Might and Magic III: Isles of Terra

Might and Magic III: Isles of Terra is the entry where the series traded the austere face of old computer RPGs for a colorful, clear, and surprisingly welcoming world. A party of six adventurers wakes up on the Isles of Terra and gradually discovers that behind the fantasy backdrop lies the typically multi-layered plot New World Computing was known for, where sword and magic meet technology. This blending of genres became one of the series' hallmarks.

The game is played in first-person, grid-based perspective, turn-based combat unfolds on screen with large, animated portraits of enemies, and the whole world is one big space to explore: towns, temples, caves, deserts, and islands, between which you travel without artificial barriers. The game doesn't push a single story thread and rewards curiosity, since finding a hidden cave, a statue that adds a point to an attribute, or a trainer who raises a level is often more valuable than completing the main quest. An auto-map, clear icons, and quick travel strip away most of the tedium older crawlers demanded. The party is further filled out by hired helpers, and the game lets you tackle quests roughly in whatever order you choose.

Technically it was a big leap: VGA graphics with boldly drawn monsters, digitized sounds, and music that helps keep a lightly adventurous, almost cheerful tone. That mood is what sets Might and Magic III apart from the grim dungeons of the competition; the game doesn't take itself entirely seriously and is happy to surprise the player with a bizarre find. At the time it was received as the best entry in the series to date and laid the foundation for two sequels built on its engine. Today it's one of the most easily digestible old dungeon crawlers: it can be played in half-hour sessions, the map doesn't need to be drawn by hand, and exploring the islands still has a pleasant, addictive rhythm. Besides DOS, the game also made it to consoles and other computers of its era, but the core of the experience remains the same: a huge map and the constant feeling that there's something to find around the next corner.