Video Game Review: Mount and Blade

Mount and Blade is a fairly new video game being developed by a small, private team. The game itself is currently in the production phase, although it is available for download from www.taleworlds.com; anyone can try it and play up to level 6, and then must pay to continue playing, or, they can simply create a new character and play up to level 6 again. As new versions are released, the price increases, but users only have to pay once, and they're guaranteed to be able to play the full game on final release.

The game itself is simple, but addictive. You start by creating your character, and can choose the character's sex, background, and face. You're then deposited in a small river town, where you can learn the basics of combat from a local trainer, fight in the arena against various foes in order to gain experience, and find your first quest, to hunt down river bandits plaguing the town.

While the premise is fairly simple, it is the combat part of Mount and Blade that really stands out. Once you start out from the town, you're taken to a large map screen, which you can walk or ride around on, and visit different towns. Along your way, however, you're liable to encounter various enemies, including bandits, soldiers, pirates, and raiders. This is where the game really shines.

Combat in Mount and Blade is fast and furious. Upon finding enemies and engaging them in a fight, you're taken into a landscaped view, and, along with anyone in your party, you begin your battle. If you're on a horse, you have a huge advantage, and can ride your enemies down at full speed; you can also fight on foot, however.

The weapon system of Mount and Blade is excellently implemented; you can pick from all sorts of swords, daggers, axes, polearms, bows, throwing knives, clubs, maces, and lances. Picking the correct weapon for the situation is vital; for example, if you've got a fast horse who can charge well, you might want a long, strong lance to take down your enemies as you ride them down; if you want to battle up close, you'll want to put away the lance and wield a falchion, perhaps, allowing you to make quick, precise slashes.

The horse riding portion of Mount and Blade is also very well done, with intuitive controls, and horses that act and respond very realistically. Don't expect your horses to last forever, however; a well-placed swipe by an enemy can send you tumbling to the ground, forcing you to take up the battle on foot. This is one of the great things about Mount and Blade; combat is so varied, you'll never have the same fight twice.

Mount and Blade does have a few weaknesses; first, it's not completely done, so some features are still not implemented. The Mount and Blade team releases updates fairly regularly, however, and a full version should be done sometime soon. A second weakness is the plot; there's not much of one, unfortunately. You can join one of two warring factions and carry out orders and quests, but they're all fairly generic. Fortunately, the excellent combat more than makes up for the lack of story.

Overall, Mount and Blade is a very fun diversion; the combat is addictive and intuitive, and, while there isn't much of a plot, players will find themselves playing again and again just to slay a couple more bandits. Additionally, Mount and Blade allows players to create modifications; a handful of total conversions exist, including one that allows you to play the game in the world of J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings. These mods should definitely be checked out, as they can increase plot and variance. Visit www.taleworlds.com for more info on this great game.