Free war game mod
Bulat Steel is a free mod for Total War: Medieval II. This mod adds all sorts of elements into Medieval 2 Total War, like historical expansions, new unit cards, factions, improved models and an improved map geared toward historical wargames and campaigns.
If you’re looking for other incredible mods for Total War: Medieval II, look no further than Hellenika Total War, which you can install with the Nexus Mods Manager.
Bulat Steel introduces two new historical campaigns. The first takes place in 1100 AD and has 28 new factions to play with. Split between Catholic, Pagan, Orthodox and Islamic groups. The second campaign is set in 1220 AD and adds 30 new factions.
New campaigns
Included in these brand new factions are almost 500 new units to use in your campaigns, as well as a brand new campaign map of the Medieval world. You’ll also have access to hundreds of fresh scripted events and music handpicked for each faction performed by Leeekaaa.
Bugs and issues
Total War: Medieval II is one of the greatest wargame simulators available. Any mod aiming to improve such a stunning game should be held to a high standard. To that end, there are some aspects that muddle the Bulat Steel experience.
Most of Bulat Steel centres around historically accurate, totally immersive gameplay. The addition of music and character pictures from Game of Thrones chips away at realism somewhat, as do electric guitars blaring over battle scenes.
Another issue is that not all of the buildings and assets feature the same quality or attention to detail. Some of the structures are less impactful than those in the base game, especially when viewed alongside absolute marvels like the Rostov settlement castle.
There are also inconsistencies in the menus and loading screens as well. The game is supposed to be an immersive medieval experience, but once you install Bulat Steel, the name of the mod and its creators appears on every loading screen and most menus, almost like a watermark. This detracts from the immersive experience.
Incredible mod, badly presented
The gameplay additions and most of the assets in Bulat Steel are incredible. The mod features an extensive list of customisable scripts that let you create your own ideal version of Total War. The AI mods are intuitive and add really interesting mechanics into the game as well.
The overall, in-game experience is hard to beat, but the loading screens and music choices, which are what you’re likely to remember because of constant exposure, detract from how immersive the game could be.