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Dark Messiah of Might & Magic

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8.7 User Score:

Mixed or average reviews

Based on 44 critic reviews
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Based on 723 votes
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Game Info

Publisher: Ubisoft

Developer: Arkane Studios

Genre(s): Action, First-Person Shooter

Players: 32

ESRB Rating: M (Mature)

Release Date: October 24, 2006

Summary

Dark Messiah of Might & Magic puts players in a first-person perspective, allowing them to immerse themselves in the legendary Might and Magic universe as never before. It is also the world's first fantasy action game to feature a complete first-person combat system. It takes full advantage of the Source Engine's exceptional technological enhancements in areas such as character animation, advanced AI, real-world physics and shader-based rendering. [Ubisoft]

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What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

Game Informer

The core first-person melee combat is incredibly solid and the exploration, storytelling, and character growth are integrated brilliantly to create a unique and compelling experience.

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Pelit (Finland)

Truly a great fantasy adventure! Lose or modify the healing spell, then the difficulty level would be right. [Dec 2006, p.82]

PC Format

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]

PC Gamer UK

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]

Worth Playing

Not a run-of-the-mill RPG, if it is an RPG at all! It is a graphically glorious, murderously marvelous first-person fantasy action game that no self-respecting FPS fan should overlook.

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Play Magazine

While a bit unbalanced in its current incarnation, the MP Crusade mode is a nice bonus that should improve over time. [Dec. 2006, p.100]

Gamers Europe

Everything about Dark Messiah oozes quality and there are multitudes of ways around every obstacle.

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PC Zone UK

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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GamerNode

Dark Messiah is a prime choice for action lovers, but keep in mind the little letdowns and possible performance issues before you put down the cash to buy it.

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GameTrailers

Toss in a multiplayer mode that’s basically "Unreal Tournament" for fantasy fans.

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Computer Games Online RO

The game will probably be patched in the future, but for now, you will have to prey to the dragons of Ashan each time a multiplayer map is loading and why not, when playing. Thumbs up for Arkane, thumbs down for Kuju!

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games(TM)

Dark Messiah has the uncanny ability to tap into the primeval bloodlust of anyone that devotes more than a few minutes to it. A resounding success. [Dec 2006, p.102]

Games Radar (in-house)

The only real beef we have is that the XP system means it's never long before a few veteran players have pumped up their characters and become virtually untouchable, clubbing everyone else like baby seals. But it's empowering if you're one of the vets, to be sure.

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Eurogamer

You won't remember Dark Messiah's busty-woman character guide, but you will remember the sheer joy of mutilating the orcish, undead and assorted monstrous hordes in a variety of imaginative ways. When mass slaughter is as imaginative as this, it can't help but be memorable.

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PALGN

A superb game, but not without its problems. There are a few unfinished graphical holes, the length of the game is a tad disappointing and the multiplayer isn’t quite attractive – especially with those dreadful load times.

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GameDaily

Think of it as a combination of "Deus Ex" and "Half-Life 2," wrapped within a fantasy feast for the eyes.

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Four Fat Chicks

Arkane's previous offering, Arx Fatalis, shares many general similarities but lacks Dark Messiah's energetic, if somewhat ill-fated, attempts to bring physics, stealth and a variety of combat options into the mix of a game that may not live up to all of its potential but still delivers the goods where they count.

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AtomicGamer

Between the bugs and lack of originality during the single player campaign, Dark Messiah is a great idea for a game that was executed only somewhat well.

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Games Master UK

Not quite an epic but still a grand adventure with character, impact, and kickable heads. [Christmas 2006, p.76]

Gamer 2.0

Action fans will revel in as much recycled intensity as they can squeeze out, and it’s for them that Arkane Studios built Dark Messiah.

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GamingExcellence

The addition of the physics adds some depth to the combat, and the multiplayer gives a reason to play after the story has been played. A flawed game, but a very decent one nonetheless.

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Game Chronicles

Dark Messiah of Might and Magic can either be an incredible fantasy romp, or a grueling, dissatisfying venture depending on what you’re expecting.

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GameCritics

While it doesn't pull off everything perfectly, it injects enough originality into a familiar framework to make it one of the more enjoyable releases since the release of its more auspicious Source engine cousin.

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VideoGamer

There's no denying that Dark Messiah has a certain bloody charm, with battles against numerous enemies being both challenging and rather gory. By the end though, things do become a little repetitive, and this prevents the game from being anything truly special.

