The story follows Sareth, a wizard's apprentice, in his attempts to retrieve the "skull of shadows", an artifact found near the beginning of the game. The game was developed by Arkane Studios, makers of Arx Fatalis and later Dishonored.GameplayDark Messiah's gameplay mixes first-person melee combat with RPG elements, similar to the Elder Scrolls series. A variety of weapons are available, including swords, staves, and bows. Each weapon or armor type has several variants with different enchantments that enhance their properties.Much importance is placed on using the environment in combat. Throwing or kicking enemies against spike beds, off cliffs, into fire, or into breakaway supports are among the most effective strategies.Later, the player earns demonic powers that grant added strength when using melee, but slowly siphons health as a consequence (as well as frightening nearby friendly NPCs, which can cause mission failure). Dark Messiah also features a skill system similar to those found in other RPGs. By accomplishing missions or reaching specific points, the player earns skill points which may then be used to unlock and develop new skills and techniques. The points can be placed into three categories:CombatMagicMiscellaneousThis allows the player to specialize their character to their personal needs. There is no way to max out all skill trees in a playthrough, even by completing optional mission objectives, so specialization is encouraged.The game has up to four multiple endings, though all choices appear only in the last two levels. The first choice relies on completing an optional objective to purge Sareth of his demonic abilities, and the second is immediately after the final boss on whether to join or destroy the soon-to-be-awakened lord of darkness.Dark Messiah also has an inventory system. Items can be picked up from dead enemies, looted from crates, given, or pickpocketed, similar to many other RPG releases.Combat SkillsMelee CombatLevel 1: Flurry of Blows - Allows Sareth to deliver an unlimited number of Fast Strikes in a flurry.Level 2: Charge - A powerful attack to stun enemies. (Sprint Power Strike)Shield - Sareth can now use a shield to block enemy attacks like arrows and flame arrows.Level 3: Break Parry - Enables Flurry of Blows to sometimes break enemy parry.Leaping AttackA powerful strike that will knock the enemy off balance. (Jump Power Strike)Whirlwind AttackA rotating attack that hits several enemies at once, killing most of them on the spot. (Crouch Adrenaline Power Strike)ArcheryLevel 1: Allows the player to zoom in when using the bow.Level 2: Gives the player a steadier grip on the bow, making shots more accurate.Level 3: Allows the player to reload more quickly.StrengthLevel 1: All attacks with a weapon do 2 Damage.Level 2: All attacks with a weapon do 3 Damage.Level 3: All attacks with a weapon do 6 Damage.Critical HitLevel 1: Gives a 2% chance to do double damage on each Power Strike.Level 2: Gives a 4% chance to do double damage on each Power Strike.AdrenalineAllows the player to stock more Adrenaline and in fact two Fatalities (instant kills) in a row.Magic SkillsDark VisionAllows Sareth to see in the dark.Flame ArrowCast a magic fire projectile. Cast and Hold to guide the projectile. Deals fire damage.Adrenaline Effect: casts multiple projectiles at the same time.Fire TrapSets a magical trap that the enemy can't see. Explodes when an enemy is near. Inflicts fire damage.FreezeSprays a non-lethal ice-cold substance that freezes an enemy for a couple of seconds. Creates a slippery pool of ice if it hits the ground.Adrenaline Effect: permanently freeze a creature.Lightning BoltCreate a lightning projectile that will electrocute the target enemy. Bounces off walls. Deals electrical damage. Cast on enemies standing in the water to enhance the damage!Adrenaline Effect: creates a chain of Lightning that will jump from the main target to any nearby enemies.FireballSend out a ball of fire that will explode on contact, hitting the target enemy and all nearby creatures. Cast and hold to guide the projectile. Deals fire and