Customer Reviews

Heroes Chronicles: Clash of the Dragons

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This game is amazing. You start off as a character named Tarnum. There are 8 scenarios, each beginning with animations that aren't too bad. At the beginning of the game you learn that the dragons that the immortal Tarnum used to live with are acting strangely. One day they disapeared. As you progress through the game you learn more and more about what is happening to the dragons, and you must fight dangerous creatures of all sorts to survive, collect artifacts to give you boosts in your skills, such as spell power, recruit armies of powerful creatures and fight an occasional battle with an enemy human. The battle scenes are probably the best part of the game. It is a role-playing game, so you must attack in turns, but this gives you time to devise plans, and it really comes down to the slightest moves to decide the outcome of the game. The graphics are beatifully done, and when you are playing it it really immerses you in the game. Clash of the Dragons is the only Heroes Chronicles game I have played of the quartet, but I really enjoyed it and recommend it completely!

The Heroes of Might and Magic Chronicles series were mainly created for people who are new to the HoMM games. Therefore, as a veteran player ever since the first HoMM game, I found the campaign rather easy. However, if you've never played a HoMM game before, the chronicles series are an excellent place to begin (just make sure you know what you're getting into because you've got some sleepless nights ahead of you). Even for veteran players, if you set the difficulty on impossible, they may find this particular campaign enjoyable since the story is nicely woven and one can't help but wonder what lies next for our hero, Tarnum. The only thing that would make me hesitate in buying this product is the fact that my local software store is selling HoMM millenium edition (HoMM 1-3) for 19.99, which is a much better deal than paying the same price for one campaign.

Heroes Chronicles: Clash of the Dragons follows the adventures of Tarnum, a former barbarian lord leading an elf king's army against the united forces of Mutare and her dragon minions. Just as in the companion game, Heroes Chronicles: Masters of the Elements, heroes are developed, quests performed, monster armies recruited and castles and territories expanded as the hero tries to fend off invading forces.

Terrain varies from sylvan to rocky to positively infernal and creatures match their homelands, ranging from flame-throwing demons, unicorns and battle centaurs to dragons of all types. Magic items, supplies and even spells can be bought or traded. Fundamental to success is establishing different types of strongholds that generate creatures of varied ability. The game uses the same engine as Heroes Chronicles: Masters of the Elements and gameplay revolves around adventurers leading troops, thus causing them to act more as "mules" to transport troops than heroic entities.

Combat can be tedious, though battles compared to those in Masters of the Elements are a bit more even. There are fewer "death-trap" scenarios, although they still occasionally crop up. Some unique conditions modify each scenario, such as rescuing a particular character or performing a quest to give you an edge in completing the mission.

Unfortunately, the game engine is somewhat flawed and the same problems that plague Masters of the Elements are evident here. The most glaring error is the separation of NPCs in the plot and as adventurer's in the game. It's possible to have a significant adventurer from the storyline die during gameplay, yet the narrative blithely ignores the event. Conversely, an adventurer can be kidnapped in the plot line but still be leading troops in the game. Ultimately, these inconsistencies destroy the impact of the storyline.

A good example of an inconsistency revolves around Tarnum's concern for Valita, a potential spy in his army. As part of a major subplot, the concern should be ill founded since, after all, you control Valita as an adventurer. Unfortunately, what happens to her has no impact on her role in the plot, as she can die and the plot continues as if she were still alive.

The end conditions for each scenario can almost always be solved through brute force alone, which detracts from the appeal of the entire adventure. It's even possible to resolve the ending without actually fighting the main villain. While Heroes Chronicles: Clash of the Dragons is an improvement over Masters of the Elements, it can't overcome the flaws of the game design.

Probably because I'm a longstanding adventure gamer, I love a good story better than anything else. The Heroes Chronicles series is the perfect marriage of story and strategy, a story better-told and more compelling than that in the campaigns found in the full-size games. If you want a good tale while you're busy crushing your enemies into dust, I highly recommend this series, of which CLASH OF THE DRAGONS is volume 3.

I have played HoMM over since the orignal came out (could never get into Might and Magic though), and i enjoy stragity based games to where out of the fifty games 35 are stragity games and 14 are RPG and one action. When I looked into buying and playing this game i felt exicted for another chapter of HoMM. I felt a little let down after installing and playing for a small amount of time. The reason is that I could not get into the game only 'cause the little blurbs that came up every time I ended my turn. Now I liked the stroy lines, its just that I had problems planing my next turn. But the game still plays the same and contuines to build on the orignals.

it was a good game but i like HOMM millenium better.