Might and Magic VIII: Day of the Destroyer

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Might and Magic VIII:
Day of the Destroyer
Might and Magic VIII - Day of the Destroyer Coverart.png
Cover art by Larry Elmore [1]
Developer(s) New World Computing
Publisher(s)
Director(s) Paul Rattner
Producer(s) Peter Ryu
Designer(s) Jon Van Caneghem
Bryan Farina
James W. Dickinson
Tom Ono
Richard Corredera
Programmer(s) Bob Young
Artist(s) John Slowsky
Composer(s) Rob King
Paul Romero
Steve Baca
Series Might and Magic
Platform(s) Windows, PlayStation 2
ReleaseWindows
  • NA: March 2, 2000 [2]
  • EU: March 2000
PlayStation 2
  • JP: September 6, 2001
Genre(s) Role-playing video game
Mode(s) Single player

Might and Magic VIII: Day of the Destroyer is a role-playing video game developed for Microsoft Windows by New World Computing and released in 2000 by The 3DO Company. It is the eighth game in the Might and Magic series. The game received middling critical reviews, a first for the series, with several critics citing the game's length and its increasingly dated game engine, which had been left fundamentally unaltered since Might and Magic VI: The Mandate of Heaven in 1998. [3] The game was later ported to PlayStation 2 in Japan and published by Imagineer on September 6, 2001. [4]

Contents

Gameplay

Might and Magic VIII is based on the Might and Magic VI game engine, and many of its elements are strongly similar to the previous two titles in the series. Unlike the previous two games, however, Might and Magic VIII introduces a new party management system that allows all but one of the five possible player characters to be hired, dismissed or re-hired at any time during gameplay. The character class system used in the previous two games has similarly been overhauled, with only the cleric and knight classes remaining. The experience, spells, levelling and skill system present in both previous Might and Magic titles is retained, with only minor updates. In place of the traditional class system, Might and Magic VIII features non-archetypical playable races. Aside from human knights, clerics and necromancers, available classes include minotaurs, dragons, vampires, dark elves, and trolls, each of whom possesses traits unique to their particular race. As with its two predecessors, the game world is divided into fourteen "regions", including five elemental planes, each of which contains a varying mix of explorable towns, dungeons and wildernesses. Enemies are fought in either real-time or turn-based combat, depending on the player's preference.

Quest system

In typical Might and Magic fashion, the game is fairly non-linear, so quests can be completed at the player's own leisure, though the completion of storyline quests is essential for progression. Dialog, lore and exploration are important to progression in the game, with some dungeons involving relevant puzzles. In addition, side quests and dungeons can warrant rewards if completed, but are not vital to the main storyline. Also, promotion quests can increase the capabilities of particular classes of character.

Like Might and Magic VII, the game includes a system of choices which affect fundamental aspects of gameplay. Throughout the course of the storyline, the player is given opportunities to side with either dragons or dragon hunters, and either sun priests or necromancers. This choice is permanent and affects several quests, NPC reactions and available recruitable characters. However, unlike its prequel, the game's ending sequence is not affected by the outcome of these choices.

Plot

Backstory

Escaton summons the crystal in the city of Ravenshore. MM8Crystal.PNG
Escaton summons the crystal in the city of Ravenshore.

Might and Magic VIII takes place on the fictional world of Enroth, upon the continent of Jadame, and acts as a sequel to Might and Magic VII and Heroes of Might and Magic III: Armageddon's Blade . [5] Over a thousand years ago, the interstellar war between the Ancients and the Kreegan drove both races off of one of the Ancients' many colony worlds. [6] During the millennium since, the original colonists and natives of that world built their own society and culture from the ruin, the stories of the Ancients and the Kreegan having long since passed into legend. Ten years ago, as depicted in Might and Magic VI: The Mandate of Heaven , the Kreegan invaded the world. The heroes of Might and Magic VI destroyed the Kreegan Queen, and the last of the Kreegan were wiped out over the course of Heroes of Might and Magic III: The Restoration of Erathia , Might and Magic VII: For Blood and Honor and Heroes III: Armageddon's Blade. [7] The Ancients, however, anticipating disaster should the Kreegan manage to gain a foothold on the world, had already enacted a scorched earth plan: rather than let the world fall into the hands of their ancient enemies, they would see it destroyed outright. [8]

A servant of the Ancients, the planeswalker Escaton, arrives in the village of Ravenshore on the continent of Jadame. Approaching the center of town, he summons a giant crystal which unleashes an elemental storm across the continent. There is widespread destruction and the boundaries to the four Elemental Planes are breached. Now elementals and monsters from beyond the boundaries are threatening to invade, fulfilling Escaton's plan to draw the powers of the elements toward the crystal and destroy the world, and the player must assemble a party of heroes to prevent this.

