Might and Magic
Encyclopedia
Might and Magic is a series of role-playing video game
s from New World Computing
, which in 1996 became a subsidiary of The 3DO Company
. The producer
of the series was Jon Van Caneghem
.
Might and Magic is considered one of the defining examples of early PC
role-playing games, along with the Bard's Tale, Ultima and Wizardry
series.
The original Might and Magic series officially ended with the closure of the 3DO Company. The rights to the Might and Magic name were purchased for USD 1.3 million by Ubisoft, who "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
.
There were several spin-offs from the main series, including Heroes of Might and Magic
, Crusaders of Might and Magic
, Warriors of Might and Magic
, Legends of Might and Magic
, and the fanmade Swords of Xeen
.
In August of 2003
, Ubisoft
acquired the rights to the Might and Magic franchise for USD$1.3 million after 3DO filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy
. Ubisoft has since released three new projects using the Might and Magic brand — a fifth installment of the Heroes series
, developed by Nival Interactive, an action-style game called Dark Messiah of Might and Magic
, developed by Arkane Studios
and a puzzle RPG called Might & Magic: Clash of Heroes
, developed by Capybara Games
.
In September of 2009, the Might and Magic Sixpack was re-released via the digital distribution service, Good Old Games. In March 2011, The seventh and eighth instalments of the series were also added to Good Old Games.
setting. The player controls a party of player character
s, which can consist of members of various character class
es. The game world is presented to the player in first person perspective. In the earlier games the interface is very similar to that of Bard's Tale, but from Might and Magic VI: The Mandate of Heaven
onward, the interface features a scrolling three-dimensional environment similar to that of Doom. Combat is turn-based, though the later games allowed the player to choose to conduct combat in real time.
The game worlds in all of the Might and Magic games are quite large, and a player can expect each game to provide several dozen hours of gameplay. It is usually quite combat-intensive and often involves large groups of enemy creatures. Monsters and situations encountered throughout the series tend to be well-known fantasy staples such as giant rat
s, werewolf
curses, dragon
flights and zombie hordes, rather than original creations. Isles of Terra and the Xeen games featured a more distinct environment, blending fantasy and science fiction elements in a unique way.
genre, the overarching plot of the series has something of a science fiction
background. The series is set in a fictional galaxy as part of an alternative universe, where planets are overseen by a powerful race of space-travelers known as Ancients. In each of the games, a party of characters fights monsters and completes quests on one of these planets, until they eventually become involved in the affairs of the Ancients.
The first five games in the series concern the renegade guardian of the planet Terra ("Earth
" in Latin
), named Sheltem, who becomes irrevocably corrupted, developing a penchant for throwing planets into their suns. Sheltem establishes himself on a series of flat worlds known as nacelles (which are implied to be giant spaceships) and Corak, a second guardian and creation of the Ancients, with the assistance of the player characters, pursues him across the Void. Eventually both Corak and Sheltem are destroyed in a climactic battle on the nacelle of Xeen.
The sixth, seventh and eighth games take place on Enroth, a single planet partially ruled by the Ironfist dynasty, and chronicle the events and aftermath of an invasion by the Kreegan, the demonlike arch-enemies of the Ancients. It is also revealed that the destruction wrought by the Ancients' wars with the Kreegan is the reason why the worlds of Might & Magic exist as medieval fantasy settings despite once being seeded with futuristic technology
- the worlds have been 'cut off' from the Ancients and descended into barbarism
. The first through third games in the Heroes of Might and Magic
series traces the fortunes of the Ironfists in more detail, though none of the sci-fi elements appear in the Heroes series.
and Dark Side of Xeen
) was reviewed in 1994 in Dragon
#201 by Sandy Petersen
in the "Eye of the Monitor" column. Petersen gave the compilation 3 out of 5 stars. Petersen reviewed the World of Xeen CD-ROM version in Dragon #204, giving that version 2 stars.
Role-playing video game
Role-playing video games are a video game genre with origins in pen-and-paper role-playing games such as Dungeons & Dragons, using much of the same terminology, settings and game mechanics. The player in RPGs controls one character, or several adventuring party members, fulfilling one or many quests...
s from New World Computing
New World Computing
New World Computing, Inc. was an American computer 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 computer role-playing game series and its spin-offs, especially Heroes of...
, which in 1996 became a subsidiary of The 3DO Company
The 3DO Company
The 3DO Company , also known as 3DO , was a video game company...
