What is it about those four legged creatures that make us treat them with such respect? We as humans have hunted just about everything the Earth has been generous enough to create. However the horse shall not be touched. Does it not have meat? Can it not sustain a hungry family? No other animal has captured and sustained the loyalty of mankind more than the horse. This fact remains true even the realm of videogames. When you lose your horse, you lost part of yourself.

Mount & Blade is a bit of a paradox with the way it is set up. It’s not a hardcore gamer’s game and it isn’t a casual gamer’s game. Halting somewhere in the middle, it’s a bit of an acquired taste with a simple story that mixes Elder Scrolls character building and the Medieval II: Total War game play.

Mount&Blade may not be the most eye-catching title of all time but, hey, what’s in a name anyway? The important thing is the gameplay which you can experience by signing up for the final beta at Gamespot.

The M&B beta will be going on for the next two weeks and will end on August 25, 2008. The final game will be available for PC via retail on September 16, 2008, in North America and September 19, 2008, in Europe.

Mount&Blade is an first/third-person action RPG that takes place during the…