Bladestorm: The Hundred Years War

New screens for Bladestorm: The Hundred Years War are up on FileFront and they don’t look too bad actually. Being a fan of the strategy genre I am happy to see more games leaning towards a more medieval flair and away from fantasy and feudal Japan. This particular one takes place in the 14th century, and if you paid attention in history class, you will know that this is when the long winded battle between England and France ensued. In Bladestorm, Joan of Arc and Edward the Black Prince will be part of the cast as you and your mercenaries/soldiers react individually to your immediate surroundings – thanks to a new game engine. Players will assume the role of a mercenary leader and strategically command, in real-time, a wide range of troops including infantry, archers, cavalry, and cannoniers. Sounds like fun to me. Bladestorm: The Hundred Years War will be available for the PS3 and the Xbox 360 the later part of this year.

MORE SCREENSHOTS

For a list of characters and game features from the Press Release, see the full article after the jump.

Kingdom of England

• Edward, the Black Prince (Edward III)- Son of King Edward II, effectively lead his troops through the frigid battlefields of the mainland. Where his black armor went, England met with victory. However, England’s king wished a swift end to this war. As to provoke the French, King Edward orders the Prince to attack the French reserved army and settlements.
• Hal, the red haired lion (Henry V)
• John Chandos
• John Talbot, 1st Earl of Shrewsbury – An English military commander considered valiant yet earnest, Talbot was a formidable general on the battlefield.
• King of England (Edward III)
• Margaret (original character)
• Philippa (original character)
• Richard Beecham, Richard de Beauchamp, 13th Earl of Warwick
• Sir Henry Percy
• Sir John Fastolf - Portrayed with somewhat of a carefree attitude, Fastolf, at the height of his career earned a reputation as an excellent soldier.
• Yamarle (original character)

Kingdom of France

• Arthur de Richemont, Arthur III, Duke of Brittany – Influential aristocrat who supported Joan of
  Arc.
  
• Bertrand du Guesclin
• Christine de Pisan
• Étienne de Vignolles, La Hire
• Gilles de Rais
• Jean, Bertrand du Guesclin’s adjutant (original character)
• Jeanne d’Arc - In Domremy a small village in the Northeast of France, a young girl prayed for the strength and courage to overcome the invading English army. Her courage would be seen at the siege of Orleans.
• King of France (unspecified)
• Marie, Philippe le Bon’s adjutant (original character)
• Philippe le Bon, Philip III, Duke of Burgundy
• Youzhi, Arthur de Richemont’s Chinese adjutant (original character)

Mercenaries

• Bart, a friend searching for the greatest “legend”
• Diane, blooming on the battlefield, a wild lily
• George, Mark’s elder brother, never losing dignity, unleashing arrows of mortality
• John Hawkwood, the legendary mercenary – Served in the English army in France under The Black Prince (Edward III)
• Karen, dual swords dancing upon the battlefield
• Mark, George’s brother, “an iron wall for the sake of defending people
• Nalan, strong and descendent of the blue wolf
• Shakti, a “death god” that becomes a seductive dragon
• William, a cowardly knight
• Yoshimasa, a samurai that breathes loyalty

Troops (List not Final)

• Adarga Troop
• Bow Troop
• Camel Cavalry
• Cannon Troop
• Dragoon
• Lady Archer
• Lady Fencer
• Long Sword Troop
• Longbow Troop
• Mace Troop
• Mongol Bow Cavalry
• Mongol Fire Troop
• Pike Troop
• Royal Lancer
• Skull Crusher
• Sword Troop
• Viking Long Sword Troop

Game Features:

• Lead a mercenary force- Immerse yourself in the role of a mercenary commander. Lead a broad array of troops from varied nations, including heavy infantry, longbow men, cavalry, cannoniers, and castle siege specialists.

• Real-time action- Control entire units in real-time. Issue offensive and defensive commands through an intuitive user-interface. Each soldier is independently animated and fights and reacts in a startlingly realistic and visceral manner.

• Conquer armies on a grand scale – Clashes are widespread throughout varied terrain. Richly-crafted battlegrounds span the breathtaking provinces of southern France to coastal settlements along the English Channel.

• Your fortune is limited only by your ambition- Establish a reputation as a formidable warrior and leader of men. Build your war chest and lure hardened soldiers to your employ. The “Free Mission” system lets you contract your army to France or England. Achieve your mission objectives and more profitable battle contracts will be presented to you.

• Heavy Metal Thunder- Amass a battalion outfitted from an arsenal of over 400 weapons, armor, and other items from the battles that shaped Medieval European warfare.

• Relive Medieval History- Outwit your opponents or overwhelm them with dominating force. The fate of two countries is yours to decide.

YOU ARE A MERCENARY LEADER

The ongoing war had exhausted the standing armies of both sides and here was a growing dependence on mercenary soldiers. The game’s “Free Mission” system allows players to align their forces ith either the French or English on a battle-by-battle basis. This unparalleled freedom allows players to take on different assignments, or simply experience a given battle from an opposing side. Players must establish a reputation as a dependable and capable leader by successfully completing each mission. The reputable commander will attract more desirable troops to his employ, and will be asked to take on weightier challenges that reflect his status as a fighter and leader of men. The troops themselves will also become more lethal as they gain combat experience. Through a point system, players can augment their units’ combat capabilities. At the tavern, players can contract their services to the English or French, recruit new mercenary units, and purchase weapons and armor.

MERCENARY UNITS
At the player’s command will be a broad array of troops including infantry, archers, and cavalry, as well as a variety of specialized units such as elephant units, cannoniers, and castle siege specialists. While each unit is comprised of autonomous soldiers, each warrior will contribute to the assigned objective.

DEPLOYMENT
After taking on a contract, the player must decide his or her position on the battlefield which is divided into a grid of 16 different areas. The player can start from any base which is located inside the selected area and under the control of the client. After taking command of a unit,the player can advance toward an enemy base and initiate an attack.

BATTLE CONTROLS: COMMANDING UNITS
BLADESTORM’s unique style of action thrusts players into dynamic and ever-changing conflicts. Players must be able to take command of different units and quickly issue orders on the battlefield as situations evolve. Thus the game takes a different approach to large scale battle controls.

TAKING CONTROL OF BASES
By successfully defeating the base leader, the base falls under control of the player’s client. The player can now advance to the next enemy base to defeat the base leader and gain control.