. The producer
Game producer
A video game producer is the person in charge of overseeing development of a video game.The earliest documented use of the term producer in games was by Trip Hawkins, who established the position when he founded Electronic Arts in 1982...
of the series was Jon Van Caneghem
Jon Van Caneghem
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...
.
Might and Magic is considered one of the defining examples of early PC
Personal computer
A personal computer is any general-purpose computer whose size, capabilities, and original sales price make it useful for individuals, and which is intended to be operated directly by an end-user with no intervening computer operator...
role-playing games, along with the Bard's Tale, Ultima and Wizardry
Wizardry
Wizardry is a series of computer role-playing games, developed by Sir-Tech, which were highly influential in the development of modern console and computer role playing games. The original Wizardry was a significant influence to early console RPGs, such as Dragon Warrior and Final Fantasy. ...
series.
The original Might and Magic series officially ended with the closure of the 3DO Company. The rights to the Might and Magic name were purchased for USD 1.3 million by Ubisoft, who "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
Heroes of Might and Magic V
Heroes of Might and Magic V is the fifth installment of the Heroes of Might and Magic turn-based strategy video game series. It was developed by Nival Interactive, under the guidance of franchise-owner Ubisoft...
and Dark Messiah of Might and Magic
Dark Messiah of Might and Magic
Dark Messiah of Might and Magic, additionally subtitled Elements on Xbox 360, is a first-person action game developed by Arkane Studios and Floodgate Entertainment. Kuju Entertainment developed the multiplayer mode...
.
History
There are nine games in the series, consisting of:- Might and Magic: The Secret of the Inner SanctumMight and Magic: The Secret of the Inner SanctumMight and Magic Book One: The Secret of the Inner Sanctum is an early computer role-playing game released for the Apple II, IBM PC, NES and a number of other platforms, and is the first game in the Might and Magic series...
(1986; Apple II, Mac, DOSDOSDOS, short for "Disk Operating System", is an acronym for several closely related operating systems that dominated the IBM PC compatible market between 1981 and 1995, or until about 2000 if one includes the partially DOS-based Microsoft Windows versions 95, 98, and Millennium Edition.Related...
, Commodore 64Commodore 64The Commodore 64 is an 8-bit home computer introduced by Commodore International in January 1982.Volume production started in the spring of 1982, with machines being released on to the market in August at a price of US$595...
, NESNintendo Entertainment SystemThe Nintendo Entertainment System is an 8-bit video game console that was released by Nintendo in North America during 1985, in Europe during 1986 and Australia in 1987...
, MSXMSXMSX was the name of a standardized home computer architecture in the 1980s conceived by Kazuhiko Nishi, then Vice-president at Microsoft Japan and Director at ASCII Corporation...
, PC-EngineTurboGrafx-16TurboGrafx-16, fully titled as TurboGrafx-16 Entertainment SuperSystem and known in Japan as the , is a video game console developed by Hudson Soft and NEC, released in Japan on October 30, 1987, and in North America on August 29, 1989....
CD-ROM) - Might and Magic II: Gates to Another WorldMight and Magic II: Gates To Another WorldMight and Magic II: Gates to Another World is a computer role-playing game. It is the sequel to the game Might and Magic: The Secret of the Inner Sanctum.-Background:...
(1988; Apple II, AmigaAmigaThe Amiga is a family of personal computers that was sold by Commodore in the 1980s and 1990s. The first model was launched in 1985 as a high-end home computer and became popular for its graphical, audio and multi-tasking abilities...
, DOS, Commodore 64, Mac, Sega GenesisSega Mega DriveThe Sega Genesis is a fourth-generation video game console developed and produced by Sega. It was originally released in Japan in 1988 as , then in North America in 1989 as Sega Genesis, and in Europe, Australia and other PAL regions in 1990 as Mega Drive. The reason for the two names is that...
, Super Nintendo Entertainment SystemSuper Nintendo Entertainment SystemThe Super Nintendo Entertainment System is a 16-bit video game console that was released by Nintendo in North America, Europe, Australasia , and South America between 1990 and 1993. In Japan and Southeast Asia, the system is called the , or SFC for short...
(Europe only), SNES (Japan-only, different from the European version), MSXMSXMSX was the name of a standardized home computer architecture in the 1980s conceived by Kazuhiko Nishi, then Vice-president at Microsoft Japan and Director at ASCII Corporation...
