Heroes of Might and Magic II: The Succession Wars is a 1996 turn-based strategy video game created by Jon Van Caneghem for New World Computing and published by the 3DO Company. It is the second part of the Heroes of Might and Magic series and is often considered the most popular game in the series. In May 1997, Heroes II was named the sixth-best PC game of all time by PC Gamer.
An expansion pack called The Price of Loyalty was released in 1997. Later, in 1998, 3DO combined Heroes II, its expansion pack, and 30 maps created by the gaming community into one package, which was sold as Heroes of Might and Magic II Gold.
Gameplay
Heroes of Might and Magic II is mostly a visual update to the first game. Both games are part of a strategy game type called 4X, where players build their kingdoms from the start, gather resources, train stronger armies, and hire better generals. These assets are then used to capture enemy castles and defeat opponents. Beyond the updated graphics, Heroes II introduced new features that became important parts of the game series. It added two new factions, the Necromancer and Wizard, joining the original four (Knight, Barbarian, Sorceress, and Warlock) from the first game. Each new faction has unique creatures, a special town, and the six factions are split evenly into three "good" and three "evil" groups.
Each hero keeps the "primary skill" system from Heroes I but can now also learn up to eight "secondary skills." These skills can be improved from Basic to Advanced and Expert levels. For example, the Wisdom skill lets heroes cast higher-level spells, while the Logistics skill increases movement speed. In Heroes I, heroes had one fixed special ability based on their class. The magic system was changed in Heroes II. Heroes I used a memorization system where spells could only be cast a limited number of times before needing to be relearned at a guild. Heroes II uses a magic point system, allowing players to use spells as needed, with different spells costing varying amounts of points to keep the game balanced. Another new feature in Heroes II is the ability to upgrade certain army units, giving them better stats and special abilities.
To play, players control their heroes, who fight other heroes and castles. Players can manage their castles, decide what to build, and upgrade towns to castles. Each castle can only be upgraded once per turn.
Finally, Heroes II added more scenarios and a full campaign. Players choose to be on the "good" or "evil" side and complete a series of scenarios using the three factions of that side. Winning certain scenarios gives lasting bonuses for future challenges. Before each scenario, players can select a starting bonus based on their strategy.
Story
The official ending of the game Heroes I shows Lord Morglin Ironfist winning. After this, he successfully unites the continent of Enroth and becomes its king. When the king dies, his two sons, Archibald and Roland, compete for the throne. Archibald plans events that lead to Roland being banished. Archibald is then crowned king, while Roland forms a group to fight back. Each group is shown in one of the game's two storylines. Archibald's storyline includes three town groups that are considered "evil" (Necromancers, Warlocks, and Barbarians), while Roland's storyline includes three town groups that are considered "good" (Knights, Sorceresses, and Wizards).
If Archibald wins, Roland's rebellion is stopped, and Roland is locked in Castle Ironfist, leaving Archibald as the sole ruler of Enroth. However, the official ending shows Roland winning. Roland's court wizard, Tanir, turns Archibald to stone. This event is later mentioned in Might and Magic VI: The Mandate of Heaven, where Archibald is freed from the spell. Later, in Might and Magic VII: For Blood and Honor, Archibald becomes an important character.
Development
Most of the main parts of the game Heroes II were used from the first Heroes game, so it took less time to make Heroes II than the original Heroes. The music for the game was mainly created by Paul Romero.
Reception
In December 1996, PC Gamer reported that Heroes of Might and Magic II was selling very well in stores, with all 3DO retailers ordering more copies. By October 1997, combined sales of the Heroes of Might and Magic series, including Heroes II, reached more than 500,000 copies. This number increased to 1.5 million copies by December 1999.
Next Generation reviewed the Macintosh version of the game, giving it three stars out of five. The review noted that "as role-playing games are few on the Mac, HM&MII, with its mix of character and Warcraft-like game elements, is a welcome addition."
Computer Gaming World described Heroes II as "a strategy game that amazes everyone with its surprising, addictive qualities and amazing ease of use." The review stated that Heroes II was "much better than the original Heroes of Might and Magic." The only issues mentioned were the lack of a wait function and the inability to control your hero if all units were disabled. Otherwise, the reviewer called the game "nearly perfect."
Andy Butcher reviewed Heroes of Might and Magic II for Arcane magazine, giving it a 7 out of 10. He wrote, "If you were hoping for something really different, it has to be said that Heroes of Might & Magic 2 may be something of a disappointment. On the other hand, if you enjoyed the original, this sequel will prove even more challenging and fun to play. If you have never played Heroes of Might & Magic, there's a real treat in store for you in this game."
The editors of PC Gamer US named Heroes of Might and Magic II the "Best Turn-Based Strategy Game" of 1996, stating it was "clearly a cut above" other games in its genre that year. The game was nominated for Computer Gaming World's 1996 "Strategy Game of the Year" and Computer Game Entertainment's "Best Strategy Game" awards, as well as Computer Games Strategy Plus's award for the top turn-based strategy title of 1996. However, it lost all these awards to Civilization II. It was also a finalist for the Computer Game Developers Conference's 1996 "Best Strategy/War Game" Spotlight Award, which went to Command & Conquer: Red Alert. The editors of Computer Gaming World wrote, "The simplicity of King's Bounty-style tactical combat is the perfect counterpoint to the surprising depth of the strategic game, and unlike Heroes I, the campaign is much more satisfying."
Legacy
Heroes of Might and Magic II was named the 25th-best computer game ever by PC Gamer UK in 1997. In 1998, PC Gamer US listed it as the seventh-best computer game ever released. The editors said it was one of the most addictive turn-based strategy games ever made, possibly even more than Civilization II. In 2003, Heroes of Might and Magic II was added to GameSpot’s list of the greatest games of all time. Fheroes2: Resurrection is a version of the game that works on different types of devices. It includes features such as higher screen resolutions, language translations, and better computer-controlled opponents. Version 1.0 was released on December 21, 2022.
The Price of Loyalty was an expansion pack for Heroes of Might and Magic II, released in 1997. It added four new campaigns, new artifacts, new scenario maps, new map locations, and an improved map editor. The expansion also introduced a new structure for the Necromancer faction—a shrine that helped heroes gain stronger abilities to raise the dead (Necromancy Skills).
Heroes II Gold
The game Heroes of Might and Magic II Gold combined the main game with its expansion pack. It also included 30 maps made by people from the game's community. These map makers were not listed in the game's credits, but Greg Fulton later thanked them in one of his newsletters.