Mount and Blade is an RPG PC game headed for cult status.

Describing Mount & Blade as the poor man’s Oblivion would be a half-truth at best. Lots of gamers already enjoy the game more than they ever would the high-profile Elder Scrolls franchise. There are still similarities; the game is huge, it does not have a linear plot, and there are lots of Mount and Blade mods and other extras that you can download (for free) to make the game even more grand.

You are placed in the fantasy world of Calradia, and right from the start you’re free to  do whatever you want. No one will show you the way or tell you what to do – whether you want to gather an army and besiege castles or start a trading career, the possibilities are there just like they should be in a true role-playing game.

This game was made with a tiny budget and the technical aspects are not on par with bigger and more high profile games, but that’s also reflected on the games price tag. Besides, there are so many free extras available from the player community that the less fancy graphics feel like a minor issue.

It takes a while to get used to the game controls, which don’t behave exactly the way you’d expect in a game like this. Especially the fights are a bit awkward at first,  before you learn to block and parry properly. With a little training you will eventually get there though. Then again, depending on what profession you chose you may not need to fight that much.

Mount and Blade is a game with an insanely dedicated community of enthusiasts, who help the game grow and develop continuously by adding new mods and expansions. There’s always a chance that you’ll get hooked, too and be one of those who make long-term plans for capturing that castle that you’ve wanted for so long and draw your own maps and discuss the details in the forum.

If you feel like trying it out, you can do so for free by downloading the Mount and Blade demo off its developer Tale Worlds home page.

Tags | Mount and Blade, Tale Worlds