| Mount&Blade | |
|---|---|
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| Developer(s) | TaleWorlds |
| Publisher(s) | Paradox Interactive |
| Designer(s) | Armağan Yavuz, Steve Negus, Cem Çimenbiçer |
| Version | 1.011 (November 3, 2008)[1] |
| Platform(s) | Microsoft Windows |
| Release date(s) | NA September 16, 2008 EU September 19, 2008 |
| Genre(s) | Action RPG, Simulation |
| Mode(s) | Single-player |
| Rating(s) | ESRB: Teen (13+) PEGI: 12+ |
| Media | CD, Steam |
| System requirements | 766 MHz processor, 256 MB RAM, 700 MB hard drive space, 64 MB graphics card |
| Input methods | Keyboard, mouse |
Mount&Blade is a medieval single-player open-ended action role-playing video game for Windows developed by the Turkish company TaleWorlds, and published by Paradox Interactive. Its retail version was released on September 16, 2008 in North America, and three days later in Europe. The game originated as an independent project of Armağan Yavuz, founder of TaleWorlds, and his wife, Ipek Yavuz.[2] Prior to its retail release, beta versions of the game were published on the developer's website.[3]
Mount&Blade is an action oriented role-playing game with emphasis on mounted combat. Unlike most other titles of the genre, the game contains no fantasy elements. It does not restrict the player to a certain storyline, but instead presents a sandbox medieval realm named Calradia, in which the player is given the ability to either join one of the five available battling factions, assume the role of an outlaw, or take a neutral side.
Reception on Mount&Blade has been overall positive. Reviewers praised the game for its innovative combat mechanics, complex character skill system, and large modding community,[4][5][6][7][8] but also criticized it for its repetitive quests, dialogues, and locations, as well as low graphics quality.[4][5][7][8][9]
Contents |
Mount&Blade is a single-player, action oriented role-playing game without any fantasy elements, which takes place in a medieval land named Calradia. The game features a sandbox gameplay style, in which there is no storyline present. The player is able to join one of the five battling factions, fight as a mercenary, assume the role of an outlaw, or take a neutral side.[4][5][10]
According to Armağan Yavuz, the game's inspirations include Sid Meier's Pirates!, The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall, Frontier: Elite II and Koei strategy titles as well as historical fiction novels, particularly those by Bernard Cornwell.[11]
At the start of the game the player is offered a set of options to customize the character. After selecting the desired gender, a series of questions about the character's past are given, which would determine his or her initial attributes. The facial features are also customizable through a system similar to the one found in games like The Sims 2 or The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion.[10][12][13]
Traveling to other locations, or interacting with other parties is done by point-and-clicking the desired destination. Upon encountering enemy parties, the player can try to avoid a conflict, or can engage in a battle with them.[4][13] In Mount&Blade each battle is attributed a renown value, according to the number and power of the members of each party. Based on his renown, the player can be offered vassalage by the leaders of one of the five factions. By becoming a vassal, the player is given control over a certain fief, which he or she can manage and collect taxes from.[5][10]
By solving quests or defeating opponents the player is awarded experience points, which can be used to improve attributes, skills, and weapon proficiencies to further develop the character.[12] Mount&Blade makes use of derived statistics, meaning that attributes dictate the maximum level of a skill derived from that attribute. For example "leadership" skill, which indicates the number of members a party can hold, cannot be raised higher than one third of its base attribute, "charisma".[14] Weapon proficiencies can also be improved over time by inflicting damage on other opponents.[15]
Battles can either take place between two or more hostile parties that meet on the world map, or in fights and tournaments organized in town arenas.[16] The number of soldiers each party can hold is limited by the "leadership" skill and the renown of the leader. Participants in a battle can be either mounted or on foot. For melee attacks the player has to indicate the direction in which he wants to hit by moving the mouse in that direction,[17] while aiming with a range weapon is also done by using the mouse.[18]
Damage is dealt depending on multiple factors. Aside from each weapon's quality, its effectiveness is also influenced by the character's skill with that type of weapon. The speed at which the character is swinging relative to the opponent also influences this value. For example, a javelin thrown while running, or thrown while riding a horse at full gallop will be potentially more damaging than a javelin thrown while standing still.[19]
| Reception | |
|---|---|
| Aggregate scores | |
| Aggregator | Score |
| GameRankings | 73% (27 reviews)[20] |
| Metacritic | 72/100 (27 reviews)[21] |
| Review scores | |
| Publication | Score |
| Eurogamer | 5/10[22] |
| GamePro |  [10] |
| GameSpot | 6/10[4] |
| IGN | 8/10[8] |
| PC Zone | 62/100[13] |
| Pelit | 88/100[23] |
| PC Advisor |  [5] |
Reception on Mount&Blade has been generally positive, awarding an aggregated score of 72/100 from Metacritic and 73% from Game Rankings.[20][21] Reviewers acknowledged the game's potential, but also said it suffers from poor production values. GameSpot concluded that the game "feels more underdeveloped than it does flat-out bad"[4] and Eurogamer made a similar review, saying that Mount&Blade has "foundations [...] for something really quite special, but in its current state the game is nowhere close to delivering on its promises".[22] The game also received more positive reviews, IGN saying that it may be "the best game about medieval life ever made",[8] while PC Advisor called it "the first, great medieval role-playing game".[5]
