Heroes of Might and Magic II: Fheroes2 Gameplay! (The Clearing, Impossible Difficulty)

Fheroes2 Resurrection is an open source project that recreates the Heroes of Might and Magic 2 (HoMM2) game engine. It shares numerous useful features with the HD mod for Heroes 3, bringing quality of life, visual and gameplay enhancements. These include additional hotkeys, widescreen resolution options, an improved UI and multiplatform support (Android, macOS, Windows and more).
⭐ Buy Heroes of Might and Magic 2 Gold Edition at GOG (recommended)*: af.gog.com/en/game/heroes_of_...
*This affiliate link supports the channel at no cost to you. You need official Heroes 2 game files to properly install Fheroes2.
⭐ Project homepage: github.com/ihhub/fheroes2
⭐ The Clearing (example map playthrough): Not ready yet
⭐ Download page: github.com/ihhub/fheroes2/rel...
⭐ Installation guide (Windows, Android, etc.): github.com/ihhub/fheroes2/blo...
💬 Fheroes2 official Discord server: / discord
⭐ Fheroes2 Patreon: / fheroes2
Please note I can't help with individual technical problems - sorry. I suggest asking for help on the official Discord or other community pages if needed.
Music by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
creativecommons.org/licenses/b...
#heroesofmightandmagic #homm2 #fheroes2

[@Norovo]

Useful links: ⭐ Buy Heroes of Might and Magic 2 Gold Edition at GOG (affiliate link): af.gog.com/en/game/heroes_of_might_and_magic_2_gold_edition?as=1673737379 ⭐ Fheroes2 Project homepage: github.com/ihhub/fheroes2 ⭐ Download page: github.com/ihhub/fheroes2/releases ⭐ Installation guide (Windows, Android, etc.): github.com/ihhub/fheroes2/blob/master/docs/INSTALL.md ⭐ Fheroes2 Overview: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eaCmanR7aJmpgM0 Please note I can't help with individual technical problems - sorry. I suggest asking for help on the official Discord or other community pages if needed.

[@thefreshwaterpirate]

Hi, I tried mapping the WSAD keys to the game map navigation, and I think i broke it. What are those keys called in the hotkey remapper menu? Ive tried reinstalling the mod, but it has saved my key configurations. Thanks for an awesome vid :)

[@Hmbs271]

@@thefreshwaterpirate Hey! At worst you can remove the config file and it will be generated again. On Windows you can find it in Users\USERNAME\AppData\Roaming\fheoes2. There are several keypad functions in the game. What function do you want them to have?

[@thefreshwaterpirate]

@@Hmbs271 ah excellent :) Thank you ! id like WASD to be the manuvering the world screen, but I am ok w the arrow keys if there are no other options :)

[@Hmbs271]

@@thefreshwaterpirate Btw you can also move the viewpoint by left-clicking and dragging the cursor around. Not sure if this is what you meant or if you meant moving the hero.

[@yvessergetshefu4462]

Can I have the iPhone version please 🙏🏾

[@chowtrump2336]

It is laughable how a game from 1996 with modern tweeks is better than today's unfinished games.

[@dw2105]

Spot on bro

[@bob8mybobbob]

I mean, it’s a bit biased. There are always good and bad games, but we’ve had decades to play the games from 1996, so the ones we still play are the good ones. Time leaves the diamonds and we forget about all the trash.

[@Isteak80]

I forgot how much I liked the HoMM2 sprite work. I feel the dragons especially look probably more impressive than they turned out even in HoMM3.

[@Dirge_Prime]

How about the Phoenix from 2? It so Sparklyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy

[@The_Zeevina]

This is my childhood.. Loved playing Heroes 2. Warlock with dragons/hydras were my favorite faction

[@H8UAtropos07]

Titans were weaker but cooler, in my opinion. Also loved the Elves..still know all the stats-Black Dragon had less attck and def 14/14 compared to titan 15/15 but was not affected by most spells.😉first move you had with phoenix-than fast move spell on all. For massive dmg was barbarian. Only knight sucked-cool in the beginning, nice music and shiny but weak.

