Do graphics really matter? From an ideological point of view, definitely not. In reality? Sadly yes. Anyone who thinks that games have only improved aesthetically over the years, whilst the core mechanics have stayed the same, is kidding themselves. Just looking at the plethora of genres and sub-genres within the industry proves this, and even seemingly simplistic game types like the FPS undergo serious alterations and augmentations with each generation. And all of this puts me in a slightly difficult position when it comes to looking at Mount & Blade: Warband.
Warband is perhaps the closest example of a gaming industry equivalent to the B-Movie. The budget was small, the production values are low and this stand-alone expansion pack, which allegedly has been given a graphical upgrade over the original 2008 game, looks like it belongs to 10 year old technology. I will admit that it is not typically a game I would choose to play, solely because despite my conviction that graphics do not make a game, I’m still a bit of a pixel snob. High budget RPGs like Fallout 3 or any Bioware title are more my bag. But in one respect Warband walks all over these titles. And that respect is the completely insane level of open-endedness offered in its story.
The branching storyline of Warband makes other seemingly non-linear games look like feeble, restrictive twigs compared to its might oak of infinite choice. At points it can feel like you’re playing an old-school text adventure with the frequently wordy expositional dialogue boxes and multiple intertwining plot paths that you can take. On the up side the level of experience customisation that this affords cannot be matched by any other mainstream title, because recording the dialogue would take up billions of gigabytes usually reserved for megatextures, or whatever the latest graphical fad is. On the down side, Warband’s story delivery system feels archaic, and you will have to use your imagination. Like if you were reading a book or something.
Your imagination will also come into play when viewing the obviously aging graphics engine, but ultimately the disparity in visual fidelity between this and something like Oblivion (which itself looks tired after four years) will quickly be forgotten. If you immerse yourself in the game world for twenty minutes, the robotic animations and limited sound bank will be no more noticeable than someone drilling in the street outside. You’ll block it out. Mostly. And you’ll only be annoyed by it if something distracts you or breaks the spell cast over you by the game.
Speaking of spells, there is a notable lack of them in Warband, as in the original M&B. Kicking out the hocus-pocus is fine from my point of view, because my play style in RPGs which do feature magic usually means I resort to begrudgingly powering up one healing spell while my other skills points are funnelled into sneaking, strength, or being a charming cad. With no fantasy, Warband is basically selling itself as a historical RPG. The combat is key to making this work, and fans of the series will know that this is a strong point. But the feedback you get from hacking, slashing and shooting still leaves a lot to be desired. I longed for the tangible violence of Dark Messiah of Might and Magic.
The big addition to Warband is a multiplayer element which will definitely please fans of the original. In essence I am in favour of MMORPGs, but in practice I find that they eat too much of your life. Thankfully Warband’s multiplayer is focused on combat between big groups of up to 64 players in tropes of gaming like deathmatch and variations on this formula. There are different classes and factions to choose from, but these are simplified from the main singleplayer quest and there is not a whole lot of depth here. If you like the combat, that’s fine, but the deep singleplayer experience is not replicated online.
I’ve had trouble reacting to Mount & Blade: Warband, because it’s like trying to eat a week old cheesecake. It’s still got all of the elements that make a cheesecake great, but it just that hint of staleness that doesn’t sit right. And then you remember that there are loads of high definition cheesecakes in the fridge beside it. Some people will completely fall for this game, but others will long for a bit more corporate sheen. I personally wanted a bit of linearity, because choice scares me.
Buy at:
Well, I gotta say.. Your the type of gamer that is simply just bad for games..
Linearity, and a graphic snob?
Linear gameplay and great graphics doesn’t equal a great game. In fact, I’d argue that focus on those two items does exactly the opposite.. It’s created a plethora of terrible games and gamers alike..
I am pretty darn sure it will be the old school gamers who appreciate this game more than the new age of gamers who are all about graphics and easy linear gameplay.
Not a shot at the reviewer as a person.. But I’m pretty damn sure we’re dealing with a “third generation” gamer here.
My 2 cents..
