Heroes of Might and Magic V is the fifth game in the Heroes of Might and Magic fantasy strategy game series. Ubisoft released the game in Europe on May 19, 2006, and in the United States and Canada on May 23, 2006. Ubisoft worked with Russian studio Nival Interactive to develop the game. After The 3DO Company closed, Ubisoft purchased the rights to the Might and Magic franchise. They used Heroes V to restart the series with a new setting called Ashan, which has no connection to earlier games in the series.
In the game, players control "heroes," who are leaders with magical powers. These heroes join a faction and recruit armies from strongholds, such as castles, using different types of forces, like humans, undead, and monsters. Players then fight other armies, enemy heroes, and rival groups. The game includes a campaign featuring six factions from Ashan, as well as separate scenarios and multiplayer modes. Unlike earlier games in the series, which used 2D graphics with some 3D-like effects, Heroes V is the first game in the series to use fully 3D graphics.
Gameplay
A hero can learn a new skill, improve an existing one, gain a new ability, or combine multiple abilities when they reach a new level or visit special buildings on the adventure map. There are two types of skills available to heroes: racial skills and regular skills. A hero can have up to five regular skills and always has one specific racial skill.
Skills are grouped into four levels: Basic, Advanced, Expert, and Ultimate. Each skill is connected to three to five abilities, depending on the hero's race. At each skill level, a hero has a chance to learn one ability. For example, a hero with the Basic level of a skill can learn one ability, with Advanced level two abilities, and with Expert level three abilities. An ability is not learned right away when a hero increases their skill level.
The racial skill a hero learns depends on their native faction. All heroes from the same faction learn the same racial skill and related abilities. Each racial skill ends with a special ability called an "ultimate ability," which can only be earned by learning a specific set of regular skills and abilities. In addition to the regular skill levels, a racial skill can reach the Ultimate level if the hero wears a certain artifact.
There are six factions in the game: Haven, Inferno, Necropolis, Dungeon, Sylvan, and Academy. The game's expansion packs added two more factions: Fortress and Stronghold.
Development
In August 2003, Ubisoft bought the rights to the Might and Magic franchise for USD$1.3 million after 3DO filed for bankruptcy. Ubisoft shared plans to create the fifth game in the series, led by producer Fabrice Cambounet. This caused some disagreement because New World Computing, which worked for 3DO, had already begun developing the fifth Heroes game. Although Ubisoft had access to New World Computing’s work on Heroes V (which was planned as a 2D game with a special perspective using the Heroes IV engine), Ubisoft decided to start from the beginning and make a completely new 3D game instead.
Reception
The game received "mostly positive reviews" according to the website Metacritic, which collects reviews from multiple sources. It was a commercial success, with sales exceeding 350,000 units by the end of June 2006. The game was the top-selling title on sales charts in Germany, France, and the United Kingdom.
Expansions
The first Heroes V expansion pack, named Hammers of Fate, was released on November 17, 2006, in Europe and November 24, 2006, in North America. This expansion introduces a new race called the Dwarves, who can use a special type of magic called Rune Magic. Other additions include a random map generator and the return of Heroes IV caravans. To play this expansion, players must own the full version of Heroes of Might and Magic V.
The second expansion pack, HOMMV: The Tribes of the East, is a standalone release. It was launched on October 12, 2007, in Europe and October 19, 2007, in North America. This expansion adds the Stronghold faction, alternate upgrades for all existing units (increasing the total number of creatures to 177), and new artifacts and spells.
Sequel
On August 17, 2010, a trailer for Might & Magic Heroes VI was shown at Gamescom. The game's release date was first announced as September 8, 2011, but was later changed to October 13, 2011.