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Name: Might & Magic: Clash of Heroes

With the plethora of Might & Magic games available you would be forgiven for thinking that they all fit into the same genre, Clash of Heroes however shakes the franchise up a little by combining light strategy gameplay with some RPG elements all wrapped up into a nice and involving story. Yet the title still holds true to its roots with its hero based class system where you endeavour to recruit a formidable army capable of slaying your foes while collecting gold, resources and items to boost your characters and army.

The bulk of the gameplay involves turn-based puzzle battles which take place on two grids (one for each screen), these are filled with your own army and that of your opponents of various colours on each side. The objective isn't the traditional kill or be killed routine, you have to match identical units of the same colour up in a specific pattern, such as a line, this builds a defensive wall between the screens which acts as a form of defence against attacks. However, this can change dependant on the hero you are using, some offer more defensive capabilities for instance. Once you have your units matched they'll take a few rounds to charge up before they start their attack onto the enemies screen, this also changes dependant on the unit however, some will charge up faster than others. You don't get to control the attack as such, the units will attack anything they come across, whether it be the enemy hero, enemy units, or the walls themselves. Once they die then they'll be gone forever, but it doesn't mark the end because you can simply replenish your units after the battle is over.

There are plenty of units available at your disposal, and each has its own set of properties and requirements, elite units take up two vertical spaces for instance while champions take up a 2-by-2 grid. You only get a couple of slots for these more powerful creatures and you can't just call them all into battle at the first sign of danger, the Elite units you'll be able to get require two identical low-level units of the same colour to be lined up vertically before you can activate the Elite unit for battle. Champion units have an even heftier requirement to be summoned but these powerful allies can sway the game in your favour with their powerful abilities if you use them correctly. Your hero also has his own ability which can be used during the course of a battle, it's only one however, but it's intended to help turn the tide of battle. Making the right choice on which units to bring into play, which abilities to use, and which items and artifacts to equip are all paramount in the greater scheme of things, this is only part of the strategy element and while it can seem a little confusing and daunting, it makes for a very deep and involving game which gradually pays off the more you play.

One of the particular highlights in Clash of Heroes is its story mode which is extremely well written for a Nintendo DS title and equally as well presented. The story follows five main heroes who control various units given their class, Godric controls Knights while Anwen controls elves for instance, these five protagonists uncover a plot by a Demon Lord intent on bringing his many minions to overrun the world. It isn't the most original story by a long shot but it's well thought out and keeps feeding you just the right amount of plot so that you'll want to continue your adventure and see what happens next. Throughout the story your heroes and their armies will progress in level which brings with it new items, units, and abilities, gaining in experience doesn't always follow the story however, you'll come across the odd encounter where it's just too powerful and as such you'll need to grind your armies up before continuing on and eventually defeating them. Whether you rush your way through the main story and encounter little resistance, or if you like to complete all the side quests and puzzle missions, there is plenty of content on offer and you'll be looking at over 20 hours to finish the games single-player story.

You don't have to play the story mode through if it isn't to your liking; you also have the option for Quick Battle or multiplayer if you fancy your chances against a friend on another DS (single or multi-cart). Since your character already starts at the pre-defined level of 10 and your units at 5 the additional modes don't offer the same incentive as the story mode does, there isn't any progression, reward, or incentive for playing, but that doesn't make them any less fun. It's a shame you can't bring your heroes out of the singleplayer into either of these, that would certainly have made it all the more worthwhile. Unfortunately one issue you may encounter is balance, some of the hero's and their units are particularly powerful upon first starting, while others are not. Such is the case of the Wizard which is fast to start and easy to win with.

Might & Magic: Clash of Heroes is definitely one of the games puzzle-strategy fans will enjoy on the DS, especially with its engaging gameplay, even if it is difficult to get to grips with. It's certainly worthwhile and very rewarding to play through as your heroes increase in level. It isn't a pick-up and play game like many on the platform but that shouldn't make it any less appealing, throughout you'll find a great, well written story with its own puzzle system and plenty on offer to keep you entertained through its single and multiplayer options.