I will continue to develop the topic that I started on the official Nival forum.
These much-hyped Heroes of Might and Magic V cannot really be considered a continuation of the series. Evidence:
1. A new world. This means there is no connection with the other parts of the series. No connection - no continuation of the series. Therefore, the title Heroes of Might and Magic V is inappropriate. Nival's explanations about the difficulty of recreating the world of the old Heroes games are nonsense. It's not difficult at all. Just play the games in the series. Which, by the way, no one at Nival has done. Their familiarity with the series is extremely superficial.
2. Graphics. Even if we don't consider the flawed 3D mode, the situation is generally terrible. First, the Heroes games have never been cartoonish. Second, the graphics of ALL units have been changed beyond recognition. And this is in a series where continuity is key. Third (and this is a jab at Ubisoft), the graphics of the Heroes and Might and Magic games were the same, but now both games are even being made on different engines. And also, beautiful cutscenes! Where did they find beautiful cutscenes in Heroes? In Chronicles, perhaps?
3. Gameplay. A definite slowdown in the gameplay due to the 3D camera. The removal of turn-based movement in combat. For this alone, Nival should shave their heads and go to a monastery! They are introducing real-time in a turn-based game! And you call this Heroes? Next, trails! The most useless innovation! Zero benefit - it only clutters up the map!
4. Unit upgrades. New World Computing officially recognized the upgrade system as meaningless. Because no one fights with simple gremlins; everyone upgrades them. The same applies to other units. This slows down the gameplay. Instead of 7 buildings, you have to build 14. If Nival had approached the task professionally, they would have seen this NWC press release.
5. Plot. Nonsense! Contradiction of itself in every paragraph. The description is completely illogical if you look at the structure of the castle units. And also, the change of the title race of the Inferno castle from Krigans to Demons.
6. Racial special abilities. This is generally an RPG. Nival simply doesn't know how to make strategy games, which they have once again demonstrated. In addition, these abilities cannot be balanced through units. Their balance is achieved only through mapmaking. This is in a strategy game!
7. Magic. Instead of evolution, as it was in the series, Nival has somehow gone down the path of degradation. For this, they deserve eternal shame!
Conclusion: Instead of a worthy continuation of the series, we are getting a typical Russian mass-produced product.
Speak up, fellow fans!