Mount and Blade II Bannerlord

Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord is the second full-fledged installment of the popular series, which combines elements of action games, strategy and RPG. Responsible for the creation of the title are the authors of the original and its numerous expansions - the Turkish studio TaleWorlds.

Storyline

The plot of the game is set 200 years before the events shown in Mount & Blade: Warband. The place of action is a powerful superpower in the land of Calradia, whose ruler died, leaving no heir. An interregnum has prevailed in the state, and numerous groups of bandits, nomads and mercenaries have appeared on the trade routes. Fortunately, our protagonist appears in the state threatened with collapse, and his task is to find his way through the complicated political situation and prevail over the wayward noble courts, restoring the land to its former glory as the leader of one of the many available factions.

Mechanics

The general premise of Mount & Blade II does not deviate significantly from the schemes of the previous installment, so the game's plot is only a background for the extremely extensive gameplay. The gameplay is again divided into two main aspects: strategic and arcade. During the game we move around the vast map of the virtual land, the area of which is about 230 square kilometers in total. In the surrounding inns we hire warriors and adventurers, and in the villages we purchase food and drink for our troop. In addition to performing tasks related to the plot and a whole lot of side quests, the core of the game remained, of course, numerous battles, during which we stand at the head of one of the fighting armies, observing the action from behind the back of our hero.

However, the second part of Mount & Blade is also a lot of improvements and modifications, which gave the gameplay even more sandbox character. Significant improvements include the character creator, which allows you to modify virtually every element of the character's face and appearance. The gameplay is introduced by an improved tutorial, which has become much more dynamic and engaging than its predecessor. A lot of work has been put into the system of fighting and capturing strongholds. In battles we can give more precise orders, and during attacks on castles we can use siege machines and destroy some elements of walls with their help. A better experience is also provided by a tweaked artificial intelligence system, which makes our soldiers able to make decisions on their own and quickly move to the place of battle where they will be needed most.

Other noteworthy enhancements include greater character individuality - each has its own story and trade, which can prove vital to the entire team. The game world is teeming with life of its own, and the people encountered are meticulously engaged in their daily chores and a range of other activities. The map of Calradia also features additional interesting places outside the cities and fortresses. The game significantly expanded the possibilities of managing our domains (imposing taxes, training warriors, directing people to build) and introduced an autonomous trade system, taking into account demand and supply, which allows the use of additional tactics (economic warfare, cutting off a besieged fortress from resources, etc.). The whole is complemented by an extremely extensive crafting system, thanks to which we can forge a unique sword for ourselves, deciding on its appearance and parameters.

Technical issues

Mount & Blade II features a much improved audiovisual setting compared to its predecessors, based on a brand new proprietary engine. The improvement can be seen both in the appearance and greater interactivity of individual locations, as well as during battles - especially those involving more warriors (e.g. sieges of castles). The course of battles can be influenced by factors such as seasons and changing weather. In addition, we can analyze each skirmish in detail using an effective replay system. The developers also did not forget about the modders, putting at the disposal of players an extremely functional, layer-based editor with huge possibilities.