War the Knights

A full medieval armoury

The arsenal is wide and covers every range. For close fighting there are swords, spears and clubs. From a distance you have bows, crossbows and javelins, and the middle mouse button is set aside for thrown weapons. Spells and explosives bring magic and blasts into the mix, and medkits are part of the same arsenal. Shields cover the other side of a fight: with one you can hold off enemy attacks instead of only trading blows.

Fighting with the mouse

Most of the fighting happens on the mouse. The left button attacks, and the right button does two jobs, blocking and aiming. The kick on F and the battle cry on R add two more moves that live outside your weapon slots, which are organised by number: 1 and 2 switch between your primary weapons, while 3 and 4 hold gadgets. New weapons are picked up with E, the same key that lets you use objects around you, so it is worth watching for anything you can grab in the middle of a battle.

Moving through the battle

Getting around uses a familiar layout. WASD moves you, Shift turns a walk into a sprint, Space jumps and Z crouches. Esc brings up the menu, and F3 clears the interface off the screen when you want an unobstructed view. The battles themselves are team affairs set in the age of knights, and the description frames each one as a chance to show off your skills and lead your side to victory, which puts the emphasis on fighting alongside others rather than alone.