Mount & Blade
It's game review time! If you're not a gamer, you can stop reading and go back to whatever it is you weird non-gamers do with your lives.
If you're into open-ended role-playing games and medieval warfare, you're in for a real treat. Those of you who know me personally know that I'm an avid gamer, especially when it comes to fantasy RPG's, so you'll understand the gravity with which I state that Mount & Blade has the potential to be the best fantasy game I've ever played. And it's only in beta.
Developed by independent studio Taleworlds, it's proof that a multi-million dollar overhead budget is not a pre-requisite to write a good game.
An open-ended fantasy role-playing game, the core of the fun is the combat engine, and it's completely revolutionary in the way it presents the subject matter. The combat is so intense and well done, it's actually more like a simulator than a game. You can almost feel the horse under you, and it takes real skill to use the weapons properly--of which there are an enormous variety.
The balance of the game involves strategy and personnel management: build a mercenary company to hunt down bandits, fight in a war, or escort caravans for a fee. It's truly open-ended.
The beta is free for download and play through level six. It's so good, it's the only game I've ever voluntarily paid for the beta. ($12 gets you unlimited play, and you get the final release for free.) While still not fully fleshed-out, it's already extremely stable. The developer is constantly making improvements, as well. It's currently on version 0.622; my understanding is that the next beta release will include a more dynamic terrain engine, (i.e.- it will take into account the terrain on the overview map when it randomly generates the battle map. As it is, it's always a variation on hill country. Still quite varied, though.)
This game receives the Jar(egg)head Most Super Bestest Game Recommendation Award™.
Click here to download the demo, then prepare to be sitting bleary-eyed in front of your monitor at two in the morning, muttering "just one more battle."
Post-script:
When you start playing, here are just a few of the things I've learned the hard way:
1) The squire is easiest as a first character. He starts with a decent sword, a set of at least half-assed armor, and a horse. (Okay, it's a lame nag, but it's still a horse of sorts.) If you want a real challenge, crank the damage up to full realism and start with a priest. He gets a stick and robe to start with; you'll get ganked faster than an old white guy in a Harlem back-alley.
2) Hire people to help you. Solo combat (especially if you play it on full realism and damage settings) is an excellent way to get killed very quickly.
3) You can hold the button on the crossbow for as long as needed in order to refine your aim, but regular bows have an optimum release point, after which your aim starts getting worse again. Likewise, you set the swing style for your melee weapons by where you aim in relation to your target.
4) Two-handed weapons are very difficult to fight with from horseback.
5) Maintain control of your troops. I generally give the "Hold Position" order as soon as combat starts, so I can assess the terrain. Don't be afraid to dismount your cavalry and fight on foot if the terrain doesn't favor horses. Also, set up killing zones for your bowmen if the opportunity is there, (e.g.- an interveneing river or stream). Get good with the crossbow or bow; it's an excellent way to even the odds before charging. Also remember that you can't reload the crossbow while on horseback.
6) Avoid getting into densely-packed melee fights, especially when mounted. Armor won't save you when three or four infantry are around you, paralyzing the horse. Circle the battle, pick a target at the edge of the fracas, swoop in and hit him, then circle back out. Think of the horse as a fighter plane and you've got the idea.
7) Trading blows withers-to-withers with another mounted fighter is extremely challenging. Be sure you know what you're doing, and that you have the advantage; otherwise, run away.
8) In order to "couch" the lance, you must have a fast enough horse. It will automatically lower when you're moving fast enough. This is NOT the same as pressing the attack button with the lance equipped; that's merely for poking at infantry. Landing a couched lance on target will kill almost anything instantly. As with everything else in the game, it takes some practice to learn.
9) Kill horses. This ain't the movies. The quickest way to maim or kill a cavalryman is to kill his horse and get him on the ground. Aiming low with a big axe or polearm is an excellent tactic. Also remember that your horse is a weapon, especially if it's a big, fast courser or warhorse.
10) There's much, much more-- but you can discover it for yourself. One word of warning: Don't get cocky after you waltz through the 1-v-1 training sessions. The battlefield combat is much more chaotic and dangerous.
If you're into open-ended role-playing games and medieval warfare, you're in for a real treat. Those of you who know me personally know that I'm an avid gamer, especially when it comes to fantasy RPG's, so you'll understand the gravity with which I state that Mount & Blade has the potential to be the best fantasy game I've ever played. And it's only in beta.