[@Dadaph]

wow, this really takes me back. Got this game for xmas 1996, like 10 days after I first got Internet. And it was all me and my friends played until 3 came along about 2 years later, a game we probably played equally as much. I still think Heroes 3 was the better game, but know what... seeing this again, I remember why I fell in love with the series in the first place. Also I always prefered this colorful cartoonlike style over the more 3D prerendered look of 3. I'm gonna install this. Still got my original disc somewhere...

[@maybegreat]

there's a conversion of hom2 inside hom3 engine. best of both worlds.

[@roygalaasen]

I used to do hotseat with a “friend” who knew all the cheat codes. I do think there was an option for allowing cheating or not, but he somehow managed to nudge it off while I was distracted or something. I was always amazed how fast he built an army of dragons etc.

[@Dadaph]

@@roygalaasen 32167 32167 32167 32167 "oh... guess I just had a sudden surplus of sulfur and my Sorceress town somehow had a Black Dragon Tower"

[@roygalaasen]

@@Dadaph I don’t think that is very far from how it went down rofl.

[@DeoksOn]

Been waiting for a while for this, subbed after your FHoMM2 review, thanks for covering it!

[@nosy-cat]

Cool. This brings me back to the days before homm3. We had a lot of fun with homm2, but I still remember how stoked we all were about the rumors of homm3 improvements and all the beautiful early screenshots. And then, when it came out, how it actually delivered. Lost many a school night to this game.

[@vodenapuska4796]

best days of our lives

[@endlesshorizon6167]

HOMM3 is obviously a better game, because there is 'more of everything' and it is much more refined, but even when it came out everyone said that HOMM2 graphics were better. The location map and towns + are great, but the units in HOMM 3 often look quite bad (e.g. zombies). Heroes 2 graphics were better. Gameplay was a bit worse, since it was simpler. Still Heroes 2 was a great game in its time.

[@fyrestorme]

I actually was fairly on the fence about the change in the graphics for heroes 3 - especially when it came to the unit sprites. I liked the heroes 2 ones initially much more. Now, I'm not sure. I don't think I have a clear preference anymore.

[@F0nkyNinja]

Homm2's sprite graphics have aged much better than Homm3's pre-rendered models. Homm3 is darker with a less vibrant color palette.

[@akojulius3777]

@@F0nkyNinja Same goes for Heroes 1. It looks very good 28 years later.

[@Hmbs271]

Great video and an interesting watch! Btw there are some more QoL things you missed: 1. You can see your Hero's movement points by either right clicking them on the adventure map, their portrait to the right in the list, or anywhere you can view their portrait (castle, hero screen). 2. A really nice feature of fheroes2 is that you can pre-select a creature before moving the whole army by clicking on them before you move all - this will always leave that creature for last which is very convenient for chaining. 3. You can move all creatures in the castle to or from the garrison by using the up and down keys. Hope this helps making the experience more enjoyable!

[@Moonblushaphantomine]

I’m a HoMM3 fan but I haven’t seen much of HoMM2 tho so I’m hyped for this

[@plzletmebefrank]

From everything I can see... There's definitely a reason people play 3 more. But there are some interesting differences and ideas in 2, it seems.

[@dustinherk8124]

heroes 2 was the only heroes game that i can think of that had 2 upgrade for a creature, without it being a hacked version. specifically the green>red>black dragons. sure heroes 5 had an alternate upgrade after an expansion release, but that was still only 1 upgrade the creature type could make. also the captain quarters town upgrade so you can still throw a few spells with defending troops with out a hero in town.

[@plzletmebefrank]

@@dustinherk8124 Sharpshooters and enchanters can be considered a third upgrade in a strange way.

[@dustinherk8124]

@@plzletmebefranki dont count those as they are niche, specific 2 one specific hero for enchanters and one specific hero for sharp shooters and both heroes double dip on the creature pool potential of castle and rampart towns.

[@kirin7945]

I'm loving the Homm2 content I hope to see more in the future!