area damage.Adrenaline Effect: instantly kills the target opponent.InfernoThrow flames in front and set enemies on fire. Deals fire damage over time.Adrenaline Effect: deals extra damage.TelekinesisGrab and move objects from a distance. The more mana, the heavier the objects that can be lifted.Adrenaline Effect: allows Sareth to grab living creatures and massive objects.HealHeal wounds and regenerate Health.CharmCharm a hostile creature and get it to fight alongside Sareth for a limited time.SanctuaryCreate a magical shield that will block physical attacks and magic projectiles for a short period of time.WeakenWeaken an enemy for a short period of time.Adrenaline Effect: permanently shrinks targeted enemy.Miscellaneous SkillsStaminaAllows the player to use stamina-based skills such as sprinting, swimming and kicking for a longer time before having to rest.EnduranceRaises the player's maximum Health and also effects the kind of armor the player can wear.Poison ResistanceMakes the player almost invulnerable to any kind of poison.VitalityIncreases the health regeneration rate of the player.AlertnessHighlights hidden items and secret areas if the player remains still for a moment.Magic AffinityGreatly raises base maximum mana.StealthAllows the player to creep up on enemies from behind and stab them for a quick kill.BurglarAllows the player to pick locks on doors and chests.Mana RegenerationIncreases the Mana regeneration rate of the player.WeaponsSwordsWeaponDamageSpecial TraitsSkill RequirementsShort Sword2Long Sword3Melee Combat 1Naga Silksword3Adds 2% chance of Critical Hit.Critical Hit 1Souldrinker4Adds 30% of damage dealt to the player's health.Strength 3Superior Naga Silksword6Adds 4% chance of Critical Hit.Critical Hit 2Earthfire Sword6Adds 6 damage points (total of 12) to enemies vulnerable to fire.Strength 2Cleaver7Strength 2Sword of the Dragonclaw9Adds 9 damage points (total of 18) to Undead creatures.Strength 3DaggersWeaponDamageSpecial TraitsSkill RequirementsDaggers1Can be thrown at enemies whenever:the player performs a Power Strike.the enemy is fleeing.the adrenaline meter is full.Poison Kriss2Poisons enemy when dealing a Power Strike with the weapon charged.Stealth 3Daggers of Frost2Freezes enemy when dealing a Power Strike with the weapon charged.Stealth 2Gutting Kriss4Adds 4% chance to Critical Hit.Stealth 2Lightning Daggers4Adds 4 damage points (total of 8) to enemies vulnerable to lightning.Melee Combat 2Daggers of the Dragonfang7Adds 7 damage points (total of 14) to Undead creatures.Glows when Undead creatures are near.Stealth 3StaffsWeaponDamageSpecial TraitsSkill RequirementsWooden Staff1Combat Staff2Melee Combat 1Staff of Reflection2Launches a lightning bolt when dealing a Power Strike with the weapon chargedPress the "Parry" key to capture any magical projectile cast at Sareth to charge his staff.Magic Affinity 1Soulreaver Staff2Steal's enemies' Mana upon any successful hits.Magic Affinity 3Staff of the Firelord3Adds 3 damage points (total of 6) to enemies vulnerable to fire.Melee Combat 1Staff of the Dragonbone7Adds 7 damage points (total of 14) to Undead creatures.Magic Affinity 3NOTE: Staffs are slow weapons and don't really inflict much damage, but can be quite useful when fighting packs of enemies, seen that they can easily stun or knock down enemies.Misc. MeleeClub -- deals 1 damage.Pickaxe -- deals 2 damage.Axe -- deals 2 damage.Hook -- deals 3 damage.RangedWeaponDamageSpecial TraitsSkill RequirementsRope Bow1Arrows fired with this bow spawn a rope when they hit a wooden surface.Bow2Poison Bow2Creates a magical poison cloud around the target.Archery 2Bow of Winter's Breath2Freezes target when a charged arrow is fired.Archery 2Long Bow4Archery 1Elven Bow5Adds 3% chance of Critical Hit.Critical Hit 2Bow of Fiery Rage7Adds 7 damage points (total of 14) to enemies vulnerable to fire.Archery 3Bow of the Dragonhorn8Adds 8 damage points (total of 16) to Undead creatures.Archery 3Shields & ArmorShieldsNameHit ResistanceSkill RequirementsOrc Shield60Melee Combat 2Wooden Shield120Melee Combat 2Stonehelm Guard's Shield180Melee