In December of 2012, I had the pleasure of reviewing a gruesome first-person hack and slash by the name of “Chivalry: Medieval Warfare”. I even went on record by saying that it “makes me want to watch the siege battles in the Lord of the Rings movies again for the umpteenth time this year.” “Chivalry: Deadliest Warrior”, the official expansion to aforementioned game, released on November 14, 2013. Instead of archers and knights, players will be making use of off-the-wall classes like pirates and ninjas. Before we get started hacking and slashing our way to victory, I’d like to thank Steve Piggott, the President of Torn Banner Studios, for providing me with a free press copy.
Chivalry: Deadliest Warrior (Windows)
Before you ask, yes, you’ll need “Chivalry: Medieval Warfare” to make use of this expansion. The good news is that the core game will only set you back twenty-five bucks (as of 10/22/13), though I often see sales on Steam that reduce the price even further. The expansion itself has a price tag of fifteen bucks and if you look at it in big picture terms, the core game and the expansion together are still cheaper than a lot of other sixty dollar games on the market…not too shabby. The main menu covers everything you’d expect: the ability to create or join a game, customize your classes, participate in training, and adjust game options (includes keybinds). I’m still disappointed by the lack of a full-blown offline bot/skirmish mode, though there is a practice mode that lets you get used to things without the stress of being impaled.
For those of you completely new to the series, “Chivalry: *Insert Title Here*” is primarily a multiplayer experience similar to that of Unreal Tournament and Battlefield. Now, I know what you’re thinking…online first person shooters come a dime a dozen nowadays. The “Chivalry” series isn’t really a shooter though, considering that the heart and soul of the game lies in the melee combat. Sure, you could pick an archer class in “Chivalry: Medieval Warfare” and a use crossbows to your heart’s content, but slicing a two-handed sword through an opponent in-game is admittedly much more satisfying.
Chivalry is not for the faint of heart.
Okay…Okay…I hear you…shut-up with the pretense and get to the good stuff! Gladly. “Chivalry: Deadliest Warrior” features all new classes including Samurais, Spartans, Vikings, Knights, Ninjas and Pirates. Each class has its own loadout and set of abilities, giving players diverse options on the battlefield. The melee classes in “Chivalry: Medieval Warfare” admittedly felt similar, with the exception being to how much damage they did and how quickly they swung their weapon. Melee combat is melee combat, whether you are using a two-handed weapon or a sword & board. It all came down to timing and the person who managed to strike at just the right time, came out on top.
“Chivalry: Deadliest Warrior” follows through with that line of thinking, but the classes are a bit more diverse. There’s a larger difference between pirates and samurais for example, when compared to the original vanguard and knight classes. The pirate class is probably my favorite thus far and I did see a lot of folks pick the class during my review sessions. I opted for the blunderbuss as my primary weapon, with a molotov-like secondary as my backup. There was a definitive difference in the way I played the pirate as I often found myself backing off and picking folks off from a distance. However, the pirate class has plenty of melee weapons available to him should you want to get up close and personal.
Most classes can be customized for both long and short-range play.
When I switched to the ninja however, everything changed. I opted for the classic sword as my primary weapons and loaded up on the shurikens (throwing stars) as my secondary. Unlike the yumi bow or thunderbuss, these throwing stars are quick and easy throw when the going gets tough. The ninja is fairly nimble too, allowing me to strike with a few shurikens and then close in for the kill. Of course, the ninja can equip some other deadly things like sharp claws that’ll tear through the opposition at close range. If you miss the “old school” two-handed sword slash from the core game, not to worry, the knight class has you covered. It’s the most familiar out of the bunch, but no less deadly.
The game modes were pretty much the same, with the exception of the new “multi-team” mode that features six different teams at once in one match. If team deathmatches aren’t your fancy, you can try your hand at free-for-alls or duels. No matter what mode I played however, I always felt the adrenaline rush every time I charged headfirst into battle. I found myself checking out the FFAs more often than not, just so that I can switch between the classes and weaponry without sacrificing my team’s score in the process. You’ll be doing a lot of the same, I imagine…there are a TON of different weapons to try out and get used to. While the learning curve is a bit high in that regard, you’ll eventually stumble upon a combination or two that you’ll really like and learn to love it. It’s worth noting however that you’ll need to unlock weapons by playing in multiplayer matches…you won’t have them all from the get go.
THIS…IS…CHIVALRY!!!!
When it comes down to it, “Chivalry: Deadliest Warrior” is indeed a fine addition to the series. While there is plenty of nonstop hack and slash action to be had, players are rewarded for timing their attacks and using the correct thrusts depending on the situation. Most might see it as a mindless bloodbath, and they’d be partially right. You wouldn’t be wrong for just picking a class and going after your enemies with wreckless abandon…in fact that’s half the fun. With that said, there’s a deeper battle system in play for those who choose to utilize it. Players who do will find a whole new way to play, sort of like learning the special moves on the “Street Fighter II” arcade machine for the first time. It’s not appropriate for younger kids, but “Chivalry: Deadliest Warrior” provides exactly the kind of adult fun that most of us crave…the ability to blow off steam without consequence. If you enjoyed playing the core game, then this is a must-buy.
Final Verdict: 8/10
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You can learn more about and purchase “Chivalry: Deadliest Warrior” by visiting the following websites:
http://store.steampowered.com/app/241280/
http://www.tornbanner.com/deadliestwarrior/
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q34lGmYNchQ