HEROES OF MIGHT AND MAGIC 8 REVIEW HOW TO

It would be incorrect to say that the composers make no attempt whatsoever to develop their pieces or that they have abandoned the Might and Magic series' trademark eclecticism. Fortunately, there are also other instances during which the instrumental soli and their melodies still muster a degree of attraction В— sometimes because they simply provide relief from the dull background mumblings. And there's the unexpectedly regal, pentatonic string melody on 'Track 5' that is equally too thin to withstand constant repetition. One example is the heavy-hearted, descending string line on 'Track 4' that is repeated over and over and ends up being obnoxious rather than hypnotising. It doesn't help that Day of the Destroyer marks the culmination of the composers' tendency to give the melodies on their Might and Magic scores a more repetitive shape than on their Heroes of Might and Magic soundtracks. The composers haven't completely done away with their fondness for instrumental soli, which still pop up here and there, but only to diminished results. The Might and Magic games have always balanced fantasy and science fiction elements and through the increased use of slow-moving, silvery synth chords to back the compositions, Day of the Destroyer tilts the balance towards the sci-fi side of the equation. Most of the music sounds like mildly original underscore that you will have likely heard many times on other soundtracks, probably originating in the science fiction genre. Unfortunately, Day of the Destroyer fails that test due to its flavourless, simple textures and lack of development.

HEROES OF MIGHT AND MAGIC 8 REVIEW HOW TO

Of course, the score's predecessor demonstrated how to pull off ambient cues that don't require much musical activity to keep the listener engaged. The subdued compositions on Day of the Destroyer are closest in nature to the battle tracks on the first four Heroes of Might and Magic scores В— and if you've heard those soundtracks, you know that you're in for a pretty dull ride, as the action cues were those scores' Achilles heel. In the place of such enrapturing tunes is the most ambient score of the whole Might and Magic franchise, short on melodies and heavy on moody, sustained chord textures. That soundtrack's intoxicating melodies are almost completely gone here В— a very surprising fact given that Romero, King and Baca's Might and Magic scores had always distinguished themselves through their sublime melodicism. Day of the Destroyer, on the other hand, does an almost 180 degree flip on its predecessor'ss lavish, symphonic strains. While For Blood and Honor somewhat changed direction from The Mandate of Heaven, they were both anchored in a melodic orchestral sound hybridised with various other musical styles. You'd be excused for assuming upon first listen that Day of the Destroyer was anything but a Might and Magic score.

And once again, the music was released without track titles only about a decade later via GOG.com. As on the previous two Might and Magic titles, Paul Anthony Romero, Rob King and Steve Baca were drafted to write Day of the Destroyer's score. Add to that a good amount of content that was recycled from earlier Might and Magic titles, and it's no surprise that Day of the Destroyer was met with a decisively muted reception from both reviewers and gamers. And while that engine hadn't exactly felt cutting-edge in 1998, it was badly outdated by 2000 when Day of the Destroyer came around. But then developer New World Computing released Might and Magic VII: For Blood and Honor and Might and Magic VIII: Day of the Destroyer in successive years, basing them on The Mandate of Heaven's game engine. When Might and Magic VI: The Mandate of Heaven was released in 1998, old-school RPG fans welcomed this long-awaited return of the Might and Magic franchise with open arms. Might and Magic VIII -Day of the Destroyer- Original SoundtrackДЇunny how quickly things can change. Might and Magic VIII Original Soundtrack :: Review by Simon Elchlepp

Heroes of might and magic 8 review