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This review was written by my son, James Shea.
Koei is famous for games that take liberties with historical events (see also the Dynasty Warriors and Kessen games), and now they've turned their attention to the Hundred Years War. Despite the questionable accuracy of the history involved, Bladestorm is nonetheless a fun, solid game that introduces a lot of unique game mechanics different than any of Koei's other games.
As indicated by the name, Bladestorm takes place during the Hundred Years War, and features many of the personalities present at the time: Joan of Arc, Edward the Black Prince, Henry V, and so on. The historical accuracy is not especially important, however; there are a multitude of fictional characters added in to make things more interesting. Furthermore, the unit types encountered in this game are not exactly accurate: from simple soldiers like pikemen and swordsmen to the more exotic like camels and samurai to the outright fantastic like wizards. Really, the background just provides an excuse to have one side be the "red" side (England) and the other be the "blue" side (France), as other than specific personas there is really no difference between the two.
The player takes the role of a mercenary (whose gender, face, voice, and name can be customized) who fights for both sides. In addition, there are many other mercenaries with whom you work with or against, depending on the job. If you take a job with England, for example, your fellow mercenaries may take a job with you or choose to fight for France. In this way, your enemies are constantly shifting and changing. There are ten huge regions of France unlocked during the course of the game, each with at least thirty towns and settlements. These locations may belong to either England or France, and most of your missions revolve around capturing a town and/or defending a town. Taking a lot of missions for the same side in the same region can affect the balance of power in that region, at which point you can opt to fight for the other side and conquer it all back.
The gameplay is the most unique part of the game. The mercenary does not fight alone; rather, he takes command of a unit of soldiers (between 5 and 30). These soldiers can be regulars found on the battlefield, or mercenaries hired and summoned to fight for him. Regardless of which it is, the mercenary must have the proper instruction book for the unit to know how to use it. Furthermore, using a unit will level up that unit type. For example, the mercenary must have the book Swords to use any sword infantry, which includes one-handed, two-handed, sword-and-shield, and dual-sword. The specialties are unlocked through tomes, or sub-volumes to the larger books. Defeating enemies with a unit type gives them experience, which is used to buy upgrades to the unit. Depending on the type, this can be in attack power, defense power, troop number, or movement, as well as others. The unit types also have different strengths and weaknesses, as well. For example, pikemen are one of the best infantry against horse riders of any kind, but suffer against other infantry. In contrast, swordsmen are very good against infantry, but not so good against cavalry. A mix of units and proficiencies is required to succeed.
The unit itself is handled in the following manner: there are three special attacks, and a "fight at will" option. The special attacks include temporary strength or defense increases, raising shields to guard against enemy attacks, and even more exotic techniques like shooting blasts of energy. The "fight at will" option makes all the soldiers in your unit charge at the nearest enemy. Movement is controlled with the left analog stick; the soldiers do not have a formation, per se, but tend to stand in two boxes in front of the mercenary to guard him from the front and sides.
Unlike Dynasty Warriors, your allies are often fairly important in Bladestorm. Columns of troops, consisting of several types of squads, will set out from towns to attack nearby enemy towns (marked on the map as a large arrow going from one town to another). Players can join up with these columns to strengthen their own cause; while the mercenary may not get as much experience, he or she is covered by the diversity of units present. Capturing an enemy town requires the player to either slay a certain number of guard units or for an allied unit to enter the town (another advantage to traveling with allies). However, no allies can be commanded in the game; the player is a mercenary, not a general.
The graphics in this game are fantastic. Especially considering the wide variety of units and the number present on the screen, there is a huge amount of detail and effects on each soldier. The character designs range from feasibly accurate to ridiculous, but all are decently done. There is also a wide variety of armor for the player to buy, with many of the designs seeming reminiscent of games like "The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess". The one complaint I have in this field is the large amount of effects that cover the game (thankfully, the damage numbers that pop up when anyone takes damage can be turned off). The sound is sweeping and epic, but doesn't distract from the game. The voices for the mercenary (three male, three female) quickly become familiar, though the ranges that can be picked are kind of wide considering how few there are.
As a whole, I was pleasantly surprised by this game. It's fun, it's well-done, it has good AI (not once has my unit ever become stuck on a wall, though allied units have done so once), and the only thing I can really say that's bad about it is the fact that it tried to be historically accurate at all. They should've just made it a fantasy game, so nobody would have to worry about the fact that there are ninjas and wizards present.
Rating: 9/10.
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If you like the dynasty warriors series then you will probably like bladestorm too, if you stick with it long enough to get the controls. It is similar to a DW type game in many ways but is definitely not the same. In this one, you control and fight as a whole squad instead of one hero. You can change squads in the middle of a battle whenever you want. This game has a good leveling system and if you want to max all the different squads it is going to take a long time. I have played for over 50 hours and i still have a long way to go. The strategy isn't all that great but if you want to try something new and different in a DW/SW vein get this game.
