computing in 1983, making his design debut in 1986 with Might and Magic Book One: The Secret of the Inner Sanctum. During the company's 20-year lifespan, Van Caneghem was involved in the creation and direction of several franchises, including the Might and Magic role-playing series and the spin-off Heroes of Might and Magic and King's Bounty strategy series.
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Heroes of Might and Magic: A Strategic Quest is a turn-based strategy game developed and published by New World Computing in 1995 for DOS. A spin-off of New World Computing's Might and Magic series of role-playing video games, the success of Heroes of Might and Magic led to a number of sequels.
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