Quay and Kronverk. An Essay on the Screens of Cities

City screens in 'Heroes of Might and Magic III' are a form of art that is almost entirely ignored by the gaming industry (exceptions being the upcoming Stormbinders, the 'Eador' series, and the Disciples series). The variety of city screens is one of the main advantages of the unforgettable third installment of this popular series of turn-based games.

The HotA Crew has so far created three original fantastic cities, which I perceive as a remarkable creative achievement requiring immense expenditure of creativity and intellect—how many fantastic city-builders or turn-based strategies do you know that include such a form of art?

A pirate improves twice

The dock impresses with its number of animations. Perhaps the additional complexity lay in displaying the mirror-like surface of the water when developing the city. The palm city, where the cool shade and cozy shanties provide respite for battle-worn ships, feels as vibrant as the magic-filled Conjunction.

The composition of the mage guild, the waterfall of nymphs, and the tower of the seas—a dream for an artist or a poet. So beautifully and elegantly do the guild and the exquisite waterfall with the voluptuous statue cascade from the rocks (the nymph's hair flows down like a waterfall, covering her graceful bosom), with the tower joining them that one is compelled to applaud the genius of this creation, shedding rare tears of wonder and joy.

The salt-scented dock possesses the same distinguishing quality as the other cities—the distinctiveness of its structures. Statues are rarely used in 'Heroes of Might and Magic III' as a means of expression. The dock has another building—an improved fort for the nixies—which uses statues for better readability. The previously faceless fort acquires necessary features, though flags with nixies or nix shields could have been used. The very composition of the fort, two nests of acid, and the soaring mast of a frigate with the fluttering 'Jolly Roger' strikes with beauty filled with raw, hurricane force. The second composition looks like a symmetrical response to the first, the light, magical composition of the guild, waterfall, and tower. The statues of the nixies, like a puzzle piece, complement the second composition, almost obscuring the nests of acid. I remind you that in the competitor, 'Heroes of Might and Magic V', the stalactite city of dark elves lacks a reasonable minotaur labyrinth; only stalactites and statues—alas.

A wonderful sky filled with starry clusters shining around the North Star, and a predatory whirlpool rotating to the left, slyly—an anthem to the colossal beauty and atmosphere of the city, shimmering with evening hues, marked by the genius of the fantasy creator in love with the game.

Left my heart in Boreas

Month in rivers is silvering,
Dancing among the mountains,
And rises above them a son loving watch.
Why does it start to beat in the heart?

Lightly, in the frost's embrace!
— I love the expanses of snowy oceans
And the clattering of free-breathing archers,
Ice gushing with beard.

Tears of happiness welled up in my eyes when I first discovered the tenth city, listening to the extraordinary and mesmerizing melody of the dock. Perhaps the graceful spellbinders with diadems and sapphire cloaks worked their magic on my ears. The game was charged with cannon-like, shimmering enthusiasm. To this day, no one except the HotA Crew has added a new tenth city on the game engine from the original developer New World Computing. VCMI (Vinyar Callor Meletyo ar Ingoleo) has its own engine, by the way.

The author’s add-on 'Horn of Abyss' is in a phase of full bloom. Stunning CGI videos have been added for the Factory campaign. A snowy Kromwerk has been revealed, thanks to the deep efforts of the team. The orchestral version of Kromwerk's city theme confidently captivates the attention of the esteemed audience and marks the opening of a new, golden milestone in the book of the gaming arts of 'Heroes of Might and Magic III'.

Kromwerk's music carries one far into snowy valleys—the heart urges one to chase after the archers seeking fresh streams or rivers, to live among mammoths and hold kobolds close. The local first level is as charming as the red-haired rascals, the hobbits of the Factory.

The beauty of Kromwerk is captivating—it gazes at you with torch-like pupils from the depths of the mountains. An emerald moon illuminates the wizard's guild, welcoming frost-bitten travelers with a dance of fiery tongues. The fair smells of delicious cheeses and burning effigies. I love you, Kromwerk.