Mount & Blade

"Where is lags in graphics, it makes up for in sheer gameplay"

At a glance:

Mount & Blade for the PC appears to be behind the times. Not only are the graphics something someone would expect to be present in a game almost a decade old, but the animation is choppy and there appears to be no story at all. Navigating the world map feels like you're playing Diablo all over again, and the strange aiming function for projectile weapons makes them all but unusable.

But that will only be your first impression of this game. Where the game lacks cinema style, bloom visual effects, the gimmicky controls or game mechanics of its peers, Mount & Blade makes up for it everywhere else. It is an incredible experience for any hardcore or casual RPG fan.

Graphics:

The textures are gritty, the models a little jagged in some places, and any youtube video will tell you: this game is not pretty.

But there is a pleasant grime to this game. Although the textures are not grand, they're not meant to be. Armor, cloth and leather appear convincingly -- from the character to you control to the dozens of soldiers on the battlefield, the textures, animations and models do their job. Considering the number of people who worked on this game (two), this game is beautiful.

Story:

Although there is no present story to the game, it's not entirely necessary. Mount & Blade is an open-ended sandbox RPG. You are whoever you wish to be, a lady-in-waiting, a university student, the son of a merchant -- and your task is simple: survive in a brutal war-torn region. Will you slaughter armies, pillage the country side, or join an empire, nurturing your own fiefdom?

Supposedly, a story mode is planned and will be eventually implemented in a (free?) patch.

Gameplay:

The gameplay is excellent. You can customize your character in anyway you wish. They can be a knight, specializing in lances, spears, swords, shields, heavy armor and whatnot -- or they can be a bandit ranger, focusing on your riding, athletic, archery and thrown skills. And if you don't like to get your hands dirty, you can choose to throw all your skill points in intelligence and charisma, tending to your army's wounds and commanding the battle safely at a distance.

Weapons, as you become more proficient in them, become more accurate. At first, crossbows, thrown weapons, and bows seem worthless. If you're dedicated however, they'll be deadly in your hands.

Charging headlong into a sea of infantry, trampling your clumsy enemies weighed down in their heavy armor, your own muddy mercenaries charging behind you, is incredibly fun.

Additional Content:

This game is mod friendly and already has many mods created for it, further expanding the options you have for Mount & Blade. Supposedly, there is even a Star Wars conversion in the works.

Buy or Buy?

You can download a free demo on Steam. Watch for another sale weekend. Mount & Blade only costed $7.50 USD from January 24-25 '09. An incredible steal for any RPG fan.

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 01/26/09

Game Release: Mount & Blade (US, 09/30/08)