New gameplay video

[Dalv]

https://youtu.be/N8idk9bRSlg?si=8i-aLUN8hSHWGBxc

Not a fan of the more cartoony graphics style, but the gameplay seems very similar to Heroes 3, so I'm willing to let the visuals slide if the good old gameplay is there.

[Jeans]

I like it. Units on the battlefield look distinct. Leveling up factions sounds interesting. Leveling up heroes was always satisfying, so they just added a layer to that. Not sure how I feel about the grey fog of war graphics, but that's subjective and minor.

I can already tell I'll like it more than 6 and 7 at least.

[Jemelkhan]

sdasdasda

[Dalv]

Originally posted by Jeans:

I like it. Units on the battlefield look distinct. Leveling up factions sounds interesting. Leveling up heroes was always satisfying, so they just added a layer to that. Not sure how I feel about the grey fog of war graphics, but that's subjective and minor.

I can already tell I'll like it more than 6 and 7 at least.

Yes, the fog of war could use some work. I do like some of the stylized visual aspects because I think they help with replayability, for example floating artefacts. In Heroes 3 one of the issues I always encounter in late game on big maps is finding back a specific artefact on the map. I think it will be easier here to spot them, but I still wish for a "find" function where lets say you pressed Ctrl-F and you could search for an artifact on the map which you already uncovered of course.
It's nice to be able to see lots of Heroes 3 familiar items/pickables on the map in this video. I was also trying to understand if they kept the 4 schools of magic (air, earth, fire, water), but dont really understand the categories in that spellbook so far. I think the 4 elements of Aristotle, while very basic and obsolete for current world understanding, work very well in fantasy and mythology works. It's a perfect blend of easy to understand, quick to draw you in, and deep to explore mechanic. Rather than lets say something like some arbitrary forced lore schools "The magic school of the Ogadir God". So I hope they keep the simple Air, Water, Earth, Fire and further build onto those, I think it's more simply efficient than even the D&D ones like Necromancy, Abjuration, Conjuration, Evocation etc, because those are a rather liniar progression were you only specialise in something specific, like either damage dealer or healer or summoner. But ofc, this is just my opinion.

[Mindeveler]

Thanks for posting the video.
I can't help it, but I don't like combat & unit design at all.
Ironically, some time ago I even played an actual mobile HOMM clone (BH/ХЗ) for about a year and I swear its units & combat felt more aesthetically pleasing than this despite having waaaaay simpler graphics. If only its online duels weren't so cancerous...

I guess I'll just hope they'll change it eventually but leave it be for now.

[Dalv]

Originally posted by EntityofDesire:

this IS NOT a gameplay video, its just the trailer you can watch on the steam page used in the backdrop as he complains about the graphics, but its not new video or gameplay.

I think we also need to remember the game hasn't even launched into early access yet - we wont even see that until next year so lots could change.

Hmm, there is definitely new extended footage if you watch all of it.

[Sigxy]

Originally posted by Mindeveler:

Thanks for posting the video.
I can't help it, but I don't like combat & unit design at all. :Owlcat_sad:
Ironically, some time ago I even played an actual mobile HOMM clone (BH/ХЗ) for about a year and I swear its units & combat felt more aesthetically pleasing than this despite having waaaaay simpler graphics. If only its online duels weren't so cancerous...

I guess I'll just hope they'll change it eventually but leave it be for now.

Yeah I'm with you on that. Really don't like the art design (feeling rather generic fantasy) - and I only tried the mobile game a little but I do remember hwo nice it was to look at.

[Dalv]

Originally posted by Mindeveler:

Thanks for posting the video.
I can't help it, but I don't like combat & unit design at all. :Owlcat_sad:
Ironically, some time ago I even played an actual mobile HOMM clone (BH/ХЗ) for about a year and I swear its units & combat felt more aesthetically pleasing than this despite having waaaaay simpler graphics. If only its online duels weren't so cancerous...

I guess I'll just hope they'll change it eventually but leave it be for now.

