“Look Daddy, I’m a Torso!”

– Todd Flanders, The Simpsons

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In these post-Call of Duty: Modern Warfare days, every game seems to incorporate RPG-style persistent systems involving levels and upgrades. It’s possible (common, in fact) to play hours of a game like Call Of Duty (Modern Warfare and since) and barely savor the actual ins and outs of gameplay, but rather to continue going through the motions for the gratifying upgrades of shinier, faster weapons and perks. This can be fun, without a doubt, but perhaps the truly great titles of gaming history have relied on satisfying clicks, movements, sounds and choices, not post-game rewards, leveling up, and pats on the back?

There have only been a few attempts at three dimensional armed melee fighting as the central part of an action game, and every attempt has been at least somewhat awkward – particularly on the PC. (“Mount and Blade” is a great series but the melee combat lacked rhythm and flow, despite its success integrating RPG and action)

Chivalry: Medieval Warfare” (somewhat thoughtful parallel title to – “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare“) is a tongue in cheek but smart and heartfelt attempt to capture exactly these experiences.

Functional in single player but entirely centered around multiplayer, Chivalry lets loose a mid sized number of players onto detailed maps in classic form reminiscent of action games from C.O.D. to Counterstrike. But, this time of course, we are given a choice of 4 classes of medieval weaponry. The fun comes, as it should from a good action game, from the simulated kinetics. It feels entirely different to wield a battle-axe than a short sword, thanks to responsive controls, timing, and detailed animation. This is what the game is all about. There is indeed a rank system and set of upgrades for each class’s weapons, but ranking up will likely come as a surprise each time as you will probably be thinking more about the fight right in front of you than how many points until the next weapon.

There is also a fictional medieval plot-line happening here, but it essentially serves only to distinguish the two teams as the good guys and the bad guys. It also affects the roles each team plays in the Team Objective mode, featuring different goals on each map. (Still beautifully simple. One team slaughters peasants, the other protects.)

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Despite medieval lore being a central part of western pop culture, there is a whole lot of originality left to be had when it comes to medieval gaming – some of the attention it deserves has always been snatched up by the uber-popular fantasy genre – a genre that has been key to video gaming since the 80s and explored from every angle, in RPGs especially, but strategy and action as well these days. And while there exist truly classic ‘realistic’ titles set in the middle  ages, very few are action games and even fewer have been released recently enough to take advantage of up to date graphics and internet multiplayer – aspects that Chivalry truly turns into more than improvements, but a gold mine for fresh gameplay. It isn’t perfect – as of now there are only six maps, although that limitation has yet seem an impediment to fun. (map layout  matters less in a duel than in a team deathmatch with long range weapons.)  The classes are built for team based tactical gameplay which almost never comes to fruition on the servers. While I enjoy the chaotic mass of dueling, I wish I knew some fellow gamers who play, since I think this game would be vastly improved by entering a server alongside friends you can communicate with. On the whole this is a solid, fluid, and well polished game – and unexpected at that.

In a time when online multiplayer battles seem to be dominating the market perhaps even more so than massive multiplayer RPGs, Chivalry brings something that is both new and fresh, but also rings bells deep in the hearts of every kid who played with toy swords and shields growing up. After all, in many ways the greatest games give you all the tools of a truly magical toy chest – and take it one step further to illustrate an interactive  setting  for you and your friends.

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(adapted from an article published on rantgaming.com)

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