Might and Magic IX (2002) is the ninth Might and Magic role-playing game and the last of the original series — and the last game New World Computing made[1][1]. Published by The 3DO Company for Windows, it was the first fully 3D game in the series, built on the LithTech engine[1][1][1].
Development
- "Writ of Fate" was its subtitle during production; the box says only "Might and Magic IX"[1][1].
- Keith Francart directed, James W. Dickinson produced and Tim Lang designed[1]. According to Celestial Heavens, Tom Ono first led the design with a story on the continent of Tamarck; Lang replaced him and moved it to Chedian[1].
- Wikipedia calls it the first game in the series without Jon Van Caneghem's design involvement[1], although the manual opens with a welcome letter signed by him as "Creator and Designer, Might and Magic I–IX"[1].
- It was the series' first game made to a fixed deadline, while staff were being cut and Legends of Might and Magic was in production on the same engine[1][1]. Lang later called it "a half done game, and it shows", saying it needed at least another three to six months and that the people it depended on were tied up finishing Legends[1][1]. Van Caneghem said in 2012 that the studio had been "behind the technology curve"[1].
Releases
| Release | Date | Publisher |
|---|---|---|
| Windows, North America | 28 March 2002 | 3DO |
| Windows, Germany | 25 April 2002 | 3DO |
| Russia: «Меч и Магия IX» | July 2002 | Бука |
| Platinum Edition (Might and Magic VI–IX) | 2002 | 3DO |
| GOG.com | 3 November 2011 | Ubisoft |
Per Wikipedia, PC Games, Ru-Board and GameBanshee[1][1][1][1][1]. It is still sold on GOG.com[1].
Aftermath
About two thirds of New World Computing's staff were laid off in April 2002[1][1]. The 3DO Company filed for bankruptcy in May 2003[1][1], and in August 2003 Ubisoft bought the Might and Magic and Heroes of Might and Magic rights for US$1.3 million[1]. The numbered series did not continue until Might & Magic X: Legacy in 2014.
Setting
The game moves to a new world, Axeoth: on the continent of Rysh, the clans of Chedian must unite against the Beldonian warlord Tamur Leng[1][1][1]. The setting borrows heavily from Norse myth and drops the series' science fiction[1][1].
Gameplay
- A party of four, plus up to three hired companions who fight alongside it[1][1].
- Four races — human, elf, dwarf and half-orc[1][1].
- Everyone starts as a Fighter or an Initiate and is promoted twice. The manual gives this tree; Wikipedia's version differs[1][1]:
| Start | First promotion | Second promotion |
|---|---|---|
| Fighter | Mercenary | Assassin or Gladiator |
| Fighter | Crusader | Ranger or Paladin |
| Initiate | Scholar | Mage or Lich |
| Initiate | Healer | Priest or Druid |
- Magic is reduced to four schools — Elemental, Light, Dark and Spirit — and one spell can belong to several of them[1][1].
- Skills rise through Normal, Expert, Master and Grandmaster; combat can be real-time or turn-based[1][1].
Reception
- Metacritic: 55 out of 100 from 17 critics[1][1].
- RPGFan gave 72, calling it "hurriedly rushed to stores" with quests that could become impossible to finish even after patching[1]. PC Games gave 7.0 and wrote that the series was slowly passing its sell-by date[1]; Multiplayer.it gave 35 out of 100[1].
- Wikipedia lists Computer Gaming World 1.5/5 and PC Gamer US 51%, and notes that GameSpot named it runner-up for most disappointing PC game of 2002[1].
- 3DO released only one patch, 1.2, before its collapse ended support; script bugs can still ruin a save[1][1].
Russian release
Бука published it as «Меч и Магия IX» in summer 2002, already with patch 1.2; the fix patch 1.2b followed on 20 August 2002[1][1]. F-Center had previewed the English version in April[1].
Trivia
- Mel Odom's novel The Sea of Mist (2001) was built on Tom Ono's original Tamarck story[1][1].
- Several dungeons were first built for Legends of Might and Magic[1], and a late-2001 prototype contains files from Legends[1].
More on this game: classes, skills, spells, items, places and monsters.