Bladestorm is an overlooked strategy/action RPG hybrid that delivers loads of medieval mayhem.
The game is easy to compare to other w-Force games, such as Kessen or Dynasty Warriors, because they are similar in many ways. Battles are waged on massive fields, with hundreds of troops on screen, dotted with named heroes of frightening power. Through your actions in combat, your goal is to shape the course of the battles by waging war, and completing certain objectives within a time limit. Like others so mentioned, this too is the heart of Bladestorm.
Unlike Dynasty Warriors, though, this game takes place in 13th century France, and your means of waging war are quite different. Instead of controlling an avatar from the classic stories and slaying hundreds of opponents single-handedly, you are an anonymous mercenary commander who leads squads of enemies into the fray.
You do this by commandeering troops from your chosen side (which can vary from mission to mission) and ordering them to attack nearby troops or execute special maneuvers in real-time. When in such a group, your avatar fights as one of the team. This sortof mitigates the "one-man-army" feel present in other action games, and might put people off looking for a button-mashing experience.
The thrills of Bladestorm come from the visceral intensity of the combat itself, and the proper selection of troops on the battlefield. The graphics of the game are good, but not spectacular... however the sheer scale of the battles is breathtaking. Individual squads contain between 5 and 30 men, and dozens of squads march around the field at once, entering battles numbering in the hundreds. With cavalry smashing through the melee, arrows sailing down from ramparts, and colorful flag-bearers scurrying about, this game truly lights the fires of imagination. The battles are chaotic and messy, a tangled web of steel, just like you'd expect. If you hunger for large-scale medieval battles on your console, make no mistake. This is the ticket.
Since it's difficult to win battles alone, and you command units instead of a single man, the fun comes from choosing the right units for the job. Units have experience levels and equipment which create a complex rock-paper-scissors relationship with one another. Cavalry can smash footman, but are easily felled by archers and pikes, who in turn fall victim to quick units with rapiers, which can't stand up to armored troopers, and so on. With over 20 unit types, there's a lot to think about. Since armies are often of mixed composition, taking command of the right squad at the right moment can really save your skin. Troops generally perform better under your command then alone, and learning to move units around to pick apart battles makes for satisfying strategy.
Beyond this, there's significant role-playing elements in between battles. As you gain experience in each of the weapon categories, you can upgrade your squads with improved attacks, better weapons, as well as purchase better armor and powerups for your mercenary general. In addition, you can purchase mercenary units which you can call out at any time on the battlefield, if suitable fighting resources aren't available.
Technically speaking, there's little variety in the missions, which can be the game's biggest downfall. 90% of the time you are tasked with capturing a specific point within a time limit, and the process is usually the same. The game is rather long, and depite having plenty of new units by the game's end, you'll still be leaning on your old standbys to complete the next objective. The difficulty of the game can vary from extremely easy to maddeningly difficult. A well trained squad under your command can overcome impossible odds, but underleveled units will have extreme difficulty overcoming units which it is weak against, or fighting the more powerful named commanders. You'll definitely want to pay attention to troop movements on the map, as fighting isolated is a risky proposition.
The name of the game is to win money and fame. With money, you can purchase the aformentioned upgrades, and with fame you unlock new regions and story segments. The plot of the game is rather trivial and poorly voice-acted, so those wishing to buff up on European history will have to look elsewhere. Unlike Koei's other recent offerings, a great deal of liberty was taken with the setting, and a cast of corny characters was crafted for the purpose. They are all forgettable, and have an unhealthy obsession with mercenary regiments... every cutscene just *has* to make some passing mention of them. Guess it's good to be one after all.
The Verdict:
Bladestorm is a solid strategy game that doesn't get as much love as it deserves. It's not the sort of game you'd expect by appearance. If taking command of medieval combatants and turning the tide of a battle is your idea of fun, you'll probably really enjoy slogging through hundreds of armored men and dashing between fortified areas.
If you were expecting a true action title, or can't tolerate a great deal of repetition and micromanagement, then this game frankly isn't for you. It has a fair amount of shortcomings that limit it's appeal. I find it to be quite fun though. I'm a fan of Koei games, and it scratches my itches for tactical gameplay and grisly melee combat simultaneously. I don't mind that the controls are simple, or that I don't have total control over my avatar... it's kindof refreshing to be a hero of more realistic proportions. The game hides its variety behind it's action trappings. There's plenty of different units to command, and many ways to approach a battle and customize your character growth. If you have a little imagination, it just might work for you.
I'd also like to point out that Bladestorm has one of my favorite attract-mode movies of recent memory. The opening sequence is pretty sweet, and really makes me want to play every time I watch it.
+Thrilling medieval battles with hundreds of men onscreen
+A good plan can really turn the tide of a fight
+RPG elements give battles that "just one more" addictive quality
+Lots of variety in unit types, with unique control schemes
-Graphics aren't great, but serviceable
-Poor character design, plot and voice acting
-Little variety in missions aside from location choice
-Can be tough to make sense of huge battles