Dark Messiah of Might and Magic

 PC
User Score
8.7

Generally favorable reviews- based on 1235 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1,048 out of 1235
  2. Mixed: 118 out of 1235
  3. Negative: 69 out of 1235
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  1. ShaunC.
    Dec 22, 2006
    10
    one of the best games i have ever played - i like it where the skeletons fall over when i have fired an ice arrow at the ground (very funny)
  2. WiliiamS.
    Dec 24, 2006
    9
    Minor graphical glitches don't take away from this game. The fighting system is a pleasure to learn and can be picked up easily by new players. The single player game could be a little longer but the inclusion of different endings makes replying a must. The ending cut scenes need to be longer and show the affects of your choice of ending to be top notch. Overall this game could be Minor graphical glitches don't take away from this game. The fighting system is a pleasure to learn and can be picked up easily by new players. The single player game could be a little longer but the inclusion of different endings makes replying a must. The ending cut scenes need to be longer and show the affects of your choice of ending to be top notch. Overall this game could be better but it's a delightful and entertaing mix of FPS and RPG. I would recommend this game to my friends.… Expand
  3. AlexP.
    Dec 25, 2006
    10
    This is one of the best games sold out as an RPG. The gameplay ie. fighing is very realistic and extremely fun. It has never crashed on me so far and I've played at least an hour. The skill tree I find is well done, and I have no problems with it. I especially like how items in your inventory take up only one space, unlike previous RPG's. Being a mage is very entertaining, like This is one of the best games sold out as an RPG. The gameplay ie. fighing is very realistic and extremely fun. It has never crashed on me so far and I've played at least an hour. The skill tree I find is well done, and I have no problems with it. I especially like how items in your inventory take up only one space, unlike previous RPG's. Being a mage is very entertaining, like charming guys and watch them fight. This game deserves at least an 8. But since it's so good I give it a 10.… Expand
  4. DanielB.
    Dec 29, 2006
    9
    Combat system is unlike anything I've ever seen, the graphics are awesome and the storyline rocks, even if it is a bit predictible! Only problem is I find the Indoor levels a bit tiresome and lacks the immersion of the outside levels.
  5. GiH.
    Dec 4, 2006
    10
    To be honest, I always took a much greater interest in the multiplayer portion of Dark Messiah rather than its single player brethren. Developed by Kuju Entertainment, the company responsible for helping develop the EyeToy games for the PS2, the multiplayer mode for Call of Duty: Finest Hour, and Battalion Wars for the Nintendo Gamecube, the multiplayer mode of Dark Messiah encompasses a To be honest, I always took a much greater interest in the multiplayer portion of Dark Messiah rather than its single player brethren. Developed by Kuju Entertainment, the company responsible for helping develop the EyeToy games for the PS2, the multiplayer mode for Call of Duty: Finest Hour, and Battalion Wars for the Nintendo Gamecube, the multiplayer mode of Dark Messiah encompasses a unique style of gameplay in a fantasy setting. The game splits between 2 factions, the Humans and the Undead. Each faction allows 5 playable classes, the Assassin, the Priestess, the Mage, the Archer, and the Warrior. The only difference between the Humans and the Undead is their physical appearance; otherwise, they are essentially the same. Now the question is, how does the multiplayer stack up? Pretty nicely, and I won… Expand
  6. LoveActually
    Dec 5, 2006
    10
    WONDERFUL game. With a good computer you can run it on the best graphic etc, and its amazing. Visual effects, story, landscape ++! LOVE IT
  7. BellinoP.
    Oct 28, 2006
    10
    The professional Reviewers that gave this game a low score must be paid off by someone or out of their minds. This is one of the best games I have ever played Period.
  8. YermakirumY.
    Oct 31, 2006
    10
    Very good game.
  9. NickD.
    Nov 14, 2007
    10
    It's so amazing. It needs a beast of a computer to run. I couldn't play it on my old rig, and I just buillt a new one and playing this game was one of the many things I was looking forward to. The movements the character reactions to the environment. This game doesn't get the credit it deserves.
  10. DominicH.
    Nov 16, 2007
    10
    This game is brilliant. Amazing modification of the Source physics engine, especially in combat!
  11. JelkeA.
    Nov 4, 2007
    9
    Lots of bugs have to do a lot of stuff to get it running. When it does run its cool, fun, and addictive. Interesting story elements in action and gameplay make it all worth your trouble and make everything work out.
  12. BouuobT.
    Nov 5, 2007
    10
    A really deep game with many elements of gameplay that havent been brought out by any other game. A must play rpg for any fan or rpg.
  13. AlexanderG.
    Jan 15, 2007
    9
