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Prerelease:Heroes of Might and Magic II

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This page details prerelease information and/or media for Heroes of Might and Magic II.

"All graphics created for Heroes of Magic II were hand-painted pixel-by-pixel in Deluxe Paint II Enhanced using a fixed palette of 256 colors. Character animations were also created in this most traditional manner, frame by hand-painted frame, and previewed using Deluxe Animator." - Phelan Sykes[1]

Concept Art

  • Genie

  • Captain of Knight Castle

  • Centaur

  • Dragon

  • Troll

  • Dwarf

  • Titan

  • Unicorn

  • Wolf

  • H2PoL Evil Shrine

  • H2PoL Mermaid

  • Wizard, concept art made during H2PoL development

  • Griffin

  • Griffin in colour

  • Cavalier

  • Cavalier in colour

Skills and Artifacts

Early Necromancy Skill

Release Prerelease
HoMM2 prerelcomp Skull.png HoMM2 prerel skull.png

Artifacts by Steve Wasaff[2]

Release Prerelease
HoMM2 PrerelComp Artifacts.png HoMM2 prerel Artifacts.png

Final versions have blurred edges.

Creatures

Toad by Tracy Iwata

HoMM2 Prerelease Toad.png

First idea for Wizard's tier 2 unit.

Phoenixes by Tracy Iwata

HoMM2 Prerelease Phoenixes.png

Different imaginations of Phoenix during development of the game.

Sketchbook

HoMM2 prerelSketchbook.jpg

Development of HoMM2 creatures. Primarily Minotaur was attacking with his whip.

Creatures from manual

Release Prerelease - Manual
HoMM2 PrerelCreatComp2.png HoMM2 PrerelCreat2.png

HoMM2 manual contains earlier versions of a few creatures.

Early Paul Anthony Romero Compositions

Final Grass Theme Unused Grass Theme
Final Sea Theme Sea Theme without sea sound

Unused Battle Theme

Names of files in HoMM2 MIDI soundtrack start from MIDI0002 - one of a three battle themes available in vanilla version of the game. However CD audio also starts from the same track, making us wonder what was the missing 0001 track? By courtesy of Paul Anthony Romero, who shared with us with his early "Best of" album from 1997, we can guess that this is the missing theme:

Early Townscreens

Release Prerelease
HoMM2 SetupMill PrerelNecComp.png HoMM2 SetupMill PrereleaseNec.png
Release Prerelease
HoMM2 SetupMill PrereSorcComp.png HoMM2 SetupMill PrereleaseSorc.png
Release Prerelease
HoMM2 SetupMill PrerelWizComp.png HoMM2 SetupMill PrereleaseWiz.png

Above fragments of towns were used in a HoMM2 Millenium Edition setup previews. The screenshots were made on a very early stages of development and present raw models of some dwellings and structures.

Release Prerelease
HoMM2 PrerelWarlOldComp.png HoMM2 PrerelWarlOld.png

The oldest Warlock's townscreen prerelease screenshot. Can be found on an advertisements from the time, e.g. CGW 147 1996/10, p.78, CGW 148 1996/11 p.188, CGW 152 1997/03. The most noticeable differences are very dark shadows of a Castle, Statue, wrong angle of Mages's Guild shadow, strangely lighted Well. The minor changes affected Boat, Minotaur's Labyrinth entrance, lighting of Dragon's Tower, Waterfall, marketplace and creatures' backgrounds among other.

Release Prerelease
HoMM2 PrerelWarlockComp.png HoMM2 PrerelWarlock.png

Townscreen from CD covers and boxes. Late stages of development: alternative Mage's Guild, non-glitched Waterfall, additional small towers for a castle.

Release Prerelease
HoMM2 PrerelKnightComp.png HoMM2 PrerelKnight.png

City of the Knight as seen on covers and boxes. Unused building next to the Cathedral. Red flags on a castle walls, no smoke from chimneys.

