Might & Magic Heroes VI Preview

The latest preview for Might & Magic Heroes VI comes from PC Gamer’s Tom Senior, who seems to be fairly positive towards Ubisoft’s role-playing/strategy title. Here’s a sampling:

My first act as ruler is to start a fight and order a unit of crossbowmen to certain death. My close combat units stand stock still in horror as my mis-click sends my only ranged unit marching towards a slobbering Cerberus demon. The old Might and Magic games were blessed with evocative lo-fi graphics that looked as if they had been lifted from old medieval woodcuts. Now, beautifully rendered models exchange blows.

My crossbowman puts down his bow, draws a tiny knife and shanks the demon in the neck. The beast roars, biting his face off, while at the back, my hero waves his magic sword and casts (inspire) on the crossbowman. You can do it, lads!

This sort of rash leadership is recognised by a new ‘˜blood and tears’ reputation system. Some missions on the campaign map offer reckless resolutions, others sensible ones. Charging in to hit the problem with a hammer earns blood points. Negotiation and bargaining sends you down the grossly misnamed path of tears. Getting enough points in either path lets you choose a new class for your hero, opening up new abilities and changing his appearance. The same system applies to every faction’s single player campaign. If you want to create a charitable necromancer, it can be done.