It's time for some critics.

[Smash]

Originally Posted by Zhuangzi

I'm sorry you didn't enjoy it. My comments on what you said:

Story

For me, I agree that the story is pretty lame, but at least you don't have to suffer through it as you would in a game with lots of cutscenes. You can just click through the text if you want to.

Originality

No, it's not an original game. So what? For me a game has to be fun, not original. And this game (for me) is insanely fun.

Lack of Intro/Cutscenes

Not an issue. If I want 'cutscenes' I will watch a movie.

Variety between Lands

Darion is the best land, I agree. It is amazing. Freedom Isles looks amazing but turns out to be a bit of a grind. Kordar is my least favourite, but what's the problem with Ellinia/Land of the Dead? Plenty of detail there. Haas' Labyrinth is interesting (but annoying to navigate) and Murock is poor. I would agree that Murock seems rushed.

Lack of Creatures, Lack of Abilities

What are you on about here? There are dozens of creatures and abilities.

Weak AI

Yes, the AI is weak. But I would like to see multiplayer so that we could test the strategies that work so well against the AI on each other.

Flat, Boring Battlefield

TOTALLY disagree. I have been playing turned based strategy games for about 15 years (approximately since Master of Orion 1) and I say that this is one of the best TBS experiences in that time. Amazing battle world.

Only 3 Bosses

I will admit that its a bit strange that all 3 bosses are in the first half of the game. But when you think about it there are several other major fights (Karador, Baal, Bagud) but they are not 'boss fights.' I agree they could have been spread better over the game.

Talent Tree boring

Nope, disagree.

Spells boring

No, I love the range of spells in this game.

Rage spirits just for warrior

Um, no. This is wrong.

For me, some of your complaints are somewhat valid or true. But you are missing the central fact that keeps many people playing for over 200 hours. The game is insanely fun. The world is well constructed and full of interesting things to do. And most of all, the battle mode is one of the best TBS experiences in the past ten or fifteen years of TBS games.

I am confused, how fights are better or even different than this in homm3 or 5 apart from smaller creep and items poll.
Compare skill wheel from homm5 or even skills from homm3 to talents (a'la WoW) in KB:L. I guarantee that you will have more fun in building your hero in any homm (even 4).
Can you write what making you playing this game fun so far (i personally got bored on my second go with warrior and leaved game staying near demonis portal). How is your experience with homm3 or at least homm 5? Did you played Disciples 2 (great story)?

[Zhuangzi]

Smash, I haven't played the HOMM series. I completely missed the first 4 and then when 5 came out I played the demo and didn't like it. I thought it was slow and cumbersome. So I am yet to play HOMM V.

Disciples II on the other hand is one of my favourite games. I played it and all the expansions (except the Elven one) many times. I see KB as closest to Disciples II in gameplay, with KB being superior. Even though D2 has more of a strategic overview (with the resources, castles etc) there were a lot of things I found annoying in time, such as the way you could only take one hero to the next map. The turn based play also got very tedious at times (I mean on the strategic level, not the tactical battles). And the battles were more limited than they are in KB.

So it might be true that one of the reasons I love KB so much is that I haven't played the HOMM series. But for whatever reason I have played this game now well over 200 hours now, and that's more than more than all but a handful of games in the last ten years.

[Smash]

This is inexcusable,it is blasphemy , your TBS expierence means nothing if you didn't touch the king, go repair this right now and buy Heroes of Might and Magic III gold edition (started with shadow of death expansion and go skirmish). Do it right now!!! What you waiting for? GO! (and don't bother with homm5)

warning! if you do this your personal life is over, you are lost to this world, sorry i warned.

After play go back and we will have some serious talk.

[Zhuangzi]

Don't bother with HOMM V? I was just investigating the possibility of buying that game. It turns out that Ubisoft are about to release all HOMM V and the 2 expansions in one budget disk (That's Hot range) which will be like $20 for me! So why shouldn't I play HOMM V?