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IGN

Though the first-person combat isn't as precise as it could be, this one's still a good choice for some online magic blasting fun. Just don't expect a memorable story or characters if you're more interested in the single player content.

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Yahoo! Games

Dark Messiah gets points for being unique among shooters, but it loses points for not being unique enough. It's the same old dungeons, the same generic monsters, and some uninspired gameplay that doesn't make for a very memorable game.

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Edge Magazine

Sareth’s adventure does tire, however, during later moments when the game leaves you with neither an objective nor waypoint, but instead an arduous hunt for the next NPC trigger or gateway. [Christmas 2006, p.84]

GameZone

Dark Messiah feels like a missed opportunity, with some huge ideas but a definite lack of polish.

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Sydney Morning Herald

Far from perfect but Dark Messiah has entertaining fantasy action. Dispatching foes in imaginative ways is the highlight.

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Jolt Online Gaming UK

Like an angry Orc, Dark Messiah of Might & Magic feels unbalanced, with all of the focus going into the melee action and everything else feeling a little forlorn and unloved.

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ActionTrip

It's painfully obvious that the Half-Life 2 engine caused many problems, which weren't ironed out in time by the programming team. Consequently, players with modest rigs won't be able to experience the game in its true visual potential.

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GameSpot

Dark Messiah wraps a dull story around repetitive combat. It's not a bad game, but its technical glitches really bring it down.

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Gamer's Hell

A let down; not a terrible game, but disappointingly short of its potential.

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WHAM! Gaming

Easy to get and get into, with a slick engine (and only a few nitpicky problems) but clearly lacking a really creative story team.

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Gamers' Temple

With more action and more engaging levels and storyline, Dark Messiah may have been a great game. As it stands though, it feels like a demo in search of a full game or a game brought to market a year before its time.

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GamePro

A broken game - which is a shame, because with a bit more effort it could have been something rather intriguing. It takes some significant gameplay risks and attempts innovation in both its single player and multiplayer modes.

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Game Over Online

Short of rewriting the entire story and redrawing the whole dungeon, the single player isn’t going to get any better. I do genuinely hope that this combat system appears in some future, hopefully better, game.

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Boomtown

When I previewed the game in September it oozed potential greatness, but somewhere along the line Arkane and Ubisoft have lost their way and we're left with what I can only deem as half a game.

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Computer Games Magazine

It's so schizophrenic that it almost feels as if two developers of wildly different skill levels worked on the game at the same time, and everything was sort of thrown together at the last second. [Feb. 2007, p.72]

GameSpy

It's hard to deny that the game has some immensely enjoyable moments. It's just too bad that they're too often surrounded by so much clutter.

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AceGamez

I am very disappointed with Dark Messiah Might and Magic, yet I will leave it installed on my system for some time. It is a deeply flawed game and one of the worst launches in recent history - certainly the worst Steam launch to date. Yet it is a blast; the visual effects and combat system and, yes, kicking Orcs off ledges and ghouls into spikes are all a lot of fun, if not particularly satisfying beyond the short term.

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Just Adventure

The game has bugs, so drag out the bug spray.

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PC Gamer

But it's the game's many bugs and glitches, not mere repetition, which sap Dark Messiah's might and magic. [Feb. 2007, p.77]

1UP

It's quickly clear that Dark Messiah is a "Half-Life 2"-style rail ride, but with "Deus Ex"-style character development.

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What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this game is 8.7 (out of 10) based on 723 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

sean h gave it a1:
Pros the 1 is for the game it was ok............cons for 1 ice daggers glitched all the equipment to dissapear.pros I liked the daggers b/c it cause the enemy to shatter as i kicked them cons at the fire level just as i was trying about 10 times. every time i touch anything that is wood or if i make a jumping noise the game loops, but wait its gets better i have my memory at the right volts and i gb graphics card etc and no glitches through out the game. but for some reason i get to the spot to where i need to get past a house b/c there is no other way but through that house so i cant beat the game. i f i touch the wood floor i nthe house i t freezes i can hang on the ropes all day swing from one to the other but when i hear a jumping noise in the floor it freezes.

Christain S gave it a10:
Wow, the Combat-System of this game is so fantastic ;) I think the lower Metascore is a result of the Multiplayer-Part, perhaps it would be better if there would be 2 scores for SP and MP ! Then I would give 10 for SP and 8 for MP. I give 10 because DMOMM is one of my best Games I have ever played!