    I Really enjoyed the game alot. But there were many bugs and I thought my computer was going to explode! talk about glitch. The single player was great but was fairly short. But besides all that I could not stop playing. I went through the game 8 times and it was different every time. But my computer crashed alot and was very disapointing. But I got to admit that chopping an orcs head off I Really enjoyed the game alot. But there were many bugs and I thought my computer was going to explode! talk about glitch. The single player was great but was fairly short. But besides all that I could not stop playing. I went through the game 8 times and it was different every time. But my computer crashed alot and was very disapointing. But I got to admit that chopping an orcs head off is alot of fun. I would gladly hand over my 50 bucks for this game.… Expand
  14. AndyB.
    Jan 16, 2007
    8
    I really enjoyed this game and I am an old school Quake 1 player. I loved Morrowwind and was hoping Oblivion would top it but didn't. I was very surprised that in my opinion Dark Messiah added the little things I wanted to see in Oblivion and more. Very enjoyable game.
  15. JosephR.
    Oct 18, 2007
    10
    This was one of the best FPS RPG game that I ever played.
  16. JoshS.
    Jan 21, 2007
    10
    This game is just plain awesome. Although I haven't been a faithful follower of the game series (my last was Might and Magic VII), I'm hooked now. This game, especially on new computers with decent 512MB graphics cards, has spectacular graphics, awesome fight scenes, and replayability galore. Killing orcs on spikes or random enemies with traps is priceless, and the magic spells This game is just plain awesome. Although I haven't been a faithful follower of the game series (my last was Might and Magic VII), I'm hooked now. This game, especially on new computers with decent 512MB graphics cards, has spectacular graphics, awesome fight scenes, and replayability galore. Killing orcs on spikes or random enemies with traps is priceless, and the magic spells are amazingly cool to cast (fireballs especially, as you can home them in with your mouse). Multiplayer is simply to appease the Steam users, but also incredibly fun and I definitely recommend it to anyone who loves other Steam games. Crusade and Deathmatch are always fun, and the players are usually very friendly to n00bs (I recommend playing single-player before playing multiplayer, however, or you will be PWNED). All in all, I can't give this game any less than a ten. I compare the sensation of playing it to such greats as Counter Strike and Halo, and this game is destined for greatness despite the poor ratings from some critics.… Expand
  17. Atech66
    Jan 31, 2007
    10
    This game is a blast. I'm running a Geforce 6600 256 and a 1 Gig board with a 2Ghz processor and haven't had any problems at all finished it once I must be missing the glitches. Starting again to really see everything. Awesome game.
  18. MatthewA.
    Jan 31, 2007
    9
    The visuals were perfect - if you've played Heroes of Might and Magic V, you'll feel right at home; Ubisoft was smart enough to make sure the devs copied the artistic style of the cities in Heroes to make the architecture in Dark Messiah. The melee combat system really is the best I've seen in a CRPG - and I've played just about every first- and third-person fantasy The visuals were perfect - if you've played Heroes of Might and Magic V, you'll feel right at home; Ubisoft was smart enough to make sure the devs copied the artistic style of the cities in Heroes to make the architecture in Dark Messiah. The melee combat system really is the best I've seen in a CRPG - and I've played just about every first- and third-person fantasy game released since 1994. No joke. My only complaint about the melee system are that it seemed that it was very hard to aim certain power attacks. Well, I also felt cheated on the weapons: the flame-sword doesn't look anything like the one on the box, there's only one axe and it sucks, and the backstab animation got old, fast. The voice-acting for several characters is needlessly melodramatic, like a 14-year-old goth kid playing Dungeon Master for the first time. In a similar vein, the storyline felt very contrived, but then I replayed Heroes of Might and Magic - without skipping all the cutscenes this time - and that served to fill in some of the gaps. The only remaining problem with the plot is the relative linearity of it - there's little to no replayability here, since, aside from varying your style from melee to archery, or spells to stealth, every time through is going to be more or less the same. I bought the game in December, after the first patch or two was out, and didn't experience any problems with crashes. AMD 3600XP, RADEON 9800SE, NForce3 chipset mainboard, 2GB RAM. All told, the game only really loses points for the plot. You only really get to make two "character development" choices in the game, over which girl to take and whether or not to unleash the demon hordes, and the choices really only manifest at the very end, so there's essentially no reward for either one.… Expand
  19. BertrandP.
    Feb 12, 2007
    9
    Excellent game, a mix of FPS and RPG, the result is really great.
  20. JoeS.
    Feb 22, 2007
    10
    It is like a sword fighting better graphic version of half life two, my all time favorite game. The ways of killing people are great and vast, plus the online multi player is pretty good.
  21. Raoul
    Feb 27, 2007
    8
    Great game, if you've got the rig to pull this hog of a game. No crashes so far, top notch railride action superlight rpg/fps.