[@radd1865]

Love your HoMM content, and I think it could be fun to see you show off more of 2 in the future! Cool to see how well this version of the game works.

[@theeraphatsunthornwit6266]

i still remember an event 20 years ago when i play this game versus my friend...

[@Cloud-dq1mr]

Love all your Heroes content, please give us more.

[@KritoSkywaker]

You just literally awakening my childhood memories. Thank you so much. :)

[@JoLiKMC]

So, I popped open "The Clearing" in the _Heroes II Map Editor,_ and… I couldn't be more disappointed. The Ultimate Artifact is one space to the left of the six Black Dragons. And I mean that. The "allowable radius from this location" was set to 0, so it's always *right there.*

[@Norovo]

I'm not surprised tbh. The black dragons aren't guarding anything obvious so it makes sense for the artifact to be next to them

[@miikkab9716]

Great video. Nice to see some HoMM2 content!

[@mhjmstultiens]

Looks really nice, Norovo. The Fheroes2 mod has come a long way. :)

[@Andyface79]

Great playthru! For the record it's pronounced AdoBE. Ends in the same sound as bumblebee. Either way, it's great this game is back.

[@Arselpang]

HoMM 2 is the best of them all. The second installment just bring this fantasy world to life with it's lively coloring and the sprites which is phenomenal!

[@JohnTibbitt]

Amazing a new series!!!

[@bluevirusboy]

This was good! Never played HoMM2 so it's nice to see what its like

[@toukkero]

What a great sunday surprise: almost 2 hours of HoMM2!! Thank you for the great play. I was almost desperate at some point when faceing strong opponents, but ofcourse you always pull through :D I really wonder about the AI running away even when you are playing on impossible difficulty??

[@nosy-cat]

Well, the harder difficulties in homm3 mean the AI is more likely to be wary of difficult battles or lingering near enemy heroes and towns, so it does make some sense...

[@toukkero]

@@nosy-cat Thank your for clarification!

[@billrakowski9591]

Really enjoying your commentary.

[@piotrburgraf7572]

Nostalgia. Cheers for this video.

[@kylethomas9130]

I still have a soft spot for HoMM2 would play hot seat with my cousins. Was a good experience of diplomacy outside of games, when pvp fights would happen in game. Usually our goal was to race for the Artifact, beat the Computer, so something else we could measure as a victory condition without the drawn out screen watching pvp that a normal approach would have entailed.

[@mr.tajtas4259]

Great vid as always.

[@MyNigellus]

All homm2 videos are always welcome

[@andrzejkulakowski]

Gaming annals will store this game as one of the best games ever known to man.

[@JoLiKMC]

What's up with you using the MIDI soundtrack? Was that on purpose, or did you just not install the CD soundtrack for some reason? Just curious. Anyway, good to see more _Heroes II_ gameplay! I'm diggin' it!

[@JustinJTime]

I think he used the MIDI soundtrack instead of the CD one because he would probably trigger a copyright flag for using the orchestral versions.

[@JoLiKMC]

Hm. Maybe! He _has_ said something to that degree with the _Heroes III_ soundtrack.

[@Norovo]

Yeah, it's just because I'm not sure on the copyright situation. MIDI seems safer (could be wrong). Also maybe it's more distracting if my voice is competing with an opera singer's, haha

[@JoLiKMC]

@@Norovo Oh, yeah… _Gold_ doesn't include the non-vocal CD audio. It's like how _Heroes I_ for Windows doesn't include the high-quality music files due to add the inclusion of Redbook CD audio. Heh.

[@Parlay007]

PLEASEEE more heroes 2

[@DriantX]

It might be my bad memory because I've not played HoMM2 for 20 years or more but I remember the AI playing a lot better in the original version. Some very questionable choices, like just abandoning the towns and fighting outside while at a disadvantage. Still happy to see the game again, never forgot the squishy crunchy noise mummies make when they move lol.

[@eviljoel]

As he mentions, the AI in this remake is worse. And it makes quite a few weird choices in this video.

