Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era - Ubisoft returns to Enroth - coming to Early Access in Q2 2025

[luj1]

HoMM 5 is probably the worst Heros ever

 

[Lacrymas]

Nah, it's fine for what it is, but it's not particularly good or memorable either.

 

[Laz Sundays]

H5 is a clear downgrade, but it is not outright bad or the worst. H6 and 7 are the worst, they might aswell not exist

 

[gooseman]

You know, there's also that fanmade browser MMO based off heroes 5...

The best part is probably arcomage, the card game from mm7, though. But... how does it compare to olden era?

 

[Zboj Lamignat]

I see we have a lot of connoisseurs here, so maybe you can help me with my quandary: how can I make myself play HoMM5? I adored 1-3, and I liked 4 quite a lot (excellent overworld map and music, engaging campaigns, not a big fan of combat though). But every time I try to play 5 it just smacks me in the head with ugly UI, ugly fonts, ugly graphics and stupid "full 3D".

How did you manage to overcome this? Genuine question.

Well, if you like 4 "quite a lot" then bad art style and general ugliness really shouldn't be an insurmountable obstacle.

But just focus on mechanics, that's where 5 shines the most. It has thinsg that are not only exceptional in the series (retaining superior 7 tier system, but at the same time having easily the least amount of creatures that are too bad and that no one will ever recruit), but even among strategy games in general (probably the best branching unit upgrades system that I've seen). Factions have most mechanical identity and learning to play them is fun. Not everything is rosy and there are some missed shots (I hate the town level gimmick), but it's a game worth giving a go for sure.

For, me the biggest roadblock was the content. I don't really do campaigns, but the maps felt small, cramped and often not that fun to play. 5 has a very active community, so I'm sure things improved now on this front if you're willing to have a look.

It's also good fun in multi, if you find the people for it and avoid the cheesy stuff (as per revered homm tradition).

 

[Naraya]

I see we have a lot of connoisseurs here, so maybe you can help me with my quandary: how can I make myself play HoMM5? I adored 1-3, and I liked 4 quite a lot (excellent overworld map and music, engaging campaigns, not a big fan of combat though). But every time I try to play 5 it just smacks me in the head with ugly UI, ugly fonts, ugly graphics and stupid "full 3D".

How did you manage to overcome this? Genuine question.

Well, if you like 4 "quite a lot" then bad art style and general ugliness really shouldn't be an insurmountable obstacle.

But just focus on mechanics, that's where 5 shines the most. It has thinsg that are not only exceptional in the series (retaining superior 7 tier system, but at the same time having easily the least amount of creatures that are too bad and that no one will ever recruit), but even among strategy games in general (probably the best branching unit upgrades system that I've seen). Factions have most mechanical identity and learning to play them is fun. Not everything is rosy and there are some missed shots (I hate the town level gimmick), but it's a game worth giving a go for sure.

For, me the biggest roadblock was the content. I don't really do campaigns, but the maps felt small, cramped and often not that fun to play. 5 has a very active community, so I'm sure things improved now on this front if you're willing to have a look.

It's also good fun in multi, if you find the people for it and avoid the cheesy stuff (as per revered homm tradition).

Thanks, it seems that I'll have to try again one of these days.
Also I'm willing to die on the hill that HoM&M4 art style is perfectly fine.

 

[Storyfag]

Also I'm willing to die on the hill that HoM&M4 art style is perfectly fine.

Ah, you will be our newest Death Knight, then?

 

[Darkozric]

In which retarded universe H4 is equally ugly to 5? Ah yes, in this retarded universe.

I suggest to take out your eyes with a spoon.

 

[Hydro]

In which retarded universe H4 is equally ugly to 5? Ah yes, in this retarded universe.

I suggest to take out your eyes with a spoon.

Homm4 has this uncanny vaporwave aesthetics which is not bad at all (I believe those are a pre-rendered 3d models made 2d). But seeing it for the first time was a bit underwhelming.

