fheroes2 is easily now the best way to play Heroes of Might and Magic II on any platform, an absolute classic and the project continues to evolve.
Version 0.9.14 was released recently improving the supported languages, like the ability to properly display Norwegian and Italian languages, plus most other translations were also updated. The "Battle Only" button was also fixed across most languages.
The logic and code for artifacts was also completely reworked, which they said fixes "many places of incorrect effects from artifacts and even missing bonuses", and it now "works exactly as in the original code". With the changes they made, it will even help modding, as it's now "very easy to add new artifacts into the game or modify their abilities opening huge possibilities for modding".
On top of that the AI should be smarter with optimizations done on making decisions for spells, construction and the AI can now use the "Dimension Door". Support for MP3 and FLAC in-game music formats was added, video loading speed was improved dramatically, plus lots of bug fixes.
Check it out on GitHub and remember to grab the data from GOG.com which it requires to run.
Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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8 comments
Would be really cool if there was a libre content pack as well.
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That makes me think that someone has to make the catalan translation (or other not suported languages).
This only can be made with opensource engines, as most companies doesn't care about a minor language.
I would make it myselfe but I have no time now.
This only can be made with opensource engines, as most companies doesn't care about a minor language.
I would make it myselfe but I have no time now.
1 Likes, Who?
Craggles086 Apr 12, 2022
ihhub / fheroes2 Public
“Free Heroes of Might and Magic II (fheroes2) is a recreation of HoMM2 game engine.”
So Free Heroes game requires the game data from GOG install which is not free to play?
Not that I mind buying game data, but can you then call it Free?
Anyone else notice a conflict here? Or is it intended that the game will eventually come with its own free game data and not require the proprietary stuff to play?
https://github.com/ihhub/fheroes2
Last edited by Craggles086 on 12 April 2022 at 12:44 pm UTC
“Free Heroes of Might and Magic II (fheroes2) is a recreation of HoMM2 game engine.”
So Free Heroes game requires the game data from GOG install which is not free to play?
Not that I mind buying game data, but can you then call it Free?
Anyone else notice a conflict here? Or is it intended that the game will eventually come with its own free game data and not require the proprietary stuff to play?
https://github.com/ihhub/fheroes2
Last edited by Craggles086 on 12 April 2022 at 12:44 pm UTC
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Not really any conflict. It's SOP for engine recreations.
Edit: Just so there's no confusion: the "free" in fheroes is the same free as in Free Software. It doesn't refer to price.
Last edited by whizse on 12 April 2022 at 3:49 pm UTC
Edit: Just so there's no confusion: the "free" in fheroes is the same free as in Free Software. It doesn't refer to price.
Last edited by whizse on 12 April 2022 at 3:49 pm UTC
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Craggles086 Apr 12, 2022
Quoting: whizseNot really any conflict. It's SOP for engine recreations.
Edit: Just so there's no confusion: the "free" in fheroes is the same free as in Free Software. It doesn't refer to price.
Fair enough. :)
“ With the changes they made, it will even help modding, as it's now "very easy to add new artifacts into the game or modify their abilities opening huge possibilities for modding". “
Is there a plan to have free content packs available someday as in freeDoom?
Last edited by Craggles086 on 12 April 2022 at 8:00 pm UTC
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Quoting: Craggles086Quoting: whizseNot really any conflict. It's SOP for engine recreations.
Edit: Just so there's no confusion: the "free" in fheroes is the same free as in Free Software. It doesn't refer to price.
Fair enough. :)
“ With the changes they made, it will even help modding, as it's now "very easy to add new artifacts into the game or modify their abilities opening huge possibilities for modding". “
Is there a plan to have free content packs available someday as in freeDoom?
Hi Craggles!
First I want to underline that there is the possibility to use the freely available Heroes 2 demo to get all needed assets to use the engine and play the game. There's even an easily available script with fheroes2 that sets up the engine to use the demo. The demo has the same fundamental assets as base Heroes 2, i.e. without the Price of Loyalty expansion pack. What you miss out on is official libsmack videos, offical CD quality music, official campaigns and having more than one official map. The required UI assets for campaigns are there, so even user-made campaigns are possible. Quite fortunately, Heroes 2 is a game that has been out for a long time and so free user-made maps can easily be found online.
In other words 'free content' is already available in the form of user-made maps (I take it we do not only define free content as graphical assets).
Here is a recent pack of 1000 user-made maps shared on heroes3wog
https://heroes3wog.net/heroes-2-maps-collection-download/
As is stated there, they work with the fheroes2 engine. The same would go for any replacement assets made for Heroes 2, but to my knowledge none have been made except for a Christmas-themed graphical mod, but since this mod edits the original assets I wouldn't say it's 'clean room'.
Also any music in .mp3, .flac or .ogg is supported if the user should provide them to the engine in a 'music' folder.
I hope your doubts have been answered!
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Craggles086 Apr 20, 2022
Quoting: HeroesFanQuoting: Craggles086Quoting: whizseNot really any conflict. It's SOP for engine recreations.
Edit: Just so there's no confusion: the "free" in fheroes is the same free as in Free Software. It doesn't refer to price.
Fair enough. :)
“ With the changes they made, it will even help modding, as it's now "very easy to add new artifacts into the game or modify their abilities opening huge possibilities for modding". “
Is there a plan to have free content packs available someday as in freeDoom?
Hi Craggles!
First I want to underline that there is the possibility to use the freely available Heroes 2 demo to get all needed assets to use the engine and play the game. There's even an easily available script with fheroes2 that sets up the engine to use the demo. The demo has the same fundamental assets as base Heroes 2, i.e. without the Price of Loyalty expansion pack. What you miss out on is official libsmack videos, offical CD quality music, official campaigns and having more than one official map. The required UI assets for campaigns are there, so even user-made campaigns are possible. Quite fortunately, Heroes 2 is a game that has been out for a long time and so free user-made maps can easily be found online.
In other words 'free content' is already available in the form of user-made maps (I take it we do not only define free content as graphical assets).
Here is a recent pack of 1000 user-made maps shared on heroes3wog
https://heroes3wog.net/heroes-2-maps-collection-download/
As is stated there, they work with the fheroes2 engine. The same would go for any replacement assets made for Heroes 2, but to my knowledge none have been made except for a Christmas-themed graphical mod, but since this mod edits the original assets I wouldn't say it's 'clean room'.
Also any music in .mp3, .flac or .ogg is supported if the user should provide them to the engine in a 'music' folder.
I hope your doubts have been answered!
Sorry, did not mean to sound sarcastic at all.
The game engine looks awesome.
2 Likes, Who?
Quoting: Craggles086Sorry, did not mean to sound sarcastic at all.
The game engine looks awesome.
Don't worry, you didn't! I just wanted to explain this since I've read other people having the same questions in other places! The engine is indeed very cool and is quickly becoming (or is already) the best way to experience Heroes II.
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