[@Norovo]

I think the Fheroes2 AI is definitely better in battle but I'm not fully convinced by the adventure map AI yet

[@ilceexzosted455]

AI currently has some issues on the adventure map, but fheroes2 is in an active development stage and has huge plans for improving AI algorithms.

[@agatoification]

HOMM2 is the best game in the world. And the most beautiful.

[@zoltanpolgar1762]

Hi. Does it work on MAC os with an m1 chip? Which soundtracks are in the game the original ones or the new gold versions?

[@hakan6918]

Just what I was wishing for 🙌🏾

[@Littleloni1]

I like the graphics in Heroes 2 more than in Heroes 3. Because they are more reminiscent of bright Japanese turn-based RPGs on consoles. 😙

[@koxacbka]

have you tried Heroes 2 on the heroes3 engine? i believe it's still in beta but the mod was pretty fun to play (nostalgia-wise)

[@kobarsos82]

I truly hope they fixed the AI by now, would love to see a new video with it. Abandoning their knight castle was a huge joke in this that would never happen in the original game.

[@mariorossi5197]

Wouldn't mind more of HoMM2 at all! It was very nice and refreshing. And apparently i share these thoughts with quite a few people in the comments. And, after all, that hall of fame doesn't fill itself! :D

[@kunka592]

Could I suggest lowering the resolution so it's more zoomed in? The sprites and some text is a bit small.

[@dmr87]

Finally!

[@fyrestorme]

8:00 you can enable waiting in combat in the game options at the main menu

[@fclmfan1]

This ore pile next to the gold mine pains me every time Norovo waves his cursor next to it without noticing...

[@Norovo]

That is very well hidden... 💀

[@impulse3257]

Any tips/guides for completing impossible difficulty AI and maps?

[@XGAMINGXro]

Memories 🥺

[@Zogun_85]

Heroes 2 was the first Heroes-game that I ever played. I was instantly hooked, being a fantasy fan and obsessed with greek, roman and nordic mythology at the time. I've always loved the artwork and music/sound effects in Heroes 2 more than Heroes 3, but HoMaM 3 is obviously the superior game in terms of variety and balance. Would love to see more content with my favorit faction, the Wizards!

[@Bayaz420]

Have you considered playing Homm3 Succession Wars mod? Not technically finished but it’s in a pretty polished state

[@mickMahaus32]

warlock were so cool

[@sebbenilsson860]

One of my all-time favourite game! Do you know if there will be an online multiplayer feature in the future?

[@Norovo]

Think it's planned for future versions but not working yet

[@bloodykenshiro8218]

Honestly, this looks great. If HOMM 3 could be made to look like this, I'd like HOMM3 a lot more.

[@jukkaponi]

They have been trying to. Have you tried the Succession Wars mod for Homm3?

[@Goodzillla1066]

Exactly. If you like homm3 play and homm2 appearance just get the mod for 3 to look like 2

[@a.lisnenko]

More Heroes 2!

[@NIcolasbobbitt]

Just started playing it. Lots of fun, but I've tried playing Broken Alliance like 6 times now and Purple has gotten DD every time.

[@yamiji3380]

I wish someone made this kinda remake for Disciples series :(

[@filipstamate1564]

More Heroes 2 please!

[@WheatShaw]

its true about that black dragon taking out a titan any day of the week. I pitted those 2 against eachother on heroes of exactness. and ive conducted 20 tests and its true, the black dragon wins.

[@dustinherk8124]

there is a surprising lack of russian comments considering this is a heroes game.

[@davidschmidt133]

not picking up last obelisk to see where treasure is triggers me

[@hanskloss9482]

have you played Disciples 2?

[@mattatuckmanful]

Thatd be cool if they made a new version of heros thats compatible on pcs today

[@ibrahimsakayik8678]

Hi, I bougth Homam2 Gold from Ubisoft market. Is it neccasery to buy it again from GOG? Thanks

[@zense-tx7nc]

Hi! You can use the Ubisoft version of the game just fine. Please make sure to double check that your fheroes2 installation includes the ANIM folder with videos after, so that you can choose between Roland and Archibald.

