I was so excited that I would play this game on PS4 in the Closed Alpha, and with the Samurai option I could not wait to slice and dice.

When I first played the game, a video appeared (as is expected with games you first play) explaining how the Vikings, Knights and Samurai from three different Countries/areas merged and ended up having a good ol' blood bath.

Then the Tutorial came on, after choosing your side (three guesses what I chose - Samurai all the way) and customising your shield/emblem you are away. The mechanics of the game was different from what I initially thought, for instance, using a directional block system. You would choose the block button and choose the direction depended on the direction the opponent was attacking. Up, left or right. In theory this sounds like a great idea, bringing more realism to how you fight, rather than just charging in like a wonder-god. However it only provides a limited time to block, and in a fast game where you are attacking soldiers it is not the best idea. The other opponent i.e the Viking, Knight & Samurai are incredibly strong and if you don't get in there first don't bother with the block.

After learning the block, you could then move. Now I am not one to moan about realism, but the Samurai is not as fluid as it could be. Of course any type of character you choose will be stiff they are wearing armour for crying out loud, but it seems too robotic. Even the robots in Will Smiths i, robot move better! Or Jenson in Deus Ex. It's not the most enjoyable experience and become even more frustrating.

After learning your character you can then go out into the big bad, historical world, where you see all three countries/areas merged. This was another disappointment for me. I was so hoping for a story mode, where you could experience all of the characters events learning how they feel about each other and exploring the maps individually. But no, its an online only. I have never been against online only games, but to me after a while it can become a bit boring, and when you don't have friends online all the time to play with, and your with players you don't know they can quite easily stab you in the back. Literally. I played Dominion and was enjoying capturing each base....until another player kept hitting me and killed me. Not once. Not twice. THREE TIMES. This HAS TO BE RESOLVED. Too many times, have I played COD, Dead Island and other online games and players take advantage or enjoyment of ruining your fun. There MUST be an option for either consequence for killing your team mates, or a 'friendly' option where you can't hit each other, on purpose or accidentally.

Another moan (I know I have done a lot in this review) is the duel. After an hour I had to give up. The Tutorial brings this fake atmosphere the game is easy and you are amazing. Then you go onto duel, either against a player or AI, and you die. No matter what you do it is TOO difficult. A level adjustment I feel would be good when duelling. I don't say anything to Dominion or Brawl but duel definitely otherwise it creates a huge gap and unfair advantage.

One final thing I must, must must say is MAKE THE SOLDIERS THE SAME SIZE AS YOUR CHARACTER. If you want realism don't make them 4 foot whilst you are 6. No way would that happen on the battlefield. Or at least not all the Soldiers would be 4 foot.

Now the things I liked!

I like the fact you could customise your character right down to the hilt literally. You can design and look how you want, be as scary or dark as you want, as well as level up a certain way. i.e being stealthy or just full on power made. I also like the way you can scavenge the battlefield to obtain goodies.

I loved the idea of Dominion, I played this most of the time, working as a team and obliterating the other opponents. It made you feel you was in a realistic battlefield, and the historical armour and weaponry was just amazing. The detail was incredible and I take my hat off to you developers, you have done your research.

I also like the fact that you blocked in different directions. Ok I moaned about it earlier at the start, but it is a different way to defend yourself. The way to improve it would be to be able to block without a limit.

Overall, it needs a story if you don't want to come online, change the soldiers to the right size, make duelling a bit easier to work with and stop other players hitting you for pure idiocy. At the stage it is at, I would buy it but not like 'I have to HAVE it NOW!!' more like 'meh I can wait for a bit before I buy it'.

Can't wait to see how the Beta plays up to it after reviewing all of the comments!

Jayneellen