Might And Magic 2

Subtitled "Gates to Another World," Might and Magic II continues the story of the world of Cron that began in the original Might and Magic. Like its predecessor, M&M II follows the fantasy role-playing concept started with Wizardry and carried through the Bard's Tale series. M&M II has an overall plot, but its numerous subplots may prove even more interesting. As you gain strength and visit new places, you discover many difficult tasks to complete on your way to solving the larger quest. These tasks range from defeating monsters to rescuing helpless characters, and they increase in difficulty as your characters progress. To improve themselves, your characters must fight and defeat monsters, thereby winning both experience points and treasure.

M&M II excels in the amount of information it displays on the screen. At the top left is a first-person view of the area straight ahead, and below is some vital information about the members of the party. In the middle of the screen are two small boxes with additional information. To the right is a summary of magic and light, and, if you request it, a list of player commands.

Another strength of M&M II is its automatic mapping. As soon as one of your characters acquires the cartographer skill — which is available for next to nothing near the beginning of the adventure — you no longer have to worry about laboriously drawing maps on paper. Just press M, and the screen shows where you are and where you've been. Even experienced role-players will appreciate this feature.

In fact, M&M II has virtually everything needed for a first-rate fantasy game: strong graphics, a well-designed player interface, lengthy playing time, and numerous options. If you don't like fantasy role-playing games, you should avoid M&M II, because it's a near-perfect example of its genre. But if you liked such games as Bard's Tale, Wizardry, Phantasie, et al, M&M II is highly recommended.