Sometimes I'd be able to move forward in this game. Other times I could just tell it was not worth the uphill battle to do so. I ended up exploring quite a few rather small dungeons next.

There would be a few instances where I'd attempt to clear a dungeon and it just did not work out great for me. One of them ended up being the Wasp Nest. It was perhaps the smallest dungeon in the game.     Other than a connecting tunnel. This dungeon had a few rooms that were around the same size as the room I was in. It had a few floors to it. I was unable to get up to the other floors from the way I entered. On the other side that I could drop down from there were just too many wasps to take on at once that I'd have to come back at a later time.     I did attempt to clear out what I could. After about six recovery breaks, I decided I had enough of this place. The insane number of wasps you need to take on each time just to move around in this place was not going to work out for me.    After finding a note in a tent near the dungeon claiming this place was loaded with treasure. I’d later return.  The treasure must have just been the honey that could be looted. As I found nothing else.  This was one of those dungeons I felt like my time was rather wasted attempting.

Next up I found myself in the dungeon of Balthazar Lair. The region to go through to get there was a nightmare and one I'd save clearing for another day. I had a quest that ended up taking me here.     The dungeon itself is flooded. There is also a massive puzzle of valves you turn to change water levels for different floors. This place was a nightmare. Even more so since I did not want to use the piece of paper, I found telling me what order to use the valves in.

This place was also filled with quite a few tritons. I’d sometimes know I unlock another area of it when they would come flowing in. I even lucked out and unlocked a fountain location that I could use to teleport back to this area.     As it turns out this place was not so much a dungeon but a town. I was even asked to remove the flood waters and the invading Triton that were causing so much trouble.     I ended up teleporting back here a few times. Since there was no place close to revive if my cleric got killed. Along with things like running out of food or even just finding a quick place to rest. Using the town portal became quite a huge deal there. Since I could always just return from whatever town I'd port to.     There was an endless trial and error on my end trying to work things out. It was not just as simple as going to a, b, c, d, e, f, and so on valves and turning them all on in order. As some of them would flood already-drained areas just to give you access to them.     I ended up doing quite a lot of running around. At one point I felt like I was getting how this puzzle was set up. I at least understood how to rest different locations and drain them as needed.     I even felt like I had fully cleared the place at one point. I ran back to the top of the town and was told I had yet to drain the place like the NPC wanted.     After far too many attempts, I just decided I'd take a look at the note I found. Sure, enough it had the exact order on it. I was so close to getting it yet who knows how much longer I'd have to spend trying.     I ended up just hitting the reset valve and speed-running the rest of the place. After all, I had everything cleared at this point. This ended up restoring the place to having shops. I even got them to join my console. I’d just need to get a few other factions on board next.     The next region I wanted to fully explore ended up being Shadowspire. There are some high-level shops and trainers in the main town. Along with some rather interesting and challenging dungeons.     In one of the dungeons I went into everyone was peaceful towards me. I was not permitted to pass a certain point, however. I had a feeling I'd need to return one day and break their rules turning them against me. Today was not that day, however.

I also found another dungeon called Yaardrake’s Cave. Sure, enough it was filled with drakes and dragons. I noped out of there so fast they did not even get a chance to land a single blow on me. I did not need to find out the hard way this place was not for me yet. I added it to the list of places I'd return to one day.     Clearing the region was hard enough of a time for me as it was. I kept marching forward, however. I decided after that I needed a bit of a change. I headed back of all places to Dagger Wound Islands.

Despite it being the starting area of the game. It turns out there was still lots for me to do involving that region of the game. I went into yet another tiny zone called Uplifted Library. It ended up being a bit tougher than I was expecting.     This dungeon ended up having a few floors to it. Each one had a staircase that would take you up to a second floor. You would need to ride an elevator up to another section of the library with a similar layout.     After a few floors, I found myself in what looked like the peak of the library itself. There was however a button I found that ended up opening access to a chest. Finishing off another dungeon was at least something.      

Final Thoughts

I end up finding myself a bit disappointed again by quite a few small dungeons. I’m getting to understand why the playtime stats for this one are a bit lower to finish the game than other Might and Magic games I've played in the past.      

Information

Screenshots were taken and content was written by @Enjar about Might And Magic VIII.