King's Bounty - Preview @ Strategy Informer

Strategy Informer is the latest to put up a preview of the fantasy  strategy/rpgish title from Katauri and Atari/1C, King's Bounty:The Legend, and they start by listing some of the problems of hybriding game genres:

Hybridization is a funny business. When you take various aspects from several games, you are running the risk of two possible results. It will either be a culmination of brilliance or a confused failure. It's a tricky design choice that often leads to fingers being pointed with the cry of “clone.” King's Bounty: The Legend is not apart from such accusations. The debut...title from Katauri Interactive seems to be founded on the consumption of already seen ideas. Its most obvious point of reference is the long running Turn Based Strategy series, Heroes of Might and Magic (which has arguably had its heyday). Its graphics engine is reminiscent of Warcraft 3, a blend of a bright colour pallet with cartoon-esque rendering. A quick glance can easily revoke any excitement but after getting a chance to play it, the nostalgic takes over and quickly puts any qualms to rest. This is a title [both] for those that have been there and done it and those who have yet to take their tentative steps into the generic fantasy realm.

 The overall impression is positive however:

The final point worth noting is the presentation. Loading times are lightning quick and only occur when entering a battle. For a preview build we were dutifully impressed. Sound comes down to simple fantasy tunes which neither please nor grind. The game's world is deliciously detailed with lush forests, dank caves and beautiful beaches. Despite its cartoon edge, it looks fantastic. It's not machine-breaking and the build was very stable. It's a well-rounded experience which we hope continues throughout the game.