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][2][3]. A party of four adventures on Antagarich, the continent of Heroes of Might and Magic III, in the years after that game[1][4].
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[4][5].
- Keith Francart directed and Peter Ryu produced; Bryan Farina, Paul Rattner and James W. Dickinson were the principal designers[1][4].
- Sources differ on the music. VGMO credits Paul Romero as sole composer, his only score in the role-playing series[6]; Rob King said in 2002 that he composed Might and Magic VI–IX with help from Romero and Steve Baca[7].
Releases
| Release | Date | Publisher |
|---|---|---|
| Windows, North America | 8 June 1999 | 3DO |
| Windows, Europe | 25 June 1999 | 3DO |
| Millennium Edition (Might and Magic IV–VII) | 1999 | 3DO |
| Platinum Edition (Might and Magic VI–IX) | 2002 | 3DO |
| GOG.com | 10 March 2011 | Ubisoft |
Per Wikipedia, Gameranx and the list of Might and Magic media[1][8][9]. It is still sold on GOG.com[10].
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[3][11][4]. Harmondale sits on land disputed between Erathia and the elves of AvLee[1], the story follows the Heroes III campaign, and Archibald Ironfist returns[4][1]. Partway through the party must side with Light or Dark, which changes their quests, promotions and ending[4][1][11].
Gameplay
- Four races — human, elf, goblin and dwarf — chosen through the character portrait; race shapes starting attributes and resistances[2][1].
- Nine classes, three of them new to the series: the thief, monk and ranger[1][3]. Each class is promoted twice, and the second promotion depends on the Light or Dark path[2].
| Class | First promotion | Light path | Dark path |
|---|---|---|---|
| Knight | Cavalier | Champion | Black Knight |
| Paladin | Crusader | Hero | Villain |
| Archer | Warrior Mage | Master Archer | Sniper |
| Monk | Initiate | Master | Ninja |
| Thief | Rogue | Spy | Assassin |
| Ranger | Hunter | Ranger Lord | Bounty Hunter |
| Cleric | Priest | Priest of the Light | Priest of the Dark |
| Druid | Great Druid | Arch Druid | Warlock |
| Sorcerer | Wizard | Archmage | Lich |
- Skills rise through Normal, Expert, Master and the new Grand Master rank; teachers raise the rank, and class sets the ceiling[2][1].
- Nine schools of magic — Fire, Air, Water, Earth, Spirit, Mind, Body, Light and Dark[2].
- Combat can be real-time or turn-based[11][3].
- Taverns host Arcomage, a card game of towers, walls and three resources that ties into two side quests[12][1]; Maher calls it "obviously inspired by Magic: The Gathering"[4].
Reception
- GameRankings: 76%[1][5]. RPGFan gave it 90 out of 100[11]. 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[13].
- 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[4].
Russian release
There was no licensed Russian version in 1999[14]. 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[15]. StopGame lists the game as «Меч и Магия 7»[16].
Re-releases and fan projects
- The GOG.com release bundles the manual, a reference card and the soundtrack, which had never been released before[10][6].
- The GrayFace patch adds quick saves, mouse look and support for modern Windows[15].
- 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[17].
More on this game: classes, skills, spells, items, places and monsters.