With an abundance of mindless first person shooter games that seem to dominate the general gaming market, Chivalry II is a true breath of fresh air. Rather than simply being Call of Duty with Swords, Chivalry marks it’s own path with a surprisingly deep combat system that is just as challenging as it is thrilling, while also containing a beautiful setting that looks as if it is ripped straight out of your high school history book. Let’s dive in on the plentiful ups and technical downs that Chivalry II has to offer, on Gaber’s Two Cents.

First and foremost, the combat in Chivalry II is genuinely impressive. Players can join game modes that involve over 60 players in an epic struggle for dominance, or engage in more intimate combat encounters with solo and triple player modes. What makes this so impressive is that the game seems to work quite well on both of these fronts. Whether you and your squad are fighting off hordes of enemies, or you become the sole victor of a duel to the death, these moments feel like a big deal and allow the player to feel as if they have strategically impacted large battles or used their raw skill and wits to become a gladiator champion. It’s instances like these when Chivalry II truly shines and propels itself over shooters that are contempt with the rinse and repeat yearly releases that consumers have grown so accustomed to.

Another impressive tidbit is the intensity of duels when facing an opponent of equal or higher skill level. These encounters can be the highlight of any match if you outthink your opponent with a certain maneuver, or counter them with a crushing blow that kills them instantly. Depending on your playstyle, combat encounters can range from fast-paced to slow and methodical. Achieving the satisfaction of making your opponent fight at your speed can lead to Game of Thrones-esque duels that look as if they were choreographed for a blockbuster film. You can even disarm your opponent when swinging towards their grip with a perfectly timed blow. It’s these hyper-kinetic mechanics and player creativity that make Chivalry II’s combat all the more engaging.

So the combat packs a punch, but what about the scenery? The somewhat accurate representations of the Medieval Middle Ages look spectacular. The grand setting and locale is especially noticeable when playing in one of the larger game modes that support 60 players. With an army at your side and war sprinting straight towards you, it’s hard not to look around and admire the land in which your fictional group of brothers is fighting for. Vast fields, quaint villages, and looming desolate castles, the setting perfectly intertwines with the bloody chaos that unfolds in every match.

While the scenery is gorgeous when everything is working, there can be occasional pop ins or the occasional player clipping through an object. However, all of this is much more manageable when the game is firing on all cylinders and these tiny issues don’t detract from the main core of the game.

Another feature that helps to calm any visual qualms, is just how brutal the gore/limb system is in Chivalry II. With just the right swing you can slice an opponents arm, or any limb for that matter, clean off of their body in gruesome fashion. This is especially hard hitting when either getting several kills in succession or being the winner in a solo duel. It’s climatic and really helps to sell the, “Anything goes in this era” attitude that the game strives for. While not for the squeamish or faint of heart, the game even allows you to pick up the body parts of your comrades that have fallen in battle. Want to throw the head of your enemy at the opposing army as a scare tactic? You can do that in Chivalry II.

However….

While the advantages of the game are numerous, they only hold true when the game is functioning properly. Unfortunately, occasional server issues can make it impossible to play solo or with friends, which is a significant drawback. In fact, I recently encountered a game-breaking glitch where my screen turned completely black during a heated battle. Problems like this can significantly detract from a player’s enjoyment and potentially harm the game’s reputation.

Oddly enough, Chivalry II’s biggest problem has nothing to do with it’s gameplay, but it’s main menu. The main menu UI is awkward, and can be genuinely confusing. This is especially true when attempting to play with friends, whether it be on the same system, or with the newly added crossplay mechanic. While the crossplay party option states that it is still in beta mode, it is genuinely frustrating to have to re add friends after every session of play. Unsurprisingly, the crossplay party system in the game still suffers from several issues on top of that, and at times, can get much worse. For instance, players may need to restart the entire game after just one playthrough, rather than being queued automatically for a consecutive match. While the feature is still in beta, it’s disappointing to see such a lackluster launch for a highly anticipated feature that was promised since the game’s initial release two years ago. Hopefully in the updates to come, fixes will soon follow.

Despite the glaring issues mentioned above, I still find myself drawn to picking up Chivalry II, which speaks volumes on how much of it works so well. With historically accurate representations of Middle Ages life, tight gripping combat, and a gore/limb system that is surprisingly realistic, Chivalry II is every medieval history nuts dream. Despite some lackluster technical issues and an underwhelming crossplay system, there’s little reason to not unsheathe your sword and storm into battle. All that and more is why Chivalry II received this particular Cent Score.

Cent Score: 3 Cents

The pros outweigh the cons, sit back, don’t think too much and you’ll be fine.

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