Dark Messiah of Might & Magic

90%
Game Brain Score Based on 4,105 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Dark Messiah of Might & Magic Game Cover
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"Dark Messiah of Might & Magic" is an action-RPG set in a dark fantasy universe, powered by an enhanced version of the Source Engine. The game offers a complete first-person melee combat system, with 30+ weapons and devastating spells to master. With a skill evolution system and multiplayer mode, players can extend their gameplay experience and battle evil forces across 12 large levels.

  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

90%
Audience ScoreBased on 4,105 reviews
story394 positive mentions
stability108 negative mentions
  • The combat system is incredibly fun and allows for creative environmental interactions, such as kicking enemies into spikes or off cliffs.
  • The game features a variety of playstyles with its skill tree, allowing players to mix melee, magic, and stealth.
  • Despite its age, the graphics and level design still hold up well, providing an immersive experience.
  • The game is prone to frequent crashes, especially on modern systems, which can disrupt gameplay.
  • The story and characters are often considered generic and unmemorable, lacking depth.
  • Movement and platforming mechanics can feel clunky and unresponsive, leading to frustrating moments.
  • story1,210 mentions

    The story of "Dark Messiah of Might & Magic" is generally viewed as mediocre and predictable, often described as a cliché fantasy narrative with a straightforward plot involving a young apprentice on a quest for a powerful artifact. While some players appreciate the occasional twists and the ability to make choices that affect the outcome, many find the characters one-dimensional and the dialogue lacking depth. Overall, the game's narrative serves primarily as a backdrop to its praised combat mechanics, with most players emphasizing that the gameplay is the true highlight rather than the story itself.

    • “The story is interesting and so are the characters.”
    • “The story takes you through a solid and well-paced adventure plot spread across various locations, placing you first-person inside every scene and spectacle as the slightly overpowered chosen one in a fully realized dark fantasy world.”
    • “The story is quite fun, with great voice acting and dialog.”
    • “The story is predictable, and the dialogue lacks depth, with female companions mostly only serving as eye candy.”
    • “The story is very, very juvenile and immediately, as in the first scene after the prologue, very, very horny, but it does generally stay on the right side of good taste, if just barely.”
    • “The story is short and was likely written by a 13-year-old high on glue.”
  • gameplay829 mentions

    The gameplay of "Dark Messiah of Might and Magic" is widely praised for its innovative mechanics, particularly its first-person melee combat and environmental interactions, which allow for creative and varied approaches to combat. While the game features a linear narrative and some technical issues, including bugs and crashes, the engaging combat system, including the iconic kick mechanic, and the ability to utilize magic and stealth contribute to a fun and immersive experience. Overall, players appreciate the depth and replayability of the gameplay, often comparing it favorably to modern titles like "Dishonored."

    • “The gameplay is where this game really shines.”
    • “Dark Messiah of Might and Magic has one of the best combat mechanics in a game to date.”
    • “The gameplay is fantastic, it feels like what the Skyrim combat system should have been; more involving.”
    • “In chapter 6, I found myself crashing every 20-25 minutes of gameplay, which ruined my experience.”
    • “The gameplay is janky, linear, and hard as hell.”
    • “The gameplay is overall broken, the story is generic, the character development is as awful and forced as the voice acting.”
  • graphics377 mentions

    The graphics of the game, while dated due to its 2006 release, are generally considered decent for its time, with many players noting that they still hold up reasonably well today, especially on higher resolutions. However, issues such as frequent crashes, the need for constant adjustments to settings, and occasional graphical glitches detract from the experience. Overall, the visuals are appreciated for their artistic design and immersive environments, but they may not meet the expectations of players accustomed to modern graphics.

    • “The graphics hold up better than others at its time and has some Half-Life-esque items that you can use in combat like hitting a support beam to drop objects on enemies and a fun kicking system.”
    • “The visuals are fantastic in the indoor environments, all immersive shadows and monumental architecture.”
    • “For a game that is almost 2 decades old, the graphics and environments are beautiful on 4K resolution.”
    • “I had to download suspicious files in order to make the game run better, along with that it still continued to crash constantly. The game never remembers your graphics settings, so every restart or crash requires full configuration again; it's just so annoying. I'd suggest buying on sale, that's what I'm going to wait for at least.”
    • “The graphics are bad, even for 2006.”
    • “The graphics have not aged well, sadly.”
  • humor152 mentions

    The humor in the game is predominantly derived from its clunky yet entertaining combat mechanics and the hilarious ragdoll physics, allowing players to kick enemies off ledges or into traps for comedic effect. Many reviewers highlight the unintentional humor stemming from the game's jankiness, as well as amusing dialogue and character interactions, creating a lighthearted atmosphere despite the game's flaws. Overall, players find the game to be a consistently funny experience, filled with memorable moments and absurd scenarios.

