Dark Messiah: Might and Magic Elements

UPC: 008888523154

Platform: Xbox 360

Publisher: Ubisoft Entertainment

Developer: Arkane Studios

Category: Role-Playing

Style(s): First-Person Action RPG

Synopsis: Ubisoft continues its resurrection of the classic 3DO series with this first-person role-playing release. Dark Messiah: Might and Magic features a campaign that begins 18 years after Heroes of Might and Magic V. Single players take the role of Sareth, to wield both might and magic against orcs, goblins, trolls, dragons, an undead horde, and other minions of the Dark Messiah who threatens the world of Ashan. Built on Valve's Half-Life 2 "Source" game engine, Dark Messiah: Might and Magic aims to offer smooth action in a game world rich with detail. The game's multiplayer modes support up to 10 players. Along with the obligatory "Deathmatch" and "Team Deathmatch" modes, the multiplayer arena includes a "Crusade" mode that emphasizes teamwork in multi-match competition. In "Crusade," players choose one of five character classes, such as warrior or mage. Throughout the game, there are opportunities to increase characters' skills as they complete battles. After each round, a "dynamic campaign" feature determines the next map's location, as well as the items and skills you can gain between rounds, by analyzing completion statistics from the previous conflict. "Crusade" mode creates a tug-of-war battle style by moving the next skirmish closer to the stronghold of the last skirmish's loser. When one team wins, the battle is moved away from its stronghold, but if the team loses the next conflict, the following battle moves back to the middle. The game ends when one stronghold is destroyed, or when a team loses all of its tickets. Tickets are a type of death card, and every time a player is killed or loses control of a spawn point, a ticket is taken away. After a campaign is completed, all experience for each character is set back to zero. ~ Gracie Leach, All Game Guide

Package Contents: 32-page Instruction Manual

Controls: Joystick/Gamepad

A port from 2006's computer game, Dark Messiah makes its appearance on Xbox 360 a little worse for the wear. Apparently, the trek from computer to console was an arduous one fraught with peril. Smooth has given way to choppy, depth has been sacrificed for shallow, and fun now comes with several strings attached. Those hungry for a more focused The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion won't find much here worth biting into, as Might and Magic Elements tastes more like a vanilla first-person shooter with crunchy fantasy sprinkles. You control an orphan named Sareth, who has been trained in combat by his mentor, Phenrig. The adventure begins when Phenrig asks you to complete a simple delivery task to a friend of his in Stonehelm City. To ensure your safety, Phenrig infuses a guardian's spirit into your body. It's a female named Xana, a saucy minx who doesn't take kindly to you dallying with other womenfolk. Her voice sounds like something you'd hear on a CD that's been sitting out in the sun too long, but hey, it's some companionship. In many ways Dark Messiah is reminiscent of titles in the Hexen series, in that the focus is primarily on combat and solving simple, action-oriented puzzles rather than on developing your character. While four classes are available, you can't make them your own by choosing which skills to master or becoming proficient in specific weapons. Instead the warrior, wizard, archer, and assassin are pre-defined classes whose primary differences stem from their attacking styles. The warrior wields a sword and shield, the wizard hurls magical projectiles, the archer fires arrows, and the assassin skulks around with a dagger. Originally powered by Valve's Source engine, the world in Dark Messiah offers some interactive elements you don't usually find in a fantasy title. One of the more entertaining moves is a simple, yet highly (almost comically) effective kick, which hurtles enemies back and gives you time to quaff a potion, steady your shield, or perform a follow-up attack. You can even kick enemies off cliffs, towers, or other high places, and into fire pits or spiked walls. Other ways to interact with the environment include heaving items like crates, or chopping ropes and weakened pillars so heavy objects crash down on enemies. The combat is otherwise cut from the same loincloth as Oblivion. Slashing with the sword is accomplished with the right trigger, while blocking is initiated with the left. Class-specific skills, which are automatically assigned as you level up, can be mapped to the directional pad for quick access. Aside from kicking enemies and coming up with some optional yet creative ways of killing, the combat can best be described as repetitive. Enemies simply don't respond well to the constant hacking, or they skipped parrying 101 in the "how to be a better fighter" lecture series. Knocking Dark Messiah from the "purchase" to the "rental" rung in the ladder of gaming excellence are several technical issues. The frame rate is downright atrocious, with groups of enemies all but making the console hiss, sputter, and whir like it's in its death throes. Loading sequences between levels are long, and there are times when the game simply hangs, forcing you to restart the system and reload from a save point. Some design decisions are insulting, including the concept of <i>collecting</i> weapons and gear from other classes instead of actually <i>using</i> them. The lone area where Dark Messiah on Xbox 360 improves on its computer predecessor, other than achievements, is its multiplayer offering. A new class, the priestess, replaces the assassin, and you can enter battle with a choice of four skills from a pool of nine. While most of the modes simply involve killing opponents, the "crusade" mode has your team in a race to complete missions on a series of five maps. The ultimate goal is to destroy your rival's stronghold, with each map moving you one step closer to the enemy's base. Up to ten players are supported, but the biggest problem is finding enough people online to join. Dark Messiah is a frustrating title, since moments of fun are outweighed by long stretches of tedium. The ability to use the environment as a weapon means you can cook up some gleefully violent ways of dispatching enemies, but it's largely unnecessary. Including different attack styles through classes is a nice spin on traditional first-person titles, but the silly character restrictions and linear stages don't encourage repeat visits. Factor in a choppy, glitchy engine, and you end up with a disappointing port that puts the "mess" in Messiah. ~ Scott Alan Marriott, All Game Guide

the game requires Joystick/Gamepad.