Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord just showed off some impressive footage of their upcoming title at E3. The two videos shown provided an extended look at the large-scale, epic combat of the game. Mount & Blade II: Bannerlords was first announced in 2012 and is set 200 years before the time of Mount & Blade: Warband. Bannerlord will include at least eight major factions, each composed of competing clans with their own goals, as well as minor Warband factions like mercenaries.
With battles being at the very core of the series, here are some of the key battle improvements made for Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord.
- Advanced Formations – Merge and split forces at your behest, with intuitive but powerful control over the movement, form, and behavior of every unit! Order heavy infantry to hold together, shoulder-to-shoulder in a slowly advancing but near impenetrable shield wall; or launch your cavalry in lightning charges using the skein formation.
- Battlefield AI – AI commanders can execute complex tactics, utilizing the advanced formation options to present a formidable challenge. Their behavior is drawn from actual historical tacticians, for example, Alexander the great, who used his superior cavalry forces to rout their counterparts in the opposing army, before delivering a crushing blow to the enemy’s main force. This not only creates the feeling of an authentic medieval battle but also proves effective in-game, as in reality.
- Sergeant System – Commanders now designate units to other lords in battle, including the player! Execute the orders issued by your commander throughout the fight, and use your own instincts to do your part and help secure victory on the field of battle. Lead the horse archers as they skirmish and harass the enemy to disrupt their lines before your allies finish them off, or take control of the cavalry and charge into the fray to devastate entire units at once!Â
Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord was created by TaleWorlds Entertainment. A company which started with only two people and now employs over 70 developers.
Did you catch the Bannerlord videos? If so, what did you think? Be sure to let us know in the comments below and continue to check back for our ongoing coverage of E3. If you like shooters, Wolfenstein 2 was just announced last night.