Buy Bladestorm: The Hundred Years War Now
As of this writing, I have played about 30 hours of the game so far.
This game revolves around the 100 years war. These were a series of conflicts between the French and the English from the 14th-15th centuries. You play as a voiceless mercenary, male or female, as he/she attempts to carve a name for them self by taking contracts from either the English or French.
The game play is very similar to Kessen III, where you control one individual unit at a time. You can lead a variety of units, from Horses, archers, spearmen, swords, long spearmen (like pikes), among several others. They each have their own special attacks, which can greatly help in winning a battle.
However, you do not get to actually keep a unit for yourself in that you will mainly be taking a troop from whatever side you align yourself with in a given battle.
Instead of having one singular unit with its own skills, you get to build up your skills with whatever unit you choose based on the `books' you have. These books are named after the various units you get to control. You can assign skill points in each book based on how much experience you have with that unit. You can expend these experience points to upgrade various attributes such as attack, defense, etc. These skills are applied to a unit when you command them.
Unlike Kessen III, however, you play more as an individual than as a warlord. You do not get to issue orders to all the troops your side has on the field. You control only the unit your main character is in. Furthermore, you are allowed to separate yourself from your unit and fight (or runaway) as an individual. This can be very useful if you want to kill an enemy commander quickly or wish to abandon your men be slaughtered.
On the more technical side, the graphics are clearly superior to what you find on other KOEI games on the PS2. The music is very period-appropriate, with the voice-overs being mercifully more competent than you will find in any dynasty warriors (some of the French men need more work). The sounds come alive, such as the clanging of armor or the screams of dying soldiers. The troops are responsive to your commands, and the load times are not too bad. They are better if you choose the install option.
Most of the above is what I liked about this game. However, there are a few things that bother me about this game.
The text is one. I do not have an HDTV over 30 inches, just a regular 27 analog. Even so, the text should not be this small and hard to see (and am I the only one noticing this trend in recent video games)?
It can be argued that the game play can get repetitive at times, if crashing your troops into battle is considered repetitive. I personally like leading a group of troops to their victory/doom.
The 10 minute time limit for a battle is a little annoying. I would have preferred around 20 minutes, which would give you plenty of time to play through a battle. If you are using a slow unit like cannons or some sort of heavy foot soldiers, you will spend a good chunk of your time walking to your destination.
And while the mercenary experience can force one to fight for both countries in separate battles, I would have preferred the option of sticking to one country if given the chance. It hurt me (not as much as I hurt them) to have to turn my sword on my French compatriots to move the story along. This is a minor point, however, since you can quickly achieve your victory objective without doing too much harm to the French (or English, if that is your cup of tea).
All in all, this is a specific game for a specific type of gamer. If you enjoyed the Kessen series (not including the second one), the Three Kingdom series, or liked playing games such as Kingdom Under Fire; the Crusades, than I suggest picking this game up. If you do not like real-time strategy games or prefer more War Crafty-type ones, then ignore this title. Bladestorm is not for the average gamer.
***FOR A QUICK RECAP***
The Good: Fun military game play, good graphics, a variety of troop types to choose from, the option to fight as an individual, age-appropriate music, teaching those English or French the what-to.
The Bad: Small text, having to play both sides eventually, 10 minute time limit
The Ugly: The Black Prince looks exactly like Akechi Mitsuhide; Running into a wall of long spears with horses ; most of the French accents.
Read Best Reviews of Bladestorm: The Hundred Years War Here
It's often been said that Koei does the same thing over and over, and that they need something new. Here Koei tried something very new: instead of the one-man-army of the Musou series, you play a mercenary commander who tips the scales of war in a tactical action game. Bladestorm received some bad press, but I think the reason was that people saw 'Koei' and thought 'Dynasty Warriors'. While there is solid action, this game is truly one of its own and an excellent addition to any action and strategy fan give it a chance, don't take it as a 'Musou knockoff' and you will be pleasantly surprised.
Like its title implies, Bladestorm: The Hundred Years War draws loosely from history. Though some liberties were taken, nothing felt amiss. The only problem was the fact that you as the player control a 'nameless mercenary' and rarely will you be directly credited with the victories that you participate in: instead, you'll get a brief blip about the historical progression, and that minor feeling of lack of impact is really the only thing I fault this game for. However, the game does a good job of showing that while you may be an intelligent and powerful person you are still just one in an army.
Story: 6.0/10
Having been watching graphics improve from the sidelines from the Nintendo Entertainment System to the Playstation 2, I knew that things were going to get better, but I had no idea how much better. Even without playing on a Hi-Def-capable screen I felt my jaw drop at the astounding quality. Action is smooth and I have never seen a second of slowdown even during fierce skirmishes including literally hundreds of soldiers from cavalry to archers. I've heard Xbox owners say that the game slows down sometimes, but I've never once seen it slow on the PS3 otherwise, I'd say the editions are pretty much identical. The only complaint that I have is that text can be too small and hard to read.
