Firmware: iOS 5.1.1 and above
Compatible devices: iPad (3/4/Air/Air 2nd generation), iPad mini (2/3) + partial support for iPhone (4S/5(C)/5S/6/6 Plus)
Supported Permissions: 1024x768, 2048x1536
Description
"Heroes of Might and Magic 3" in HD has finally appeared on the shelves of the virtual App Store. Everyone can enjoy the cult game in a new, “mobile” format by purchasing a novelty for only $9.99 (or 599 rubles).
Heroes 3 HD Edition for mobile devices justifies its name a little more than completely: on small tablet screens, the picture looks really impressive. In this sense, Ubisoft coped with their task perfectly. Only now it can be difficult even for experienced players to get used to the unusual controls in the new Heroes (in this case, the game provides Training). Things are somewhat worse with the game on the network. As only content from Rise of Erathia has undergone an HD overhaul, only 20 multiplayer maps from the original third Heroes will be available to players (and this is without a random map generator in the game!). The situation is aggravated by the fact that the ability to play Heroes 3 HD Edition via Wi-Fi simultaneously from several devices for some reason has not yet been implemented. In a word, the multiplayer in the new "Heroes 3" still needs some improvement.
Another unpleasant surprise for the owners of "apple" devices was the news that playing the new "Heroes" from a smartphone will not work: at the moment the game is available for download from the App Store only for tablets. But there are almost no restrictions here - Heroes 3 in HD works without problems on all iPad models, starting with the second one, including iPad-mini.
The long-awaited release of the strategy took place this afternoon "Heroes of Might and Magic 3", which gained a huge audience in 1999 when the regular edition was released. About 16 years have passed since then, and the game has acquired touch control support and Full HD graphics that look great on iOS And Android.
In order not to change the game mechanics too much, Ubisoft I had to abandon the idea of scaling the interface, which means that only owners of tablets on Android And iOS as well as the owners Windows computers. We were able to install "Heroes of Might and Magic 3" on the iPhone 6 Plus, but it became almost impossible to play. The interface has become so small that the text has become almost unreadable.
Development Team Ubisoft promised not to touch the general game mechanics, but the team still broke their word. Three hours of testing this game on iPad Air, several annoying moments were revealed at once, but otherwise it’s all the same "Heroes of Might and Magic 3" 1999 with updated graphics.
It's rather strange, but the game balance has been broken. It is possible that this is only a temporary bug, but it is very upsetting. In a normal battle, 5 level 2 forest dragons cannot kill 4 level 2 endos with one hit. According to our memory, this was not the case in the classical version, which means Ubisoft something changed in the game mechanics.
The second drawback of the game was the inconvenient control on touch devices. It's not that inconvenient, but unfinished. In order for the troops to attack someone during the battle, you first need to hold your finger on the enemy unit, and then click on the cell from which our warrior will attack. Such a decision destroys any desire to play battles, because if out of habit we tap twice on an enemy soldier, our unit will simply stand next to him and not hit him.
IN iPad And Android version of the game has a mouse, and the finger acts as a mouse. The game was not fully transmitted, so finger touches are not always perfectly recognized, and this is also upsetting. Of course, perhaps this is a matter of habit and you need to practice this for a couple of days, but the fact remains.
In our case, the game proved to be stable, since no slowdowns, freezes, or crashes were detected during testing. This pleases, because lately in App Store And Google Play games are coming out that are very slow even on the iPhone 6, not to mention older devices.
Otherwise it's all the same "Heroes of Might and Magic 3", which is commonly called the "Golden Series" is a line of games. As before, you can change the speed of movement of heroes and units around the map, change the color of the interface, and save the game anywhere. Russian language and voice acting are also present.
The graphics haven't changed much from previous years. The supported resolution has changed, so at 800 by 600 pixels the game looks about the same as the 1920 by 1080 version. In fact, it was not worth waiting for another, because Ubisoft promised to release exactly the HD re-release of the game, which implies the release of the game with support for larger and higher-quality displays.
