Review: Chivalry: Deadliest Warrior

Gameplay

Chivalry: Deadliest Warrior is a DLC add on to Chivalry: Medieval Warfare from Torn Banner studios. For those unfamiliar with the first game, (Medieval Warfare has its roots as a Half Live 2 Mod, Age of Chivalry) it is a first-person fighting game using primarily melee weapons, set in medieval times, you could be one of several combatants and duke it out old school (really old school). Deadliest Warrior takes what was learned in the first two games and throws in a dash of pirates, a pinch of Vikings, a few ninjas and samurai for good measure and finally top it off some Spartan warriors. What you are left with is a super entertaining game that should put a smile on even the most jaded gamer.
Each group of fighters have their own unique fighting style, from the brutal Vikings to the quick, lightly armored ninjas. You will be primarily going hand to hand against your foe, although many of the groups have projectile or throwing weapons that can increase your options as you choose your load out. I won't go into each class in detail, but no matter your preferred play style you will be able to find someone who . As you play with each faction you level up and unlock more weapons and other unlockables. While I myself became partial to the Samurai class, I found myself still jumping from group to group just to try all the options that were available. Combat felt pretty good, and it can be fairly deep. You can run headlong into battle and swing your sword until you are exhausted but chances are you will die and injure one of your own teammates in the process, which is not a strategy if you want to defeat your enemies and win the match. There is a nice stamina system that you have to watch as you battle and each swing of your weapon or block from your shield is at a cost of energy. This makes you take more thoughtful approach to attacks and it feels nice to go the rounds with someone exchanging blows until one of you emerges victorious. At times for me, it felt as if the controls were a little rough and didn’t feel like it was as smooth and flowing as I would have liked.

Graphics and Sound

While noting in Chivalry: Deadliest Warrior is particularly great looking, nothing is bad either. Environments were nice and varied with each group getting their own arena to battle it out in. The great thing about this game is the mixture of warriors, and the different environments emphasizes that and looks nice while doing it. You may see a knight atop a hill of treasure in a hidden tropical bay, or you may come across a samurai in a frozen Viking village. Each area has its own look and feel and add some nice diversity. Textures and lighting never got in the way of enjoying the game. The music does an fine job getting you in the mood for the ensuing chaos although nothing is very memorable about it. The sound effects do add quite a bit to the experience, from satisfying thuds when blocking or the clanks and clangs of steel on steel action. The battle cries of the different groups as they charge the battle field sound great and help convey the epic scale of the battles containing some of histories greatest warriors.

Fun

What can you say about a game where a pirate and a knight can gang up on a Spartan or a samurai. Once you get used to the controls and fighting tactics, Deadliest Warrior can be a blast to play. There is definitely something unique about being a pirate and facing down a horde of ninjas that few games can replicate. The game modes can get a little repetitive as it is pretty much a team death match type of game, but having so many class options helps make up for it and keeps you from getting bored.