, PC-Engine CD) - Might and Magic III: Isles of TerraMight and Magic III: Isles of TerraMight and Magic III: Isles of Terra is the third game in the role-playing game series Might and Magic. Released in 1991, it is the predecessor to Might and Magic IV: Clouds of Xeen and the sequel to Might and Magic II: Gates to Another World....
(1991; DOS, Mac, Amiga, SNES, Sega Genesis, Sega CD, PC-Engine CD-ROM) - Might and Magic IV: Clouds of XeenMight and Magic IV: Clouds of XeenMight and Magic IV: Clouds of Xeen is the fourth installment in the Might and Magic series by New World Computing.-Plot:Might and Magic IV focuses on the events that had occurred after Might and Magic III. Trouble is stirring on the Nacelle world of Xeen...
(1992; DOS, Mac) - Might and Magic V: Darkside of XeenMight and Magic V: Darkside of XeenMight and Magic V: Darkside of Xeen is a science fantasy computer role-playing game, published and developed for multiple platforms by New World Computing in 1993...
(1993; DOS, Mac)- Might and Magic: World of Xeen (1994; DOS, Mac)
- Might and Magic VI: The Mandate of HeavenMight and Magic VI: The Mandate of HeavenMight 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...
(1998; WindowsMicrosoft WindowsMicrosoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
) - Might and Magic VII: For Blood and HonorMight and Magic VII: For Blood and HonorMight and Magic VII: For Blood and Honor is a role playing game published in 1999 by 3DO and developed by New World Computing, and is the predecessor of Might and Magic VIII: Day of the Destroyer...
(1999; Windows) - Might and Magic VIII: Day of the DestroyerMight and Magic VIII: Day of the DestroyerMight and Magic VIII: Day of the Destroyer is a computer role-playing 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...
(20002000 in video gaming-Events:* May 11–13 — 6th annual Electronic Entertainment Expo ; the 3rd annual Game Critics Awards for the Best of E³* June 26 — International Game Developers Association renamed from Computer Game Developers Association...
; Windows) - Might and Magic IXMight and Magic IXMight and Magic IX is a computer role-playing game, the last developed by New World Computing for Microsoft Windows and released in 2002 by the 3DO Company. It is the sequel to Might and Magic VIII: Day of the Destroyer...
(20022002 in video gamingThe year 2002 in video gaming saw the release of many games to sixth-generation video game consoles, predominately, the Nintendo GameCube, PlayStation 2, and Xbox.-Events:...
; Windows; known as: Writ of Fate)
Anthologies
- Might and Magic Trilogy (1993), includes Might and Magic games III, IV, V, and the fanmade Swords of Xeen.
- Might and Magic I, II, III, IV, V: Collection Classique (1998), contains the games I-V
- Ultimate Might and Magic Archives (1998), includes the first five Might and Magic games, World of Xeen and the fanmade Swords of Xeen.
- Might and Magic VI: The Mandate of Heaven - Limited Edition (1998), a collector's edition of Might and Magic VI that included the first five games on CD-ROM as well.
- Might and Magic VI: The Mandate of Heaven - Special Edition (1998), included Might and Magic games I, II, III, IV, V and the fanmade Swords of Xeen as well.
- Might and Magic Sixpack (1998), includes the first six Might and Magic games.
- Might and Magic Millennium Edition (1999), includes the Might and Magic games IV, V, VI and VII.
- Might and Magic (Platinum Edition) (2002), includes the Might and Magic games VI, VII, VIII and IX.
There were several spin-offs from the main series, including Heroes of Might and Magic
Heroes of Might and Magic
Heroes of Might and Magic is a series of video games originally created and developed by Jon Van Caneghem through New World Computing. As part of the Might and Magic franchise, the series changed ownership when NWC was acquired by 3DO and again when 3DO closed down and sold the rights to Ubisoft...
, Crusaders of Might and Magic
Crusaders of Might and Magic
Crusaders of Might and Magic is a third-person action/RPG video game developed and published by 3DO's Austin, Texas studio and Redwood Shores studio . Different versions of the game were released for both Microsoft Windows and the PlayStation...
, Warriors of Might and Magic
Warriors of Might and Magic
-Important notes:It was released on three different consoles generating three totally different games. Although they all follow a similar storyline each game was unique, for instance they all had their own unique levels and monsters...