A game "Heroes of Might and Magic 3" costs 599 rubles in the Russian app store App Store, which is quite a lot for such an "old" game. Of course, this price was facilitated by a sharp drop in the ruble almost twice, but even 329 rubles per game for iPad quite a lot, because it doesn’t even have a map editor and the ability to add your own scenarios from the computer version of the game to the game.
One of the best strategies ever developed, Might & Magic Heroes III, released back in 1999 under the auspices of the legendary Ubisoft, returns to the world of computer games in the iOS version. Heroes of Might and Magic on iOS is still the same game adored by many strategy lovers, which has undergone large-scale optimization for the apple mobile operating system. The game has also been released for Windows and Android devices.
Features of Heroes of Might and Magic iOS version
Adapted Heroes support large screens, have seven exciting story companies, as well as 48 different maps and improved graphics compared to the computer version. Since the original third-generation Might & Magic supported a resolution of 600x800 pixels, which today is not found even on mid-range smartphones, the game developers decided to completely redraw the game world. Over 25,000 graphical elements have been modified in the game, which took over 30,000 hours to complete. The game also includes support for the Steamworks online lobby.
Heroes of Magic and Sword for iOS have a fully translated interface into Russian, which makes it possible for young people who are unfamiliar with this game to comfortably complete the training course. The available step-by-step guide in pdf format will allow not only to study the features of the gameplay for beginners, but also to recall forgotten information to strategy fans.
It is worth noting that for a comfortable game Heroes on iOS must be installed on the iPad. The fact is that the developers had to abandon the interface scaling function, since this would require making strong changes to the game mechanics. And although you can install Might & Magic Heroes III on the iPhone 5 and 6 generations, it is almost impossible to play strategy on them - small graphic elements and miniature text significantly impair the comfort of the gameplay.
Although there is no online multiplayer in Heroes of Might and Magic for iPad, the developers have taken care of fans of multiplayer strategies by introducing local multiplayer into the game. It's also worth noting that the iOS version only includes missions from the original Rise of Erathia game. The storylines from the Breath of Death and Blade of Armageddon expansions are missing and most likely will not be re-released, as Ubisoft had some difficulty obtaining their source codes from the former developer, New World Computing.
The cost of new Heroes on iOS in the official Apple store is 599 rubles, which, according to some adherents of the strategy, is somewhat overpriced.
Features of Heroes for iOS:
- classic turn-based strategy with detailed graphics in HB resolution;
- traditional gameplay, completely preserved from the time of the original game;
- opportunity to explore distant lands;
- the presence of rare artifacts, spells and skills that are necessary for leveling the hero;
- the possibility of building huge cities underground and in the sky.
Download Heroes iOS is a must for all those who want to relive the adventure with Queen Katrina in order to regain her lost throne and restore peace in Erathia's native lands.
Heroes 3 is perhaps the most anticipated game from the past... What can compare to it? Only Fallout 2 comes to mind… Even Baldur’s Gate was ported to iOS with grief in half.
Having a port of Heroes III on the App Store in your portfolio is like owning a gold mine. The game is absolutely cult, known to everyone and everyone. With millions of fans around the world. It has such a potential that it is still able to attract more and more adherents to its ranks.
Until about November 2014, there were persistent rumors that the source codes of the third Heroes were irretrievably lost. But along with the release of iOS 8.1.2, there was an announcement of an improved HD version of the first part of Heroes III - the Rebirth of Erathia. When I found out that Ubisoft had the license, I calmed down. Ubisoft releases sane projects on iOS and has not been seen as greedy (like EA).
My expectations were justified. Heroes 3 appeared in the App Store, as promised, on January 29, 2015 at a price of 599 rubles. For this price, the player gets a full-fledged campaign: Restoration of Erathia, consisting of several mini-campaigns, and 50 single scenarios for every taste and color. Believe me, the price for such a project is at least adequate!
