Having made in their tenacious hands, license for Might and Magic publisher Ubisoft began to restore the popularity of a slightly forgotten universe. This year, our Winchesters visited the fifth in a row Heroes of Might and Magic from domestic developers from Nival, In the meantime, you read this text, the add-ons should lie on the shelves of stores to this wonderful game. But this project was not enough for the publisher. Studio Arcane, Instead of continuing your Arx Fatalis, By order Ubisoft She began to create a new ambitious in the same universe "Sword and Magic". Dark Messiah seemed almost an ideal project. Great graphics thanks to the relics of the Source engine, the widespread use of physics, an intuitive pumping system, a smart and worked out combat system with many techniques – in general, we have promised a lot of things to us, and the media was even more exaggerated. How insulting was to see instead of a masterpiece and the main nominee on the “game of the year” ordinary action only in the fantasy universe with all the ensuing consequences. But we will not disclose all the cards and tell you about everything in order.
What they wanted – did not get
The first bummer that lies in wait for an encouraged player is an RPG component Dark Messiah. Yes, we were promised meat and brutal action, but few people guessed the fact that the pumping will be like that. It will be more correct to say not “pumping”, but “lack of pumping”, because experience points are distributed only after the completion of a certain task and nothing else. That is, no matter how hard you try and not grunts, but making a character stronger than another player simply cannot work.
The combat system is depressing. It seemed that here it was, exactly the way that the players were waiting after the legendary Blade of Darkness, But this is an illusion. Yes, the management is convenient. Yes, the animation is excellent. But there are few blows, but no one heard about all sorts of supercomboos here. In addition to standard attacks, a powerful attack, “injection” and block there are adrenaline and appropriate blows. Having chopped enough monsters, your protagonist increases the Adrenaline parameter;Having gained the maximum value of it, the protagonist begins to create branded atrocities. Here the player will see the appetizing chopping off of the adversary head and other hanging parts of the body, but it is not possible to produce such special receptions without adrenaline. It is interesting that, having descended to the ground, the corpse loses the possibility of amputation of something, as on it is not chopped by the most powerful sword.
In general, playing precisely a unilaterally developed warrior turns out to be a presumptuous occupation: just know that Masha’s sword. Of the advantages, it should be noted sufficient battles. It’s just that you won’t get a saber right and left (you can cut it quickly), so you have to constantly put blocks and use opponents’ mistakes.
Three in Auchan, not counting the xana
Three classes of characters are presented to on this web the player’s court. Having chosen the path of a warrior, you will have to rock life and a variety of power characteristics. Large swords and relatively heavy armor are welcome. The shield, by the way, is also available.
Mages in Dark Messiah look almost superheroes. A lot of fiery spells, frost, telekinesis, reduction of the enemy to the size of the rat – this is just an incomplete list of witchcraft skills. In addition, magicians are operating staff, which in turn are not so weak weapons. One problem in our sorcerers is a small life (it all depends on the buildup), so the main thing is not to let enemies to sufficiently for an attack and quietly pour them with fire from afar. However, the magician has a lot of minuses. So the last fiery magic (costs as many as 10 points) is a continuous misunderstanding. Damage spreads over a small distance, and eats this infection extremely a lot of manna.
Freezing is also not particularly beneficial. The spell lasts a short period of time, which in the battle with several adversaries leads to almost a zero result. You can freeze not only living creatures, but, for example, cover the floor with ice, thereby creating a traumatic situation for enemies. There are flaws, however, there are here. Freeze or at least extinguish the fire with magic cannot.
Thief prefers quick sabotage attacks. For this, special pumping and appropriate weapons are provided. The choice of a thief is long daggers and "silent armor". There are many secretive places on the levels, so it is a pleasure to cut down lonely opponents a la Sam Fisher. Even having hit the last meat grinder of three, or even five opponents, a thief can easily defeat them with only daggers. Another interesting ability of this “profession” is the ability to open the castles: the corresponding chests are scattered in levels, in which the things necessary for the household are hidden.
By the way, no one forbids to make an explosive mixture of several classes of characters. Magician in the shower, but a warrior in reality? Please. A thief magician? Certainly. The main thing is to know what exactly you need to pump-additional points to create a killer tank, as mentioned above, no one will give you.
The most rotten, it turns out that the player’s goal is actually one – destroy everything that moves. That is, no matter what character you play, nonlinearity consists only in what way to destroy opponents. Speaking of ways. It is not necessary to wave a sword or make barbecue from enemies. You can dashing the enemy on a burning bonfire, or on sharp spikes, or you can stupidly throw it into the abyss. There are various items at the levels that can be overturned on nothing unprecedented enemies. A chandelier, for example, or a few barrels fixed at the top. The fact that these same additional methods of killing by arrogantly are scattered by level in industrial quantities are somewhat oppressed – too obsessive.
