This is much better than the Complete Edition with HD MOD

[nightshift]

I played HoMM 3 when it came out back 20+ years ago as a kid and with a 2-3 years of breaks, always felt the itch again. Played the HD MOD but it was often unstable for me occasionally closed on it's own. Also, it just widens your view and makes everything appear smaller, so it's not HD and I could not help but feel the charm of the game got lost that way.

This has more detail, I want to enjoy each small little scenery and that I cannot do when basically the whole map is right in front of me without the need to scroll. If there's a snowy area, I want to be there completely, but with the HD MOD, due to the bird's eye being higher above, I can see the snow, the volcanoes, the swamp, the grassy fields, the sea all together and it doesn't have the same immersion.
Since I never particularly been a fan of the Elemental castle and the SoD expansion also didn't bring anything significant to the table, I'm good with the OG HoMM 3 that's more refined and just shines the best.

Oh, and the map generator sucked btw. I never ever got a decent map that doesn't seem too basic. It always had huge completely empty, barren fields everywhere and looked too artificial. All in all, I consider this redrawn HD version to be the real deal.

Also, I find the reviews complaining about not including the expansions very unfair, considering that the game files were lost. Obviously they're not going to program and redraw both expansions from zero. And you can bet, they would do the uplift on those as well if they had them as about 99% of the work is done with the original game. All that was left is a few new enemies and the Elemental castle - for sure they would've done it if they had the access to them.

[Arllem]

Well, everyone can have thier opinion about game.
But before writting such post, you should search/research informations.
They found game code long ago, they would create but like you said, money is a problem.
SoD and AB added few things ppl liked and hated :D
Of course you can not pleasure all players.
To master map generator you need to practice like all things.
Also with bugs they did not repair that existed in base game! They should do it but why would they? Just add better graphic and done!
Also they did not created game, just refresh it. Sad
Yes i am complaining about game i bought, i do not care, i have complete edition at GoG, both games (HD edition and complete) I bought at sale and i am playing both! To compare and to teach/learn/improve.

[Dapre]

Originally posted by nightshift:

I consider this redrawn HD version to be the real deal.

Well, EVERYTHING you wrote, I could have written. At least we are now 2 fans that love the remake of the 1999 game.

[Cortez]

Originally posted by Dapre:

Originally posted by nightshift:

I consider this redrawn HD version to be the real deal.

Well, EVERYTHING you wrote, I could have written. At least we are now 2 fans that love the remake of the 1999 game.

I like this HD game better too, if you wanna play add me any of you.

[GetToDeChoppa]

HD Edition looks, runs, and plays much smoother for sure. I have HD on Steam and Complete on GOG and after a while with HD I uninstalled Complete.

The HD Mod you can put on Complete makes the game look, play and run worse IMO. All the units zip around at light speed and the animations are janked, and the birds eye veiw is terrible on a 15.5" screen like I have on my laptop... its like playing Age of Wonders 1 at 1080p ( dont try it unless you want severe eyestrain...)

[Lano-17]

Originally posted by Arllem:

Well, everyone can have thier opinion about game.
But before writting such post, you should search/research informations.
They found game code long ago, they would create but like you said, money is a problem.
SoD and AB added few things ppl liked and hated :D
Of course you can not pleasure all players.
To master map generator you need to practice like all things.
Also with bugs they did not repair that existed in base game! They should do it but why would they? Just add better graphic and done!
Also they did not created game, just refresh it. Sad
Yes i am complaining about game i bought, i do not care, i have complete edition at GoG, both games (HD edition and complete) I bought at sale and i am playing both! To compare and to teach/learn/improve.

The Shadow of Death and Armageddon's Blade additions are only problematic on random generated maps. Handcrafted maps will likely either disable or make it difficult enough to collect and use them. Expansion's Map Editor capabilities help to improve the overall balance even better than RoE (HD ed.), being able to add less impactful skills for example to training objects like the 'Witch Hut', then for example: making the better skills available after some map progress. If I remember correct, there is also a lot better handling of events among other really useful tools..

The largest benefit of the Complete edition could be that most of us play on the same version, directly boost the number of handcrafted maps, there are already 1000s within a simple Google search of "Heroes 3 maps", but most of those are split between 5 different game editions (not including minor mods).

As for the investment-money issue, to make the DLCs happen, it kind of circles back, because the player base is split between so many versions, it would be much easier to plan on selling DLCs to all of the player base, instead of just to a fraction. It is also a challenge to deliver patches and fixes for multiple versions. For a win-win situation a complete HD, better yet a "Definitive Edition" from Ubisoft would be best.

[Mystras23]

then the dlc HD versions come later ? :)

[Cortez]

Originally posted by Mystras23:

then the dlc HD versions come later ? :)

yes

[Engwathang]

Originally posted by Kuma:

Originally posted by Mystras23:

then the dlc HD versions come later ? :)

yes

Dont give this person false hope please. Definitive edition will NEVER happen. The DLCs will NEVER happen. They simply do not care. They have had the source of the dlcs since 2017.

