Mount&Blade - Review @ bit-tech.net

UK site bit-tech.net posts their review for Taleworlds' Mount & Blade, giving it an 8/10 score:

Mount & Blade ...doesn't have a story, but your place in the world is clear. The freedom of the game means that the story is whatever you make it.

This level of freedom might not be for everyone though – a lack of targets and goals might be off-putting to some. Still, Mount & Blade is really just "Ye Olde Elite" with horses instead of spaceships, and a more in-depth socio-economic framework.

That's not to say that all is a bed of medieval roses with Mount & Blade. The structure of the game means that there is a lot of repetition – there seem to be only a limited number of quests available, and getting constantly attacked by bandits early on in the game is a massive drag. It may be an open-ended affair, but the replayability will still eventually get worn out thanks to the fairly limited number of quests.

Still, persevere and you'll be rewarded by the depth of the game: the further you progress, the more political and strategic the game becomes, and the various factions gain and lose power. The world on offer in Mount & Blade is interesting, compelling and flexible - a toy which begs to be played with and is fun to mess with.