What have the developers changed?
They completely redrawn the graphics in HD. I won’t say that it has become much better, but the game on the retina screen looks presentable. The only negative is that the animation remains the same. 16 years after modern games, you can feel it. But so that the animation does not seem jerky, I immediately suggest setting it to maximum speed in the settings.
They built the Russian language into the game (unlike Aspyr Media or Overhaul Games). It doesn’t matter to us that there are other languages and that Italians and Germans weren’t offended either: the main thing is that Ubisoft perceives the Russian App Store as a profitable market and this is not the first time that it pleases us with Russian localizations. There is even a Russian voice acting of the initial video and inserts between missions.
The developers have also adapted the controls to the tablet screen. At first glance, the control is very uncomfortable, but after a couple of hours you get used to it and it becomes just “a little uncomfortable”. Moreover, there are small flaws both in battles and on the map. For example, shooting is a double tap on the cell on which an enemy unit is standing. And since the units are high, you need to remember that you need to click on the bottom part.
On the map, it is not always possible to hit the desired object the first time. Half a centimeter miss and you lose precious moves.
Game modes
Single player game- 43 single scenarios with different victory conditions. Each scenario takes place on a unique map of its size. (6 XL cards, 11 L cards, 18 M cards, 8 S cards). You can set the difficulty (I prefer the most difficult level), starting cities, starting heroes and starting bonus.
Multiplayer– game for one iPad of several people. Each player will be shown a separate confirmation screen before their turn.
Campaign- 23 missions divided into 7 mini-campaigns. Each mini-campaign is plot-related.
Textbook- training card for beginners.
Obvious shortcomings and shortcomings
In Heroes 3 on iPad no random map generator. There is a suspicion that this was not done by chance. The developers did not want to give players the tool of endless generation of new cards, and therefore endless replayability. Most likely, over time we will see the ported Blade of Armageddon, the Breath of Death and even the Chronicles of Heroes ... Everything is conducive to this. The game quickly soared into the tops of paid and cash games! I'm sure it will last a long time...
Gameplay video on iPad Air (a little introductory video, mission, wandering around the map and combat):
Output: Heroes® of Might and Magic® III HD Edition is a timeless classic! A game that is able to surpass all the most modern toys in terms of replayability and fascination of the process. I sincerely congratulate everyone who, like me, was waiting for this port. I also envy all those who have not yet encountered heroes: they have a chance to join a wonderful and smart turn-based strategy!
Illustration: "Heroes of Might and Magic III"
The game will cost 599 rubles, both in the App Store and on Google Play. It's a little cheaper than downloading the game from Steam. There "Heroes" cost 799 rubles.
As for the reissue itself, it is difficult to call it ideal.
First, the graphics, despite Ubisoft's best efforts, look a little stretched out. However, it could not be otherwise: to increase the image with the preservation of quality and without total redrawing from 800 by 600 pixels to at least 2048 by 1536 pixels is an almost impossible task.
Secondly, management. You need to get used to it. Double quick taps (attack in combat) and just constant confirmations (indicate a target, run - on the main map) - this is by no means the standard for the industry. On the other hand, Ubisoft quite consciously sacrificed the intuitiveness of the controls in favor of destroying the misclick, which mobile ports often suffer from.
So it turns out that the gift received from Ubisoft is a product built on compromises.
Could the remaster (and then the port) be made better? Probably yes, only in this case it would be a different game, with completely different graphics and interface. Moreover, most likely, with other cards, since a radical change in the first one would require editing the design.
You can download the version for Google Play.
P.S. Screenshots from the PC version of the remaster.
Ubisoft is a French multinational company founded by the five Guillemot brothers in 1986. It employs more than 9,000 people in 29 studios scattered around the world, and its annual income has long surpassed the 1 billion euro mark. In the mobile market, the company prefers to release games based on console projects coming out at the same time as them.
