azimovhaas8 (Moth)
Learned
Hello! Decided to post my text about old, but *mostly* beloved (at least by me) CRPG made by Jon Wan Caneghem in cooperation with his wife Michaela - Might and Magic 1: Book One - and my feelings about it.
I played M&M 1 around two months ago, while searching for good and interesting old games - and actually had enough determination to complete M&M 1 untill the end and actually had a ton of fun with it after i understanded gameplay framework good enough.
[I do not consider this *wall of text* to be a review - so decided to post it here, in General RPG Discussion]
So... Usually i rate games primarily by gameplay and related points of interest (such as how meaningiful and interesting exploration in general). Story-Plot elements (must at least set everything in motion and give player meaning to his or her actions along with making game less monotonous) serve it's own important role, but ultimately gameplay framework is thing that make game distinct and functioning at all, therefore takes precedence in my mind.
Parts of story (such as quest system and related ability of character to complete tasks) can function without proper gameplay definition, but many things that make good and memorable experience (freedom to act and freedom to solver problems in many ways - sometimes not-intended, also immersion and world believability, etc.) does not going to be here.
And three most important things that i seek in games usually are: combat system, roleplaying system (defining trait of CRPG's, in my humble opinion) and exploration.
[Roleplaying system is combination of character creation, character development and other gameplay elements related to PC's (such as magic system and item restriction system) that give meaning to choices made by player in regards to constructing their own experience while interacting with world] <-- This is very subjective and not overly good sounding definition, but this is how i see this term for now.
M&M 1 have good combat for most part (it is balanced ~difficulty wise compared to most old games and even to next game in series and pretty completable without hard game mechanics abuse, but most monsters grouped in very random way - for example, cleric and mutant larva enemy types trying to kill a party is common thing in this game). Player can rest after combat immideately - so difficulty is related to individual encounters (contrary to Wizardry 1, for example).
M&M 1 have original for it's time roleplaying system (one of the first games on my memory to make AC system different to Dungeons and Dragons; gender, aligment and class play little role in game - but one in-game are and one side-quest place big importance on traits), magical system is well-defined and provide opportunities to use - even if high-level spells are maybe little too strong strong.
M&M 1 have exploration as good as it must be to create Feeling of Wonder in me. You have world to explore, to plunder and it feels as such. Side-quests are limited (but they exist, which is big for such old game), interaction with world is limited - but even puzzles are related to exploring areas and world in search for clues.
I do not going to talk about story-plot, quest details, world landmarks and so on - it can give spoilers to people who want to experience game for themselves.
In conclusion, i will say that M&M 1 is cryptic, moderately hard and requires player to understand gameplay framework of game to have fun with game. Not without rough parts - still, charning old game in it's own way.
Hope to hear what other people think about this game, their own experience with it and how bad or good it been for them. Hope this been worth time to read, as well.
If anybody wants to play M&M 1 and needs help / advises - feel free to DM me or even write here, and i will try to help.
Cheers! : ]
I played M&M 1 around two months ago, while searching for good and interesting old games - and actually had enough determination to complete M&M 1 untill the end and actually had a ton of fun with it after i understanded gameplay framework good enough.
[I do not consider this *wall of text* to be a review - so decided to post it here, in General RPG Discussion]
So... Usually i rate games primarily by gameplay and related points of interest (such as how meaningiful and interesting exploration in general). Story-Plot elements (must at least set everything in motion and give player meaning to his or her actions along with making game less monotonous) serve it's own important role, but ultimately gameplay framework is thing that make game distinct and functioning at all, therefore takes precedence in my mind.
Parts of story (such as quest system and related ability of character to complete tasks) can function without proper gameplay definition, but many things that make good and memorable experience (freedom to act and freedom to solver problems in many ways - sometimes not-intended, also immersion and world believability, etc.) does not going to be here.
And three most important things that i seek in games usually are: combat system, roleplaying system (defining trait of CRPG's, in my humble opinion) and exploration.
[Roleplaying system is combination of character creation, character development and other gameplay elements related to PC's (such as magic system and item restriction system) that give meaning to choices made by player in regards to constructing their own experience while interacting with world] <-- This is very subjective and not overly good sounding definition, but this is how i see this term for now.
M&M 1 have good combat for most part (it is balanced ~difficulty wise compared to most old games and even to next game in series and pretty completable without hard game mechanics abuse, but most monsters grouped in very random way - for example, cleric and mutant larva enemy types trying to kill a party is common thing in this game). Player can rest after combat immideately - so difficulty is related to individual encounters (contrary to Wizardry 1, for example).
M&M 1 have original for it's time roleplaying system (one of the first games on my memory to make AC system different to Dungeons and Dragons; gender, aligment and class play little role in game - but one in-game are and one side-quest place big importance on traits), magical system is well-defined and provide opportunities to use - even if high-level spells are maybe little too strong strong.
M&M 1 have exploration as good as it must be to create Feeling of Wonder in me. You have world to explore, to plunder and it feels as such. Side-quests are limited (but they exist, which is big for such old game), interaction with world is limited - but even puzzles are related to exploring areas and world in search for clues.
I do not going to talk about story-plot, quest details, world landmarks and so on - it can give spoilers to people who want to experience game for themselves.
In conclusion, i will say that M&M 1 is cryptic, moderately hard and requires player to understand gameplay framework of game to have fun with game. Not without rough parts - still, charning old game in it's own way.
Hope to hear what other people think about this game, their own experience with it and how bad or good it been for them. Hope this been worth time to read, as well.
If anybody wants to play M&M 1 and needs help / advises - feel free to DM me or even write here, and i will try to help.
Cheers! : ]
