So Much Customization - There's so much customization for your 4 potential custom characters in this game that it's almost a flaw. Not only do you choose 5 perk trees that branch out into insane details, but your weapons are customizable all the way to the base. Sure you may start with a standard longsword, but pretty soon you'll be buying a new fighting style, different material for the sword to be made out of, and probably a new hilt. It's the kind of character customization that makes every unit on the battlefield unique to their player.

I'm Not Just a Knight - It may take players a long time to realize this, but there are many roles on the battlefield that need filling. At first a player might snipe enemies as an archer to give the ground infantry a leg up on the enemy, or even participate in grunt warfare. However, as they unlock more customization options for their character, they'll soon realize that fast-moving medics and heavy cavalry are as essential to victory as a bastard sword wielding berserker.

I Can Swing My Sword, Sword - Anyone who's played Paradox's other combat series Mount & Blade will feel right at home with War Of The Roses. Taking the best from the aforementioned series, Paradox has ramped up the combat for this new title. Requiring players to swing at the right angles at the right distances to score the most possible damage, good execution rewards players with one hit kills. Meanwhile, those that play without strategy will feel their weapons bounce weakly off their opponent's armor as they face a painful decapitation. 

That's a Learning Curve For You - With a paper-thin tutorial, War Of The Roses is a merciless online slaughter for first timers. In fact, most players may immediately be turned off by the fact that there is a very limited single player campaign and the fact that most of their first few game sessions will be spent dying horribly over and over again. The complete lack of any deep single-player experience is a large inhibitor for this title that should be taken into consideration.

Why Do You Have a Horse and I Don't? - The learning curve is bad enough without all the extra bonuses higher leveled players get. It wasn't until I was about level 20 with a full medicine bag, a heavy set of armor, and a sweet mace that I felt I could fight other players with limited problems. This required roughly six hours of play, during which I spent six hours dying in terrible ways.

The Symphony is Tears of Pain - At the time of writing this, I had just gotten out of an online session. At this point in time I can honestly say I don't remember what the music sounds like, or if there's music at all. Most of the sound is metal hitting metal, cries of pain, or my lance breaking for the umpteenth time on a tree branch. The occasional sound clip of the announcer telling players what's going on is the only noise not created by player interactions. On the bright side, no soundtrack means players can have grooveshark running as they play.

War Of The Roses is a title that's not for everyone. I love the crap out of it simply because it's the game I'd design if I could. The steep learning curve, limited single player and lack of polish draw away from an otherwise beautiful game. If players can get past the first few hours of gameplay, War Of The Roses opens up to be a beautiful title with so much more to offer than what it first reveals. If players can make it past the first few hours there’s lots of fun to be had here.