[@vihu2001]

8:04 does not skip in the right bottom corner make unit wait?

[@Hmbs271]

Interestingly, Heroes 2 did not have the "Wait" command, there is only skip which is just a pass for that turn.

[@vihu2001]

@@Hmbs271 I see, thx

[@prawtism]

23:19 what's the logic for fighting here if the automatic battle shows 0 casualties?

[@kaijiahuang1141]

This brings me back to 32167

[@Alexajin]

adobe ogreshop always nice

[@jimmyjigz]

just installed.. my fhereo2 didn't have turn order displayed, i'm not sure if i missed a setting

[@Hmbs271]

You can find that setting in the bottom left corner of the combat screen. It has the symbol of a desktop pc. The option is called "Army Order".

[@jimmyjigz]

@@Hmbs271 thanks

[@Forgotten-Gaming]

Really should switch to the CD music, rather than MIDI since it's night and day. It's a Heroes game after all, and HOMM2 soundtrack with the operatic vocals were some of the best. FYI you should just need to put the .ogg music files from the GOG install into a music folder inside fheroes2 directory. I think that sorted it for me.

[@Norovo]

Yeah, I just don't know what the copyright situation is there. MIDI feels less risky

[@xyzzyx7812]

why not join the HotA project?

[@HallyVee]

Note the proper use of the QoL term in this context. Proximity to development or a different genre, I wonder?

[@whomperbg]

Please, can you make more Songs of Conquest videos 🙂

[@MyNigellus]

Does fheroes2 normally support the campaign?

[@Norovo]

It does, but the AI is very different, which can affect the difficulty / feel of it.

[@autobaas]

Well it's actually more interesting, when you lose some battles :D

[@KyriosHeptagrammaton]

I thought treasure guardians just straight up attacked you. Maybe the paladin event is different?

[@Norovo]

Not sure tbh. Maybe it's something the Price of Loyalty expansion changed?

[@KyriosHeptagrammaton]

@@Norovo Yeah I never played POL so it could be.

[@Hmbs271]

The only treasure guardians who attack you straight away without a choice are Rogues in Heroes 2 iirc. Dragons, Paladins, Cyclopes etc all give you a choice.

[@Hugmir]

So this is what happens when the Excel Optimisation gang is let loose on an unsuspecting old gem. Those in-battle kill predictions are going a little bit far in reducing this to calculated work. The battle unit queue is a nice thing to have, but I am surprised they didn't fine-tune it to obstruct a bit less of the view. The aesthetics of the battle window suffer unnecessarily much the way it is positioned now - and really, that's what HoMM2 was always about, when competing with 3 - the beautifully crafted pixel looks. On the topic of said looks, did they really think it was the best possible idea to just clone the accentuating green gem on the HUD so many times..? I mean, yes, doing it some other way would require either some creativity, or... I think I'd just opt for less green gem saturation, leaving in only every second or third one, but yes, it could be a tricky matter. And, this might be mentioned elsewhere or later in the video, but I really do hope we can select the resolution/scaling of the whole game. For personal use I think I would have everything about 20-40% bigger. edit: waaaaait one second, didn't Barbarian have an evil HUD?

[@zense-tx7nc]

Hi! The auto-resolving of battles is an option and any player who wants the original experience can turn it off. The battle queue bar is not very pretty, and it was debated whether to add this option in the game yet because it doesn't look good, but the fact that many players have learnt how speed works in Heroes 2 because of it showed that making it available was the right choice. The repetitiveness of the hud when scaled is something left over from the previous project "Free Heroes 2", which stopped being updated in early 2010s. There have been more pressing matters to fix than the visual ones, both from a perspective of usability of the engine and from what most users will care about. There is a list of every pixel error you can find in every sprite made for Heroes 2, and it would probably take years to fix all of them - so since resources are limited, the effort of the fheroes2 team have been put towards AI, bugs, replicating the original experience, new features etc. You can select a resolution which will show a perfectly integer scaled version of the game. It will be indicated by a multiplier 2.0x, 3.0x etc all depending on your screen's native resolution. Just like in the original game you can select to force good or evil interface when playing. However, the option to have a dynamic interface which adopts the interface according to the class you're playing as, is still on the todo list. I hope this answers your questions.