Graphics: 8.7/10
With all of the undeserved negative reception that this game received, I was leaning against enjoying it. Despite my initial expectations, Bladestorm proved that it holds its own and the sound works very will with the graphics to create an atmosphere that truly makes you feel like you're in the midst of a Middle-Age war, complete with blade clanging against shield and arrows flitting through the air. If you're still not satisfied with the high quality, you can independently alter the volumes of the voices, sound effects, and background music. Voice acting, while nothing that will make you jump out of your seat, is satisfyingly solid.
Sound: 8.8/10
I feared the score would contain bad techno/pop-rock like other Koei titles, but to my pleasant surprise Jamie Christopherson composed a wonderful soundtrack harkening to the Romantic Period of music, conveying the powerful scale and emotional intensity of a war tearing two nations apart. The only disappointment was that some of the music seemed relatively soft I liked it so much I had the volume maxed perpetually. Even if you're not a fan of Romantic Period music, you should find it appropriate, and you have the option of muting it alone while leaving other sounds at your preference.
Music: 9.6/10
My lack of experience with Koei games was probably a help here, as my only other sample was Warriors Orochi, so I felt free to let Bladestorm be its own game. Instead of playing one man who plows through an army, you play a mercenary commander who takes charge of British or French squads (depending on which contract you're playing at the moment). Aggressively attacking squads yours is effective against and knowing when to retreat when spotting squads strong against yours are key to victory, and the rock-paper-scissors lent the solidly action-packed game a unique flavor of strategy that I could only compare somewhat to Fire Emblem. The only thing I didn't like was the 'randomly generated' nature of some progression and acquisition meant it could be a while before that next story mission appears or that last shard of Aegis Shield falls in your hands.
Gameplay: 8.5/10
Randomly-generated contracts allow you to play essentially at your own pace from beginning and past the end of the story missions, but since there is no "New Game Plus" there really isn't a reason to start up a new game instead of just loading a completed one, except to see the in-game cinematics again or end with the opposite side. Still, you do get to keep playing past the end of the story.
Replayability: 4/10
I almost didn't purchase this game, but now that I have it to enjoy I'm glad that I did. The tactical squad-based action, ability to seize then scatter friendly troops, and the sense of satisfaction when your men finish dueling the enemy Base Commander and subsequent seizure of an entire fortified city are things I've never seen in another game. As solid as this game is and as beautiful the music, the inability to do things like review cinematics (most of which are well-rendered using the game engine), play as alternative characters (you're stuck as the mercenary), and the lack of any significant post-battle acknowledgement for my role in the victory (most of the talk is between nobles, which is true to the period) are easily forgiven.
Overall: 8.6/10
Want Bladestorm: The Hundred Years War Discount?
The game is, at its core, an able action-tactics piece set in a little-used (for games, anyway) historical period that nicely compliments the playstyle. The 'sensation' of combat in the Hundred Years' War--if not always the details--is spot on, and it gives a very good sense of leading troops of men into pitched melees, constantly ordering different types of soldiers to execute tactical maneuvers to counter the enemy's own.
An example of this in play would be charging into battle at the fore of a cavalry group to run down enemy infantry, only to have to fall back while being showered with arrows. Then you might bring in shield-bearing swordsmen in the blink of an eye to advance on the archers, only to have enemy cavalry plow through your shield wall after you reach them, forcing you to quickly muster a group of pikemen to form a hedge against them while your own archers pick them off. Then the enemy's light infantry circles around your pike wall to take them by surprise and slaughter your archers, and you have to bring in your own heavy infantry to run them off...
This, at least to me, seems like it captures the essence of the war very well. The only problem is there are a lot of non-historical 'fun' units--war elephants, chariots, chakram-wielding martial artists and 'magical' alchemists--which, unfortunately, while you can choose not to use yourself you really can't stop the enemy from using. A few of the 'historical' characters are a bit spotty, too, but they can be excused for the sake of adding some drama and color to what would otherwise be a pretty stale war simulation.
Another issue that arises is a somewhat weak story. The idea of making the player a mercenary that plays both sides might have had potential, but ultimately it pans out a lot weaker than simply having two dedicated storylines (one for each side) would have. There's honestly too much poorly-acted mercenary fluff, too, to such an extreme extent that the Hundred Years' War itself almost seems to take a backseat to random gibberish about characters who barely impact the game and didn't impact the real war much at all.
Speaking of which, the sometimes-decent cast is largely wasted. There are some interesting characters and scenes, but they're always little more than extra-large HP totals in practice, so you'll probably never develop any attachment to them. As with most areas, the game is competently executed in this regard but could have stood with serious improvement, such as some system for tracking and developing 'allegiances' or 'affinities' with other mercenaries and legendary soldiers of the war. As it is, you can kill them all day long or save their lives in a hundred battles, and it never seems to make a bit of difference.