 

[Humanophage]

In which retarded universe H4 is equally ugly to 5? Ah yes, in this retarded universe.

I suggest to take out your eyes with a spoon.

HoMM4 has very pleasant interface aesthetics. The map is unfortunately somewhat ugly, which is odd because AoW has a similar perspective but is gorgeous. The cities especially are bad, including the city screens.

 

[Laz Sundays]

Odd? It's a miracle it got out at all, on a lunchmoney budget

 

[Lacrymas]

I've always liked how HoMM4 looks.

 

[gooseman]

It's a good looking game. It doesn't stand up to homm3, which has easily one of the best aesthetics of any game ever made.

 

[Darkozric]

Yeah H4 is equally ugly with heroes of warcraft

 

[DoWhocares]

Yeah H4 is equally ugly with heroes of warcraft

Don't be ridiculous, of course it's not.

It's much uglier.

 

[Storyfag]

Yeah. The H5 town feels more natural.

 

[Storyfag]

Again, the H5 town is more organic, much more similar to the H3 town screen.

Also notice how in the H4 town screen every building is in exactly the same spot as in the different faction's town in the post above. Odious.

 

[Kabas]

H4 towns do have one cool gimmick with different terrains tho.

 

[Darkozric]

Does it really matter if it feels more "organic" when it looks like a bad Sunday cartoon shit

 

[Zboj Lamignat]

In which retarded universe H4 is equally ugly to 5? Ah yes, in this retarded universe.

No one said they're "equally" ugly. Mostly because they look very different and other than the poor quality cartoon/comic-book like portraits for units and heroes they both have it's difficult to make a direct comparison. That being said, they are similar in the way they they are both (steep af) decline from some of the best looking games in history in H2 and 3.

 

[luj1]

I see we have a lot of connoisseurs here, so maybe you can help me with my quandary: how can I make myself play HoMM5? I adored 1-3, and I liked 4 quite a lot (excellent overworld map and music, engaging campaigns, not a big fan of combat though). But every time I try to play 5 it just smacks me in the head with ugly UI, ugly fonts, ugly graphics and stupid "full 3D".

How did you manage to overcome this? Genuine question.

Well, if you like 4 "quite a lot" then bad art style and general ugliness really shouldn't be an insurmountable obstacle.

Heroes 4 is infinitely better looking than 5

lmao

 

[Malakal]

I kinda liked HoMM4 but it was definitely half finished and ugly. Interface was ok icons skills too and some units the rest was bad.

I like ice devils but not human units, for example.

 

[Naraya]

I see we have a lot of connoisseurs here, so maybe you can help me with my quandary: how can I make myself play HoMM5? I adored 1-3, and I liked 4 quite a lot (excellent overworld map and music, engaging campaigns, not a big fan of combat though). But every time I try to play 5 it just smacks me in the head with ugly UI, ugly fonts, ugly graphics and stupid "full 3D".

How did you manage to overcome this? Genuine question.

Well, if you like 4 "quite a lot" then bad art style and general ugliness really shouldn't be an insurmountable obstacle.

Heroes 4 is infinitely better looking than 5

lmao

Not sure what's worse - the hell horse or the other... creature (is it a gryphon?!)

 

[Cyberarmy]

the hell horse

Nightmare...

Yeah and the other one is a imperial griffin, clad in armor and immune to blind spell

 

[Brancaleone]

In which retarded universe H4 is equally ugly to 5? Ah yes, in this retarded universe.

No one said they're "equally" ugly. Mostly because they look very different and other than the poor quality cartoon/comic-book like portraits for units and heroes they both have it's difficult to make a direct comparison. That being said, they are similar in the way they they are both (steep af) decline from some of the best looking games in history in H2 and 3.

Yeah, the whole debate on Play-Doh Heroes vs WoW Heroes aestethics is a bit surreal. Each one is ugly in its own very special way.