Warriors of Might and Magic
{{Short description|2000 video game}}
{{Infobox video game
|title = Warriors of Might and Magic
|image = Warriors of Might and Magic Coverart.png
|caption = North American PlayStation 2 cover art
|developer = The 3DO Company
|publisher = The 3DO Company
| director = Aric Wilmunder
Joshua M. Cloud
Howard Lehr{{cite web |url=https://www.mobygames.com/game/141391/warriors-of-might-and-magic/credits/ps2/ |title=Warriors of Might and Magic |website=Moby Games}}
|series = Might and Magic
|platforms = PlayStation, Game Boy Color, PlayStation 2
|released = {{vgrelease|NA|December 5, 2000 (PS){{cite web |url=http://www.3do.com/investors/pr_120500.html |title=3DO Ships Warriors of Might and Magic(TM) for PlayStation(R) Game Console |website=The 3DO Company |date=December 5, 2000 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010816001018/http://www.3do.com/investors/pr_120500.html |archive-date=August 16, 2001 |url-status=dead}}|NA|December 22, 2000 (GBC)|NA|March 21, 2001 (PS2){{cite web |url=http://www.3do.com/investors/pr_032101.html |title=3DO Ships Warriors of Might and Magic™ for PlayStation®2 Computer Entertainment System |website=The 3DO Company |date=March 21, 2001 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010815235919/http://www.3do.com/investors/pr_032101.html |archive-date=August 15, 2001 |url-status=dead |access-date=July 12, 2022}}|EU|April 6, 2001}}
|genre = Action RPG
|modes = Single-player
|designer =
}}
Warriors of Might and Magic is an action role-playing game developed and released by The 3DO Company for the PlayStation and Game Boy Color in 2000, and for PlayStation 2 in 2001. The three versions, although they all follow a similar storyline, are unique, especially the GBC version which is presented in 2D instead of 3D and has an almost completely different story. Each version of the game centers around the protagonist Alleron, who is wrongfully accused of committing necromancy by the Grand Inquisitor, and is exiled as a result. He is forced to wear the Mask of the Accused as a punishment for his crimes, which acts as a magnet to monsters. It is difficult to determine when the events of Warriors of Might take place in the Might and Magic timeline. However, it's speculated that it takes place in between Heroes of Might and Magic III and Heroes of Might and Magic IV.
Development
Development started soon after Crusaders of Might and Magic had been completed. The team learned from their mistakes and wished to create a bigger and better game, however development was troubled as the team often clashed with The 3DO company.
The game initially started development as a sequel to Crusaders of Might and Magic, however since Crusaders performed poorly in sales, 3DO opted to start with a new fresh idea. They thought that a new name and a new character might redeem their spinoff in the eyes of the fans, which would lead to better sales.
Early screenshots of the game show it played from a first-person perspective;{{cite web |url=http://www.gamershell.com/ps2/warriors_of_might_and_magic/screenshots.html?id=101356 |title=Warriors of Might and Magic Gallery |website=GamersHell.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151016160240/http://www.gamershell.com/ps2/warriors_of_might_and_magic/screenshots.html?id=101356 |archive-date=October 16, 2015 |url-status=dead |access-date=July 12, 2022}} However, this did not sit well with the marketing team at 3DO and this version was scrapped in favor of an action game due to marketing. 3DO's marketing team ordered specific alterations to be made to what was then Crusaders of Might and Magic 2, this resulted in the creation of Warriors of Might and Magic.
The PC version did exist at some point; it was expected to be released on November 27, 2000{{cite web |url=https://www.amazon.com/Warriors-Might-Magic-Pc/dp/B00004W4X4 |title=Warriors of Might & Magic - PC |website=Amazon |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190325010644/https://www.amazon.com/Warriors-Might-Magic-Pc/dp/B00004W4X4 |archive-date=March 25, 2019 |url-status=live |access-date=December 26, 2023}} and would have followed the plot of the PS2 game and featured better graphics. It had been worked on and was approximately half way done, but was ultimately scrapped for unknown reasons.
