As the Griffin Empire prepares to celebrate the marriage of Emperor Nicolai and the young Isabel all hell breaks out (literally) as demons burst into the church and stop the proceedings. After dispatching the arty crashers Nicolai takes his army and leads it into the fray. But as the war turns worse by the day Isabel and her escort decide to save the empire by employing the help of the other races in the world of Heroes. Don't bother looking any further, this latest episode of the huge Heroes of Might and Magic series is the modern reference in turn based strategy. This time around it's got an updated graphics engine in full 3D which along with the traditional manic colour style really makes for a great heroes world. The 3D system applies to both the map view (letting you get a better look at what you're heading to) and to the combat sections. And with some glorious animations and some magical eye-candy the combat sections couldn't look much better.
Of course the battles remain giant tactical and strategic hot beds. But thanks to an easy to use system and an intelligent tutorial, both hardcore heroes fans and new-comers to the genre get exactly what they want. Through the combat the "Dynamic Battle System" lets you build up your hero how you want with a branching tree of progression including 200 special abilities, 170 skills and 40 different fates for your soldiers and creatures as well as 8 magical objects through the 6 campaigns in 30 distinct missions. Definitely enough for an evening or two.
And if that's not enough for you than you can take on the game with some mates in Hotseat and over the internet in either the classic match or the new Duel mode, where only the best tactician will survive (especially if you play in heroic mode, good luck!).

Now, to describe the two expansions: The first Heroes V expansion pack, called Hammers of Fate, includes a new race, the Dwarves, who have exclusive access to a new kind of magic, known as Rune Magic, as well as three new campaigns. Other features include the much-awaited random map generator and the return of the Heroes IV caravans, to move the troops from one town to another.

The second expansion, actually a stand-alone pack is called HOMMV: The Tribes of the East and includes the new Stronghold faction, alternate upgrades for all units currently in the game (bringing the total number of creatures to over 170), as well as new artifacts and spells and you get three more full campaigns!

Have fun, and don't forget to save often, for an attack from an overwhelming army can come trample your plans for the future.

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