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Dark Messiah of Might & Magic Elements | 
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| From: Ubisoft
Category: Video Games
List Price: $29.99
Buy New: $19.99
You Save: $10.00 (33%)
New (39) Used (8) from $19.98
Avg. Customer Rating:  10 reviews
Sales Rank: 4983
Platform: Xbox 360
ESRB: Mature
Media: Video Game
Autographed: No
Memorabilia: No
Batteries Included: No
Age: 17 - 20 years
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0
Dimensions (in): 0.4 x 0.4 x 0.4
MPN: 52315
Model: 52315
UPC: 008888523154
EAN: 0008888523154
ASIN: B000MTF054
Release Date: February 13, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: Expedited shipping available
Condition: BRAND NEW AND FACTORY SEALED.IN STOCK.READY TO SHIP.
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| Features:
| • | Follow the young hero Sareth, trained to fight the prophecy of the Dark Messiah, but facing revelations of his past that may alter his course and reveal an unforeseen path to the truth and destiny. | | • | The enhanced version of the powerful Source Engine from Valve brings you new jaw-dropping environments and incredible special effects. Discover an innovative first-person view with complete body awareness, realistic movements and physics rendering, making it the first fantasy action game featuring a complete first-person combat system. | | • | Challenge the forces of evil in 12 immense levels and learn to master over 40 weapons and dozens of devastating spells. Engage the enemy in intense melee combat with a wide range of weapons, summon magic powers against the legions of darkness and sneak in the shadows to stalk depraved creatures. | | • | Explore a new and darker side of the legendary Might and Magic universe where the forces of evil are stronger and more cunning than ever - a secluded region of Ashan populated with fearless orcs, dreadful undeads, massive dragons and many other creatures that are stunning in both size | | • | By gaining experience through fighting, players will be able to unlock new skills or equipment in order to improve general performance and widen the range of actions during fights. |
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Product Description
In Dark Messiah of Might and Magic, players will be introduced to the world of Ashan, the new setting for all future Might & Magic games. Ashan is a dark and unforgiving world, scarred by a bloody history and threatened by an apocalyptic prophecy: the Dark Messiah. Players will embody the young hero Sareth, who has been trained in the arts of magic and war in order to battle the prophetic Dark Messiah. Players will have the choice to become expert warriors, mages or assassins, each with their own cache of devastating weapons and spells to use in battling huge and vicious enemies. Through combat, players will unlock new skills and equipment, advancing Sareth's experience and improving his performance, battle combos, hits, spells and techniques and setting his course for his destiny.
Enlist with the humans or the undead, and choose among four character classes. Prepare to battle with up to 32 players in several online modes that allow you to gain experience and new equipment across dynamic online campaigns. ESRB Rated M for Mature
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| Customer Reviews: Read 5 more reviews...
 Fun Game, Give it a Try May 10, 2008
This game got fairly poor reviews but I decided to give it a shot. I was looking for something to occupy my time after Bioshock. The game has some really nice graphics and fun gameplay. It's no Bioshock but I didn't think it was nearly as "poor" as the reviews. It's not a great RPG but I am having fun with it and think it's worth playing. Is some of the voice acting cheesy? Yes, but it's not bothersome and seems to fit the genre well. I am not good player and this game generally lets you poke around slowly with a few spots where the actions gets intense. I like it and give 4 of 5 for fun factor
 Don"t waste your time. April 21, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
Not a good game at all. No depth to the story line. The all around game play is choppy. Cheap version of Oblivion.
adventure April 20, 2008
0 out of 5 found this review helpful
game is not innovative and the controls are simple off a bit not way of maximize the item found on the game but for collection only whick suck's and the bug's on the game.for example you can not continuo your quest until the level can not be complete for xanple destroy all enemies on the boat on chapter 4 whick I did .but for some reason a enemy floting on the water deaht crying for help .whick stoping me for continuo and the worse part the game is been save .by automatic features on the game .vere frustrade it.
I want my money back. April 12, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
If you're looking for reasons to buy this game please read the few other, positive reviews for DMMM. I'm here to tell you why NOT to buy this game, or...if you're going to buy it, don't pay more than $20 bucks for it, at the most.
If you're looking for fantasy based FPS multiplayer, it has yet to arrive on the Xbox 360. So few people own DMMM that finding a ranked multiplayer match is maddening. To even begin a match 8 people need to join the game BEFORE the match can begin. In fact the main reason I'm writing this review is because my wife and I sat around for a solid hour waiting for 6 other people to join. People would join but after waiting a min or so, would drop the game. A ranked match is the only way to get multiplayer achievements by the way.
As for the single player. DMMM is a weak FPS, and a downright terrible RPG. I've played my share of shooters and role playing games. As you progress in the linear game, you level up linearly. The voice acting is hollow and lifeless, which really detracts from the atmosphere. Also the sound mixers of the game must have tried to make all the sounds as loud as possible. When the game starts up the Ubisoft video blares at you, each time you forget to turn your speakers all the way down. Music is repetitive and uninspiring.
Load times are about 20 seconds long. So if you're in a tough spot in the game, and you die repeatedly, tag on 20 seconds for each retry. And you get to hear the same load music (which is composed of all percussion instruments)
I am a fool. I bought this game for $60 bucks new, so did my wife. ($120) I went to GameStop to trade in this waste of plastic, and they wanted to offer me $9 for each copy. Ouch. Apparently they don't think much of DMMM either.
