I wrote an in depth review on the original version of the game, but when they changed the base game into this version they did not take the reviews over. Summary: its a very pretty game with fantastic sound. The story is an interesting concept and it is fun. The problem comes with variety... there are only two factions that are nearly identical. It is fun at first, but quickly wears off after a couple of missions when youve basically seen and experienced everything. If you are an rts fan and it looks interesting, I would recommend it on a deep sale, but never at full price with all the dlc. I would say wait for 60% or more sale
In dev review - Yes, the M&B series isnt perfect, there is some level of jank, but it is the best medieval simulator you will ever play. For those unfamiliar it is a combination of RPG, strategy, and management game in one with amazing action combat. You begin with some companions and build a party to become a mercenary, a criminal, a trader, a lord for an existing faction to climb the ranks, or even make your own kingdom and become king. There is a world map where your party is represented and you move about to get to towns or castles and encounter other lords or criminals. You can interact with them, or battle which then moves into a battle map and you lead your troops. This time around they even added clans, which you form your own house, and other features such as blacksmithing. If youre in to RPGs or generally medieval times I would highly recommend it, watch a video or two and check it out. On top of an amazing medieval sandbox there are also some of the best mods. Right now they are in their early stages, but just check mods like Between Empires (19th century Europe with guns and cannons), The Last Days of the third age (LOTR total conversion), or any of the game of thrones or mods for warband. Bannerlord not only drastically improves and modernizes the graphics and sound and is a general great improvement, but also adds many features. With blacksmithing you can create your own weapons or sell them for money, you have your own clan to manage with relatives that can join your party or govern your castles and towns, much more advanced battle commands system, you can have children that will take your character's place when they die in combat or from old age, can start your own trade caravans, buy and start businesses in towns, start war parties led by companions, and so much more. Again, just check some videos if you are at all curious. The Mount and Blade series is the kind of game I waited my entire life for and Bannerlord is a vast improvement!
The series began as Operation Flashpoint in the early 2000s. It has always been known for brutal realism in everything from infantry to all of the vehicles. This series was adapted for use as a military virtual training program. Don't let that intimidate you, it is easy to get in to and you will get into it quick. It may take some getting used to coming from arcade shooters like call of duty or battlefield. In this series you can drive jeeps, trucks, halftracks, tanks, planes, helicopters.... or just be a soldier in a unit running across miles long battlefields. It does not have the greatest graphics, even though they're passable and hold up today, and there are bugs here and there. Despite this, it is the series I've most enjoyed for wargaming. The sound is fantastic and immersive. The best part are the never ending mods for each game that recreate nearly every conflict, nearly every military unit you can think of, and maps and campaigns to keep you going. There is a robust mission editor that is user friendly with plenty of guides on sites like armaholic or the bohemia interactive forums. Each game in the series has sufficient WW2 mods to make it by far the greatest WW2 game. Just search the internet for some videos of "Arma WW2", or any conflict you may be interested in. Even with this being one of the oldest in the series and not the greatest of the series, it is well worth the full asking price. Here's hoping they can complete the series and get Arma 2 back, get Arma 3, and Iron Front Liberation 1944 here!
The series began as Operation Flashpoint in the early 2000s. It has always been known for brutal realism in everything from infantry to all of the vehicles. This series was adapted for use as a military virtual training program. Don't let that intimidate you, it is easy to get in to and you will get into it quick. It may take some getting used to coming from arcade shooters like call of duty or battlefield. In this series you can drive jeeps, trucks, halftracks, tanks, planes, helicopters.... or just be a soldier in a unit running across miles long battlefields. It does not have the greatest graphics, even though they're passable and hold up today, and there are bugs here and there. Despite this, it is the series I've most enjoyed for wargaming. The sound is fantastic and immersive. The best part are the never ending mods for each game that recreate nearly every conflict, nearly every military unit you can think of, and maps and campaigns to keep you going. There is a robust mission editor that is user friendly with plenty of guides on sites like armaholic or the bohemia interactive forums. Each game in the series has sufficient WW2 mods to make it by far the greatest WW2 game. Just search the internet for some videos of "Arma WW2", or any conflict you may be interested in. Even with this being one of the oldest in the series and not the greatest of the series, it is well worth the full asking price. Here's hoping they can complete the series and get Arma 2 back, get Arma 3, and Iron Front Liberation 1944 here!
