Mount & Blade – PC Game Preview

Once the player has some combat experience, the middle game is where he starts to roam the world and establish his reputation. The player navigates a lush 3D map of the M&B world. Gameplay is of the sandbox variety and there are no scripted events. While the player moves his party, the world swirls with activity around him; kingdoms go to war, sieges start, villages are looted, and battles happen in far off lands. Traveling from village, to town and castle, the player recruits peasants and veteran mercenaries to join him. With each fight, those that live gain experience and equipment. But the troops have to be paid and fed, so finding fame and fortune is a constant challenge. Maybe the player earns fame chasing down bands of sea raiders on the coast. Maybe the player offers his services to a local lord or king to track down wanted men. Maybe the player earns easy cash by escorting merchant caravans, or leaning toward the dark side, raiding those same caravans and selling the captured guards into slavery. The open-ended approach to playing is appealing and fresh.

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Eventually, the player’s character gains enough reputation that he is invited to become a vassal of one of the kings. There are five kingdoms in M&B, each representing a real cultural group from history. The Khergs, horsemen of the steppes, fight mostly with lances and horse-bows. The Nords fight on foot, but can quickly take down cavalry that ignore their archers. The Vaegers, Rhodoks and Swadians, fight mixed and represent historical groups from Central and Western Europe.

Fighting for a kingdom puts the player into the big leagues. The kingdoms are always at war with their neighbors, so raiding the enemy’s villages and fighting their lords in open battle are great ways to gain favor with your king. Eventually, the player will siege a castle, and if the player wins, he may find himself to be the new lord of the fiefdom. A group of castles and villages are great ways to fund an ever hungry army, and are a spring-board to even greater glory.

Currently, Teleworlds is allowing anyone to download the beta version of the game and play till the character gets to level six. After that, those wishing to continue can purchase a license at a reduced cost from eventual retail. Even in its current state, the game is very stable, playable and fun. So if the thought of donning armor and riding a fiery steed into battle appeal to your inner warrior, you can’t go wrong by trying this great upcoming game.