Just a couple of links related to the classic "Might and Magic" games
that I came across recently.


#


- Firstly, a video about the original game: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lo-ri5srEA8

While not quite as lovingly detailed as Majulaar's
retrospectives on the Ultima games*, this video goes into
detail about "Might and Magic 1: The Secret of the Inner
Sanctum", detailing its history, its gameplay, its ports,
and its influence on the industry. I didn't really learn
anything new about the game, but it was a fun bit of
nostalgia and if you're a fan of the original game, you
might like watching it too.



- Also, there's this:
https://www.eskimo.com/~edv/lockscroll/WhereAreWe/
"Where Are We" is the "Might and Magic" equivalent of the
"Zorbus GBC" companion tool for the SSI gold-box games. It
runs concurrently with "Might & Magic", adding various maps
and information screens that make playing the original game
less of a chore. No need to bounce back and forth between
multiple screens trying to see if your fighter has his
sword equipped or if your robber is poisoned. It's all
there on one screen. And it has an automapper too, so
you can finally say 'fuck you' to those spinner traps.



- Less impressive but still neat: https://dungeoncrawlers.org/post/might-magic-1-graphics-overhaul-mod/
This is the "Graphics Overhaul Mod" for Might & Magic 1.
Don't get too excited though; while the graphics are
improved, it's still CGA. But the textures and monsters
are slightly more detailed than in the base game. It says
more about how primitive the original's visuals were that
the mod is considered an improvement. ;-)


#

I know there are some fans of retro-dungeon-crawlers out there in this
group. Maybe you knew about this stuff already; maybe you didn't. They
were new to me, anyway. Anyway, I just thought I'd drop the links here
in case it was needed. Enjoy!




====

* more than you ever wanted to know abou the Ultima games told over
24-hours worth of video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wIWyHd3FFFU&list=PL16yfJJxAM6g-4YxKGI-17q-K3nrXuVSd

** a great tool if you're headed back to the Gold Box era https://gbc.zorbus.net/




--- PyGate Linux v1.5.19
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

On Thu, 30 Jul 2026 13:52:44 -0400, Spalls Hurgenson <spallshurgenson@gmail.com> wrote:

- Firstly, a video about the original game: >https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lo-ri5srEA8

While not quite as lovingly detailed as Majulaar's
retrospectives on the Ultima games*, this video goes into
detail about "Might and Magic 1: The Secret of the Inner
Sanctum", detailing its history, its gameplay, its ports,
and its influence on the industry. I didn't really learn
anything new about the game, but it was a fun bit of
nostalgia and if you're a fan of the original game, you
might like watching it too.

I already have this one bookmarked and intend to watch it soon. I
actually already posted in the comments section. Seeing this video pop
up as a suggestion to me from youtube was a nice surprise. Since this
is this youtuber's first video, I am guessing he likes this series as
much as I do.

- Also, there's this:
https://www.eskimo.com/~edv/lockscroll/WhereAreWe/
"Where Are We" is the "Might and Magic" equivalent of the
"Zorbus GBC" companion tool for the SSI gold-box games. It
runs concurrently with "Might & Magic", adding various maps
and information screens that make playing the original game
less of a chore. No need to bounce back and forth between
multiple screens trying to see if your fighter has his
sword equipped or if your robber is poisoned. It's all
there on one screen. And it has an automapper too, so
you can finally say 'fuck you' to those spinner traps.

I already have this tool but I have yet to use it myself. I too think
of it as 'The Gold Box companion for Might & Magic'.

- Less impressive but still neat: >https://dungeoncrawlers.org/post/might-magic-1-graphics-overhaul-mod/
This is the "Graphics Overhaul Mod" for Might & Magic 1.
Don't get too excited though; while the graphics are
improved, it's still CGA. But the textures and monsters
are slightly more detailed than in the base game. It says
more about how primitive the original's visuals were that
the mod is considered an improvement. ;-)

I was not aware of this mod but I honestly think the game still looks
better with the standard EGA graphics.

I know there are some fans of retro-dungeon-crawlers out there in this
group. Maybe you knew about this stuff already; maybe you didn't. They
were new to me, anyway. Anyway, I just thought I'd drop the links here
in case it was needed. Enjoy!

Thanks Spalls. It was just this CGA mod I was unaware of.

--- PyGate Linux v1.5.19
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

On Thu, 30 Jul 2026 14:56:45 -0400, Mike S. <Mike_S@nowhere.com> said
this thing:

On Thu, 30 Jul 2026 13:52:44 -0400, Spalls Hurgenson ><spallshurgenson@gmail.com> wrote:

- Firstly, a video about the original game: >>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lo-ri5srEA8

I already have this one bookmarked and intend to watch it soon. I
actually already posted in the comments section. Seeing this video pop
up as a suggestion to me from youtube was a nice surprise. Since this
is this youtuber's first video, I am guessing he likes this series as
much as I do.

I've stated my mixed feelings over the franchise, and the video helped
clarify why I liked the first game more than the rest. There's a lot
of weirdness and silliness to the franchise but --especially in the
first game-- most of that stuff is relegated either to the manual or
to the few text prompts in the game. As the series progressed and
technology enabled more detailed world-building, the oddities of the
franchise (such as the weird monsters, the mix-n-match fantasy/sci-fi
setting, and more) became more obvious... and my interest in the
series diminished.

I was unaware the video was the YouTuber's first. It's a pretty good
start. I look forward to where they go with future series.

- Also, there's this:
https://www.eskimo.com/~edv/lockscroll/WhereAreWe/

I already have this tool but I have yet to use it myself.

Admittedly, neither have I. I merely downloaded it and archived it for
future use.

Honestly, with the Gold Box games, I don't find the GBC tool so
necessary (or, rather, I think they so radically change the tone of
the game that I'm not sure I want to use them). Doubtlessly /this/
tool does the same with the Might & Magic games, but the first game is
so primitive that I simply /can't/ play it in vanilla. So if I ever
try playing M&M1 again, I will have to use something like this tool if
I've any chance of going anywhere with it.











(Mostly, I post these links so I can find them again in the future. If
others get use from them, that's just bonus ;-)



--- PyGate Linux v1.5.19
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

On Thu, 30 Jul 2026 15:48:45 -0400, Spalls Hurgenson <spallshurgenson@gmail.com> wrote:

Honestly, with the Gold Box games, I don't find the GBC tool so
necessary (or, rather, I think they so radically change the tone of
the game that I'm not sure I want to use them). Doubtlessly /this/
tool does the same with the Might & Magic games, but the first game is
so primitive that I simply /can't/ play it in vanilla. So if I ever
try playing M&M1 again, I will have to use something like this tool if
I've any chance of going anywhere with it.

I am more likely to play the gold box games before anything Might &
Magic at some point. I too may not use the GBC for exactly the same
reason you state here. It may change the 'feel' of the games too much.
I get it.

As for Might & Magic 1, the game is very old school. I get your stance
on this as well.

(Mostly, I post these links so I can find them again in the future. If
others get use from them, that's just bonus ;-)

Any news you provide on this series I will always appreciate, even if
I was already aware.

--- PyGate Linux v1.5.19
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)