Combat 2Black Guard's Shield180Melee Combat 2Orc Buckler240Melee Combat 3Vampire Knight's Shield240Melee Combat 3Earthfire ShieldIndestructible.Increases the player's protection from fire attacks.Melee Combat 3Lightning ShieldIndestructible.Electrifies enemy upon any successful block.Melee Combat 3Robes & ArmorNameArmor ClassSpecial TraitsSkill RequirementsWizard Robe1Adds 10 Mana points.Magic Affinity 1Arcane Robe2Adds 20 Mana points.Magic Affinity 2Chainmail Armor2Endurance 1Master Thief's Outfit2The player makes no sound when he/she moves.Stealth 3Plate Armor3Endurance 2Shadowsteel Armor4Adds 10 Health points.Endurance 3RingsRing of Arcane Brilliance -- adds 10 Mana points.Ring of the Weaponmaster -- adds 2% chance to Critical Hit.Ring of Phoenix -- if the player's health reaches 0, the ring prevents death and restores health.Ring of Might -- adds 1 damage dealt point.Ring of Regeneration -- slowly regenerates the player's health.Ring of Fire Protection -- increases the player's protection from fire attacks.EnemiesCommon Enemies Black Guards -- run of the mill evil hired mercenaries.Zombies -- the weakest of all the undead minions.Ghouls -- these undead creatures are a lot harder to kill than Zombies, see that they are feral and incredibly agile.Necromancers -- masters of dark magic.Necrolords -- this class of Necromancers will promptly summon the dead to their aid and use ranged magic.Orcs -- fearsome warriors that fight with honor; they are resistant to fire based attacks, but are weak to lightning.Facehuggers -- flying octopus-like creatures that attack in groups and use lightning-based magic attacks. A Vampire KnightGoblins -- small weak creatures that fight in packs, hoping to overwhelm their victims; they are somewhat resistant to fire, but not to lightning.Spiders -- these agile venomous arachnids come in various sizes; they're weak to fire-based weapons and attacks.Vampire Knights -- the most skilled members of the Black Guard; they are quite fast and skilled.Lich -- powerful Necromancers that have become undead, they can hide themselves with invisibility magic.Cyclops -- big and slow, but powerful enough to pose a considerable threat; strong against fire magic, but weak against lightning. Their weakness is the eye.Pao Kai -- ancient blind dragons that use powerful lightning-based attacks to stun their opponents; they're generally too strong to be killed without the some external assistance.ChaptersDark Messiah of Might and Magic is divided into 9 Chapters plus a Prologue and an Epilogue.PROLOGUECHAPTER ONEThe Gate of StonehelmCHAPTER TWOThe Gleam of a Cold KnifeCHAPTER THREEDead Man's TrailCHAPTER FOURAcross the Sea of BloodCHAPTER FIVEThe Temple of the SpiderCHAPTER SIXThe Altar of the SkullCHAPTER SEVENFire In the BloodCHAPTER EIGHTIn the House of AshesCHAPTER NINECity of FlameEPILOGUEMultiplayerDark Messiah features a Multiplayer portion that was developed independently, by Kuju Entertainment. Many people have drawn parallels to it and the battlefield franchise. Two playable factions exist: Human, and Undead. The two teams compete on a large map, vying for strategic positions.SoundtrackThe original score for Dark Messiah of Might & Magic was composed by Cris Velasco and Sascha Dikiciyan.Track No.Song TitleRunning Time01The Gates of Stonehelm01.2802Crawling from the Deep02.3703Redskull Island01.2004Soulmate02.0605Avatar of the Goddess04.5506The Dark Messiah01.4007Dark Revelation02.1808Leana's Theme00.5809Wings of Destruction02.4210Summoning the Soul-Dragon01.3111Awakening01.17PC System RequirementsAs displayed on the back of the box.Operating System : Windows XP (will sometimes work with Vista, but it's not guaranteed)Processor : AMD Athlon, Pentium IV 2.6 GHz (3 GHz Recommended)Memory : 512 MB RAM (1 GB Recommended)Video Card : 128 MB DirectX 9 - compliant video card (256 MB recommended)Sound Card : DirectX 9 compliant sound cardDirectX : DirectX 9 or HigherDVD Drive : 4x or fasterHard Drive Space : 7 GB freePeripherals : Windows compatible mouse and keyboardMultiplayer : Broadband internet connection with 64kbps upstream or faster.