  22. MarvinC.
    Apr 11, 2007
    9
    I just have begun my quest into the world of Dark Messiah. So far its wonderful no complaints not as detailed as Oblivion but its beautiful in its own rights do your self a favor Check it out Now!
  23. JoshuaB.
    May 13, 2007
    8
    Good game! Incredible fight system good graphics. Long load times and game play interruptions are the only flaws I've noticed so far.
  24. RobV.B.
    May 26, 2007
    9
    A very good and intriguing game with a fascinating storyline. The combat system is one of the best I've seen, although it has some flaws (mainly the instant kill feature). Multiple endings, hot chicks, decapitating goblins and orcs. It's going to keep you occupied for quite some time.
  25. JamesK.
    May 27, 2007
    10
    Excellent game. With the patches, the single player is incredibly stable and smooth. The combat is the best of its kind, easily. The graphics are great, the sound and music are decent (with the exception of the final boss theme, which is worth listening to on its own). The dialog can be compared to that of Star Fox 64: ranges from cheesy to memorable, with many lines being exceptionally Excellent game. With the patches, the single player is incredibly stable and smooth. The combat is the best of its kind, easily. The graphics are great, the sound and music are decent (with the exception of the final boss theme, which is worth listening to on its own). The dialog can be compared to that of Star Fox 64: ranges from cheesy to memorable, with many lines being exceptionally reusable. The best part of the game is, because different skills and playing styles yield different experiences (not to mention self-imposed limits, such as unbinding the kick key or never using the heal spell), the single player is very replayable despite being the same thing; Dark Messiah is a game where there is no shortage of ways to kill an enemy, and a great many of ways to go through a level. I've personally played through the game thrice. However, one should play through this game to have fun and enjoy the gameplay rather than to complete it, as the latter will yield a poor experience. The multiplayer, however, is nothing special. It is buggy, slow, and unbalanced. Nevertheless, it still can be great fun, especialyl in Capture the Flag mode.… Expand
  26. FelixJäger
    Jun 21, 2007
    10
    The first thing that I liked was the 1st person sword fighting which actually is good, unlike Oblivions fucked up system. The 2nd thing was the gore that made me keep on playing. I still laugh out loud when I behead a guard and throw his body onto another enemy making him fall and then execute him on the ground. Or just burning them to death. Or kicking them off cliffs and into spikes.The first thing that I liked was the 1st person sword fighting which actually is good, unlike Oblivions fucked up system. The 2nd thing was the gore that made me keep on playing. I still laugh out loud when I behead a guard and throw his body onto another enemy making him fall and then execute him on the ground. Or just burning them to death. Or kicking them off cliffs and into spikes.
    Oh, and the game neither crashed nor have I experienced one singel bug. I don't know what everyone is whining about...:)
    I'v beaten the game six times now in the past five days, 3xwarrior, 2xassassian, 1xmage (<-- mage to hard in endgame in my opinion)    … Expand
  27. walleteater
    Jun 26, 2007
    10
    This game has a really fun combat system, and like to take advantage of the steam physics... There is a stealth element, a fun magic element, and a great warrior combat element. The game Is story driven, true, but when you do fight it is great. Soon SDK will be released and you can expect some great mods. And i think that all those people with crappy computers should stop trash talking This game has a really fun combat system, and like to take advantage of the steam physics... There is a stealth element, a fun magic element, and a great warrior combat element. The game Is story driven, true, but when you do fight it is great. Soon SDK will be released and you can expect some great mods. And i think that all those people with crappy computers should stop trash talking the game, because oblivion can't hold a torch up to any of its elements, and the only thing oblivion wins in is freeroam. And most crashes are a result of shitty graphics cards and low amounts of ram. I bought the game the day it came out and had no bugs whatsoever!… Expand
  28. ElliotH.
    Jul 11, 2007
    10
    Amazing game. Never seen anything like it!. Although the graphics are exceptional you are able to do so many other things that other games would not let you. 10/10!
  29. RojinPC
    Jul 17, 2007
    9
