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Comparing Fun Factor: FE Beta 3 vs. MoM

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Comparing Fun Factor: FE Beta 3 vs. MoM

from Elemental Forums

Just recently re-installed MoM (the 1994 one) via GOG. I haven't played that in a decade, and I am surprised at how fun and pleasant it still is to me. Sure, there are numerous bizarre quirks, and the graphics and the interface are incredibly antiquated, but I really enjoyed it, and not only for nostalgia. I think if anyone is going to make a fantasy game which should be the spiritual heir to MoM, or whatever the phrase that Brad used back in 2009, it is ok to compare the two in at least some ways. (I also think that a spiritual heir made 2 decades later should be at least as fun, or at least not less fun, than MoM.)

One of the ways I'd like to compare it is fun. Basically, that's what I want in a game, although I am sure others may want different things (distraction? challenge? immersion? whatever?). Leaving the other things aside for the moment, I'm interested in keeping it simple. I'd like to make a little poll comparing FE B.3 (what we have now) to MoM of 18 years ago. I'll admit that I think MoM beat WoM hands down for fun, but I think that's not so easy to say for me now.

So for the people who remember MoM, or even play it now, what do you think? Disregarding for the moment critieria of "fun", let's keep it purely subjective. Let's keep the debate away from which is "better" and keep it 100% subjective, where only your feeling / opinion counts. Is FE Beta 3, for you and you only,

1. less fun than MoM

2. about the same fun as MoM

3. more fun than MoM

4. a lot more fun than MoM

5. for whatever reason, you feel unable to quantify or compare

I'm somewhere near a 1.8. This is meant as a compliment.

17,937 views 30 replies
Reply #26 from Elemental Forums Top

To those who think MoM is less balanced: I recently played it again and I did not come across units that would deal 800 damage to all enemies surrounding it in one blow thus wiping out an entire army. Yes it has some really godlike heroes and powerfull units etc but all of that is also in FE...

Reply #27 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting Gorde, reply 22
I'm amazed so many here remember MoM enough to make a comparison!  
End of Gorde's quote

Considering that MoM is in my top 5 vintage games catagory, I always make sure it can run on my machine...just in case I get the itch to play again.

Top 5 Vintage (Dos Age)

Tie Fighter
Master of Magic
Privateer
Betrayal at Krondor
Torment - Planescape

Top 5 Modern (Windows Age)

Dragon Age
Never Winter Nights
Knights of the Old Republic
Civilization IV
Starcraft

 

Curtains - Customize Windows with additional styles
Reply #28 from Elemental Forums Top

A comparison with MoM is hard for any game to withstand (IMHO).  The wizard customization in MoM was extremely well designed.  The limited flexibility made each choice difficult and enhanced differentiation between playthroughs.  The races were unique and balanced.  To be honest, the closest anyone came to recreating the feel of MoM was Derek Paxton's Fall from Heaven II.  I was en-heartened to hear that he was hired to work on this project.  The mini-battle "instances" in MoM were excellent and a great improvement over Civilization's battle design (good to see it was adopted in WoM and FE).

I will say that FE is a great improvement over WoM.  I like the random perk choices on level up.  It helps make each playthrough slightly more distinct.  I agree with some others that the unit design system actually distracts from civilization "uniqueness".  I would like to see a system where the choices for customization are unique for each civilization.  Civilization characteristics could designed to enable associated unique "attributes" for unit customization.  This would maintain the ability to "craft" units that suit your personal preferences while enhancing civ variety.

I will wait for the game to be finished before passing final judgment.  I think both Derek and Stardock deserve that much based on past performancce (WoM excluded).  The fact that Stardock devoted this much time and investment into fixing the WoM mistake earns a huge Bravo! from me.  Seems like Stardock and Paradox are the only two gaming companies that really care about their customers (while companies such as Ubisoft plant themselves on the other end of the spectrum).

Reply #29 from Elemental Forums Top

I think I might go with the ole 1.5 too.  And quite frankly I don't feel it's a bad score...I mean it is a classic, beating it would be pretty damn hard.  If I ignore the trip-ups and mechanics nuances that I feel are lacking I would lean more towards 3.

I mean, to me a score of 4 would essentially be a 9.5+ out of 10.  A little 'out there' for a Beta build.

I think a key problem is the setting, a barren wasteland.  I mean...that's a rough start for any strategy game to tackle and hard for people to get into.  I find it hard to start but then hard to quit.

"Tie Fighter"

Nnnngh, man, so many years I kept trying to get that game to work with each new Windows version.  Waiting for my next space fighter fix, please don't remind me :p

Reply #30 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting Malsqueek, reply 7
I would also like a 1.5. FE is "not as fun as MoM", but that is not to say that it isn't "fun" generally.

  
Where FE needs work.

1. The Magic System. Not just more spells, but the system itself. It is fundamentally boring. There is no particular reason to develop the casting of your sovereign over a champion and the same selections in game creation will ALWAYS yield the same set of options for you over the course of a game. ALWAYS. Opposed to the way that Magic was handled in MoM, I could just as easily have FE with no magic whatsoever and be just as happy with the game.

2. The City Building. Being addressed in Beta 4.

3. Spells. WE. NEED. MORE. SPELLS.
End of Malsqueek's quote

 

THIS! But it seems the majority of people think magic system isn't an issue. I want to be able to pick spells to learn... not at one shot master all the spells at one level... And most of the spells are boring.. though there are a few fun ones.