M&MVIIMarProto loadingscreen.png

Loading screen from Might and Magic VII Prototype shows early models of Captain's Quartes, Peasant Hut, Blacksmith, Cathedral and Mage Guild from Knight Castle, Tavern and Thieves' Guild from Warlock Castle, Mage Guild from Barbarian Castle, and trees used on a Fortress townscreen from HoMM3.

Heroes of Might and Magic 2 E3 1996 Trailer

Release Prerelease
HoMM2 prerelcomp Battle2.png H2PoL Prerelease BattlescreenGrass.png

A mockup - there are 13 dead or alive units on a battlefield, while under normal circumstances maximum is 10. Old versions of Skeleton, Medusa and Minotaur dead bodies. The most prominent diferences from final version is blue Mage without his wand casting fireball?, Crusader with red cape, different Cyclop attack, unpolished Warlock and Steel Golem and of course early variant of Grass battlefield with unused obstacles.

Release Prerelease
HoMM2 PrerelBattleComp1.png H2PoL Prerelease Battlescreen.png

Another mockup - yellow has six creatures (additional dead Troll), while the limit is five. Unused Troll's dead body, unused black Druid variant, little changes to all creatures and a battlefield.

  • HoMM2 prerelvid Black Dragon.png
  • HoMM2 prerelvid Cavalry.png
  • HoMM2 prerelvid Minotaur.png

Official Screenshots from 3DO website, 1997[3]

Release Preview
HoMM2 Prerelease HeroScreenComp.png HoMM2 Prerelease HeroScreen.png

Different creatures' backgrounds, slightly different layout, special bound for Ultimate Artifact, unused in a final release, no blue pixels on Jezebel's nose

Release Preview
HoMM2 Prerelease TownscreenComp.png HoMM2 Prerelease Townscreen.png

No flags, no shining lights in a windows, no smoke from Golems' factory stacks, blue crest from HoMM1, different creatures' backgrounds

Release Preview
HoMM2 Prerelease BarbarianVillageComp.png HoMM2 Prerelease BarbarianVillage.png

No smoke on preview image, also roofs are displaced

Release Preview
HoMM2 Prerelease AdventureMapComp.png HoMM2 Prerelease AdventureMap.png

Prerelease adventure map; mountains, trees and obstacles were placed with Map Editor, creatures, heroes and resources were placed by hand. Slightly brighter grass' gamma. Old portrait of Brother Brax. There is also cut from the game bunch of dead trees.

  • Render of the Warlock castle.

  • Unused render of a dragon. The model itself was used for victory screen and one of videos of Archibald's campaign

Manual

Screenshots from the game's manual show late stages of development.

Release Manual
HoMM2 ManualAdvM1Comp.png HoMM2 manual AdvMap3.png

"Tutorial" map. Interface has brighter gamma. Red flowers decorations positions slightly changed.

Release Prerelease
HoMM2 PreKnPikeComp.png HoMM2 PrerelKnightPike.png

The manual also contains Knight townscreen screenshot from "Tutorial" map, showing Pikeman's old variant. Moreover creatures icons doesn't have shadows, Peasant's position is slightly displaced, "exit" button is yellow just like in HoMM 1 and town's name is slightly higher.

Release Manual
HoMM2 PreTownOptions1Comp.png HoMM2 PreTownOptions1.png

Once again "Tutorial" map. Buildings has golden bounds even if they're not built yet. Maximus has sandy background used for neutral creatures in vanilla, Barok uses his old portrait from HoMM1. Yellow "exit" button. Captain's Quarters shown with the other buildings.

Release Manual
HoMM2 ManualBattle1Comp.png HoMM2 ManualBattle1.png

Battle with Zombies from "Tutorial" map. Slightly different decorations on the left and right. Distant trees in the background has less lush crowns. One tree is missing in a final release. Pikeman's graphic is the same as vanilla, although it's icon in a castle was still older version.

Release Manual
HoMM2 ManualAdvM2Comp.png HoMM2 manual AdvMap4.png

"Beltway" map. Interface and grass terrain has brighter gamma. No water decorations. Less automatically generated decorations on the ground.