The game features several recurring characters from previous titles in the series, including the Elemental Lords from Might and Magic II, the Ironfists from Heroes of Might and Magic, and the necromancers Sandro and Thant from Heroes of Might and Magic III.

Setting

A map of the continent of Jadame, showing the regions and towns explored in the game. MM8World.png
A map of the continent of Jadame, showing the regions and towns explored in the game.

The continent of Jadame is first introduced in this game, previously unmentioned in the series. The four elemental gateways appear in the four corners of Jadame: the Gateway of Earth on one of the Dagger Wound Islands (southeast), the Gateway of Water in Ravage Roaming (southwest), the Gateway of Air in the Murmurwoods (northwest), and the Gateway of Fire in the Ironsand Desert (northeast). In each case they cause an environmental disaster: a volcano in the Dagger Wound Island chain erupts and the tremors destroy the bridges that link the islands, the minotaur undercity in Ravage Roaming is flooded, the trees in a large area of the Murmurwoods are uprooted by the winds, and much of the troll settlement in Ironsand is destroyed by an explosion of fire. Escaton raised an enormous crystal in the centre of the city of Ravenshore, which acts as the portal to the Plane Between Planes, where the Destroyer resides.

The first character created by the player remains with the party for the entire game and is referred to as the "Acknowledged Champion of Jadame". This character leads the party through the adventures in the game.

Scenario

Reception

The PC version of Might and Magic VIII received mixed reviews according to the review aggregation website GameRankings. [9] It was regarded by many critics as surprisingly inferior to previous titles in the series, though still a passable game. IGN praised the game's rendered cutscenes, storyline, setting and background along with its overall consistency and expansion on the Might and Magic universe, noting these as particularly strong points, but was disappointed with in-game graphics and the reused engine's low modern capabilities, citing these as pitiful compared to other, more modern RPGs. [17]

This was echoed by GameSpot 's reviewer, who, though intrigued by the series' addictive charm, was displeased with Might and Magic VIII's tedious interface and pointed out the imbalance of the dragon character class. [3] GameRevolution 's reviewer was dissatisfied with the plot, particularly in comparison to earlier titles, and felt the game was identical to both its prequels. [14] Kevin Rice of NextGen said of the game, "This isn't the bottom of the barrel in RPG gaming, but you can see the bottom from here." [18]

Port

In Japan, the game was ported by Imagineer for the PlayStation 2 under the title Might and Magic: Day of the Destroyer (マイト アンド マジック 〜デイ･オブ･ザ･デストロイヤー〜, Maito ando Majikku 〜Dei obu za Desutoroiyā〜). The game has just a few minor changes. Before this port, the last game in the main series to appear on a console was Might and Magic III: Isles of Terra , almost ten years previously. Famitsu gave the game 24 out of 40. [4]