The game's marketing utilized music from the Brazilian rock band Sepultura, as the track "Ratamahatta"{{cite web |author=Roadrunner Records |date=October 26, 2009 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiwqRSCWw2g |title=Sepultura - Ratamahatta [OFFICIAL VIDEO] |website=YouTube |publisher=Google}} can be heard in Warriors of Might and Magic.{{cite web |last=Grota |first=Kwasowa |date=February 27, 2013 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XP233gXpZpY |title=Warriors of Might and Magic commercial |website=YouTube |publisher=Google}}
When creating the story, the developers were interested in depicting the origin of the Ancients and Kreegans that appeared in previous Might and Magic games and attempted to recover continuity with the Might and Magic series. This was done by selecting enemies and spells that had appeared in previous iterations of the Might and Magic series of games.
Reception
{{Video game reviews
| GBC = true
| PS = true
| PS2 = true
| na = true
| GR_GBC = 50%{{cite web |url=https://www.gamerankings.com/gbc/915825-warriors-of-might-and-magic/index.html |title=Warriors of Might and Magic for Game Boy Color |website=GameRankings |publisher=CBS Interactive |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191206004732/https://www.gamerankings.com/gbc/915825-warriors-of-might-and-magic/index.html |archive-date=December 6, 2019 |url-status=dead |access-date=July 12, 2022}}
| MC_PS2 = 49/100{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/warriors-of-might-and-magic/ |title=Warriors of Might and Magic (PS2) |website=Metacritic |publisher=Fandom |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231226163751/https://www.metacritic.com/game/warriors-of-might-and-magic/ |archive-date=December 26, 2023 |url-status=live |access-date=December 26, 2023}}
| Allgame_PS = {{Rating|2|5}}{{cite web |last=Thompson |first=Jon |url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=25420&tab=review |title=Warriors of Might and Magic (PS) - Review |website=AllGame |publisher=All Media Network |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141116050816/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=25420&tab=review |archive-date=November 16, 2014 |url-status=dead |access-date=July 12, 2022}}
| EGM_PS2 = 2.17/10{{cite magazine |last1=Lockhart |first1=Ryan |last2=Mielke |first2=James "Milkman" |last3=Einhorn |first3=Ethan |url=https://retrocdn.net/images/0/0d/EGM_US_142.pdf |title=Warriors of Might and Magic (PS2) |magazine=Electronic Gaming Monthly |publisher=Ziff Davis |issue=142 |date=May 2001 |page=109 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230412210601/https://retrocdn.net/images/0/0d/EGM_US_142.pdf |archive-date=April 12, 2023 |url-status=live |access-date=December 26, 2023}}{{efn|Three critics of Electronic Gaming Monthly gave the PlayStation 2 version each a score of 1.5/10, 3/10, and 2/10.}}
| Fam_PS2 = 26/40{{cite magazine |url=https://www.famitsu.com/cominy/?m=pc&a=page_h_title&title_id=8479&redirect=no |title=ウォリアーズ オブ マイト アンド マジック [PS2] |language=ja |magazine=Famitsu |publisher=Enterbrain |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220712183106/https://www.famitsu.com/cominy/?m=pc&a=page_h_title&title_id=8479&redirect=no |archive-date=July 12, 2022 |url-status=live |access-date=December 26, 2023}}
| GI_PS2 = 7.75/10{{cite magazine |title=Warriors of Might and Magic (PS2) |magazine=Game Informer |publisher=FuncoLand |issue=96 |date=April 2001}}
| GameRev_PS2 = C{{cite web |author=Dr. Moo |date=April 2001 |url=https://www.gamerevolution.com/review/35938-warriors-might-review |title=Warriors of Might & Magic Review - Playstation 2 Review |website=GameRevolution |publisher=CraveOnline |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040216000133/http://www.game-revolution.com/games/ps2/action/warriors_of_might_and_magic.htm |archive-date=February 16, 2004 |url-status=live |access-date=July 12, 2022}}
| GSpot_PS2 = 3.6/10{{cite web |last=Fielder |first=Joe |date=March 20, 2001 |url=https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/warriors-of-might-and-magic-review/1900-2699174/ |title=Warriors of Might and Magic Review (PS2) |website=GameSpot |publisher=Fandom |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010504233447/http://gamespot.com/gamespot/stories/reviews/0,10867,2699174,00.html |archive-date=May 4, 2001 |url-status=live |access-date=July 12, 2022}}
