Might and Magic VII: For Blood and Honor (1999) is the seventh Might and Magic role-playing game, developed by New World Computing and published by The 3DO Company for Windows[1][1][1]. A party of four adventures on Antagarich, the continent of Heroes of Might and Magic III, in the years after that game[1][1].

Development

• It reused the engine of Might and Magic VI "with only a few minor tweaks", adding hardware 3D acceleration, and shipped just thirteen months after it[1][1].
• Keith Francart directed and Peter Ryu produced; Bryan Farina, Paul Rattner and James W. Dickinson were the principal designers[1][1].
• Sources differ on the music. VGMO credits Paul Romero as sole composer, his only score in the role-playing series[1]; Rob King said in 2002 that he composed Might and Magic VI–IX with help from Romero and Steve Baca[1].

Releases

Per Wikipedia, Gameranx and the list of Might and Magic media[1][1][1]. It is still sold on GOG.com[1].

Setting

The party wins a scavenger hunt held by Lord Markham on Emerald Island; the prize is Castle Harmondale, a ruin on the mainland that becomes their home once restored[1][1][1]. Harmondale sits on land disputed between Erathia and the elves of AvLee[1], the story follows the Heroes III campaign, and Archibald Ironfist returns[1][1]. Partway through the party must side with Light or Dark, which changes their quests, promotions and ending[1][1][1].

Gameplay

• Four races — human, elf, goblin and dwarf — chosen through the character portrait; race shapes starting attributes and resistances[1][1].
• Nine classes, three of them new to the series: the thief, monk and ranger[1][1]. Each class is promoted twice, and the second promotion depends on the Light or Dark path[1].

• Skills rise through Normal, Expert, Master and the new Grand Master rank; teachers raise the rank, and class sets the ceiling[1][1].
• Nine schools of magic — Fire, Air, Water, Earth, Spirit, Mind, Body, Light and Dark[1].
• Combat can be real-time or turn-based[1][1].
• Taverns host Arcomage, a card game of towers, walls and three resources that ties into two side quests[1][1]; Maher calls it "obviously inspired by Magic: The Gathering"[1].

Reception

• GameRankings: 76%[1][1]. RPGFan gave it 90 out of 100[1]. Wikipedia lists GameSpot 8.4/10, IGN 7.7/10 and PC Gamer US 63%[1].
• In Germany it scored 73% in PC Games, 77% in PC Player and 87% in Power Play[1].
• It was nominated for Role-Playing Game of the Year by Computer Gaming World; Planescape: Torment won[1].
• Reviewers complained that it looked essentially the same as its predecessor. Jimmy Maher calls it a slightly better game than VI and the best place for a newcomer to start; he guesses at around 100,000 copies sold, as no figure was published[1].

Russian release

There was no licensed Russian version in 1999[1]. Бука later published it together with Might and Magic VI as «M&M7 Коллекционное издание»; the GrayFace patch has a separate build for that localisation[1]. StopGame lists the game as «Меч и Магия 7»[1].

Re-releases and fan projects

• The GOG.com release bundles the manual, a reference card and the soundtrack, which had never been released before[1][1].
• The GrayFace patch adds quick saves, mouse look and support for modern Windows[1].
• OpenEnroth, an open-source reimplementation of the Might and Magic VI–VIII engine, plays VII on Windows, Linux and macOS using the original game data[1].

More on this game: classes, skills, spells, items, places and monsters.