I did not get a chance to check out Might and Magic when it first came out for the wireless platform. Might and Magic was one of the mainstays of PC role playing games back in the 1990s. Allowing you to take parties of half a dozen or more characters, it was a turn based RPG that truly reflected the zeitgeist of the era. Might and Magic II for mobile on the other hand plays very much like a Zelda game. In fact, the little blobbies that come and attack you in the beginning reminded me of playing Zelda on the NES. The combat system is action oriented. Easy enemies can be killed by mashing on the action button. Some of the more complicated villains will require more tactics. There are plenty of power up items but your most effective way to dispatching your enemies is through the tried and true leveling up.

Set in Erathia, Might and Magic II starts you off in a sleepy hamlet of a hometown. From there you will tackle one quest after another. There are some sidequests you can pick up by talking to various NPCs. They aren’t required to move the game’s plot forward but you’ll get items and a chance to level up. I liked the fact that when you move out of a locale the sidequests are tied to they are discarded. This prevents you from amassing a laundry list of to do items as typical in games like Oblivion. The level design incorporates more than simply button mashing. There are some environmental puzzles like falling rocks which remind me of a 2D version of Tomb Raider. Some levels require you to escort people while boss characters are scattered throughout to spice things up. With 19 levels , there is plenty of gameplay for everyone and the design keeps the levels fresh.

This is a console style RPG without any real customization in playable characters or a party system. While the narrative is well written, it doesn’t come close to becoming classic stories like Final Fantasy VII or Baldur’s Gate or Planescape: Torment. If you enjoy Zelda like games, you’ll find Might and Magic II right up your alley.