Mount & Blade: With Fire & Sword Reviews

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Written by WorstUsernameEver on May 13th, 2011

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When you start out, you'll craft your hero's face in a way which feels a lot like a watered down Elder Scrolls: Oblivion. From there, you'll run through a tutorial that will introduce you to combat. And this is the first point of contention for me- the controls. While they're easy enough to figure out, they all just feel a little. off. Take jumping for instance; leap into the air and you'll stick the landing better than any gymnast could ever dream to. It's completely impossible to jump over something and hit the ground running. Won't happen- and that's not all.

The swordplay is inconsistent, angling the mouse while your blade swings down to affect the damage done doesn't always work the way you might intend. Likewise, rife shots that should kill your target occasionally end up doing nothing at all. And, for a major addition, the guns aren't all that useful with their stunningly long reload times. I also experienced a few crashes back to the desktop while aiming on horseback that were beyond annoying. But you know what? A surprising amount of this stuff can almost be overlooked, as commanding and riding into battle alongside your own personal army doesn't really get old.

The nitty-gritty of the Mount & Blade games has always been in their great up close combat. On its easy setting, the AI can be blocked by simply countering and swinging as they fall in line to your sword. On the harder difficulty, the AI can be brutal and it is here where Mount & Blade shines. The AI marksmen will pick you off if you run head long into the battle, causing you to pick your fights and use the game's combat tactics to best use. Ironically, as good as the AI is at adding challenge to the game, you will often be mid-fight, only to get picked off from seemingly nowhere, leading to what can only be described as a (really!?) moment. Many times, I've been happily shooting away only to see myself fall to a heap on the ground to a head shot from a guy who must be using a prototype sniper scope from across the battlefield.

There were a few problems I had with the game. First, the tutorial is a complete joke. It lasts all of about 5 minutes and just shows you the aspect of battles. There is no help whatsoever with the over world parts. The game just throws you into it and you have to figure out what to do yourself. Second, The graphics are rather bland. It just looks like a game from 2004. It's not a bad thing, but even I could see age in the visuals. I have also come to the conclusion that there is no way in the world to make a character that wasn't completely ugly. I wanted a suave, debonair warlord and all I got was a deformed looking man with a mustache named Ken Masters. And last, because the game doesn't hold your hand at all, it makes the game difficult, even brutal at times. I can't tell you how many times I was captured by slavers early on in the game. Obviously, the game does get easier the more you level up and hone your skills, but for beginners like me, it took a good 3 hours to finally get the hang of the entire game.

Even with the difficulty the way it is, and the overwhelming feeling you get when looking at the map for the first time, I can't help but love the game. It really is enjoyable after you get used to how the game works. Managing your squad of mercs and leveling up your character is fun and addicting. The multiplayer is a blast and the battles just feel so epic. For $15, you really can't go wrong with this action RPG. It will take some patience, but once you understand how the game works, you will be hooked.

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