In your seven paragraphs of bullsh*t you mentioned almost nothing of how the game actually operates and what is or isn’t fun about it. This entire article seems as though it assumes/expects the reader to have already played the game. If we have already, why the hell would we need your sh*tty review?
Hate to seem like an ass, but reading your review will be a waste of anyone’s time.
Hi Ian,
Cheers for the comments
I consider myself to be a progressive oldschool gamer, if there is such a thing. I appreciate the works of the past, but I do believe that the industry is always moving forward and improving, even if there is plenty of dross out there that is only notable for having a higher polygon count than the previous generation of games. As I point out during a later paragraph in the review, the graphics in Warband are only an oddity for the first few minutes, particularly if you’ve just come from playing a title based on current gen engines. Once you begin your quest, this quickly becomes an irrelevance, which is a point that I’d hoped to have made clear.
On your other point, I’m a big fan of linearity in gaming, and I don’t believe that this is quite the taboo subject that many gamers and developers perceive it to be. The finely crafted, three hour experience of Portal, for example, is completely linear, driven by a narrative and set in a world that is entirely convincing and involving. Would it have benefitted from having multiple paths and a system of choices to make? Almost certainly not. Linearity equals narrative cohesion, provided that the pacing is handled well and the characters are rounded enough to be invested in. It also does not automatically imply that the game is ‘easy’.
Games which claim to offer non-linearity almost always present the variants available as a binary choice between black and white, good and evil etc. Missions may be playable in different orders, and certain elements may be influenced by choice, but it is ultimately impossible to tell the infinite varieties of story which players could potentially forge with their own creative style. I’m not bunching Warband in with the likes of GTA or its offspring, but in the argument of linearity vs. non-linearity, I feel that this is relevant.
I’m intrigued by the idea of a ‘third generation’ gamer. What kind of games might this person like? The flash and graphical complexity of something like COD: Modern Warfare and its sequel are backed up by solid gaming mechanics, interesting uses of narrative tools which can only be seen in the games industry, and a decent level of challenge. And the FPS genre has evolved significantly since the days of Doom and Quake, undeniably improving, even if the various outings into the Half-Life universe still represents the pinnacle of this genre. The FPS is perhaps not the best example of this, particularly not in relation to Warband, but I am interested in what games and gamers fall into this third generation category.
I’m going to stop writing, because I think I’ve lost the thread, diverged from the point and probably failed to answer your criticisms adequately. Anyway, thanks again for your two cents, I like a stimulating conversation starter.
This is one of the best games I have ever played so I guess that shows how different someones opinion can be. Pity you appear to have no imagination left and need to be lead around like a sheep. Why would you attempt to review a game there was no way you would like just because it doesn’t meet your definition of pretty seems like a waste of your time as well as ours.
Ah, two more comments, cheers chaps
Thought – You’re quite right, I do not go into the mechanics of the gameplay with any depth of comment, except to mention that the combat is solid and based on real weapons rather than fantasy elements, the story is expansive and told in via means limited by the game’s budget, and the multiplayer is a mix of elements most players will be familiar with and is well executed. I tire of reviews which engage only with how the game works, so I thought I’d generate a wider discussion on the elements of the game which struck me; namely the graphics and the story.
John – I hope that my arguments were more complex and less focussed on the negatives than you imply. I criticise Warband in certain ways, but I also reflect that criticism back on myself as a personal gripe rather than something that would be universally off-putting. In theory Warband is precisely the type of game that I enjoy, and I did enjoy some of my time spent with it.
Perhaps these comments have been influenced by the fact that the game was given two stars in this review, which might be perceived as a pretty low score, particularly by fans of the series. In reality this is not the case, and I recommend you check out the review policy of this site, which in relation to two star games states:
“2. Nothing Special – To us this score should not be frowned upon, in fact it’s a good score and one which you will see quite a lot. Games with a 2 are good solid titles but don’t really have that care and attention to elevate them to something outstanding.”
I hope that this makes things a little clearer. I can see how Warband could appeal to many millions of people, but it could hardly be described as having universal appeal.