War of the Vikings puts hair on your face and an axe in your hand

by: Randy - posted: 8/6/2013 10:25:00 AM

When it comes to Paradox Interactive's published library, their grognard strategy games get more love than their non-armchair-strategist games. Paradox's name is more synonymous with Crusader Kings and Europa Universalis than Teleglitch and The Showdown Effect.

Yet here's developer Fatshark with War of the Vikings. Instead of hardcore wargaming over a European map from 20 miles up, we're down in the dirt, Drakkars scuffing the shoreline, and close-quarters combat with Northmen axes getting chucked at your face. I mean like right at your face.

War of the Vikings has you roll up on English shores to whoop up on some tea-drinking Saxons, or on the other side of the conflict, repressing Dragonborn wannabes with an iron fist, or, more likely, with those infamous Saxon bows.

You aren't doing it alone, though. We're talking 64-player online battles. We're talking skill-driven combat. We're talking customizable Viking beards. Cinematic teaser below.

War of the Vikings aims for a first-quarter 2014 launch on PC.
 

Paradox Interactive Announces War of the Vikings
Sharpen Your Axes, Prepare Your Armor, and Groom Your Beard for a New Close Combat Experience

NEW YORK — August 6, 2013 — Paradox Interactive, a publisher of games and a cultivator of epic facial hair, today announced War of the Vikings, an all-new multiplayer game built upon the technology that drives Paradox’s medieval squad combat title War of the Roses. Developed by Fatshark, War of the Vikings is a new standalone entry into the War franchise that will pull players into the brutal and bloody Viking Age, challenging them to design a personalized warrior and sack England as a mighty Norseman – or defend it as a brave Saxon. Featuring intense close-quarters combat, authentically inspired settings and weaponry, rich customization options, and large-scale 64-player battles, War of the Vikings will add a new unforgettable experience to Paradox’s close combat arsenal.

“War of the Roses was a fantastic experience for us to launch, and as it’s evolved over time, eventually growing into its current Kingmaker edition, we’ve been inspired many times over by the possibilities of the close-combat genre,” said Gordon Van Dyke, Executive Producer for the War of the Roses franchise. “It’s clear to us that that there are many more experiences we can share with our players, and War of the Vikings is our next step in establishing Paradox and Fatshark as leaders in the art of online war.”

The intensity is greater and the beards are longer in War of the Vikings, where players must band together on the battlefields of 9th and 10th Century England and fight to conquer or defend Britannia. Environments, weapons, and visuals drawn from Viking Age history will immerse players in a bloody new conflict between the Vikings and the Saxons, with each warrior hand-designed by its player from a wide variety of customization options. Built on skill-driven gameplay and a deep combat system, War of the Vikings will bring close combat closer than ever.

Players can apply to join the Alpha for War of the Vikings by heading to http://signup.warofthevikings.com/

War of the Vikings we’ll be shown at Gamescom from August 20-22, to set up an appointment please contact pr@paradoxplaza.com.

War of the Vikings features:

- History Comes to Life (and then you kill it) – Historically inspired content from the Viking Age, including levels and environments, weapons, helmets, shields, and heraldry
    
- Close Combat and Ranged Ravaging – Skill-driven fighting blends swinging, blocking, and dodging with intense ranged combat, including arrows, spears, and throwing axes
    
- Mod Your Squad – Enhanced squad features allow players to define a role for their warriors in battle using custom squad perks to buff your hirdmen

- A Viking to Your Liking – Design your own Viking or Saxon warrior, choosing everything from weapons and armor to battle perks, customized taunts to unhinge your foes, and a variety of beard options

- Pick Your Battles – Game modes include up to 64-player epic battles, new hardcore “Pitched Arena” mode with 32 players and no respawns, and a Training Ground to test out new character builds

War of the Vikings is scheduled to release in Q1 2014.

Read more:

Facebook: facebook.com/WaroftheVikings
Web page: waroftherosesthegame.com
Twitter: twitter.com/warofthevikings
Forum: forum.paradoxplaza.com