Developed by independent studio Taleworlds, it's proof that a multi-million dollar overhead budget is not a pre-requisite to write a good game.
An open-ended fantasy role-playing game, the core of the fun is the combat engine, and it's completely revolutionary in the way it presents the subject matter. The combat is so intense and well done, it's actually more like a simulator than a game. You can almost feel the horse under you, and it takes real skill to use the weapons properly--of which there are an enormous variety.
The balance of the game involves strategy and personnel management: build a mercenary company to hunt down bandits, fight in a war, or escort caravans for a fee. It's truly open-ended.
The beta is free for download and play through level six. It's so good, it's the only game I've ever voluntarily paid for the beta. ($12 gets you unlimited play, and you get the final release for free.) While still not fully fleshed-out, it's already extremely stable. The developer is constantly making improvements, as well. It's currently on version 0.622; my understanding is that the next beta release will include a more dynamic terrain engine, (i.e.- it will take into account the terrain on the overview map when it randomly generates the battle map. As it is, it's always a variation on hill country. Still quite varied, though.)
This game receives the Jar(egg)head Most Super Bestest Game Recommendation Award™.
Click here to download the demo, then prepare to be sitting bleary-eyed in front of your monitor at two in the morning, muttering "just one more battle."
Post-script:
When you start playing, here are just a few of the things I've learned the hard way:
1) The squire is easiest as a first character. He starts with a decent sword, a set of at least half-assed armor, and a horse. (Okay, it's a lame nag, but it's still a horse of sorts.) If you want a real challenge, crank the damage up to full realism and start with a priest. He gets a stick and robe to start with; you'll get ganked faster than an old white guy in a Harlem back-alley.
2) Hire people to help you. Solo combat (especially if you play it on full realism and damage settings) is an excellent way to get killed very quickly.
3) You can hold the button on the crossbow for as long as needed in order to refine your aim, but regular bows have an optimum release point, after which your aim starts getting worse again. Likewise, you set the swing style for your melee weapons by where you aim in relation to your target.
4) Two-handed weapons are very difficult to fight with from horseback.
5) Maintain control of your troops. I generally give the "Hold Position" order as soon as combat starts, so I can assess the terrain. Don't be afraid to dismount your cavalry and fight on foot if the terrain doesn't favor horses. Also, set up killing zones for your bowmen if the opportunity is there, (e.g.- an interveneing river or stream). Get good with the crossbow or bow; it's an excellent way to even the odds before charging. Also remember that you can't reload the crossbow while on horseback.
6) Avoid getting into densely-packed melee fights, especially when mounted. Armor won't save you when three or four infantry are around you, paralyzing the horse. Circle the battle, pick a target at the edge of the fracas, swoop in and hit him, then circle back out. Think of the horse as a fighter plane and you've got the idea.
7) Trading blows withers-to-withers with another mounted fighter is extremely challenging. Be sure you know what you're doing, and that you have the advantage; otherwise, run away.
8) In order to "couch" the lance, you must have a fast enough horse. It will automatically lower when you're moving fast enough. This is NOT the same as pressing the attack button with the lance equipped; that's merely for poking at infantry. Landing a couched lance on target will kill almost anything instantly. As with everything else in the game, it takes some practice to learn.
9) Kill horses. This ain't the movies. The quickest way to maim or kill a cavalryman is to kill his horse and get him on the ground. Aiming low with a big axe or polearm is an excellent tactic. Also remember that your horse is a weapon, especially if it's a big, fast courser or warhorse.
10) There's much, much more-- but you can discover it for yourself. One word of warning: Don't get cocky after you waltz through the 1-v-1 training sessions. The battlefield combat is much more chaotic and dangerous.
posted by Jar(egg)head at 10:19
3 Comments:
Learn much avid gamers can from a teacher such as you. I am a WWII combat game junkie so I can imagine how excellent your game is. Great post.
I loaded it up last night and made it to tournament fighting. I was enjoying it immensely right up until my computer locked up. Hopefully it will be more stable after beta testing is complete.
Hrm, that's strange. Been stable as a rock for me through dozens of hours of play. My first guess would be a vid driver conflict. Pretty common in beta software, since they've not had time to write around the myriad quirks found in most driver builds
That's especially true of ATI, by the way. Those goonie birds couldn't write a stable driver if their careers depended upon it--which they do. Barring a massive change in the way their business is structured, I'll probably never buy an ATI product again. I got tired of trying to second-guess their driver hierarchy in order to make my expensive vid card work.
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