Dimrill wrote:
Squirt wrote:
NervousPete wrote:
Mount & Blade Bannerlord <31.99>
Ohh, what's that like? I've chucked a fair few hours into Warband, even though I utterly suck at it. For a long time I assumed it was total vapourware, so I'm impressed they managed to release it at all.
It's not worth the money yet. It launched in quite a sorry state given the build up of weekly dev teasers.
I think it's fun, but with sizable caveats.
The battle mechanics are great, the map and world lush, the feel and the handling and the graphics all work well together. Core gameplay of beating up peasants lobbing stones at you and progressing to field mighty armies and crying havoc is satisfying. I've had some stunning battles out in the desert as one of the tribes out there, doing my Lawrence of Arabia cavalry charges across sweeping dunes. Owing a town is a bit of a thrill.
There are still big issues with it though. Despite the Reddit butterlords scoffing mightily at the ease of running a kingdom and arranging alliances and wooing lords, the entire framework for doing so is rather obtuse and clunky. The risk / reward system of lords liking and hating you straitjackets you somewhat into similar nice guy playthroughs, despite my desire to villainously twirl a moustache. Village quests are super-valuable for the money they give you until you can get the coffers filled by managing a fief, but the repetition of the simplistic missions is a bit dull. It is still a bit buggy.
All the same I've sunk 116 hours into it, and not even conquered a kingdom yet. Probably because I keep restarting. I'd say it's worth it on balance, and they are beavering away updating it, but it is still somewhat unpolished and there are elements missing.