Mount & Blade Warband

If the name of this game sounds familiar that is because Mount & Blade was actually released before and then this standalone expansion, Warband was released and it changed the game considerably, so much so that there is no going back to the original game.

Take The Throne

The story of Mount & Blade Warband is not the deepest story that I have come across in a game, but the story is not the reason that you are really playing the game. Your motivations for the game are that you are sick of the land being taken over by warmongers so you decide to get your own crew together to wage war and take the throne for yourself. You do this by kicking butt getting people to join you and becoming the ruler of your very own faction.

Prepare For War

By far my favorite part of Mount & Blade Warband is the combat. Even though this is an older game the combat still feels very good. You have so much control and I love the swordplay, the way you can fight on horseback and also the way you can run around the battlefield and use things like arrows for your own ammunition is really cool. The combat is one of those things that is very easy to learn the basics of, but it is very hard to master. It does feel very rewarding when you do get it just right though so stick with it.

Politics, What Politics!

As this is an RPG style game there is a lot for you to do. One of the things that was added to Mount & Blade Warband which was not part of the first version was politics. You can help earn yourself the favor of different factions and settlements by doing things like marrying a certain lady or you can use your power to influence a lord to do something that benefits you. Of course, this is a fine line to walk and it can backfire on you! It is funny how when you are trying to romance a lady you can do it by being nice and doing things like poetry for her. Or you can show her how brave you are by doing something crazy!

Multiplayer Action

Also new to Mount & Blade Warband are epic multiplayer battles. Multiplayer mode does away with all the RPG elements and instead the game focuses on combat.

You can play with up to 64 players so things get very hectic, but it is a lot of fun. I was very impressed with the amount of modes for multiplayer. Team Deathmatch, capture the flag, battle, siege and conquest are all available. The one I actually had the most fun with was capture the flag as we had to really work as a team to try and win.

Mount & Blade Warband is a really fun RPG and while the story may not have exactly hooked me. Trying to lead my own faction, gain favor with others and waging war on anyone who got in my way was very addictive. This is an older game and it has been worked on to make it a little more “modern” so while somethings can be a little clunky it is not a major issue. If you like RPG’s or if you want a multiplayer game that is a little different this is well worth a closer look.

8/10

Pros:

• The graphics and animations are pretty good
• Combat is a ton of fun
• Fighting on horseback is great
• The political elements are very well done
• Multiplayer is a blast!

Cons:

• Can be a little clunky in places
• The story is not the best