You wait years for something to give the massive battles of Total War a run for their money so Creative Assembly might be tempted to pull their thumbs out and fix sieges, and suddenly they start pouring from the sky. According to developer Raw Power, Chronicles: Medieval is a “dynamic sandbox blending action and RPG depth on a strategic scale,” which is a lot of very good words to put in a row. Lets hope they all stay in formation once the arrows start flying. Here’s a trailer.
Cynics will say I’m about to quote large swathes of the press release so I’ve got more time to focus on the several other announcements being flung at me by Geoffrey H Videogames, but it’s really just to provide you with an impeccable sense of what Raw Power want you to think their game is. Here’s some hype shouty notes from said presser:
An Immersive Medieval Sandbox in a vibrant, evolving world
Enter a vibrant medieval Europe – a sprawling sandbox of unrest, invasions, and alliances. Create a custom character and experience a path filled with conflict and opportunity. Chronicles: Medieval will evolve, shaping itself alongside community feedback into a living medieval playground – where no two stories are ever the same.
Intense Combat and Large-Scale Battles
Master medieval warfare with skill and strategy. Recruit, train, and lead troops into epic battles with full customization and control. Command historical units like the sharp-eyed English Longbowmen, the devastating French cavalry and the feared Imperial Polearm infantry. Large scale battles that players can command and also fight directly on the front lines in third person. Issue orders and fight alongside friends with custom battles in co-op mode. Players must adapt, react and execute to survive.
Write Your Story, Forge Your Destiny
Your path to victory begins here. Shape your legacy in a medieval sandbox where every decision matters. Choose power, adventure, or fortune, navigating diplomacy and conflict to create a story uniquely yours.
Raw Power say their team has “contributed to industry-defining titles like The Witcher 3, Assassin’s Creed, Hitman, Red Dead Redemption 2, Cyberpunk 2077, and Grand Theft Auto“. They’ve also got a historical european martial arts (HEMA) expert on board to help with the animations. I went to exactly two HEMA lesson until I got so annoyed by someone hitting me with a plastic sword and not being quick enough to do anything about it that I quit. He can’t hit me anymore though, which means I win.
The Steam page isn’t live at time of writing, but here’s the official website. Raw Power say they’ll be opening playtests at some point in the future.
