For Honor Review

Yesterday was the day I got to release one of my most awaited games of 2017, For Honor. Since E3 2015 was my first exposure, I've been following the game closely for several years and waiting to finally get my teeth into it. I feel somewhat content now that I have it.

For Honor is a third person hack and slash that allows you to choose from three main factions: Knights (Samurai), Vikings (Vikings). Each race has its own traits and feats that are similar to other powerups. You will be playing as the Knights if you want to have a balanced and well-rounded style of play. Although the Samurai have speed and are quick to attack, they are not able to take much pounding. The Vikings, who are tanks, are fast and can move at a slow speed.

There are four playable characters that each faction can choose from. This allows for a variety of gameplay. The Lawbringer of the Knights, a counter-attack-oriented fighter who can deal insane punishment (plus they're really angry), and The Warden uses longswords to punish. He is the most balanced fighter in the game and is great to begin with. The Samurai didn't have any standout characters, but I enjoyed playing as Bushido during the multiplayer matches. If you are looking for challenge, I recommend playing as The Shugoki, a brute warrior who may not be as fast as others, but can land a hit if he does. The Vikings are last, and while the Raider is the best, I found The Valkyrie to be the most impressive warrior. She uses a shield and spear to punish his opponents.

Each faction offers a different play style, and each warrior class has its own. That is what For Honor excels at. You can have a variety of play styles so there are no two battles the same. For Honor is not about running in and button mashing. You need to be aware and capitalize on your strengths and weaknesses to win fights.

For Honor's Beta and Alpha testing stages, For Honor allows you to either jump into the story mode of their multiplayer feature or go straight into it. You can also choose to play a short match or a customized match. However, these games are only for practice and you don't gain any EXP.

For Honor's story mode was the thing I most looked forward to. It is short, and I managed to complete it in under six hours. However, it tells an interesting and brutal story about betrayal as well as revenge. As you progress through the chapters, you will see that the different races are connected to each other. Characters from the Knights campaign appear in the Samurai campaign.

Each faction has its own character with Apollyon as the antagonist. Holden Cross, Lawbringer, was one of my favorite characters. He knows his duties but feels conflicted. I enjoyed playing The Valkyrie who was trying to erase a past sin in order to get to Valhalla.

But For Honor is not all about grand sieges or open battlefields. In fact, there's very little of that. You can ride on horseback and scout the battlefield in the story mode. If you're playing as the Samurai, you can even participate in a battle royal-esque mission.

The story mode is great, but For Honor's real strength is its graphics and gameplay.

This game is stunning graphically. It is clear that the developers took the time to study the architecture of different races. The background makes it feel like you're back in feudal Japan when you're fighting the Samurai. They even include the rose blossom trees we see in photos from that period. The Viking villages are stunning, and the Knightly castles feel like something you would walk around in today's world.

The introduction of The Art of Combat, their combat system, was one of the most important aspects of the title. This requires that you use the correct thumb stick to match their stance and to hit them. It is foolish to think that button mashing will make a difference in every battle. You must have a good sense of strategy and tactics to win with For Honor. This includes absorbing both the opponent in front of your, as well as those who are not directly targeting you.

For Honor excels at this. You can fight heroes in the game, which are awesome versions of NPC characters that populate the battlefield. They may appear easy to kill but if they are constantly pursuing you, they can cause serious damage to your health.

The title is very polished and a big step forward for Ubisoft. The game runs smoothly and I didn't experience any issues while playing.

For Honor's online gaming is the main focus of the game. However, this twist is unique. Instead of just placing you in matches, the game tells a story about a constant war. Fighting for your faction online gives them an advantage within the game world. There are four matches available: 4V4 Dominion is basically base capturing; duels is one-on-one; and Elimination is almost like a deathmatch.

As is the case with all things gaming, For Honor is not perfect. Some gamers might find the game repetitive after the story has ended due to poor multiplayer connections and in-game purchases. It is close but not perfect.

For Honor is a great experience for casual and hardcore gamers. It lives up to all the hype. Anyone who is looking for a fresh and new approach to fighting would be able to recommend For Honor.