The latest expansion pack has been released. Now, certain things are clear.

Listen, why should I constantly read between the lines in your messages, but you don't want to do it in mine?

No, no, there's no need to read between the lines in my messages; just read what is written, otherwise, we will go too far in searching for what each of us understood.

You are considering the development of graphics from the first to the fifth Heroes games, and I believe that in the 5th Heroes game, a fundamental transition was made in this regard, and it cannot be generalized with the previous three.

Again, there was a fundamental transition – no one denies it. No one is comparing sprite graphics vs. 3D graphics. The "cartoonishness" (its degree), which we are discussing, is outside of this battle. Therefore, the line (which is needed for the trend) definitely exists.

For example, when "Shrek 2" comes out as a 3D HoMM 6, then, in my opinion, we can talk about some kind of trend.

When HoMM VI comes out, we can discuss whether the fears about a positive trend have been confirmed or not. And we can calmly discuss the trend of the "degree of cartoonishness" of HoMM V in relation to its predecessors right now.

Once again, I will give the essence of my thought. HoMM 5 has definitely moved to a new level in relation to HoMM 3 (again, we are talking about graphics).

Your, as you put it, essence is clear, and there is no need to read between the lines. And again and again, I will repeat that there is no comparison of graphics as such; we were initially discussing (as far as I know) the degree of cartoonishness, and I am constantly trying to guide you in this direction, but for some reason, you cannot talk within the framework of games from the same series (even if they have a different principle of building graphics) about the degree of cartoonishness. Cartoonishness is not an indicator/characteristic of different engines; it is, let's say, a principle of rendering, which does not affect the principle of building models in any way.

P.S. Regarding the formation of a trend through the add-ons of HoMM5, I will disagree with you again. Add-ons do not form any trend, since they are released in full accordance with the graphic style of the base game.

Add-ons are designed to fix and add, I hope you won't argue with that. And if so, then they are also involved in forming trends. It's simple.