Mount and Blade

[BlackBellamy]

So I picked this up having no experience with the previous version and I'm liking it quite a lot.

It's like a much better Total War game with the main loop being RTS not turn-based which is awesome because that turn-based shit makes simulations into puzzles.

I like the open world that allows you to just play how you like. I like the combat with the zooming around on my horse with my awesome bow and my posse of also-awesome elite horse archers. I love the army mechanics where you spend influence to throw other people's troops into the meatgrinder, just like IRL. I like dressing up my Aserai in the latest they're-not-really-Romans armor. I like that there's three games going on here; the first one is your typical RPG where you gather a party and loots and get better at skills and the second one where you're part of a kingdom, rising in influence and gathering fiefs and participating in internecine conflicts, and the final phase where you have your own country and it's time to rock-n-roll. Really just a LOT of stuff to do here.

The game is in early access and it shows. Yesterday's patch totally broke the economy and all the cities are starving. Tons and tons of bugs and missing features and stuff that just doesn't work.

edit: fucking sieges are awesome! I got a giant polearm I'm the first up the ladder just start swinging that shit back and forth then the rest of my guys climb up then we clear the battlements and next thing I'm on top of a tower shooting gate defenders in the back so much fun. Also the music is just perfect. Tuh dum dum dum tuh dum dum tah dah I just want to march all day.