Rob reviews Chivalry II on the Xbox Series X...
Armour laden Knights, troops armed with Halberds, and row after row of archers are images synonymous with Middle Ages combat. From T.V. spectacles such as the Game of Thrones 'epic' "Battle of the Bastards" to pretty much every fight from the Lord of The Rings Trilogy. The scale of these battles pushes home just how gruesome these battles are.
Chivalry II aims to recreate these by pitting players against each other in a series of epic battles across various medieval-themed locations. The story of Chivalry II is a bit short on exposition but focuses on two sides - the Masons and the Agathians - who are locked into a constant state of war. As players, we're able to choose which side to represent as both clash across the vast battlefields.
Chivalry II isn't a game that takes itself too seriously. Playing the tutorial sees you learn the basics from an overly enthusiastic Sergent who shouts and grumbles as you follow his orders. Considering we're a heavily armoured tool of war, our chosen class has quite a few skills at their disposal. There is both light and heavy attack, which we're encouraged to mix up to keep the opponent guessing. We're also able to dodge and riposte - if the timing is right. Blocking is the staple to any close-quarters combat, and thankfully Chivalry II includes this as well. Any successful block costs a little stamina which can be quickly expended if attacking more than one player. This is where dodging becomes a staple part of any defence. I had plenty of fun fighting off 3-4 other players whilst dodging left and right. You may not always come out on top, but it's frantic and good fun nonetheless.
Considering the Archer is technically the "weaker" of the classes, in the right hands the lightly armoured soldier can be a killing machine. I've not played as the Archer for too long, but it's great fun stalking the edges of battle picking off foes as your teammates rush in.
The meat of Chivalry II comes via its three game modes, which can be played via teams or solo. Free for all is by far the most carnage-filled. As you can imagine battles take place in a walled-off arena which offers no protection for when swords, pikes, halberds, and severed heads start flying. The other two modes are a version of big-team-battle that consists of either 40 or 64-players. It's not all-out warfare as each team had various objectives to complete to secure the victory. These objectives range from destroying artillery, rescuing prisoners, to defending town squares, and local authority figures from assassination.
Chivalry II is a lot of fun. Each battle is filled with screams and banter as each team yells their orders via an in-depth emote wheel. Each shout feels very much inspired by Monty Python and the Holy Grail. So much so I was expecting the classic "flesh wound" quote. There's plenty of other comedy moments too with the occasional loss of an arm or leg, or getting a severed head thrown at you. On paper, it sounds ridiculous, yet it just works. On occasion, you're also able to be brought back into battle via a teammate picking you up. It's a great mechanic, yet due to the frantic nature of Chivalry II's battles, you never revived for long. Yet this isn't a bad thing.
I played the title on the Xbox Series X and it's incredibly good to look at. Each map is filled to the brim with medieval architecture and each feels alive and lived in. Characters also look impressive and there's plenty of customisable options to choose from. These options range from armour styles, to how our weapons look. The soundtrack also sets the scene incredibly well. It slowly builds the tension as the battle timer counts down, and you feel part of something epic.
My only criticism or concern for Chivalry II is its popularity. Whilst being a new release servers are pretty full which allows for quick matchmaking and full battles. However, once the novelty has wained that's where the problem could begin. Yes, there is the ability to play against bots yet this pail when compared to fighting 63 other players. Hopefully developer Torn Banner has some DLC in the works to keep the experience feeling fresh.
Considering I went into Chivalry II not expecting too much, what I found surprised me. Whilst there isn't an in-depth story-driven campaign, we do get some frantic and epic feeling big-team battles. The game is also incredibly accessible and regardless of what class you play as there's a certain weight to each swing or draw that makes you feel like your doing damage. The lack of maps and game modes could put some players off, yet I implore you to give Chivalry II a chance. If you're a fan of Lord of The Rings, Game of Thrones, or even King Arthur and his Knights - Chivalry II is worthy of your time and cash.
Rating 8/10
A code was kindly provided for this review.
Chivalry II is available now on Xbox X|S, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, PC.
Rob Lake - For more comic book and video game chat why not follow Geek Culture Reviews on Twitter and Facebook @GeekCultureRev
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