Levi J gave it a10:
There's only 2 reasons in my mind that could give this game a low score. 1) The expectations for this game were far too high, and when people got the game, it of course didn't meet those crazy high expectations. (Movies and games alike that have incredibly high hype pre-release both suffer from this disease. Hype can get so overblown that it becomes impossible to meet the expectation.) and 2) If the system they were using was not compatible for some reason with the game. I did not experience either of these dilemmas, and as a game, Dark Messiah is flat out awesome. I'm actually on my second play through, and for me, it's right up there with Bioshock. The multiplayer isn't that great from what I've tried, but this is a single player masterpiece.

Brian R gave it a2:
While pretty enough for a first person shooter, the game is disconnected from the Might and Magic experience. There is no real exploration, no side quests, no real 'Might and Magic' to the game. Instead, it feels like an extremely linear fantasy FPS. As a game itself, it's passable. As a Might and Magic game, it's a horrid failure. Might and Magic used to be about large expanses (for their time) of world to explore, of dungeon crawls and leveling up. You could say that the Might and Magic games were a basic precursor to what would eventually become the MMO-style RPG. Dark Messiah had none of those elements. Instead, it traded in the expansive world for a long series of bland hallways. It traded in the unique Might and Magic plot for an old rehash of stock fantasy nonsense. And it traded in the actual RPG istself for a fantasy Halo experience.

Paul M gave it a10:
This game is amazing. The storyline is fulfilling and addictive to the last moment. I couldn't get enough of the combat. There's multiple ways to execute people just by moving a slightly different way. Dark Messiah definitely has the best graphics of any game made in 2006, and I can play the multiplayer all night long. The gore in the game was at a perfect level; there wasn't too much, but it wasn't like playing a child's game. I highly recommend you add this game to your collection.

W@M Solo gave it a10:
Ok, so given there is fallout 3 etc now on the market, why give this game a 10? Because the Metascore is just plain wrong. In effect you are getting 2 games for the price of one, and at its bargain price , this is a game no one should not have who enjoys frentic 16 v 16 multiplayer in a oldstyle combat system ( ie : no guns ) The single player story line hooks you in and is a nice mix of levels followed by story cutscenes, my one negative is, its too easy to complete. I've now played it 3 times trough, just to try out the cominations of powers you purchase as you level up and this is over a year after buying it, I'm back playing the single plyr again. But in truth, the Multiplayer game, which unfortunately cant be metascored, is where this game shines. With a few good clans out there who let you play on their servers for free, and much banter over the in game text or voice, this is a social experience as well as a game. So any ET / Halo / Unreal 3 / bf2142 , etc, player, looking for a change, you'd do well to try this. "For Stonehelm ... CHARGE !!!!"

Andrew gave it a5:
I gave it the score of a 5 because of two primary reasons: 1.) Yes, I did manage to play through and beat the game on my friend's computer. I was amazed, It's absolutely beautiful. The gameplay is unique, however frustrating at first but that's most new HUD styles.The Kick ability was so much fun I couldn't contain myself. Especially right at the beginning when you can kick the Stonehelm guard out the window as he looks down through it. XD Then the story was a bit farfetched but I tend to not notice that until after the game is finished. Voice acting was awesome. Everything was nearly flawless. I swear, I had to get this game for myself... That's where the problem came in and I'm still dealing with it as of now. 2.) I thankfully paid only $7.99 for the game off steam and I was surprised to see it so low. I kept thinking, "What a great bargain for a good game." Only to have to find out that it's a 6.7 gigabite game file and I have a 256k DSL connection... In short, I waited for nearly eleven hours before it finished. I went ahead and restarted the computer just to make sure that it got the updates needed and such and to let my computer allow it access to the internet and all. Well upon starting up, the main UBISOFT logo opening locked up and started to lag majorly, like it was being run off a 1 ghz processor. Here's my setup: 3.0 ghz HT Processor (Intel) 3.25 gigs of ram (4 really but it doesn utilize all of it) 256 mb Nvidia Geforce 7300 GT with latest drivers It didn't run with that. Now I can run Supreme Commander on medium and it plays somewhat smoothly. There's something seriously wrong with the game, Dark Messiah M&M, itself, whether it be the latest update or the coding of the game in general, UBISOFT has officially gone on my "stay away from" list.

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Dark Messiah of Might & Magic

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