The very thought we might lose the Heroes of Might and Magic series for good is a dreadful idea indeed, one so dreadful, even Ubisoft couldn't bear it and so bought out the series and here we are with a brand new iteration of the franchise installed on my PC and my number one game of the month. It's hard to explain because it's definitely one of those games you really need to spend some time on, but rest assured, when I tell you I haven't been able to stop playing it, I'm serious and it's not strictly for review purposes, it's truly one of those games you come across that's almost impossible to ignore.

Okay, so the series has a pretty good name for itself. In fact, when it landed on my desk I was ecstatic I'd be able to review it, and while I know a lot about the history of the series, I can also tell you this is actually the first time I've played a Might and Magic game (though I have seen friends play them before and so I know the inner workings of what we're looking at). At any rate, coming into the series slightly fresh I can tell you, without thinking about the background or fan-base that Heroes of Might and Magic V is hella addictive. However, knowing what I know about the series, I can also say that while it is insanely addictive and fun to play, the developers at Nival have definitely pulled the safety card to ensure they don't alienate fans of the original games. So, anyone familiar with how the gameplay works in this series isn't going to be overwhelmed in any capacity.

With all that said and done, the first thing I want to tell you about is the visual overhaul Nival have given Might and Magic. An all-new 3D engine was produced for Heroes V and it looks stunning, the amount of detail that goes into the game's maps puts Warcraft III to shame (despite its age) and is actually on par with Rise of Nations, to give you a yard stick. Moreover, the camera controls are immediately accessible and not at all daunting due to their simple nature and confined movements. With that being said, the whole game is actually one affable product obviously designed to keep peeps happy, interested and most of all: engaged.

Heroes of Might and Magic V does this through the clever and simple interface and through its ease of play. Initially the game will draw you in without you even realising you're playing any sort of tutorial. Throughout the experience the game offers advice and gameplay tips and often the mission objectives themselves are a clue to elements of play. This is one of the most refreshing ideas in Heroes V, that the fun and addictive nature of the game comes before trying to be the most deep and complex experience ever.

The game's narrative isn't all that amazing or grasping. It centres around a regal wedding which has been stopped at the advent of demons coming forth to take over the world. As such the groom runs to the frontline, while the bride is ushered away to stay out of harm's way, however, as no stranger to action we quickly learn our queen-to-be is no slouch and she goes about gathering an army top deliver to her would-be husband at the front lines. From here you initially take control of her as a hero and the game begins, however, throughout the experience you'll actually play as a number of different races and units, which broadens the experience immeasurably.

The six factions we're all used to are back in Knights, Elves, Demons, Undead, Wizards and Dungeons, while the procured armies throughout each mission and chapter are far larger than ever before. Playing with larger masses, however, does the game some serious justice; you'll find the variety in units refreshingly new and active, while the tactical element of the game also reflects positively on this new idea. Each unit obviously comes with its own strength and weaknesses and thanks to the Initiative Bar the scrolls the bottom of each angry encounter gives you plenty of time and warning to plan your next move. Units aren't represented by a health bar, but by a numerical value of their strength in number, and the strength in number dictates how the turn-base system works. Once you figure it out on the field, managing your army and your own actions is pretty simple and damn rewarding.

Beyond the battle system, Heroes V also reissues the concept of city building and improvement. Throughout missions you'll come across objectives that involve making your city stronger, grander or just plain bigger. Equally, these improvements don't specifically have to be associated with game's objectives, in fact you're free to adjust each city as you see fit (provided you have enough resources). Gathering income and materials is as simple as conquering neutral factions to your side; so finding a saw mill that is sitting on fence is really just a click away from being your saw mill. The game makes good use of this concept and thorough players will find themselves exploring the entire map to convert every last resource to their cause.

There are six chapters, each with five missions in single player, and while 30 missions in total might not sound like a lot, it can take upwards of a few hours to complete each one (and that's without being pedantic about it), so there's plenty here to keep everyone interested, however, the lack of any real multiplayer support does hurt it. That isn't to say the game is without a multiplayer option, it's just bare bones of an option given the lack of a map editor or a random map generator. Still, the single player campaign is immensely fun and engaging, and while the familiarity aspect means the series has barely evolved, it still serves as a great idea its alive and kicking, which is more than we could say about it after the closure of 3DO. Heroes of Might and Magic V plays a safety angle, but thanks to the stunning new visuals and the same old addictive gameplay, it should still be high on anyone's to-buy list.