Yes, for me the visual artstyle of Heroes 3, from gameplay, units, to menus, will never be topped. It should be taught in game development schools and universities. Absolutely perfect.
But I wouldn't say Olden Era style is so bad, meaning it might grow on me if gameplay is there, it's definitely not Songs of Conquest style (like some users say here) which was pixel art and also very hard to understand at a glance.

[darkholyPL]

As an old HoMM fan, I don't mind the graphics at all. They are a bit cartoony sure, but they have their own charm. I like it.

Now if just the gameplay is good, then we can have a solid HoMM game on our hands.

[madwasp777]

SUPER!

[Dalv]

Originally posted by EntityofDesire:

Originally posted by Dalv:

Hmm, there is definitely new extended footage if you watch all of it.

No your right, it definitely has new footage although im not sure from where, he definitely re-starts it over. It might be from a foreign language trailer thats just not popping up but regardless I definitely like the style and if the gameplay is strong and improved over early access I think the art style will really feel at home.

Personal taste but I always found HoMM3 artwork to be very geometrical and cold, it works for the game but I think its good that each game has its own art style instead of looking like a copy paste of the last games art style.

I do love how youtube and discord are all excited for this game and steam forums as usually filled with negativity in general. Not sure why thats so "steam". Not saying you cant be critical of a game, but a lot of the comments i see (not in this topic) are downright just angry or upset like they are personally offended lol.

I'll say it again, if this game didn't have the HoMM moniker on it - they wouldnt be here to complain and people would be more likely excited for it.

It's PC Games, a big German video games magazine. It's very possible they received different exclusive footage from the developer.
Steam forums is known for quite a while now to be aggressive towards new releases. I also noticed youtube comments are way more positive.
I am cautiously optimistic, I think it is the first promising Heroes title for a very long time and salute the return to 2D, it really got me excited as Heroes 3 is my favourite game of all time. There is room for improvement especially when it comes to the town screens and some 3d animations and can't wait to see how they further flesh it out before and during early access.

[chopper [FD]]

Game visuals look very clean and generally pleasant. It gets the job done.

The gameplay part is the important bit. Fingers crossed they get it just right. It looks promising

[Jeans]

Originally posted by Dalv:

Originally posted by Jeans:

I like it. Units on the battlefield look distinct. Leveling up factions sounds interesting. Leveling up heroes was always satisfying, so they just added a layer to that. Not sure how I feel about the grey fog of war graphics, but that's subjective and minor.

I can already tell I'll like it more than 6 and 7 at least.

Yes, the fog of war could use some work. I do like some of the stylized visual aspects because I think they help with replayability, for example floating artefacts. In Heroes 3 one of the issues I always encounter in late game on big maps is finding back a specific artefact on the map. I think it will be easier here to spot them, but I still wish for a "find" function where lets say you pressed Ctrl-F and you could search for an artifact on the map which you already uncovered of course.
It's nice to be able to see lots of Heroes 3 familiar items/pickables on the map in this video. I was also trying to understand if they kept the 4 schools of magic (air, earth, fire, water), but dont really understand the categories in that spellbook so far. I think the 4 elements of Aristotle, while very basic and obsolete for current world understanding, work very well in fantasy and mythology works. It's a perfect blend of easy to understand, quick to draw you in, and deep to explore mechanic. Rather than lets say something like some arbitrary forced lore schools "The magic school of the Ogadir God". So I hope they keep the simple Air, Water, Earth, Fire and further build onto those, I think it's more simply efficient than even the D&D ones like Necromancy, Abjuration, Conjuration, Evocation etc, because those are a rather liniar progression were you only specialise in something specific, like either damage dealer or healer or summoner. But ofc, this is just my opinion.

This was a thoughtful reply, and I feel dumb for originally missing it.

The magic system does look somewhat similar to the old system, but they seem to be tweaking hero magic specialization?

I also agree that the map looks readable. I feel that a common criticism with any game, not just this one, is the artstyle; but readability isn't always considered when these criticisms are made. It's still early, though, so they'll probably tweak it more.