How do you like your medieval warfare: with Chivalry or Roses?

There are always new themes and trends that pervade gaming. As we discussed on the final episode of Big Red Potion, there have been a number of bubbles throughout gaming history during which particular genres rose in popularity and frequency of release. One might say that we are currently in the midst of the “modern military shooter bubble” right now.

But this fall ushers in an unexpected double-dose of an unusual action genre: the medieval warfare melee game.

Fatshark and Paradox Interactive only a few days ago released War of the Roses, a “gritty medieval third-person team-based melee combat game” set during the 15th-century civil war in England between the House of Lancaster or the House of York. Each player chooses a house and customizes a character to be sent into battle with a primary weapon, a secondary weapon, and a dagger in order to help his house claim the vacant throne. The plot is throwaway: this is a multiplayer deathmatch game, a la Counter-Strike.

What stands out about War of the Roses is its excruciating, unforgiving combat, which is all based on mouse gestures that correspond to the directions of the on-screen avatars’ slashes. It’s something players will learn and grow into, but as the game’s tagline goes, “skill is not an unlock.”

Here’s the launch trailer for War of the Roses:

On the other side of the longsword, Chivalry: Medieval Warfare comes from Torn Banner Studios, whose members previously created the Half-Life 2 total-conversion mod, Age of Chivalry. As the studio’s first commercial release, Chivalry: Medieval Warfare will be available on Steam on October 16, and this time makes use of Unreal Engine technology. The game is intended to be played from a first-person perspective (visually reminiscent of Skyrim, Oblivion, and Dark Messiah of Might and Magic), but can also be played with a third-person view.

Chivalry emphasizes character classes and a wide array of weaponry with varying stats to make its multiplayer combat a dynamic experience. There are a ton of weapons in this game. It also features maps with specific objectives for the game’s two fictional warring factions, the Agathian Knights and the Mason Order. Like Chivalry in general, they look really good.

Have a look at Chivalry: Medieval Warfare‘s release date trailer:

Could multiplayer deathmatches with swords be the NEXT BIG THING?! We’ll know soon enough.

Pick up War of the Roses now for $29.99, or Chivalry: Medieval Warfare on October 16 for $24.99.