[Flytrap]

You are objectively wrong. Even if you like this ai upscaled garbage, i have no clue what frame of mind a person has to be to say that having less content to play with is better. Especially when the expansion's contents are the peak of this game (pre hota, anyway,,,)

[nightshift]

Originally posted by Flytrap:

You are objectively wrong. Even if you like this ai upscaled garbage, i have no clue what frame of mind a person has to be to say that having less content to play with is better. Especially when the expansion's contents are the peak of this game (pre hota, anyway,,,)

That is completely subjective. I heard that the upscaled sprites can look weird in some cases, so that could be a fair point. However, HOTA and the like - other than looking like some bootleg, it seems incredibly out of place to me - really does not belong here. And to be frank, so does the Elemental castle. Here with the original content, everything is quality and how it should be. Shadow of Death is just more of that OG stuff with some extra creatures scattered on the map, so that's good and sadly missed.

But overall, here it's not just less content as you put it - to be precise, it is more fitting to say that the garbage was weeded out. Quantity in itself does not necessarily mean better, sometimes it can actually mean worse. If you dump cat puke on a wellington steak, it does become more, but the whole thing is now ruined.
Quality is what matters the most and here it's purified - and with upscaled graphics.

[Cortez]

Originally posted by Flytrap:

You are objectively wrong. Even if you like this ai upscaled garbage, i have no clue what frame of mind a person has to be to say that having less content to play with is better. Especially when the expansion's contents are the peak of this game (pre hota, anyway,,,)

simple, better for the eye.

[Vamrem]

I never liked the expansions, elemental town? wtf is that? they could made a great Neutral town without add too weird things. I know it came from the Might & Magic lore, but elementals don't seemed a good 'factioon' for me. Now, having said that, Heroes 3 Complete has the best map editor, and also, with the ERA mod of mods, which is continuously adding things, you have practically an eternal game.

[Dydzio]

Originally posted by nightshift:

Originally posted by Flytrap:

You are objectively wrong. Even if you like this ai upscaled garbage, i have no clue what frame of mind a person has to be to say that having less content to play with is better. Especially when the expansion's contents are the peak of this game (pre hota, anyway,,,)

That is completely subjective. I heard that the upscaled sprites can look weird in some cases, so that could be a fair point. However, HOTA and the like - other than looking like some bootleg, it seems incredibly out of place to me - really does not belong here. And to be frank, so does the Elemental castle. Here with the original content, everything is quality and how it should be. Shadow of Death is just more of that OG stuff with some extra creatures scattered on the map, so that's good and sadly missed.

But overall, here it's not just less content as you put it - to be precise, it is more fitting to say that the garbage was weeded out. Quantity in itself does not necessarily mean better, sometimes it can actually mean worse. If you dump cat puke on a wellington steak, it does become more, but the whole thing is now ruined.
Quality is what matters the most and here it's purified - and with upscaled graphics.

lack of QoL changes and extra buttons from HD mod is unacceptable for 99% of H3 players in 2024. Also vast majority of players care about balance / mechanics changes introduced in expansions, like ability to revisit object with spacebar, units statistics changes or siege moat dealing damage. For multiplayer H3 community players of HD edition are complete outcasts. You also won't play ERA or VCMI with HD edition

[Cortez]

Originally posted by Dydzio:

Originally posted by nightshift:

That is completely subjective. I heard that the upscaled sprites can look weird in some cases, so that could be a fair point. However, HOTA and the like - other than looking like some bootleg, it seems incredibly out of place to me - really does not belong here. And to be frank, so does the Elemental castle. Here with the original content, everything is quality and how it should be. Shadow of Death is just more of that OG stuff with some extra creatures scattered on the map, so that's good and sadly missed.

But overall, here it's not just less content as you put it - to be precise, it is more fitting to say that the garbage was weeded out. Quantity in itself does not necessarily mean better, sometimes it can actually mean worse. If you dump cat puke on a wellington steak, it does become more, but the whole thing is now ruined.
Quality is what matters the most and here it's purified - and with upscaled graphics.

lack of QoL changes and extra buttons from HD mod is unacceptable for 99% of H3 players in 2024. Also vast majority of players care about balance / mechanics changes introduced in expansions, like ability to revisit object with spacebar, units statistics changes or siege moat dealing damage. For multiplayer H3 community players of HD edition are complete outcasts. You also won't play ERA or VCMI with HD edition

To be fair I doubt there is a large number of players in 2024. I mean, this game is how old?

[nightshift]

Originally posted by Dydzio:

Originally posted by nightshift:

That is completely subjective. I heard that the upscaled sprites can look weird in some cases, so that could be a fair point. However, HOTA and the like - other than looking like some bootleg, it seems incredibly out of place to me - really does not belong here. And to be frank, so does the Elemental castle. Here with the original content, everything is quality and how it should be. Shadow of Death is just more of that OG stuff with some extra creatures scattered on the map, so that's good and sadly missed.

But overall, here it's not just less content as you put it - to be precise, it is more fitting to say that the garbage was weeded out. Quantity in itself does not necessarily mean better, sometimes it can actually mean worse. If you dump cat puke on a wellington steak, it does become more, but the whole thing is now ruined.
Quality is what matters the most and here it's purified - and with upscaled graphics.

lack of QoL changes and extra buttons from HD mod is unacceptable for 99% of H3 players in 2024. Also vast majority of players care about balance / mechanics changes introduced in expansions, like ability to revisit object with spacebar, units statistics changes or siege moat dealing damage. For multiplayer H3 community players of HD edition are complete outcasts. You also won't play ERA or VCMI with HD edition

I can't see myself playing this online and waiting for the others to slowly contemplate their turn or "afk 15 min" BS. I want the enemy to move ASAFP while I have the luxury to take my time. For this reason and others, I much more prefer this as a single player experience.