An enjoyable pace, effective graphics and sound, and a refreshing combination of arcade control with RPG sensibilities.
You take on the role of a mercenary during the The Hundred Year War between England and France and while you can certainly go-it alone, you can also take command of various groups of troops. While there are many flavors, each with a unique combination of special attacks, they fall into one of three roles: melee, mounted, or ranged combat.
Once you've taken control of the group they will follow you and through simple controls, you can have them commence a generic attack and, cooldown allowing, perform one of three advanced moves. These range from increased damage output to increased defense to enemy stunning to devastating blows. What three skills you gain access to depends on the type of unit you command.
Though there is not an emphasis upon it, there is also a paper-rock-scissor undertone to the skills. Charging while on horseback will be devastating to most melee and ranged units but will have minimal impact on other mounted units. Then, some melee units have skills designed specifically to counter mounted charges. But such tactics are not necessary for victory, so you are able to select most kinds of units and leave your ally AI forces behind to wage your own personal war. Just don't expect to conquer the world by yourself.
That said, you're not out there alone. As you travel from stronghold to stronghold in an attempt to expand the influence of the country you're fighting for, so are many AI units. While some are left to defend, other groups will move out on their own and challenge the defenses of other strongholds. You can choose to charge forth with them, use them as a distraction to flank the enemy force, or bypass the enemy altogether and enter the stronghold they are meant to protect.
But even as the demo makes apparent, there's a pretty standard routine that's followed. So this might not be for those who want complexity and variety, but I find the simplicity adds to its value. It's a game you can pick up quickly, get use to, and bash heads together in a good variety of ways.