I think I saw a HOMM 3 + 4 complete DVD a while back...

[Smash]

If you really want all heroes there should be something like this in shops:
http://www.gram.pl/upl/artykul/120081024153208.jpg
It has all heroes from I to V with all exp.
But still trust me everything you need is the King! Go buy homm3.
Later you may try homm5 maybe you will taste in it :/.

Edit: oh my memory just bring back additional complaint so i upgrade my first post .

[sector24]

The only think KB and HoMM have in common is turn based combat, and King's Bounty has far superior turn based combat. If you're into castle building and resource management, then HoMM may be the better choice but if you compare the things they have in common, KB is the better game.

[Smash]

Originally Posted by sector24

The only think KB and HoMM have in common is turn based combat, and King's Bounty has far superior turn based combat. If you're into castle building and resource management, then HoMM may be the better choice but if you compare the things they have in common, KB is the better game.

Care to explain? How it is superior turn based combat when system is nearly same?

[Gatts]

Originally Posted by Zhuangzi

Don't bother with HOMM V? I was just investigating the possibility of buying that game. It turns out that Ubisoft are about to release all HOMM V and the 2 expansions in one budget disk (That's Hot range) which will be like $20 for me! So why shouldn't I play HOMM V?

I think I saw a HOMM 3 + 4 complete DVD a while back...

Actually HOMM V 3.1 (Tribes of the EAST - ToE) is all in one pack - it contains the self-sufficient original + 1st datadisk (dwarves) and second datadisk (ToE) - I think its called alone standing - and it is really cheap nowdays, so don't be confused by some "special editions" where you can get some "silver" toys (unless you really wants these toys).

Alos HOMM V 3.1 ToE has many MOD's so you can be sure the fun is 120% of the thrice patched bug-less original (3.1).

Homm V is best online - another reason buying it. (You should be prepared that the scenario becomes very hard very soon, even if playing easy diff -> this is because the maps contain many "traps" and quick save/load will be a must - but as it has map generator and really cool map editor and many many maps for download from fans - hundreds hours of fun goes for sure...

For anyone who has to decide between HOMM V or KB - choose KB (or even better, wait for armored pricness - it will support 3-D googles)

[Zhuangzi]

Originally Posted by Gatts

Actually HOMM V 3.1 (Tribes of the EAST - ToE) is all in one pack - it contains the self-sufficient original + 1st datadisk (dwarves) and second datadisk (ToE) - I think its called alone standing - and it is really cheap nowdays, so don't be confused by some "special editions" where you can get some "silver" toys (unless you really wants these toys).

Alos HOMM V 3.1 ToE has many MOD's so you can be sure the fun is 120% of the thrice patched bug-less original (3.1).

Homm V is best online - another reason buying it. (You should be prepared that the scenario becomes very hard very soon, even if playing easy diff -> this is because the maps contain many "traps" and quick save/load will be a must - but as it has map generator and really cool map editor and many many maps for download from fans - hundreds hours of fun goes for sure...

For anyone who has to decide between HOMM V or KB - choose KB (or even better, wait for armored pricness - it will support 3-D googles)

Thanks for that info, Gatts. I just went out and got a copy of Tribes of the East cheaply, so I am about to play HOMM for the first time. When I load it up it says its version 3.0. So I need a patch that lets me play the original game + first expansion, correct?

EDIT: Okay I am downloading the 3.1 patch (120 mb) but where can I find this mod for the original campaigns? Is it going to be a massive download? Do I need to bother with the original campaign at all or can I dive straight into ToE?

Sorry for the off-topic, mods. We could use an off topic forum to discuss similar games etc.

[Metathron]

@Zhuangzi

About JA3, I read some rumours on a gaming site, and GameSpot has it listed for Q4 2008...But mostly it was just a flippant comment.

As for the HoMM V campaigns: http://www.heroes-fr.com/en/original_campaigns.php

Have fun!