    Excellent game. Too many bad reviews by magazines or companies, when reading the reviews i was scared to purchase it. Now that i have finished it i feel completely satisfied with my purchase. The game is in such a beautiful realm. The story is the only complaint i have. The cutscenes are short particularly for the endings (which are almost identicle) had they been as creative with the end Excellent game. Too many bad reviews by magazines or companies, when reading the reviews i was scared to purchase it. Now that i have finished it i feel completely satisfied with my purchase. The game is in such a beautiful realm. The story is the only complaint i have. The cutscenes are short particularly for the endings (which are almost identicle) had they been as creative with the end as they had with everything else in the game i would have given it a 10. The combat system of this game is the most beautiful thing i have ever encountered in my entire life of playing video games. The action is more intense than Halflife 2 being up close and very personal. Unlike common FP-RPGs running up and hacking at an enemy... will get you killed. While weilding weak and mundane weaponry... you must think of innovative and strategic combat constantly. Kicking your enemy onto spikes or into a pillar to collapse some crates on top of him are some good examples. Assassination strikes, and headshots with the bow are also more examples. one of my favorite techniques is to use the bow and set the arrow on fire and launch it at humans or spiders... it instantly kills them.… Expand
  30. FrederikB.
    Jan 21, 2008
    10
    Such a gooood game I could play it all day long the only thing that is very bad is that the German version is so damn cutted but thats the only bad thing.
  31. NICKA.
    Feb 18, 2008
    10
    Im not a big fan of rpg, but im a huge fan of action genre. i bought this, knowing it was both, and I'm so happy it focused on action. I think the RPG elements work well into it in fact, and are pretty good. The many ways to kill enemies are great, and the only parts where i have complaints are, the zombie are tough enough without venom breath. Also the parts with spider...just arent Im not a big fan of rpg, but im a huge fan of action genre. i bought this, knowing it was both, and I'm so happy it focused on action. I think the RPG elements work well into it in fact, and are pretty good. The many ways to kill enemies are great, and the only parts where i have complaints are, the zombie are tough enough without venom breath. Also the parts with spider...just arent fun, they are really annoying, so im just trying to say venom is too powerful in the game. Everything else, i mean everything is great, the games got tons of cinimatic moments.… Expand
  32. JesseK.
    Feb 26, 2008
    10
    Dark Messiah is one of the best first person games I have ever played I love the online play and the cool traps you can set-off.
  33. JackH.
    Mar 21, 2008
    10
    it dont get what all of you are talking about my computer is 2 years old and i can run it fine. anyway i think its a fantastic game with great graphics (to lower the amount of lag just turn down anistropic to the lowest)
  34. KillianG.
    Apr 23, 2008
    8
    The game could be a tad more generous in doling out Skill Point rewards, to balance out combat. I'm a little disappointed at the lack of baddie variety.
  35. PeteM.
    Jun 14, 2008
    9
    The game is brilliant, although the end was so fast, I was just expecting a little longer gameplay towards the end, I almost began thinking if I missed something. The graphics are OK, no Crysis, but what would you expect from a game that has been released for a while already. Gameplay is always above Graphics for me. Although I hear loads of complains about bugs, the retail copy did not The game is brilliant, although the end was so fast, I was just expecting a little longer gameplay towards the end, I almost began thinking if I missed something. The graphics are OK, no Crysis, but what would you expect from a game that has been released for a while already. Gameplay is always above Graphics for me. Although I hear loads of complains about bugs, the retail copy did not contain any bugs to me. I bought it the first day it was released, so I have the same game everyone calls buggy. The Sounds were nice, sometimes a little jumpy... But good non the less. The Story was nothing epic, but it did keep me playing, something most games can't do. I ditched Crysis after 2 minutes, and the same happens to most games. Overall, I rate the game 9. Its Good, but its ending is way to sudden.… Expand
  36. JonasK.
    Jun 15, 2008
    10
    This game is just great its the perfect game! The gameplay, the kick, the spells. Everything its just great!
  37. DuncanR
    Jun 17, 2008
    8
    I love this game for Its unique, Direct action. You just get Trown in to the action. The story was quite... well ..... Meh. thats it: Meh. The Multiplayer Was a tad unbalanced, but once you know the weaknesses of each class (wich arent that obvious) The multiplayer is fine. I want to give it a 10, but i just cant. The stoy, the complete uselessnes of the bow..... so..... AN 8!
  38. AndrewM
    Jun 28, 2008
    9
    I really did like this game. You can figure out where the story is going before the second level is over. There are a few minor bugs. Overall though it was a great game. The combat is fun. The levels are well made. The slight RPG elements make it worth more. The multiplayer is rather meh until you get used to it in which case it can be fun. I recommend this game highly, and even a I really did like this game. You can figure out where the story is going before the second level is over. There are a few minor bugs. Overall though it was a great game. The combat is fun. The levels are well made. The slight RPG elements make it worth more. The multiplayer is rather meh until you get used to it in which case it can be fun. I recommend this game highly, and even a hardcore fps fan can enjoy this one.… Expand