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References

  1. ↑ "Might and Magic 8 [sic]". Larry Elmore. Archived from the original on June 28, 2021. Retrieved October 25, 2023.
  2. ↑ "3DO Ships Might and Magic VIII: Day of the Destroyer; All-New Look for the Next Chapter in the Celebrated Might and Magic Brand [date mislabeled as "March 2, 1999"]". The 3DO Company . March 2, 2000. Archived from the original on April 17, 2001. Retrieved June 28, 2021.
  3. 1 2 3 Ryan, Michael E. (March 22, 2000). "Might and Magic VIII: Day of the Destroyer Review". GameSpot . Fandom. Archived from the original on January 4, 2005. Retrieved June 28, 2021.
  4. 1 2 3 "マイト アンド マジック 〜デイ・オブ・ザ・デストロイヤー〜 [PS2]". Famitsu (in Japanese). Enterbrain. Archived from the original on July 2, 2021. Retrieved October 25, 2023.
  5. ↑ New World Computing. Might and Magic VIII: Day of the Destroyer (Windows). The 3DO Company. Catherine Ironfist: I fought alongside elementals in our campaigns against the Kreegan. I found them stalwart and loyal. I know Roland disagrees, but I cannot call their hostility here a case of fickleness.
  6. ↑ New World Computing. Might and Magic VI: The Mandate of Heaven (Windows). The 3DO Company. Melian: Their attacks against the empire of the Ancients disrupted the network of shipping and communications that held us all together, causing the Silence that marks the first year of our modern calendar. Without support from the homeworlds, our fledgling technology failed, bringing us to this sorry state.
  7. ↑ New World Computing. Might and Magic VIII: Day of the Destroyer (Windows). The 3DO Company. Escaton: I am aware that the king and queen of Enroth have rid your world of Kreegans. Still, your world is to be destroyed. Once I am called, I must perform the Convocation. Once the Convocation is begun, it must continue. I was called while Kreegan still lived on your world. It matters not that they were dust by the time I arrived.
  8. ↑ New World Computing. Might and Magic VIII: Day of the Destroyer (Windows). The 3DO Company. Escaton: Your world has fallen so far--it seemed certain you would not be able to defend yourselves against my enemies. Though I underestimated your abilities, and the Kreegans were ultimately destroyed, I still feel that I was right to err on the side of caution.
  9. 1 2 "Might and Magic VIII: Day of the Destroyer for PC". GameRankings . CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on May 26, 2019. Retrieved June 28, 2021.
  10. ↑ Werner, Nash (March 21, 2000). "Might and Magic VIII: Day of the Destroyer". Gamecenter. CNET. Archived from the original on August 16, 2000. Retrieved June 28, 2021.
  11. ↑ Bauman, Steve (March 15, 2000). "Might and Magic VIII: Day of the Destroyer". Computer Games Strategy Plus . Strategy Plus, Inc. Archived from the original on May 25, 2003. Retrieved June 28, 2021.
  12. ↑ Janicki, P. Stefan "Desslock" (July 2000). "The Magic Is Gone (Might and Magic VIII: Day of the Destroyer Review" (PDF). Computer Gaming World . No. 192. Ziff Davis. p. 90. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 5, 2022. Retrieved October 25, 2023.
  13. ↑ Nash, Jeff (May 15, 2000). "Might and Magic VIII: Day of the Destroyer". The Electric Playground . Greedy Productions Ltd. Archived from the original on March 9, 2002. Retrieved October 25, 2023.
  14. 1 2 Joe (April 2000). "Might and Magic VIII [Day of the Destroyer] Review". GameRevolution . CraveOnline. Archived from the original on September 8, 2015. Retrieved June 28, 2021.
  15. ↑ Sartor, Patrice (April 11, 2000). "M&M VIII: Day of the Destroyer". GameSpy . GameSpy Industries. Archived from the original on April 2, 2002. Retrieved October 25, 2023.
  16. ↑ Lafferty, Michael (March 21, 2000). "Might and Magic VIII: Day of the Destroyer Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on September 30, 2008. Retrieved June 28, 2021.
  17. 1 2 Blevins, Tal (March 22, 2000). "Might and Magic VIII: Day of the Destroyer". IGN . Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on July 2, 2021. Retrieved October 25, 2023.
  18. 1 2 Rice, Kevin (June 2000). "Might and Magic VIII: Day of the Destroyer". NextGen . No. 66. Imagine Media. p. 104. Retrieved June 28, 2021.
  19. ↑ Brenesal, Barry (June 2000). "Might and Magic VIII: Day of the Destroyer". PC Accelerator . No. 22. Imagine Media. p. 81. Retrieved June 28, 2021.
  20. ↑ "Might and Magic VIII: Day of the Destroyer". PC Gamer UK . No. 85. Future Publishing. August 2000.
  21. ↑ Thomas, Damian (March 20, 2000). "Might and Magic VIII: Day of the Destroyer". RPGFan. Emerald Shield Media LLC. Archived from the original on June 28, 2021. Retrieved October 25, 2023.
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