, Legends of Might and Magic
Legends of Might and Magic
Legends of Might and Magic is a first-person shooter video game developed by Jon Van Caneghem through New World Computing and published by the 3DO Company in 2001. As a spin-off of the Might and Magic franchise, Legends has a fantasy theme...
, and the fanmade Swords of Xeen
Swords of Xeen
Swords of Xeen is a computer role-playing game developed by Catware and published by New World Computing. It was initially released in 1995 as a "bonus scenario" in the Might and Magic Trilogy compilation . Subsequently, it was also included in several series anthologies...
.
In August of 2003
2003 in video gaming
-Events:*February 27 — Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences hosts 6th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards; inducts Yu Suzuki of Sega to the AIAS Hall of Fame....
, Ubisoft
Ubisoft
Ubisoft Entertainment S.A. is a major French video game publisher and developer, with headquarters in Montreuil, France. The company has a worldwide presence with 25 studios in 17 countries and subsidiaries in 26 countries....
acquired the rights to the Might and Magic franchise for USD$1.3 million after 3DO filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy
Bankruptcy
Bankruptcy is a legal status of an insolvent person or an organisation, that is, one that cannot repay the debts owed to creditors. In most jurisdictions bankruptcy is imposed by a court order, often initiated by the debtor....
. Ubisoft has since released three new projects using the Might and Magic brand — a fifth installment of the Heroes series
Heroes of Might and Magic V
Heroes of Might and Magic V is the fifth installment of the Heroes of Might and Magic turn-based strategy video game series. It was developed by Nival Interactive, under the guidance of franchise-owner Ubisoft...
, developed by Nival Interactive, an action-style game called Dark Messiah of Might and Magic
Dark Messiah of Might and Magic
Dark Messiah of Might and Magic, additionally subtitled Elements on Xbox 360, is a first-person action game developed by Arkane Studios and Floodgate Entertainment. Kuju Entertainment developed the multiplayer mode...
, developed by Arkane Studios
Arkane Studios
Arkane Studios is a video game developer based in Lyon, France. It was founded in 1999, and released its first game, Arx Fatalis, in 2002. Arkane Studios opened an Austin, Texas-based office in July 2006....
and a puzzle RPG called Might & Magic: Clash of Heroes
Might & Magic: Clash of Heroes
Might & Magic: Clash of Heroes is a puzzle role-playing adventure video game in the Might and Magic franchise, developed for the Nintendo DS by Capybara Games and published by Ubisoft Entertainment. It was first announced in May 2009, and released on December 1, 2009...
, developed by Capybara Games
Capybara Games
Capybara Games is an award-winning independent game studio based out of Toronto, Canada. It focuses on the development of iPhone, Nintendo DS, and downloadable console games...
.
In September of 2009, the Might and Magic Sixpack was re-released via the digital distribution service, Good Old Games. In March 2011, The seventh and eighth instalments of the series were also added to Good Old Games.
Gameplay
The majority of the gameplay takes place in a medieval fantasyFantasy
Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...
setting. The player controls a party of player character
Player character
A player character or playable character is a character in a video game or role playing game who is controlled or controllable by a player, and is typically a protagonist of the story told in the course of the game. A player character is a persona of the player who controls it. Player characters...
s, which can consist of members of various character class
Character class
In role-playing games, a common method of arbitrating the capabilities of different game characters is to assign each one to a character class. A character class aggregates several abilities and aptitudes, and may also sometimes detail aspects of background and social standing or impose behaviour...
es. The game world is presented to the player in first person perspective. In the earlier games the interface is very similar to that of Bard's Tale, but from Might and Magic VI: The Mandate of Heaven
Might and Magic VI: The Mandate of Heaven
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...
onward, the interface features a scrolling three-dimensional environment similar to that of Doom. Combat is turn-based, though the later games allowed the player to choose to conduct combat in real time.