Release Manual
HoMM2 ManualMeetScr1Comp.png HoMM2 ManualMeetScr1.png

Meeting screen. Carlawn and Vatawna use their old portraits from HoMM1.

Release Prerelease - Manual
HoMM2 ManualComp Siege.png HoMM2 Manual Siege.png

Wider moat, Centaur has different tail, background obstacles don't have shadows, number of units in stack is slightly higher.

Release Prerelease - Manual
HoMM2 manualWiz prerelcomp.png HoMM2 manualWiz prerel.png

Older versions of Roc, Steel Golem and Boar icons, minor changes to Archmages, Halflings have no shadow.

Release Manual
HoMM2 BrotherBraxComp.png HoMM2 BrotherBraxPrerel.png

An old portrait of Brother Brax, when he was still known as Rogrog.

Other Promo Screenshots

  • Earlier version of battle on a swamps seen on E3 trailer, status button is still HoMM1 placeholder, creatures have moved. This is the earliest official promotional screenshot.

  • This screenshot and next two are mashups, "Wait" button is still present.

  • HoMM2 Prerel DirtBattle.jpg
  • HoMM2 prerel SnowBattle.jpg

  • An old name for a Death Wave spell.

  • An old name for a Death Ripple spell[4].

  • Close-up of a shield that was used in an ending cinematic of "Dragon Master" scenario from Archibald campaign.

  • HoMM2 HeroScreen2 prerel.jpg

  • Jezebel (Barbarian class) is called Myra (Wizard class), well it's makes since Jezebel is a Genie.

Release Preview
HoMM2 prerelcomp Cutscene2.png HoMM2 prerel cutscene2.png

Preview image shows lightning striking a ship. In final animation strike comes a few frames later and thunderbolt is a bit different.

Release Preview
HoMM2 prerelesiegeComp.png HoMM2 prereleasesiege.png

This screenshot can be found in a "previews" folder on many 3DO CDs from the time, including the HoMM2 CD. It's simply a mashup (Hero on the left commands six stacks of creatures, while since HoMM1 it was max five stacks). The most noticeable is an old version of a Knight town walls, unused stone obstacles and background decorations, old version of a beach battlefield, Wizard without his wand and old Water Elemental.

Release Preview
HoMM2 compareworld.png HoMM2 prereleaseAdvmap.png

Different gamma of a trees. Less colours on a minimap. Unused bunch of dead trees

Release Prerelease[5]
HoMM2 prerelcomp ADV3.png HoMM2 prerel ADV3.png

Earliest screenshot of Adventure Map. Dug holes and some of sea reefs are leftovers from HoMM1. Artifacts are tiny, probably the remnant of this miniatures is art32.icn. Dead trees are different and some of Heroes and Towns are placeholders from HoMM1.

Another version of this image can be found on an old Phelan Sykes portfolio[1]. Artifacts are big variants already.
Release Prerelease[6]
HoMM2 prerelcomp ADV2.png HoMM2 prerel ADV2.png

Unlike final version, here Spellbook is lying on the ground and probably could be obtained just like any other artifact. Trolley is empty. Creatures are facing different directions.

Release Prerelease
HoMM2 prerelcomp ADV4.png HoMM2 prerel ADV4.png

In vanilla Troll Bridge isn't passable and mapmakers can't put creatures on them.

Preview Screenshots from Magazines

  • Placeholder Castle walls. Slightly improved comparing to one of earlier promo screenshots shown above.

  • A map unseen in a final release, however it appears on pages of several game magazines. Trolleys with resources are slightly displaced and terrains don't have auto-placed decorations. A small "Sorceress" letters upon Wizard's Castle.

  • Another preview from this map, there are barely seen red letters upon Knight Castle.

  • Disjointed Peasant on a placeholder window from HoMM1. Also Peasant is a bit different from release.

  • Sorceress creatures have placeholder backgrounds from Barbarian town. Vatawna's portrait is still old version from HoMM1. Different placement of Morale, Luck, Experience and Mana points.

