Heroes of Might and Magic 5 comes from a prestigious stable of predecessors spanning over a decade of gameplay. 1999's Heroes of Might and Magic 3 was arguably the best of the bunch, complimented fabulously with a truly amazing array of add-ons. To this day (thanks in no small part to a random map generator) it still gets played by HOMM fans every week.
If you're unfamiliar with the series, HOMM5 is a typical, fantasy strategy game -- turn-based strategy, to be precise. This fact alone causes many hard core gamers to snub it, which is a dreadful shame. Good turn-based games like the HOMM series allow for more contemplative and thoughtful gameplay, which is a pleasant change from the hectic cut-throat of RTS.
HOMM5 puts you in charge of one of six factions, all with their own strengths and weaknesses. In order to mount a successful campaign you'll have to groom and develop at least one hero, build your castle, manage resources and assemble an army of creatures that would make Dr. Moreau's efforts look pathetic.
Like any true strategy game worth its salt, learning to balance these skills is half the fun. Your strategies will differ wildly depending on the missions you embark upon or the foes that you face. HOMM5 manages to provide enough depth and variation throughout its lengthy campaign to satisfy even the most demanding of strategy fans. In addition to the campaign, there are single player missions and a multiplayer option, all of which add replayability and flexibility.
Highlights for the old schoolers include a revamped menu system for castle building. The castles are complex, but beautifully designed and detailed. It's not all eye candy, either -- a brilliant colour-coded building map allows you to see your choices and plan the optimum build path.
Combat is more intricate with morale and luck affecting attack order mid-game. Units are listed in their attack order, which removes the guesswork when planning strategy. In addition, the beautiful graphics are highlighted by a rotating, zooming camera. Every hero gets a tactics mode at the start of a battle so you can arrange your units into the optimum battle placement.
HOMM5 is not perfect and there are a few niggling things to dislike. The learning curve is steep and at its highest settings the graphics are demanding. But at its heart it remains true to the franchise. Add to this the previous propensity for releasing quality add-ons and we have a long term winner that stands out among the crowd of action shooters and RTS clones.