Artificial intelligence leaves dual impressions. In battle, opponents deftly dodge powerful blows, close their shields, brazenly attack a friendly crowd, and, having received a serious injury, try to slip away. But this is a fight. In ordinary situations, enemies are simply impenetrable stupid. At one of the initial levels, I crept up to the next knight standing near the edge of the stairs. I did not have to choose and, under the force of a young man, under the ass, the brave warrior flew down with a noise, breaking out of a flimsy wooden boards. Having landed, the knight rose, shouted something and began to climb me. Without thinking twice, I gave our bobbilia another blow with my foot. Flying, cracking of wood, hit on the floor, again the noise of steps on the stairs, kick. The third attempt to conquer the stairs ended, as well as the previous two. Out of pity, I just finished off the already lame enemy from the bow. It is not clear why even on the third attempt the warrior did not undertake at least something new, but stupidly went ahead.
Messiah in Auchan, not counting the Xana
Having painted the local gameplay, I must say a couple of printed ones and about the plot. It seems to be connected with the universe Might and Magic, But the actions of the game unfold on the continent of the unknown continent Auchan, which reduces all the interest of fans of the Heroes series. We play the role of Saref, an orphans who became a student of a strong magician Fenriga. The sorcerer taught the growing fellow all kinds of arts for some great goal there. Having received all the necessary knowledge and skills, our hero goes on an ordinary task, which, as you have already guessed, will become decisive for Auchan. All of the fault of that dark Messiah (Dark Messiah) is going to immerse the world into impenetrable darkness.
Two charming (each in its own way) creation will accompany our protagonist. Leana is the first number – a kind and honest sorceress who has a good external data by the way. The second heroine is the demoness Xana, who lives … in the body of our hero. The devil often releases vulgar and extremely boorish comments about what is happening (especially the beauty Leana), but sometimes gives Sareth and useful tips. In general, Ksana brightens up a stay in Auchan, because without her Kolka a treponet would really become dull.
The world is full of all kinds of dangerous creatures, and just unpleasant personalities and crooks. Dead, orcs, ordinary warriors, evil sorcerers, spiders, now and then to poison the Sarefa, huge cyclops, blazing dragons and many other inhabitants of Auchan simply dream of annihilating the valiant protagonist. Small goblins are worthy of a separate line. Gending creatures are hilariously animated, and their behavior except the smiles do not cause. Between their attacks, the unpretentious “Pleaaaz” is heard (you can translate as “with your permission” or “please”), and, having received decent damage, goblins lose their weapons and clog in a corner, asking for mercy.
But with something, so with graphics at Dark Messiah Everything is fine. Valve Source operates with a bang: yes the picture is not Next-Gen, but this is not important. The models of the characters do not suffer from a lack of landfills, the texture of levels are perfectly selected, and the mulberry special effects are worthy of prolonged ovations. When your hero uses a freezing spell, his hands become naturally icy, which looks just amazing. Well, if you use Fireballs, then you just don’t take the eye. Slightly spoils the HDR picture – some levels are simply filled with tons of syrup. IN Dark Messiah It pleases not even the number of hard -to -pronounce technologies, but attention to the details. Here and there, birds soar into the air, and fish floats in the water. Without your intervention, most enemies are engaged in their own affairs.
However Dark Messiah full of errors, unpleasant bugs and just flaws. Optimization also does not please. The game loves to slow down even on the most modern machines and fly out when loading the main menu. The owners of video cards without the support of third shadeers will admire all kinds of obscure effects during the use of magic. Of the shortcomings, I would like to note a crookedly working night vision mode. For example, during his stay in the water, he simply does not want to turn off, which is not annoying.
Final comments:
After you pass Dark Messiah You begin to understand why Valve always puts off the release date. Yes, yes, it is the very desire to bring the project to the perfect state of Arcane Studios. Hence such a result: many excellent ideas and ideas have not found the proper implementation. The balance of spells still needs to be brought to mind, the combat system should be significantly expanded, and diluted with a large number of nonlinear elements in the gameplay. If the developers from Arcane Studios would have spent seven extra months behind their creation, it may have been a masterpiece, and just a good action in the famous Might and Magic universe.
Gameplay: Action with RPG elements. Three professions and a thousand and one way to destroy the enemy.
Graphics: Source engine is still capable of a lot. Painting levels, good detail and delightful special effects.
Sound: solid epic music and high -quality voice acting. Something else is needed?
For a long time?: No matter how absurd it sounds, playing for different professions is interesting, this is how Dark Messiah is not so shameful.