[@Lightmaker5]

1 and 2 are my most fav. Heroes 3 did mess up the towns instead of adding more. Like Sorceress got mixed with Knight. And they added religion into (angels). Because if you go by mythology and history, Sorceress and Knight are actually enemies. Angels belong into the Knight town. Angel and Fairy is not the same thing. Because if you go by the history Fairy = peace. Angel = war. Sorceress town is my favorite. Heroes 2 made it even better. Heroes 3 destroyed it. That's why I never really played Heroes 3.

[@JS-hi3oo]

I think if you right click on the ground it tells you whether you can dig or not.

[@Norovo]

Good point

[@Demonarrows1]

as a pleb who sucks at this game, are there any cheats that work for the game? The gog ones dont work

[@Lappmogel]

Map editor is pretty simple, you can just go in there and add barrow mounds and couple of stacks of peasant outside your starting town.

[@ser6Ijvolk]

Just put the difficulty down and you should be fine. At that point you can just build some dwellings and wait for more units without being punished for being passive early game.

[@snippao9608]

Id like to know a cheat to open the map... the classic cheats are not working Something is not right: IN broken alliance the purple player next to green player starts with giants and titans =/ AS far as i remember, only the wizard on the island had acess to it not the mainland purple

[@Hmbs271]

Cheats have not been implemented yet. There's a debug mode but you'll have to build the project yourself. The reason purple started with titans and giants is probably because they managed to get either Dimension Door or Town Portal. This is widely considered a design flaw of the original Broken Alliance map. It's possible to win, but I suggest to just restart and hope it doesn't happen again.

[@Self-replicating_whatnot]

I can't currently conjure the brainpower required to say anything intellegent so here, just have a thumbs up.

[@captaintofu4926]

I still cant get over only 5 stacks... ^^;

[@winoodlesnoodles1984]

14:19 - EPIC FAIL!!!!! Diplomacy is only useful at level 3. Otherwise it costs too much to recruit nuetral troops. On a small map there will be very few nuetral troops to recruit and you may never get level 3 diplomacy. Meanwhile, leadership has a chance to benefit every combat you get into.

[@superresistant8041]

I'm such a noob at this game

[@Shady_Yt.channel]

Hi bro wassup pls more aoe 2

[@pavelyankouski4913]

HOMM2 is the best. Need only rebalance and random generator

[@hoosierflatty6435]

Diplomacy is one of the best skills in the game? Not comprehending you there Brosauce.

[@KyriosHeptagrammaton]

Infinite free units. It's stupidly overpowered in the right circumstances. One game I had over 1000 Champions and several hundred crusaders

[@hoosierflatty6435]

@@KyriosHeptagrammaton How much did you have to pay to get those and what Day/Week/Month was it? "Right circumstances" for sure.

[@remembergandhi5583]

That new AI is real weak!

[@stassenchr]

Fun to see, but 2 vs 3 was such a big difference that I could never play 2 again after trying 3

[@Stefanish]

No dragon kill :C unsubbed

[@artemisseverjan6920]

Running around with peasants. That's all, folks...

[@mattatuckmanful]

U really dont like pathfinding its way better for a scout than diplomacy?? Pathfinding is better than luck id say

[@Norovo]

Pathfinding is one of the best skills in the game but not on a map where terrain penalty doesn't matter anyway

[@smiteriuszryceriusz1258]

oryginal better

[@korndog87]

BRO PLEASE .......pronounced CENTOR!!!! AND MIN-A-TOR farrrrk

[@rolandasgrigaitis708]

Nice game unfortunately graphics are terrible, it needs to be remastered.

[@thesimi7891]

graphics are beautiful

[@Pulsed101]

No offense intended, just making pointless conversation. *But* , how tf is Heroes better than Age of Wonders? Isn't it about time we all recognize the true king? 😅❤