The game worlds in all of the Might and Magic games are quite large, and a player can expect each game to provide several dozen hours of gameplay. It is usually quite combat-intensive and often involves large groups of enemy creatures. Monsters and situations encountered throughout the series tend to be well-known fantasy staples such as giant rat
Rat
Rats are various medium-sized, long-tailed rodents of the superfamily Muroidea. "True rats" are members of the genus Rattus, the most important of which to humans are the black rat, Rattus rattus, and the brown rat, Rattus norvegicus...
s, werewolf
Werewolf
A werewolf, also known as a lycanthrope , is a mythological or folkloric human with the ability to shapeshift into a wolf or an anthropomorphic wolf-like creature, either purposely or after being placed under a curse...
curses, dragon
Dragon
A dragon is a legendary creature, typically with serpentine or reptilian traits, that feature in the myths of many cultures. There are two distinct cultural traditions of dragons: the European dragon, derived from European folk traditions and ultimately related to Greek and Middle Eastern...
flights and zombie hordes, rather than original creations. Isles of Terra and the Xeen games featured a more distinct environment, blending fantasy and science fiction elements in a unique way.
Plot
Although most of the gameplay reflects a distinctly fantasyFantasy
Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...
genre, the overarching plot of the series has something of a science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
background. The series is set in a fictional galaxy as part of an alternative universe, where planets are overseen by a powerful race of space-travelers known as Ancients. In each of the games, a party of characters fights monsters and completes quests on one of these planets, until they eventually become involved in the affairs of the Ancients.
The first five games in the series concern the renegade guardian of the planet Terra ("Earth
Earth
Earth is the third planet from the Sun, and the densest and fifth-largest of the eight planets in the Solar System. It is also the largest of the Solar System's four terrestrial planets...
" in Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
), named Sheltem, who becomes irrevocably corrupted, developing a penchant for throwing planets into their suns. Sheltem establishes himself on a series of flat worlds known as nacelles (which are implied to be giant spaceships) and Corak, a second guardian and creation of the Ancients, with the assistance of the player characters, pursues him across the Void. Eventually both Corak and Sheltem are destroyed in a climactic battle on the nacelle of Xeen.
The sixth, seventh and eighth games take place on Enroth, a single planet partially ruled by the Ironfist dynasty, and chronicle the events and aftermath of an invasion by the Kreegan, the demonlike arch-enemies of the Ancients. It is also revealed that the destruction wrought by the Ancients' wars with the Kreegan is the reason why the worlds of Might & Magic exist as medieval fantasy settings despite once being seeded with futuristic technology
Technology
Technology is the making, usage, and knowledge of tools, machines, techniques, crafts, systems or methods of organization in order to solve a problem or perform a specific function. It can also refer to the collection of such tools, machinery, and procedures. The word technology comes ;...
- the worlds have been 'cut off' from the Ancients and descended into barbarism
Barbarian
Barbarian and savage are terms used to refer to a person who is perceived to be uncivilized. The word is often used either in a general reference to a member of a nation or ethnos, typically a tribal society as seen by an urban civilization either viewed as inferior, or admired as a noble savage...
. The first through third games in the Heroes of Might and Magic
Heroes of Might and Magic
Heroes of Might and Magic is a series of video games originally created and developed by Jon Van Caneghem through New World Computing. As part of the Might and Magic franchise, the series changed ownership when NWC was acquired by 3DO and again when 3DO closed down and sold the rights to Ubisoft...
series traces the fortunes of the Ironfists in more detail, though none of the sci-fi elements appear in the Heroes series.
Reception
Might & Magic: The World of Xeen (comprising Clouds of XeenMight and Magic IV: Clouds of Xeen
Might and Magic IV: Clouds of Xeen is the fourth installment in the Might and Magic series by New World Computing.-Plot:Might and Magic IV focuses on the events that had occurred after Might and Magic III. Trouble is stirring on the Nacelle world of Xeen...
and Dark Side of Xeen
Might and Magic V: Darkside of Xeen
Might and Magic V: Darkside of Xeen is a science fantasy computer role-playing game, published and developed for multiple platforms by New World Computing in 1993...
) was reviewed in 1994 in Dragon
Dragon (magazine)
Dragon is one of the two official magazines for source material for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game and associated products, the other being Dungeon. TSR, Inc. originally launched the monthly printed magazine in 1976 to succeed the company's earlier publication, The Strategic Review. The...
#201 by Sandy Petersen
Sandy Petersen
Carl Sanford Joslyn Petersen is a game designer.Petersen was born in St. Louis, Missouri and attended University of California, Berkeley, majoring in zoology....
in the "Eye of the Monitor" column. Petersen gave the compilation 3 out of 5 stars. Petersen reviewed the World of Xeen CD-ROM version in Dragon #204, giving that version 2 stars.