    • “Hilarious environmental physics and kicking orcs off ledges never gets old.”
    • “For example, you can use an ice spell to make the edge of a cliff slippery and then you can see enemies hilariously slip and fall to their death while trying to get you shouting 'stranger!' 'ahhhh!'.”
    • “The physics engine is hilarious; there's nothing like spartan kicking a ghoul over the castle walls.”
  • stability116 mentions

    The game's stability is widely criticized, with numerous users reporting frequent crashes, bugs, and glitches that significantly hinder gameplay. While some players managed to enjoy the game despite these issues, many found it nearly unplayable on modern systems, particularly Windows 10, requiring extensive troubleshooting. Overall, the consensus is that the game is a "buggy mess," making it difficult to recommend despite its potential and enjoyable gameplay elements.

    • “Amazing classic with that old school charm, looks and runs great on deck!”
    • “Still looks and runs great in 2020.”
    • “Runs great maxed at 2560x1400.”
    • “Frequent crashes and game-freezes plague this game.”
    • “Game is released and sold as a buggy broken mess and no amount of player-made band-aids can fix the excessive amounts of crashing and bugs that completely make the game almost unplayable.”
    • “The game crashes pretty frequently for whatever reason, strong focus on physics in a 3D environment typically means frequently buggy physics & this is no exception.”
  • replayability113 mentions

    The game offers significant replayability due to its diverse skill trees, multiple character builds, and various gameplay styles, encouraging players to experiment with different approaches in each playthrough. While the story is somewhat linear and predictable, the presence of multiple endings and secret areas enhances the overall replay value. Players appreciate the fun combat mechanics and the ability to revisit the game with new strategies, making it a worthwhile experience for those seeking variety.

    • “With so many secret areas, a total of 4 different endings, and a fun skill progression system, it invites a certain degree of replayability.”
    • “The way this game lets you play with its world and the different approaches you can take to basically any fight give this game an insane amount of replay value.”
    • “Not only are there light RPG elements that allow you to make different builds, hereby adding replayability, but every encounter is also a playground where you can make use of otherwise simple systems to produce various different outcomes.”
    • “The story is not that bad, it's actually pretty fun for one or two runs; after that, there's little replay value.”
    • “All 4 endings don't differ much to warrant replay value, but experimenting with different builds certainly does encourage you to come back.”
    • “Replayability is rather low: once I beat the game, I started over using a stealth build and tried a different ending, but other than that, there is no more replayability to talk of.”
  • atmosphere75 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its immersive and engaging qualities, drawing comparisons to classic titles like Elder Scrolls and Thief. Players appreciate the detailed environments, unique graphics, and the ability to evoke a range of emotions, from eerie tension to a sense of adventure. Overall, the atmosphere significantly enhances the gameplay experience, making it a standout feature of the game.

    • “I enjoyed the areas and atmosphere a lot; this game had way more atmosphere and immersion than I expected.”
    • “The atmosphere of the game draws you in and you experience a fantastic adventure.”
    • “The atmosphere is excellent, and the story is clever and well-paced too.”
    • “I also thought this game had a very grim atmosphere.”
    • “The world is fairly generic high fantasy, but it does have a dark atmosphere to it that sets it apart.”
    • “The overall atmosphere is thrilling and tense in a way I do not experience often in video games.”
  • music65 mentions

    The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with many players finding it to be decent but ultimately forgettable or generic. While some appreciate the atmospheric qualities and orchestral elements that fit the gameplay, others criticize it for being repetitive and lacking memorable tracks. Overall, the soundtrack is seen as serviceable, complementing the game without standing out significantly.

    • “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 soundtrack is entirely orchestral and fits the game nicely.”
    • “My favorite game of all time with a very good, atmospheric, and mighty soundtrack.”
    • “The music is generic and forgettable, but also inoffensive.”
    • “There isn’t much music in the game, so listening to the same ~20-25 minutes of music looped over and over again makes even the best tracks feel a little stale.”
    • “I also can't remember any of the music from this title despite having beaten it a little while ago, and even after looking up the soundtrack, I still think it's just serviceable, nothing else.”
  • optimization47 mentions

    The optimization of the game has received significant criticism, with many users reporting severe performance issues, including frequent crashes and lag, particularly on modern systems. While some players with newer hardware experienced smoother gameplay, the overall consensus indicates that the game is poorly optimized for contemporary PCs, leading to frustrating gameplay experiences. Despite its age, the game's technical execution struggles to meet the expectations of today's gaming standards.

