14 DAY TRIAL // How many enemy units can one pike formation defend against while I maneuver my limited cavalry around one flank? Can I pound the other flank with my archers, or do I need an infantry envelopment? What’s the best way to use the Hussite war wagons?
Rise of the Swiss is the most recent downloadable content pack for Field of Glory II: Medieval, still developed by Byzantine Games and published by Slitherine. The game is available on the PC. The core turn-based strategy structure is unchanged, but it adds a variety of new units and a shift towards different tactics.
The name gives away the increased focus on well-drilled infantry formations, as they historically become more important on the battlefields of the Middle Ages. The focus is not just on the Swiss, but also on the Hussites and their wagon formations, the Castilians and their mix of pike and lighter infantry, the War of the Roses in England, and on battles in Scandinavia.
The DLC features eight historical battles: Kutna Hora, Towton, Brunkeberg, Grandson, Loja, Bosworth, Fornovo, and Dornach. There are also campaigns: you can see how the4 Swiss federation managed to defeat hungry neighbors, fight the bloody Hussite wars, or take up the mantle of Charles the Bold and Louis XI.
Tactically, the game is still constructed around careful maneuvering and attempts at routing as much of the enemy line as possible. Compare unit capabilities before choosing them for a battle and placing them in the line. See whether it’s a better idea to flank or to try and punch through the center, preferably killing enemy leaders. Battles are tense, deep, and filled with surprising twists.
Rise of the Swiss doesn’t tweak the solid presentation of the game much. The 22 new units are lovingly rendered, with enough detail to satisfy fans and enough care to be easily recognized when taking in the entire battlefield. The soundtrack, while in need of more variety, underscores the Medieval engagements pretty well.
Conclusion
The Hussites and Swiss play very differently, especially during the hand-crafted campaign engagements, and the updates to the rest of the armies add extra variety to a title that can already generate hundreds if not thousands of battles between historical armies. I still want the developers to add more mechanics to the campaigns themselves, but Field of Glory II: Medieval delivers plenty of well-designed, tactically fun battles.
