Pike and Shot

Pike and Shot is a turn-based strategy developed as a joint project by Byzantine Games and The Lordz Games Studio. As per the game’s title, the game focuses on the period when traditional means of combat (i.e. melee weaponry) have been superseded by firearms such as muskets, cannons, etc.

Plot

The action of the game takes place in Europe between the 16th and 17th century, a period marked by numerous wars sparked by religious, political, or dynastical reasons. We can choose from three scenarios: Italian Wars (fought by countries such as Italy, France, Spain, England, Scotland, Switzerland, and Turkey), Thirty Years’ War (1618-1648) and English Civil War, in which Royalists have clashed with Parliamentarians led by Olivier Cromwell.

Mechanics

Pike and Shot is a classic turn-based strategy simulating the conflicts that took place in 16th and 17th century Europe. During the game, we control military forces from the size of a battalion, taking part in 10 historic clashes divided into three aforementioned campaigns. The characteristic feature of the gaime is the recreated historical period, as well as the maps of individual battles, and each of the twenty available units, characterized by different abilities. The gameplay has a lot of tactical depth, while the decisions made by us have a substantial influence on the course of each war, and the fate of the whole Europe. Depending on our abilities, we can choose from 5 different difficulty levels.

When it comes to graphics, the game has a very characteristic visual style, influenced by the art of the 17th century and battle scenes from that era. Thanks to a simple and intuitive interface, the gameplay basics are very easy to understand, however a large dose of practice is needed to become an efficient player. The game includes a lot of gameplay modes, e.g. a PBEM multiplayer mode, which aside from historical battles, offers the ability to play a single, random scenario, in which historical armies clash on randomly generated maps.

Last updated on 20 August 2015