    • “Performance-wise, the game runs well without any framerate issues, at least for me, and I have a considerably newer system.”
    • “No FPS drops, no tearing, with maximum quality settings on - very good performance, typical for the source engine used in the game.”
    • “The game is split into 12 chapters which have massive levels with small and quick-loading loading screens to keep performance up, kind of like Half-Life 2.”
    • “The game is plagued with performance issues and constant crashes seemingly randomly.”
    • “Buggy game that constantly crashes and has performance issues that can only be mitigated instead of fixed.”
    • “I want to recommend this game because it really is a lot of fun but the horrible, nearly unplayable performance on modern systems kills it for me.”
  • grinding17 mentions

    Reviews on the aspect of "grinding" reveal a mixed sentiment among players. While some appreciate the absence of traditional grinding mechanics and the focus on engaging quests and skill-based progression, others find certain gameplay elements, particularly combat and level design, to be tedious and repetitive. Overall, the game is praised for its non-grindy approach, but some players still experience moments of frustration due to specific mechanics that can feel laborious.

    • “No grinding, no endless running about to complete meaningless quests, but a clear story to follow with plenty of good gameplay.”
    • “Nice leveling of skill points based on actions, not kills, so there is no grinding.”
    • “Fun at first but gradually just gets more and more tedious and boring.”
    • “This isn't skillful, it's just tedious.”
    • “First 5 chapters are amazing but then it gets really tedious, boring, confusing, and cancerous.”
  • emotional12 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is mixed, with players experiencing a range of feelings from the poignant loss of a beloved companion to the unexpected depth of a young woman's struggle with her sexuality. While some moments resonate deeply, others evoke discomfort or humor, leading to a disjointed emotional experience. Overall, the game's emotional impact is overshadowed by its linearity and lackluster story, despite the enjoyment found in its combat mechanics.

    • “With just enough quiet moments in between the action to tell a wonderfully wholesome story of a young woman struggling with her burgeoning sexuality.”
    • “After a while in the game they kill off the wholesome companion.”
    • “I wanted to like Dishonored, but it made me feel like a disabled toddler; this is their strong point and for its age, it marked some significant ground.”
    • “The combat is fun, but it's a very linear game with little enemy variety and a boring story.”
    • “It has a short story, a boring story, it's linear, not many skills, placed loot... but the combat system is the best I've ever played.”
    • “Pretty boring story.”
  • character development10 mentions

    Character development in the game is a mixed bag; while some players appreciate the intertwining of narrative and character growth, particularly through the protagonist Sareth and his relationship with Leanna, others criticize the lack of depth and interest in the characters, especially the female leads. The character development is often described as simplistic or minimal, with limited options and forced elements, leading to a perception that it falls short for an RPG. Overall, the game's character development is seen as either a highlight or a significant weakness, depending on the player's perspective.

    • “The game's story follows Sareth's character development, his relationship with Leanna, and the secrets of Ashan.”
    • “The excellent combat mechanics, the rewarding exploration, narrative, and character development are intertwined brilliantly to make a unique and remarkable journey.”
    • “The character development seems rather simplified, but that isn't a bad thing as you still have a lot of options when approaching a fight.”
    • “Gameplay is overall broken, the story is generic, the character development is as awful and forced as the voice acting.”
    • “Character development is mostly non-existent.”
    • “Dark Messiah is very similar in terms of genre and character development, but Oblivion is way better.”
  • monetization5 mentions

    The game is praised for its lack of microtransactions and advertisements, contributing to a more authentic experience. However, some users express concerns about the game's limited skill tree and hope that future updates do not introduce monetization elements that could detract from the gameplay.

    • “No microtransactions, thank you!”
    • “The game had no advertisements before or during its release, which is why not a lot of people know about it.”
    • “But don't bring in microtransactions or timesavers, and don't change it to a degree where it starts getting bad...”
    • “But don't bring in microtransactions or time-savers and don't change it to a degree where it starts getting bad...”
    • “Game had no advertisements before or during its release, which is why not a lot of people know about it.”
    • “The skill tree, despite it advertising itself as an ARPG, is really bare bones.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

13hMedian play time
17hAverage play time
8-19hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 26 analyzed playthroughs

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