A Battle Is Brewing In Bladestorm: The Hundred Years’ War

November 1, 2006

A BATTLE IS BREWING IN BLADESTORM:
THE HUNDRED YEARS’ WAR

KOEI Reveals More Details on Its
Upcoming Release for PLAYSTATION 3

In the early half of the 14th
century a quarrel over the succession to the French throne escalated into what
history would define as the Hundred Years’ War. In 2007, KOEI’s upcoming video
game, BLADESTORM™: THE HUNDRED YEARS’ WAR will bring to life the intensity and
drama of a war-torn Medieval Europe featuring a rich tapestry of legendary
characters including Joan of Arc and Prince Edward- later to be named the Black
Prince.

Utilizing a new game engine
attainable only through the power of next-generation hardware, the game’s armies
will collide on the battlefield at an unprecedented scale. Countless numbers of
men consumed with ferocious intensity will converge on screen, where tactics and
cunning will combine with valor and might to determine who is left standing at
the end of the day.

BLADESTORM: THE HUNDRED YEARS’ WAR
puts gamers in the role of a rogue commander and gives them direct control of
mercenary units in fierce clashes with English and French forces. The game’s
unique style of action thrusts players into dynamic and ever-changing conflicts.
Players must adjust their strategies as skirmishes evolve, and then deploy the
unit best-suited to handle the challenge. At a player’s command is a broad array
of troops including infantry, archers, and cavalry, as well as a variety of
specialized units such as elephant units, cannoniers, and castle siege
specialists. While each unit is comprised of autonomous soldiers, each warrior
will contribute to the assigned objective.

BLADESTORM: THE HUNDRED YEARS’ WAR
utilizes a “Free Mission” system that allows players to align their forces with
either the French or English on a battle-by-battle basis. This unparalleled
freedom allows players to take on different assignments, or simply experience a
given battle from an opposing side.

Game progression is wholly dependent
on a player’s decisions and accomplishments on the battlefield. Players must
establish a reputation as a dependable and capable leader by successfully
completing each mission. The reputable commander will attract more desirable
troops to his employ, and will be asked to take on weightier challenges that
reflect his status as a fighter and leader of men. The troops themselves will
also become more lethal as they gain combat experience. Through a point system,
players can augment their units’ combat capabilities.

Provided below is a description of
the screens released on November 1, 2006. These screens are from the development
version and may not reflect the final product.

Click here to view all of the Nov 1,
2006 screenshots of

BLADESTORM: The Hundred Years War

Spearmen and Longspear men with
Shields

Spearmen combine relatively long
attacking times with moderate defensive abilities. Effective at intercepting
cavalry charges, long spear men with shields are able to keep enemies at bay.

Pike men

Strong against infantry and capable
even against cavalry, pike men are known for their ability to attack a
relatively wide area.

Armored Axe-men

Capable of destroying nearly all
enemies in their path, armored axe men possess high offensive and defensive
capabilities.

Longbow-men and Archers

Even amongst archers, Longbow men
are renowned for their long-distance attacking capabilities. Archers can mount
horses to become a cavalry unit.

Bases

Each stage has over 20 types of
strongholds including castles, forts, ruins, churches, and towns.