I left a long review near release, but it was deleted. I was a backer and wish I didnt. Between the backer rewards (quite insignificant rewards) requiring you to sign in the a Paradox account, which they didnt tell us about until after release, to the terrible optimization burning out GPUs, it is a mess. I understand turn based, but you will sit there for 80% of the time if not more, watching and just waiting. There are still bugs like the game hanging in between turns, crashes, and little annoyances like it focusing on the wrong mech during a turn. I have been a fan since 1995 when I first played MW2 and I was really looking forward to this. Unfortunately my inner fanboy is not enough to make me look passed the bugs and horrid optimization. Then factor in how grossly overpriced it is. If you really want it, wait for a significant sale. If you want an idea how overpriced, just look at what you get in the DLC for the price. I hope they can readjust for a sequel, or find a different dev to make it.
My first experience with a fighting game was in the early 90s with Mortal Kombat. Before that it was Double Dragon, Battletoads, and River City Ransom. I played Street fighter, Killer Instinct, Virtua Fighter, and more over the years. Ive always been partial to the MK series and played and own all of them except 11. I also loved even Primal Rage. While I experienced Fatal Fury, I was never got too much into the SNK games. I decided to give KOF a shot based on reviews and the fact that its DRM free. I was absolutely not disappointed. One of the greatest things about KOF is that all of the 50+ fighters have completely different styles and moves. They all feel unique and each require time to master each one. With most fighting games you can use any fighter once you learn the game and just learn the special moves, which still arent all unique... not in this game. The sound is fantastic, but unless Im missing an option, the audio is all in I think Japanese. I have no problem with that and they do have subtitles and menus natively in English. The graphics are ok. It looks nice and gets the job done, especially the atmosphere created by the backgrounds, but its just not up to the standards of other fighting games released around the same year. I think MK actually looks better on my PS Vita and cost half the price. Its still pretty and immersive, just not up to the standard of that year for the price. The graphics are about the only downfall. The game is so full of features, different stages, modes, a staggering lineup of fighters that you wont really pay attention that the graphics could be better. Another thing is that it is complicated. There are so many breaks, evasive actions, and more that it really takes time to learn and master. They do have easy mode combos and all, so you can ease into it. It also has a lot more depth than most as a result. I highly recommend you give it a try! Its high quality and has a lot to offer even for the cost.
I typically enjoy open world, non linear games. Thats the one good trend that came out of the past decade or two. This game gives you the feel of this, but with no direction at all. Its not overly complicated, but it has no tutorial or any direction at all, so it makes itself complicated in that way. I spent a few hours with it and Im still not sure what the point is. There is a prologue that doesnt give you much control and forces you to fight, then it goes to forcing you to go to school and a couple of cafes, but youre on your own to figure it out after that. I started gaming with the Atari and I know thats how older games were, but they also would tell you about necessities like eating and sleeping and give you some direction to the goal of the game. The graphics and sound effects are a perfect representstion of the 8 or 16 bit era and the music is great. As much as the aspects of going to school to learn, eating, sleeping, and training are frustrating with no direction, they also add to the complexity and give the gameplay depth. There is a 24 hour clock running and, as far as I can tell, you have to get to class on time, do your homework, eat, and sleep, and fit in your fighting and training in between. You can talk to and interact with most of the npcs, and it looks like there may be relationship building and fighting tournaments involved. Overall its a good game, you can tell they really loved this project and accomplished the look and feel they were going for. If they released just a text file with it to explain some of the mechanics, or put in more of a tutorial, it could easily be a five star game. Eventhe old school games came with a basic manual explaining the objective. If you loved the old brawlers such as Double Dragon, Battletoads, River City Ransom... you will find something to love here, but be prepared to either look up a guide or spend time figuring out what the point of this one is.
