might and magic clash of heroes ds strategy turn based cover

Might & Magic reincarnates on the Nintendo DS as a match-3 turn based strategy game.

Might & Magic: Clash of Heroes maintains a shell of the overworld from the Heroes of Might & Magic series, while adding in match-3 gameplay reminiscent of Critter Crunch mixed with Puzzle Quest.  Much like those games, Clash of Heroes is 65% skill, 35% luck.  Different types of units combine for attacks that take a specific number of turns to get out.  The learning curve is quite a gentle slope, with the in-game tutorials providing you with everything you need to get started.  Each are fairly short, so within 20-30 minutes, you can be all ready to go.

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The story mode provides an overflowing cup of story and lore goodness for fans of the Might & Magic universe, although folks new to the series may find the story generic and slightly confusing.  Each of the five factions have their own story portion, explaining their past, present, and providing clues of their future.  The dialogue is good enough, but it isn’t going to win any awards.  Storyline alone isn’t going to propel you forward, but just the right amount of drama is injected into the narrative to keep tensions raised.  Character interactions are interesting overall, and you will find yourself reading through most of the conversations instead of mashing buttons.

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Clash of Heroes is an awesome looking game.  Character sprites are detailed, while various magic and attack animations are smooth.  The larger units look great as well, with a solid sense of scale when placed next to the smaller units.  High contrast makes colors look deep, and the overall art style pops off the screens.  The look fits into the DS’ library, while being one of the better looking titles on the system.

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The multiplayer is some of the most addictive available on the DS.  There is only the one basic multiplayer mode, but it’s enough; sessions spanning hours will happen more frequently than you may care to admit.  Prepare to add “just one more game” to your normal vocabulary.  The competitive spirit remains alive, although the “luck” aspect of the game may be frustrating (as players of any tabletop game or card game can attest to.)  Sometimes, you will have a starting screen that renders you useless.  This also means you could have a beastly starting screen that will allow you to annihilate your opponent in just a few turns.

Clash of Heroes is a successful re-imagining of  a classic series.  It remains true to its roots (maintaining hyper-addictive gameplay) while adding some interesting changes to a tried and true system.  This is a must-have for DS owners.