| GSpy_PS2 = 67%{{cite web |last=Thornton |first=Ben |date=May 30, 2001 |url=http://www.planetps2.com/features/reviews/2001/warriorsofmightandmagic/ |title=Warriors of Might and Magic |website=Planet PS2 |publisher=GameSpy Industries |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010622205753/http://www.planetps2.com/features/reviews/2001/warriorsofmightandmagic/ |archive-date=June 22, 2001 |url-status=dead |access-date=July 12, 2022}}
| IGN_GBC = 3/10{{cite web |last=Nix |first=Marc |date=February 7, 2001 |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2001/02/08/warriors-of-might-and-magic-5 |title=Warriors of Might and Magic (GBC) |website=IGN |publisher=Ziff Davis |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220712183106/https://www.ign.com/articles/2001/02/08/warriors-of-might-and-magic-5 |archive-date=July 12, 2022 |url-status=live |access-date=December 26, 2023}}
| NGen_PS2 = {{Rating|2|5}}{{cite magazine |last=Chido |first=Norman |url=https://archive.org/details/NextGen78Jun2001/page/n85/mode/2up |title=Warriors of Might and Magic (PS2) |magazine=NextGen |publisher=Imagine Media |issue=78 |date=June 2001 |page=85 |access-date=July 12, 2022}}
| NP_GBC = {{Rating|2.5|5}}{{cite magazine |title=Warriors of Might and Magic |magazine=Nintendo Power |publisher=Nintendo of America |volume=142 |date=March 2001 |page=126}}
| OPM_PS = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite magazine |last=Rybicki |first=Joe |url=https://archive.org/details/official-u.-s.-playstation-magazine-issue-41-february-2001/page/100/mode/2up |title=Warriors of Might and Magic (PS) |magazine=Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine |publisher=Ziff Davis |issue=41 |date=February 2001 |page=101 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010418222804/http://www.zdnet.com/opm/stories/main/0,11891,2667624,00.html |archive-date=April 18, 2001 |url-status=live |access-date=December 26, 2023}}
}}
The PlayStation 2 version received "generally unfavorable reviews" according to the review aggregation website Metacritic. Norman Chido of NextGen said, "Neither pretty nor especially fluid to control, Warriors isn't the step up from the awful Crusaders we'd hoped for." In Japan, where the same PS2 version was ported and published by Success on May 23, 2002, Famitsu gave it a score of 26 out of 40. Jake The Snake of GamePro, however, called it "a decent action/RPG that will mildly entertain tolerant gamers looking for a sword-swinging adventure."{{cite magazine |author=Jake The Snake |url=https://retrocdn.net/images/2/2f/GamePro_US_151.pdf |title=Warriors of Might and Magic (PS2) |magazine=GamePro |publisher=IDG |issue=151 |date=April 2001 |page=84 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231207180556/https://retrocdn.net/images/2/2f/GamePro_US_151.pdf |archive-date=December 7, 2023 |url-status=live |access-date=December 26, 2023}}{{efn|GamePro gave the PlayStation 2 version two 3.5/5 scores for graphics and fun factor, and two 3/5 scores for sound and control.}}
{{clear}}
Sequel
Notes
{{notelist}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{official website|https://web.archive.org/web/20001216225400/http://www.3do.com/products/playstation/warriors/}}
- {{moby game|id=/6461/warriors-of-might-and-magic/|name=Warriors of Might and Magic (PlayStation)}}
- {{moby game|id=/51586/warriors-of-might-and-magic/|name=Warriors of Might and Magic (Game Boy Color)}}
- {{moby game|id=/141391/warriors-of-might-and-magic/|name=Warriors of Might and Magic (PlayStation 2)}}
{{Might and Magic series}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Warriors Of Might And Magic}}
Category:Action role-playing video games
Category:Cancelled Windows games
Category:Video games about the Inquisition
Category:Might and Magic spinoff games
Category:PlayStation (console) games
Category:Single-player video games
Category:Success (company) games
Category:The 3DO Company games
Category:Video games about witchcraft