Made on the same dated engine as M&M VI ( 7 ) Might and Magic VIII ( 8 ) also uses the same character development system, spells, sound effects, many of the sprites, and even some gameplay tasks - including an Arcomage quest - from earlier games. Unlike the previous two games in the series, however, Might and Magic VIII introduced a new party management system that allowed all but one of the five possible player characters to be dismissed at any time during gameplay. The character class system used in the previous two games has similarly been overhauled, with only the cleric and knight classes remaining. In place of the traditional class system, Might and Magic VIII features non-human player characters, including minotaurs, dragons, vampires, dark elves, and trolls, each of whom possesses traits unique to their particular race.
This time my rating for this game may be more disputed than those of the sequels. And there is certainly a reason - unlike its precedessors, Might and Magic VI: The Mandate of Heaven and Might and Magic VII: For Blood and Honor, Might and Magic VIII bears a changed party system, which ruined the gameplay, according to many opinions. And that's not counting the ability to take Dragons in the party!
The size of the sandbox is decreased even more, and the game turns to be very short in comparison to MMVI, and much easier as well. The graphics is improved, but the engine is not that actual - it was already 2000, there already was such games as Revenant, in 3D!
Of course, the fans of the series would eat the same game with the same engine for over 3 and more sequels. So am I, actually, so I put nine to this game, although it deserves at most 8 even for an optimistic look.