I really enjoyed the darker aspect of the heroes 3 artwork. Here are the creatures that should return to form:

1. The archdevil- in heroes 3 they looked awesome, in heroes 4 they looked like mutated fire ants, and in heroes 5 they were better but too bulky looking. (like a gorilla set on fire with large horns)Also the heroes 3 taunt was nice effect.

2. The vampire- i like the nosferatu look of heroes 3, compared to the heroes 5 look.

3. The phoenix- I miss having these as the top level creature for Rampart/sorceress/sylvan. In heroes 1 they looked a bit sickly, but in heroes 2 they looked really cool.

4. The archangel- I don't mind the anime like angel from heroes 5, but comon the sword and armor from heroes 3 was a much more serious looking creature.

What do you all think?

Heroes 5 devils had that great 'stompy' appeal to them though, but yes, the taunting move and 'classic' archdevil was superior.

It's a close call on the vamp. With HOMM5 you get the impression that they're 'fallen' princes - but again HOMM3's were more creature like.

Never played HOMM2 so can't really comment - the HOMM5 Phoenix's were definitely more 'graceful' looking than 3's though.

I wouldn't really describe 5's archangels as 'anime' (check out the forthcoming DS version for that *shudders*)

I too hope that the devs working on HOMMVI take notice that fans like us want a return to the more serious, darker art of the originals

Well this might be SLIGHTLY off topic but I liked the H3 heroe Gelu. You played with him in the Elixer of Life campagn.

I like heroes that can train specialty unique units.

For those that dont know......

Gelus special ability was being able to train sharpshooters from archers, crossbowmen, elves, and grand elves.
Sharpshooters had no range penalty which means they always did full damage even shooting across the whole battlefield.
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On topic now

I really liked the classic skeletons from H3. Bones and a sword is really all you would get from reanimating peasents (which is what necromancers do best!)
I liked the classic vampires better.
I prefer to have centaurs over pixies.
The Pit fiends are WAY better in H5.
I miss the silver pegasi from H3

I agree with the OP. Many of the designs in heroes 3 were much better, they could just use a bit of refurbishing. Absolutely agree with units like (Arch)Angel, (Arch)Devil, vampire... also the lich for example...

on the other all the units would have to be kind of redone, not just some because I can't imagine how the H3 angel would fit in with rest of the H5 units and their kind of roundy - bulky designs...

What I'd really love to see back though is the older titan design.. I liked the H3 or even H4 much more than the current one.