Mount and Blade: Warband is the enhanced version of the original game known simply as Mount and Blade. Warband features many more aspects that could not be found in the initial version.
The game takes place in Calradia, a fictional land heavily based in medieval Europe, Western Asia and Northern Africa, during a period that resembles the Middle Ages. The land is home to six warring factions - Kingdom of Swadia, Kingdom of Rhodoks, Kingdom of Vaegirs, Kingdom of Nords, Khergit Khanate and Sarranid Sultanate.
For starters, you are a simple and lonely adventurer that takes a ride from a caravan into Calradia, where you aim to shape your destiny as you see fit... Will you become a cunning brigand and take advantage of others in order to have your pockets full? Will you gather a band of mercenaries and become bounty hunters, chasing criminals to their dens? Will you walk the path of the merchant and travel all over the realm, buying cheap and selling at higher prices? Will you side with one of the factions and engage in massive battles and sieges for dominance? Will you create your own faction and eliminate everyone else? These paths and many more are available to you the moment you set foot in Calradia. Warband's extremely open universe allows you to do whatever you please, when you please. There is no already laid out plot - the plot develops according to your actions and never comes to an end. You are not restricted to a specific path, being able to choose what you want to do according to what you feel like doing.
Features: - Levels and skill point distribution system. This allows you to become an expert in your favourite traits. - Mounted combat. - Very good combat system. Takes some skill to manage between striking from the four different directions and blocking/parrying enemy attacks. - Ability to recruit troops and form your army. (Troops gain experience and level up) - Become the ruler of villages, castles and towns. - Trade. - Marry. - Participate in tournaments. - Multiplayer battles, with different game types. - Many fan-made modules/add-ons can be downloaded in order to enhance your Warband experience.
And much more.
Mount and Blade: Warband is definitely one of the best games of its genres - Sandbox, Action, Adventure, RPG. The gameplay is addictive, entertaining and you'll find yourself humming the menu theme quite often.
If you have steam access, you can try the demo and see how you feel about it before making any decisions.