  39. El_BertotheMexican
    Nov 12, 2009
    10
    Excelent game! Great firstperson hack & slash now that the bugs have been taken out. But Hexen 3 as title is more fitting ;)
  40. NeilG
    Nov 9, 2009
    9
    This must be one of the most underrated games ever. I loved it and hope against hope that there will be a sequel. Yes it's buggy and has a slightly not-quite-finished feel to it, but get the patch and enjoy the fast, fluid combat action. There are so many possible ways to bump off your enemies in this game that I just keep coming back to it. Ok, it's a little contrived in places This must be one of the most underrated games ever. I loved it and hope against hope that there will be a sequel. Yes it's buggy and has a slightly not-quite-finished feel to it, but get the patch and enjoy the fast, fluid combat action. There are so many possible ways to bump off your enemies in this game that I just keep coming back to it. Ok, it's a little contrived in places - a spiky railing to kick your foe onto, or a precariously positioned set of barrels to crush him under is never far away. But what the hell? Suspend your disbelief and you'll get hours of funny from the sheer range of ways to kill people. The different plotline decisions keep things interesting too. I bought this game for 97p in a post-Christmas sale. And it was the best 97p I ever spent.… Expand
  41. JohnS
    Dec 4, 2009
    10
    Great SIngleplayer, very solid and balanced Multiplayer. Amazing game!
  42. dbonedbone
    Dec 8, 2009
    10
    One of the best games i have ever played, i dont understand why some people rate it so low. I just hope they make a nr 2.
  43. PhillipB.
    Nov 13, 2006
    9
    This game rocks, although intensly violent it is one of the only games that will get your adrenalin pumping and your hands tingling with excitement. Get the demo from "Steam" now and see for yourself what its all about!
  44. AaronR.
    Nov 13, 2006
    10
    This is an unreal game, flawless plot line, Source engine rules, and the gameplay is outta this world.
  45. HaploP.
    Nov 21, 2006
    9
    Very fun game - sucks you in - played it through 5 times and always found a little something I missed.
  46. JasonMelvin
    Nov 22, 2006
    9
    Other than a new huge bug I have just discovered while playing in the 7th (I think, may be 6th) chapter, that is now preventing me from playing until something gets fixed by someone (Toshiba has to release drivers for my GeForce Go 7900 GS so I can't try the BETA nVidia drivers) , this game absolutely rocks!!! I haven't had this much fun with this type of game since StonekeepOther than a new huge bug I have just discovered while playing in the 7th (I think, may be 6th) chapter, that is now preventing me from playing until something gets fixed by someone (Toshiba has to release drivers for my GeForce Go 7900 GS so I can't try the BETA nVidia drivers) , this game absolutely rocks!!! I haven't had this much fun with this type of game since Stonekeep was released years ago...… Expand
  47. ThomasG.
    Nov 24, 2006
    10
    This game has astounding graphics and has the best role-playing system i have ever seen - it almost reminds me of oblivion. I hope many people find their way to this game because it not only captivates it's players in a real world, but also does it with a really nice combat system.
  48. JamesH.
    Nov 26, 2006
    8
    This game took me awhile to get used to, but after realizing that was a Hexen or Heretic clone with MUCH better graphics, the game was actually fun. Could use a bit more work on the storyline, voice-acting, and puzzles (hence the 8).
  49. TessaiA.
    Dec 11, 2006
    10
    es un juego k para lo k e visto le pongo un 10 el doblaje al español el control del jugador los graficos esta francamente bien.
  50. HONDDRONK
    Dec 27, 2006
    10
    This is a great game! The game play and strory-line is awesome! But the best of all is the fighting, blood and slow-motion critical hits..... Overall I think this is a must have!
  51. SamM.
    Nov 13, 2007
    9
    Brilliant single player game, story line is very impressive. the only thing that lets this game down is that it does not have a decent multiplayer experience. but let that take nothing away from the single player its breathtaking at worst.
  52. KrisS.
    Dec 14, 2007
    9
    Fantasy FPS, rare, fun.
  53. DanielP
    Dec 13, 2009
    10
    Goodest game i everplayed kick people and headshot them with bows .the best part before you meet the power wizard the map before you sail to skull island. theres was a wall with a hole in i shoted on guard and the other guard where just staring in to the wall
  54. JaapL
    Dec 17, 2009
    10
    One of the best singleplayer games I played, despite the game being released to early. The close combat system is, once you get the hang of it, simply amazing. I still play it, which I can't say about most games that are as old as this one.
  55. iddqd4
    Jan 22, 2018
    8
    Качественно реализованное сражение и каст магии от первого лица, в жанре экшен. Тысяча способов убийства орков и не только. Отличная задумка, и хорошее исполнение.
  56. greenbeard
    Apr 1, 2023
    10
    Please remake. Play this game in 2006 and again 2 more times. 10/10 for 2006 standards.
  57. night4
    Feb 18, 2018
    8
    This game is a little short, but dayumn is it FUN. Which is what really matters, right?

