Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord
Mount & Blade II Bannerlord | |
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File:Mount & Blade II Bannerlord logo.jpg | |
Developer(s) | TaleWorlds Entertainment |
Series | |
Platform(s) | Microsoft Windows |
Release | 2016 [1] |
Genre(s) | Action role-playing game |
Mode(s) | Single-player, multiplayer |
Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord is an upcoming medieval action role-playing game, developed by TaleWorlds Entertainment. The game was announced in 2012. It is a prequel to Mount & Blade: Warband. The game's release date is still unannounced, but some form of the game will likely be available this year (beta testing or early access) which was confirmed at Gamescom 2015.[2]
Plot
Setting
The game is set 200 years before Mount & Blade: Warband. It takes place during the decline of the Calradian Empire and the formation of the Kingdoms that appear in the previous games. The Calradian Empire and its downfall are analogous to the Roman Empire's fall and the formation of the early Middle Eastern, North African, and European kingdoms. The armor, weapons and architecture will draw inspiration from 600 to 1100 A.D. Furthermore, there are many different vassals which serve the Kingdom the way they do.[3]
Factions
Bannerlord will include at least six major factions, each composed of competing clans with their own goals, as well as minor warband factions like mercenaries. The Northern, Western, and Southern Empire factions use a balance of heavy cavalry, spearmen, and archers. The Vlandians are a tribal kingdom specializing in heavy cavalry tactics. The Sturgians of the northern forests specialize in axe and sword equipped infantry. The Aserai of the southern desert are adept at both cavalry and infantry tactics. The Khuzait of the eastern steppe specialize in ranged cavalry. The Battanians of the central woodlands specialize in ambushes with archers from the trees.
Development
In September 2012, TaleWorlds announced that the game was in development and released a teaser trailer for it.
The game's graphics have been significantly improved from its predecessor,[4] Mount & Blade: Warband, having better shading and higher detail models. The character animations are created utilizing motion capture technology[5] and the facial animations will also be updated to improve upon the portrayal of emotions.[6]
Gameplay related features are also being upgraded with a new inventory interface and better artificial intelligence.[7] The siege system is also being improved based on player feedback, with additional tactics being available during sieges.[8] The current state of the game and various features were showcased during the 2015 Gamescom trade fair.
In March 2016, some 40 minutes of gameplay was shown at the PC Gamer Weekender in London.[9]
References
- ^ Savage, Phil (February 2016). "Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord - Popularising the medieval RPG sandbox". PC Gamer (288). Future Publishing: 54.
- ^ "did the guy in the red shirt say Bannerlord release date proberly 13 june 2016 in autumn, my german aint the best if a real german could translate please • /r/mountandblade". reddit. Retrieved 2015-12-13.
- ^ "Bannerlord Development Blog Episode VII: Return of the Blog". Bannerlord Development Blog. TaleWorlds. 29 August 2014. Retrieved 19 October 2014.
- ^ "Mount&Blade II: Bannerlord Developer Blog 1 - Hairy Artists". Bannerlord Development Blog. TaleWorlds. 22 November 2013. Retrieved 19 October 2014.
- ^ "Mount&Blade II: Bannerlord Developer Blog 5 – Virtual Skeletons". Bannerlord Development Blog. TaleWorlds. 14 March 2014. Retrieved 19 October 2014.
- ^ "Mount&Blade II: Bannerlord Developer Blog 6 – Astounding Squirms". Bannerlord Development Blog. TaleWorlds. 7 May 2014. Retrieved 19 October 2014.
- ^ "Mount&Blade II: Bannerlord Developer Blog 3 – Unexpected Parties". Bannerlord Development Blog. TaleWorlds. 20 December 2013. Retrieved 19 October 2014.
- ^ "Mount&Blade II: Bannerlord Developer Blog 4 – Flexible Entries". Bannerlord Development Blog. TaleWorlds. 24 January 2014. Retrieved 19 October 2014.
- ^ "Mount&Blade II Bannerlord - TaleWorlds Entertainment". www.taleworlds.com. Retrieved 2016-03-25.
External links