HoMM3 HD is a mod (add-on) for the game Heroes of Might and Magic 3.

You just threw a strange stone into Khota's garden.

I would say that from an aesthetic and integrity point of view, Khota surpasses not only all existing gameplay mods, but also (oh, the horror) the original itself.

Only the same team, using the same technologies and with unlimited time and resources, could surpass the original aesthetically, IMHO.
The city screen of the Cove is indeed not bad, and in many ways even better than that of the Conflux. Its only drawback, you yourself noted. But I will never agree about the creatures; they are a nightmare.
Let's end it here, because the topic is different, and everyone will stick to their own opinion.