  • No Captain's Quarter. Buildings in a Town Hall are not decreased nor zoomed in like in final release. Yellow Button.

  • Like above, plus placehoder moat from Wizard's Town and Carlwawn didn't undergo lifting.

  • Like above plus shipyard is placeholder from Knight town and Heroes have pity portraits from HoMM1

  • Rialdo's name is Oornashevlik. Creatures have older backgrounds, vampire is shrunken.

  • "Wait" button, displaced walls.

  • Grey Pyramid.

  • Mage Guild level 0 with image from HoMM1. There is also a fragment of miniature of Pikemen dwelling from HoMM1 from building menu.

Release Prerelease
HoMM2 prerelcomp joystick076 p181 2.png HoMM2 prerel joystick 076 p181 4.png

Early, unpolished version of "Mountain King" map as seen in when zoomed in a map editor.

  • Again "Mountain King" map, completely different yellow player's starting position. Map Editor in progress. Different buttons, framing without vines.

  • Final release.

  • Map with objects in the same places as in preview for comparision. Small changes to sand mountains and fixed mine trolley.

Release Prerelease
HoMM2 Prerelease Townscreen2Comp.png HoMM2 Prerelease Townscreen2.png

CGW 148 1996/11 p.50 gameplay preview. No evident changes to the Wizard's Town. Different creatures backgrounds, yellow "exit" button instead of light brown.

  • Early build showing new H2 objects placed on H1 "Town Haul" map. There are geysers and lava lakes from H1, that were eventually cut from the final release. Resources don't have shadows and obelisk still has graphic from H1.

  • Map with objects from final release for comparison.

  • "Town Haul" map from H1 used for preview screenshot before changes.

Price of Loyalty Promo Screenshots

Release Prerelease
HoMM2 prerelcomp adv5.png HoMM2 prerel adv5.jpg

Promo screenshot from Ubi Soft Deutschland website[7], also present on advertisements from the time, e.g. CGW 153 1997/04 p.58. Unlike previous screenshots, this one shows existing map - Lost Continent and arguably the map looks the same as in-game, but low quality render comparing details impossible. It's very likely that the screenshot was taken from vanilla game during development of PoL expansion and that an author was trying to make it look like one of original SW promo screenshots - creature panel, Brother Brax and Sandro portraits were cut from screenshot of green island from 3DO website; movement points bar of Sandro and Brother Brax have brighter gamma than female heroes bars, so we can guess that primarily they weren't there.

Official Screenshots of Price of Loyalty expansion from 3DO website, 1997[8]

  • H2PoL Prerelease TwonScreen.png

  • The island on the image do appear on one of a campaign videos, but from different angle.

Release Preview
H2PoL Prerelease HeroInventoryComp.png H2PoL Prerelease HeroInventory.png

Different position of new artifacts and Hero icon, legitimate Arm of Martyr shadow and unclear changes to the shield representing defense skill.

Release Preview
H2PoL Prerelease TownHallcomp.png H2PoL Prerelease TownHall.png

Different position of Heroes icons.

Links

  • [1] — Discussion on Forums of Enroth with images and confirmation from Tracy Iwata

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Phelan Sykes Portfolio, HoMM2 page - phelansykes.com, Jun. 10th, 2004
  2. ↑ Steve Wasaff Portfolio, HoMM2 page - home.earthlink.net, Jul. 18th, 2004
  3. ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/19970505233929/http://www.3do.com/nwcomputing/heroes2/heroes2.html
  4. ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/19970605122658/http://www.gamecenter.com/Features/Peeks/Hero/shot01.html
  5. ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/19970605190003/http://www.cdmag.com/strategy_vault/heroes_of_might_and_magic_2_preview/page8.html
  6. ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/19970605140913/http://www.cdmag.com/strategy_vault/heroes_of_might_and_magic_2_preview/page2.html
  7. ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/19980524114314fw_/http://www.ubisoft.de/games/heroes/shots/third.html
  8. ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/19970506001605/http://www.3do.com/nwcomputing/h2x/h2x.html
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