Combat has been one of the game's most widely appreciated elements. Critics like Eurogamer, GameSpot, IGN and PC Advisor praised it, describing it as one of the best implementations of medieval combat ever created.[4][5][8][22] Not all reviewers agreed on the quality of the combat system. PC Zone criticized it, claiming that melee combat feels random in its effectiveness on both foot and horseback.[13] The game's character skill system was also well received, critics applauding it for its complexity and thoroughness.[4][6]
Mount&Blade has received negative reception from critics for its repetitive quests, dialogs, and locations, as well as poor graphics quality.[4][8][10][22] Eurogamer said the graphics engine "does little to entice you deep enough"[22] and GameSpot said that conversations with NPCs feel more like "consulting a travel guidebook for Calradia than actually speaking to a human being".[4]
The fandom has received positive attention from both developers and critics. During an interview TaleWorlds declared itself to be "most proud" of its community, considering that "Mount&Blade has arguably some of the best mods developed for a computer game".[27] Reviewers such as GamePro and Game Industry News also admired the number of mods made available for the beta versions even before the game's official retail release.[6][10]
Paradox has announced an expansion for the game, called Mount&Blade: Warband. The expansion is planned to include multiplayer support as well as improved diplomacy, graphics and artificial intelligence. The expansion was set to be released Q3 2009, but an administrator of TaleWorlds' official forum later confirmed that the expansion has been delayed until March 2010.[28][29][30][31][32] Now the official release date in the US has been confirmed to March 30 and expected for other areas on the same day.[33] Closed beta testing began on August 2009, and became open in February 2010.[34]
CD Projekt has announced a spin-off called Mount&Blade: Ogniem i mieczem (translates as With Fire and Sword), based on the historical novel With Fire and Sword by Henryk Sienkiewicz[35], developed by Snowberry Connection, Sich Studio and TaleWorlds Entertainment. The game will be set in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, and the playable factions will be Lithuania, Poland, Ukraine, Russia, Sweden and the Crimean Khanate. The planned release date is Fall 2009[36] in Poland, Sweden, Ukraine, Russia and the Czech Republic[37].
Mount&Blade | Table of Contents |
Walkthrough
| Mount&Blade | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Developer(s) | TaleWorlds |
| Publisher(s) | Paradox Interactive |
| Latest version | 1.011 |
| Release date(s) |
|
| Genre(s) | RPG |
| System(s) | Windows, Direct2Drive, Steam |
| Rating(s) |
PEGI:
 Ages 12+ESRB:
 TeenUSK:
 Ages 12+ |
| System requirements (help) | |
| Website | Official site |
| Expansion pack(s) | Mount&Blade: Warband |
| Followed by | Mount&Blade: Ogniem i Mieczem |
| Series | Mount&Blade |
Mount&Blade is an RPG from TaleWorlds. It is a strictly historical game (no monsters or magic, not even healing potions) set in the fictional world of Calradia. Its innovative design has already attracted a thriving mod community.
Mount&Blade's success has led to the development of Mount&Blade: Warband, an expansion which will add new features including 64-player multiplayer, and Mount&Blade: Ogniem i Mieczem, a standalone game by CD Projekt based on the popular Polish novel With Fire and Sword.
editMount&Blade series
Mount&Blade (Warband) · Ogniem i Mieczem
| Mount&Blade | |
 |
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| Developer(s) | TaleWorlds |
| Publisher(s) | N/A |
| Release date | N/A |
| Genre | RPG |
| Mode(s) | Single player |
| Age rating(s) | N/A |
| Platform(s) | PC |
| Input | Keyboard, mouse |
| Credits | Soundtrack | Codes | Walkthrough | |
Mount&Blade is an action RPG set in the middle of a fictional war between two kingdoms. The game is open ended, so the player can do whatever he wants, but the game is most centered around combat. You can compete in tournaments, hire mercenaries to help you fight bandits, or even capture prisoners and sell them as galley slaves.
There isn't much of a goal in Mount&Blade. You are placed in the region of Calradia in the middle of a war between the Swadians and the Vaegirs. You can join either nation and fight your enemies for gain, or you can stay independent, trading between the several cities scattered about the world map.
When you start the game, you can edit how your face looks, and your starting attributes. Attributes consist of the standard RPG elements, and at level up you can buy skills, all of which have practice effects like raising your health or allowing you to track units on the world map.
Contents |
There are a wide variety of weapons and armor in the game. All weapon types are effective in certain situations. A lance, for instance, is extremely powerful while charging with cavalry, but does almost no damage on foot. There is also a lot of armor, but the effect of armor is much less widespread. Plate armors are better than padded leather armors in every respect.
Mount&Blade is an Indie game developed by TaleWorlds, which originally consisted of a single couple in Turkey. Mount&Blade is still in beta stage, but they offer the game now as shareware. You will have to buy the game or start a new character after level 6.
   | Taleworlds official website - Mount&Blade |
| | the official site - M&B:Download |
| | Updated List of ''Mount&Blade'' Mods - Mod List/info sheet updated: 4/2/07 |
| | Mount&Blade Mod Downloads - Mount&Blade Unofficial File Repository - Downloads |
| | Calradia at War - Original Thread - Locked - Please See Newer Threads |
| | Dubious Quality comments on ''Mount&Blade'' - Dubious Quality: Mount & Blade |
| | ''Mount&Blade'' Wiki - banned interdit verboden prohibido vietato proibido |
| | Unofficial FAQ - Mount&Blade FAQ. |
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