    Considering you can get it for a very reasonable price now, I'd say "why not give it a shot?"
  58. MatikTheSeventh
    Oct 10, 2020
    8
    The game is essentially a medieval Half Life 2. There's a ton of physics experiments, and the combat feels great for a PC game. Graphics may be a little dated now, but it's still a great gaming experience.
  59. hileger
    Dec 3, 2022
    8
    блять обожаю эту игру ,Arkane Studios столько лет классно делает игры а вы пидоры не цените дальше аебашьте в соевую фифу и колду
  60. Nick7000
    Mar 9, 2023
    9
    Это прям секс, а не игра. Великолепная работа, проделанная в те времена, когда Юбисофт еще понимали, что делают. Не перестану ей восхищаться.
  61. KolesAdlerov
    Dec 3, 2022
    9
    A Thief-inspired M&M sandbox with legs and kicks! Must play!

    Gameplay:
    combat mechanics 10/10
    stealth (with powers) 8/10
    atmosphere (House of Ashes and some of crypts only) 7/10
    Gameplay as RPG & im.sim: 8/10

    Story 6/10

    Graphics [best first-person ever made] 9/10

    Sounds & music 7/10
    [good RU localization]

    .
    The second best gameplay on Source after Black-Mesa.
  62. The_D4RknesS
    Apr 26, 2023
    8
    I only give this game an 8 because of the loading that takes a long time If it wasn't 10, other than that the game has great combat and physics of the environments, and for nothing it was produced in the same engine as half life 2
  63. DarkRebo
    Feb 6, 2023
    9
    It's 2023, I played this game for the first time, it's just great, I couldn't tear myself away from the screen. It's way better than those new games.
  64. LT_Gruber
    Jan 10, 2023
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Very hard but amazing game with a lot of realism.

    Dark Messiah of Might and Magic is a unique experience. It shares story and characters from the Heroes of Might and Magic series but is a completely standalone game with a surprisingly good story, solid mechanics and an unforgiving difficulty.

    In Dark Messiah of Might and Magic, you are an apprentice called Sarteh, trained by a master magician named Phenrig, trained in the arts of combat and magic. You complete your training and need to go to an expedition to the city of Stonehelm. Your master plants a spirit inside your head named Xana, who guides you on your travels.

