What’s pretty amazing about this game isn’t that all these systems exist; it’s that they work so harmoniously together to let you create your own story in a unique medieval world. It starts slowly, but as you immerse yourself in the world, learn the map and the big players in each realm, it fast becomes a thoroughly addicting experience.

Finally, there are the new multiplayer options. Although the idea of bringing multiple players, especially co-op, into the world of Calradia is an enticing prospect, you unfortunately won’t find that here. Navigating the ever-ongoing political intrigue found in the single-player game remains a purely solo experience in Warband. You can, however, put the battle engine to work in multiplayer bouts featuring up to 64 players. There are plenty of play modes ranging from your typical Deathmatch and Capture the Flag to some more unique modes like Siege, which is exactly what it sounds like and Battle, which is like Team Deathmatch except that there is no respawn. Once you’re out, you’re out.

These modes all work exactly as described, although you should pay attention to the ping numbers on any game you decide to join as lag can be a real issue; one you will not survive. Without the political backdrop of the single player game I quickly grew tired of many of the stock multiplayer games, but there is fun to be had in creating a multiplayer character and wading into a grand melee. Battle mode in particular is an intense exercise in medieval combat. Although you do not level up your multiplayer character as you do in the single player game, within the framework of a specific multiplayer match, you do earn gold based on your performance that affords you the opportunity to purchase improved equipment and that does add some flavor to the experience.

Aside from some occasionally bizarre AI pathfinding in battles and on the world map, along with a few bugs that Taleworlds is patching out over time, the only thing that holds Warband back is the user interface. Combat controls work fantastically, but the Spartan interface, while simple to use, is incredibly frustrating at times and I constantly found myself wishing that something had been done with the UI to make more information accessible to you when and where you need it. Particularly at the beginning of the game, expect to find yourself constantly going back and forth between the print manual, the web, and the in-game encyclopedia to figure out how different character skills work, who is who, what different troops types are like and how they’re best used, etc. If steep learning curves bother you, it’s likely you’ll give up on Warband before it gets a real chance to shine.

For those that stick around, however, Mount & Blade Warband remains every bit the gem of a game that its predecessor was; more so, actually. While the improvements (graphics and multiplayer aside) aren’t all immediately obvious and the game could still use a few more, they are there and after spending plenty of quality time with Warband there is no way I would go back to playing the original.