I have been so excited for this game, ever since I saw the game's director on stage at E3 (from the comfort of my desk at work, obviously). He was bearded, had a cool cowboy hat on and walked with an ace cane, complete with skull. What a legend already! For Honor had the most original concept I'd seen in ages. A new way to fight, to master your warrior and really feel the swing of the blade.
I played round after round just so I could improve, try out new moves and take down as many enemy players as possible
The reality has not disappointed me. You truly do have to master your hero to dominate the battlefield, and the hard work will pull off if you pay attention. Reading your opponent's movements is a huge part of the game, and timing is key to taking down those tough enemies.
The multiplayer is particularly addictive: I played round after round just so I could improve, try out new moves and take down as many enemy players as possible. Understanding my character and the combat system is what has kept me going - I want to learn how to expertly dodge attacks and counter my opponents at just the right time for maximum damage. If that's not enough to keep you entertained, there's also the Faction War running in the background; if you perform better in multiplayer then your chosen faction will edge closer to victory, and that means more spoils of war for the victors. Above all, it gives you pride that your faction is the best!
Rivers of Blood
But For Honor isn't just about multiplayer, there's an intricate story mode as well. As a Knight, of course played the Knight's story. It is a classic tale of war, honour, broken oaths and some brutal executions thrown in for good measure. Rivers of blood are a real feature in the stunning rocky terrain I was gleefully strewing with the corpses of my perceived enemies. Playing the story mode definitely makes you better at the Multiplayer, that's for sure. The enemies vary and even the first couple of battles are great preparation for killing off the general public in a deathmatch.
There is definitely a strong message in this. I'm not sure if it is just because I am female and the game is tailoring my experience, but there are a hell of a lot of kick-ass female Knights (myself included) tearing the heads off of Viking scum. When you finally meet the Warlord of the Guild of Knights you have sworn your allegiance to, she is like Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Brienne of Tarth had a glorious iron-clad offspring, with a suit of armour that (finally) covers everything. Seriously, some female armour in video games wouldn't protect much, so it's pretty cool to see some practical protection for once. Not that women would really have been allowed to be Knights, but I am assuming this is an alternate reality where Knight, Samurai and Viking co-exist/chop each other to bits over a spring of water on the same battlefields.
As I played on, the opponents got harder and I really needed to utilise my new-found skillset to defeat them. The thing that sets For Honor apart from any other game on the market right now is the thought that has gone into the combat, and the fact that really have to sharpen your senses and quicken your reactions in order to avoid being brutally executed by your enemies. This is not a game you can get through by just mashing the buttons (my usual tactic), but I really enjoyed actually learning the moveset for once. It reminded me of learning the special moves in fighting games; the way I have been furiously studying the moveset for my chosen hero and practising non-stop is akin to the time I really, really wanted to master Ermac in Mortal Kombat X. Though, instead of a series of challenging fights, there is a fairly open world to explore, collectibles to recover and, for some reason, as many breakable pots as you could wave a green tunic clad Hylian boy at. Seriously, it is an objective to break them.
Knights Unite!
Overall, For Honor has awakened the Knight in me - I dream in chainmail and my allegiance is strong. The story, while fairly linear, is well thought-out, enjoyable and tells the story of this Great War as an elaborate backdrop for where it's really at: the Multiplayer. This is where you will spend your life after the story is complete. Addictive as it is frustrating, when you don't get it right it can be a disaster, but when you do, you feel like you've won the battle for real. Plus, you can dive into the Faction wars and join the fight to gain more territory for your chosen allegiance. Knights, unite!
If you are looking for a game with a difference, For Honor definitely comes highly recommended by me. And I am super important, right? I am a Knight of the Realm after all.
By Stephanie Lord
Comments