    You need to search for the Skull of Shadows, an artifact that your master Phenrig and his buddy Menelag, lord of Stonhelm want you find. You eventually meet Leanna, a chick that helps you on your journey.

    You learn that Xana is actually a demon that possesses you and besides finding and destroying Arantir, you need to banish her from your system, what you eventually do. Then you take the fight to Arantir, getting hindered by Orcs, Goblins and a Pao Kai in the process. You dispose of the Orc war chief and start your battle with Arantir. After defeating him, you decide the final fate of the Skull of Shadows, spawning one of the four different endings the game offers.

    You can earn skill points in combat to improve your skill tree. There is no bound class for you to master so you are free to spend your points however you want. However, you need to think about the feats and skills you want to master because “a little bit of everything” is not going to work out for this game.

    For the time, I thought (and still think) that Dark Messiah of Might and Magic is one of the best-looking games out there. I was stunned by its realistic graphics, its animations, the view bobbing of the main characters, the fact that you could see your own feet and limbs and the incredible detail of the environments. Even today, this game looks like it is just four years old or something, but it is actually almost thirteen years. The enemies look horrifying and very detailed, and the overall tint is colorful but very grim at the same time. A unique combination.

    The music has that typical Heroes of Might and Magic vibe and never fails to impress when in combat, running away from hordes of zombies or when fighting epic bosses. The sound effects are solid, and this is one of the games in my personal top ten when it comes to sound. The *kling* sound of the swords, the impact of your kicks, the footsteps, the magic attacks, the sounds and speech of enemies, it is all just perfect.

    The controls work fine but because of the realism this game offers in movement and platforming, it can be a little stiff and clunky sometimes. Jumps need to be perfect, and your range is limited. It takes some time to master but when you do, it could just as well be a VR game.

    The combat mechanics and style of fighting in Dark Messiah of Might and Magic is also really unique and still one of the most realistic feeling out there. You can block, dodge, kick and really need to get control of the situation. Mainly because of the outstanding AI that enemies use, in which they can outsmart you easily, drive you into a corner or simply land a hit on you before you got time to figure out what they are going to do. You can also interact with the environment, kicking enemies in spikes for example or smashing them off ledges. It feels so epic and satisfying when you nail an Orc to the spike wall behind him and overall, I think it is perfection. The enemies are almost human players in their actions and behavior and to this day, I believe it is one of the best and most realistic combat experiences I have ever played.

    The realism in combat, movement and platforming makes this game also really, really hard. The whole game has a vibe of danger, helplessness and caution over it. You cannot rush towards your goal and hope for the best, every step can be a trap, an enemy lurking around the corner or a jump that you need to plan carefully. I also thought this game had a very grim atmosphere. Your character Sareth is really cautious and overall, not that positive about the events around him and because this is one of the few games that let you bond automatically with the fate of the main character, you can feel his questions and cautious behavior too. It is a little hard to explain.

    In conclusion, I thought Dark Messiah of Might and Magic was an amazing game that came out of the blue and it still a unique specimen in the Might and Magic series and games in general. It is hard as the seventh layer of hell but well worth it in the end.

    Definitely recommend this awesome game.    … Expand
  65. farrrullll
    Jan 27, 2023
    8
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Awards & Rankings

91
#91 Best PC Game of 2006
4
#4 Most Discussed PC Game of 2006
17
#17 Most Shared PC Game of 2006

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
72

Mixed or average reviews - based on 44 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 21 out of 44
  2. Mixed: 21 out of 44
  3. Negative: 2 out of 44
  1. PC Gamer UK
    88
    There's really nothing that can match Dark Messiah's combat. The mixture of weaponry and convincingly cause-and-effect physics really does take first-person fighting to new places. [Nov 2006, p.62]
  2. PC Zone UK
    84
    If the game suffers, it's from over-explanation, the occasional lapse in the combat, and the repetitive nature of the environmental weaponry. But I was kept entertained all the way through, and I've never felt so directy responsible for chopping off a goblin's arm. [Dec 2006, p.70]
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  3. PC Format
    88
    An outstanding experience. It manages to create a constant sense of threat, includes some stunning set-pieces, and introduces a cast of breathtaking beasts, all within a combat system that is one of the most versatile and violent we have ever seen. [Dec 2006, p.98]
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