魔法门 9
Might and Magic IX

New World Computing, 2002
Windows

New World Computing, 2002
Windows

一款游戏的好坏取决于你拿什么和它比较,这句话尤其适合《魔法门 9(Might and Magic IX)》。我差点因为压倒性的负面评论而错过这款游戏,但我很庆幸我没有!

有句话要说清楚,《魔法门 9》绝不是这个系列中最好的一部。在濒临破产的情况下,3DO 匆忙交出的游戏在首席设计师 Timothy Lang 自己看来“最多就是个初期测试版(pre-alpha)”。因为程序崩溃和 bug 实在太过频繁了,导致最初发行的版本几乎没法玩。这代转向了全 3D 图形,但欠缺打磨和细节,而且模型重复利用,还有着古怪的镜像贴图。但无论如何,这款游戏还是做对了很多事情。

首先你会注意到的是全新的职业系统。在创建角色时你只能选择战士(Fighter)或法师(Adept),但在完成特定任务之后可以通过专精转职成其他职业,总共有 12 种职业可以选择。技能和能力仍然是通过遍布在世界中的训练师来获取,但现在一些咒语在释放时要求两种(有时甚至三种!)不同技能的支持。等级系统被人为地限制在了 140 级左右(因为训练费用变得太昂贵了),不过还是成功地让我有动力去刷怪,最终升到一个丧心病狂的能力等级——典型的《魔法门》风格。

战斗也同样经过了彻底改造。地精(goblin)大军或者别的什么生物排着队冲过来杀你的场面已经见不到了,《魔法门 9》中的重点是敌人较少的小规模遭遇战。正因如此,怪物的 AI 有了长足的进步:飞行敌人会呈环形包围你,咕噜兵(Grunt)会投掷匕首,而更强的敌人会复活倒下的战友。这些策略很多其实很简单,但还是展示出了敌人的特点。

尽管最初几个地下城没什么值得记住的地方,但后期的地下城水平很不错。在游戏后期有一个地下城给人的印象特别深:你带着钱四处逃命,而巫妖大军在身后紧追不舍。另外,游戏中还有大量的新武器,涵盖了各种各样的装备效果和使用效果。

A game is only as good as the ones you compare it to. Nothing could be truer for Might and Magic IX, a game I nearly overlooked due to overwhelmingly negative reviews. I'm glad I didn't!

To be clear: M&M9 is by no means the best game in the series. Nearing bankruptcy, 3DO rushed out of the door what lead designer Timothy Lang himself described as “pre-alpha at best”. Bugs and crashes were so frequent that it was almost unplayable, while the game's shift to fully 3D graphics lacked polish and detail, with repetitive models and weird mirrored textures. Nevertheless, it did many things right.

First thing you'll notice is the new class system. At character creation you can only choose between Fighter or Adept, but 12 specialised classes are later available by completing special quests. Skills and abilities are still acquired via trainers scattered around the world, but now some spells require two (or even three!) different skills to be cast. Although the levelling system is artificially capped at around Level 140 (as training becomes too expensive), it worked well enough to keep me motivated to grind on and reach insane levels of power, Might and Magic-style.

Combat was likewise overhauled. Gone are the legions of goblins and other critters forming lines to kill you. M&M9 focuses on smaller encounters, with fewer enemies. As such, the AI is vastly improved: flying enemies will circle around you, Grunts will throw daggers, while stronger enemies revive their fallen comrades. Most are simple, but still distinctive.

While the initial dungeons are forgettable, later ones range from good to borderline great. One late-game dungeon is especially memorable, with armies of liches giving you a run for your money. Also, the game features a huge array of new weapons, with all kinds of status effects to equip and use.

玩家们制作的 1.3 版社区补丁修复了《魔法门 9》的很多问题。尽管这个补丁效果显著,但还有些问题没有解决。

Fans created the 1.3 community patch to fix M&M9. While the patch is excellent, some of the game's issues remain unsolved.

游戏中还有一些很有趣的支线任务,至于几乎没有任何存在感的主线故事简直像巨蟒剧团(Monty Python)一样随性:一个老巫婆随随便便地打发你去拯救世界,而且连一点详细解释都不给。

所以,《魔法门 9》值得一玩吗?这不好说。如果你只玩精心打磨过的 RPG 的话,那不要玩,比它好的游戏到处都是。不过,如果你想看看《魔法门》系列本有可能成为什么样子,那务必试一试。

There are also some funny side-quests, and the non-existing story is almost Monty Python-esque in its randomness, with an old hag casually giving you a world-saving quest without any further explanation.

So, is Might and Magic IX worth a shot? That depends. If you only play polished RPGs then no, there are much better games out there. If, however, you want to experience what the M&M series could have become, then by all means give it a try.

战斗有即时制与回合制两种模式。尽管两种模式的战斗速度都很快,但释放多种咒语或者使用物品也很繁琐。

Combat can be played either in real-time or in turn-based mode. While both are agile, casting various spells or using items is cumbersome.

玩家创建角色时只能在两种职业中选择,但之后可以通过完成特殊的任务在 12 种其他职业中选择专精的职业。

You’re limited to two classes at character creation, but can later specialise into 12 other classes by performing special quests.

GameDB 相关游戏: 魔法门 9

《电脑 RPG 游戏史(The CRPG Book Project)》原书信息

英文原版主编:Felipe Pepe
原项目网址:https://crpgbook.wordpress.com/
授权协议:知识共享 署名-非商业性使用 4.0 国际许可协议 (CC BY-NC 4.0)

这本书历时四年,由 119 名志愿者共同完成。

《CRPG 通鉴(The CRPG Book Project)》中文版版权说明

您正在看到的内容是《CRPG 通鉴》版本的一部分。
本中文版在原书授权协议的约束下进行创作与线上传播。

中文版编者:《CRPG 通鉴》编译委员会
中文版项目网址:https://crpgbook.cn

本书(《CRPG 通鉴》版本)正在筹备出版中文实体版,欢迎各路英豪加入我们编译委员会,详情请访问 这里

参与此中文 CRPG 文章的讨论

暂无关于此中文 CRPG 文章的评论。

您需要登录或者注册后才能发表评论
登录/注册