Now this last part is sad to say. I've had more fun playing the Xbox Live Demo of DMMM than the full game. I've quit the full game, only to return to the demo, Cuz that's where the action is.
If you've stayed with me this far, I ask a favor of you. Please help me make up for my mistake, don't buy this game new.
Underrated "Elements" March 27, 2008
5 out of 5 found this review helpful
Way back in 2002, developer Arkane Studios unleashed a little game called "Arx Fatalis," inspired by classic titles such as "Ultima Underworld," upon an unsuspecting public. The end result - pure greatness. A true, bona fide, and highly overlooked classic in the roleplaying genre.
In 2006, Arkane released its second game, "Dark Messiah of Might & Magic," for the PC. It was a spinoff of the once popular roleplaying and turn-based strategy series that was nonetheless a departure due to its first-person, action-adventure gameplay. It wasn't met with cheers by the gaming press as was "Arx," but it wasn't lambasted either.
2008. Enter the Xbox 360 port and/or adaptation, now with the added subtitle "Elements." Gaming critics everywhere can't be bothered with that old adage, "If you don't have something nice to say..." If they are to be believed, this game sucks @$$. That's right, GameSpot reviewer Brett Todd was so unimpressed he dismissed it with a 3.5 score out of 10. If you can believe everything you read, that should tell you to stay clear of this one.
And if you were to do so, that would be a real shame.
"Elements" casts you as Sareth, a mysterious and unenthusiastically voiced wizard's apprentice who is about to unveil his destiny and save the world from sinister forces. But as this is a fantasy game, that goes without saying, doesn't it? At any rate, the story is predictable but not entirely uninteresting despite so many abundant cliches, and, worst case scenario, it should keep you interested until the credits roll.
As Sareth, you may specialize in one of four classes as opposed to the PC version's free-form adaptations. You begin the game by choosing his career path. In other words, you select whether or not you want him to be an in-your-face Warrior, an Archer who kills at a distance, a Mage who specializes in casting magic spells, or a sneaky Assassin who takes his enemies by surprise via stealth. The selection of these highly specialized classes vastly affects the way the game is played, and should add ample incentive for hardcore types to revisit the material again and again. That, alongside the option of good and evil decisions, multiple endings, and a single player campaign clocking in at over 9 hours on the first play-through, is reason enough to warrant a purchase if you're a fantasy enthusiast.
The game is linear, however. Very linear. There are sometimes multiples ways to attack a problem, but this is the exception rather than the rule. Still, the game's structure provides a tight, action-focused gaming experience with just a smattering of lite (and I do mean LITE) roleplaying elements. In fact, the game's biggest flaw may well be its identity crisis. It's not an RPG, and it's not an FPS. To compare "Elements" to Raven's "Hexen" would be apt. The emphasis here is on killing things, not leveling up. Even though you do level up and gain experience, it's really, essentially an artificial system.
The combat is good. Using the game's physics to kick unsuspecting foes into massive chasms or into raging fires is undeniably fun. In fact, using your environment to aid you in slaying your enemies is where the game really shines. Of course, a pretty diverse set of magic spells and archery options do their part in diversifying the experience, but melees have a good solid feel to them as you parry your opponents' attacks and line up your own. Using adrenaline can even net you slo-mo fatalities like impaling your enemies and then kicking them brutally off the point of your sword.
The game is powered by Valve's Source engine, still doing its thing. It nails atmosphere, which isn't surprising given that "Arx" was one of the most atmospheric fantasy games ever made. Be it dark, brooding crypts or cliffside Orc cities, it all looks pretty good. That said, character models are basic and not the most impressive. I mean come on, despite the artistry on display here, the Source engine is beginning to show its age. The audio is pretty solid, though, apart from some uninspired voice acting and an incessant tune that always plays during the game's loading screens (and trust me, it will drive you mad the deeper you delve into the game and the more loading screens you must be subjected to!).
If anything really stunts this game, it's the lack of polish - which shouldn't be an issue given that this is a port of a game that's over a year old already. Glitches are commonplace, some of them absolutely infuriating and unforgivable. For example, on several occasions I got stuck on pieces of the environment and had to reload a past save to continue. At another time, the game's audio went completely mute for no apparent reason. At first I thought it was an issue with my TV, but strangely when I exited to the title screen, the music was back again. This problem persisted until I shut down my 360 console and rebooted the entire thing.
Other issues include the occasional vague objective or two, some dopey developer decisions, and the inability to really guage the choices that will make your character lean toward the evil side of the spectrum until it's already too late. Still, these niggles aside, which are certainly worth mentioning, this is NOT a bad game - and believe me, I've played my share. As time passes and more and more solid games are dismissed outright by reviewers like Brett Todd, I'm convinced that these people don't really LIKE video games at all. Maybe they should go out and get a different job.
Your ability to enjoy "Dark Messiah of Might & Magic: Elements" ultimately depends on your ability to accept it for what it is. It's not quite an FPS, and it's not quite an RPG. Both its strengths and its weaknesses lie somewhere in the middle. Sure there are a few flaws and glitches, but none of it breaks what is an otherwise satisfying adventure game. It's got nothing on Arkane's previous effort and bears little resemblance, for better or worse, to other "Might & Magic" titles, but if you're a fantasy fan who loves first-person hack and slash... your game has arrived - at least until Bethesda summons up the next chapter in the Elder Scrolls series.
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