Added to my journal.

In Russia, this series is mainly known for its second part, at least according to my personal observations. It was released with an official license some years ago, in a beautiful two-disc box, and quickly became popular among lovers of turn-based strategy and RPG games. That is, both together, because, again, according to my incredible scientific observations, far from all fans of "Heroes" love Disciples. Not surprising, since the mechanics here are not the strongest aspect – “hit-miss-win”; “hit-miss-lose”; “cast a million spells, kill your opponent without even engaging him in battle.” Perhaps there are also those who appreciate such simplicity, but we know what the real essence is.
So, for me, getting acquainted began with the first part – Disciples: Sacred Lands. One of my friends acquired a disc somewhere fifteen years ago, which was worth its weight in gold back then, because it contained Heroes 3: Armageddon's Blade, but not just any version, but a magical one that worked completely autonomously after installation. I DON’T KNOW HOW IT IS WITH YOU GUYS, THE RICH AND ARROGANT, but for us it was simply a phenomenon, because most of the available copies were discs with the original third installment, equipped with appropriate protection. I looked up the release date of SoD; it seems like it already existed at that time, but for some reason, it was scarce in our village. Yes, there were emulators and various cracks, and even internet access for a couple of godlike guys on dial-up connections, but things turned out exactly this way for us – only discs, only hardcore. So, the second game recorded on it was Caesar 3, which was also very dear to ordinary people. And the third game, as if included as a bonus, because the first two elevated the compilation to the status of a divine gift, was Disciples. I liked it immediately, despite the fact that there was no music or videos, but the other guys didn't think much of it; I think this is because the image of "Heroes of Might and Magic" as an ideal turn-based game was too deeply ingrained in their minds. Much later, while walking through a game store, just looking around without intending to buy anything, I saw the second part on the shelf. Fresh, black, with the subtitle “Dawn of Ragnarok,” and I loved everything related to Norse mythology back then. It was as if God himself created this game specifically so that I would buy and play it sooner. I really enjoyed it, played non-stop, we took turns sitting on one chair (we actually had two chairs), time flew by, and suddenly, it’s 2016.
In the *orrents folder, I removed the letter so that the KGB wouldn't figure it out, I found an image of a collection containing both parts, for some reason I didn't feel like playing the second one, but I did install the first one. It doesn't matter what guided me when making my choice. I vaguely remembered what the graphics were like, especially since I watched a review relatively recently where Sacred Lands was mentioned. First, I enjoyed the familiar music from the menu; it was truly amazing, which, by the way, was the only unedited track in that ancient version. Starting the saga, I chose the Undead Hordes, simply because I felt like it. I picked a lord; their portraits here are very cool and original, unlike the second part, where the units were redrawn.
What can I say about the graphics? It's not great; there aren't many polygons, haha, some details look somewhat absurd (for example: the baroness flies with her arm outstretched forward, it’s quite funny), overall, it’s 2000. But I quickly got used to it, and now a rather amusing situation arises, because after prolonged gameplay, I came to the conclusion that the graphics almost perfectly suit this style. Perhaps this statement will seem a bit wild, but if you suddenly decide to play, and I will encourage you to do so, then you will understand what I am talking about.
Now about the music and sound effects. God-Emperor, I swear, it's like divine ambrosia, something you just want to keep drinking without stopping, getting more and more intoxicated. And how awesome are the heroes' phrases! You could use them for a seasonal event in Heroes of Might and Magic World. Of course, there are few phrases, and only a few musical compositions, but this is enough to create that atmosphere that I personally love Disciples for. So much time has passed since the release of the first part, the second one was released – what about it? There are the same number of phrases, and they seemed even less colorful to me (perhaps except for the Legions). The tracks are still great and fondly remembered, but no incredible progress was made.
In the end:
In the first part, many elements of the mechanics are done well, but some are not fully developed; for example, it makes no sense for a hero to learn artifact skills because banners are ten times better, and the hero only has two slots for various items. In the second part, everything is fine in this regard; you can put up a banner, add a couple of artifacts, wear boots – very thoughtful. It also has its shortcomings, but nevertheless, this is a step forward in the right direction. More creature upgrades, changes in balance for the better, more uniqueness for units, more useful hero skills – excellent overall! Visually… is it better? After playing the first part, I launched the second one and was slightly surprised. The style, and I think this is the most important thing here, appealed to me more precisely in the first one. And some things were changed for the worse, in my subjective opinion, at least.
If you love Disciples 2 but aren't familiar with the first part or are familiar but have forgotten about it. If you want to immerse yourself again in the intricate relationships between the peoples of Nevendar – try the first part; you will discover many new things. By the way, it tells the backstory of Dark Prophecy, including what happened to Uther.
The game may last for a couple of evenings, but it will be remembered for a long time. I didn’t write anything useful, but still play Sacred Lands, play, play.