【DMCA】

For Honorisn't like other games.

You don't have DMCAto take my word for it. Ubisoft is hosting an open beta for the game on all platforms -- PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One -- from Feb. 9-12. It's not the fullgame, but it's enough to illustrate the kind of experience to expect from this Feb. 14 release.

I'm just here to tell you: it's good stuff. Like, really good. We spent about 40 minutes messing around with the recent closed beta during an episode of #ButtonMash and came away impressed.

For Honorlooks a little bit like a stripped down Warriorsgame -- Mashable's Ben Fullon described it as a "1v1 Dynasty Warriors" -- with its focus on melee combat across sprawling battlefields. But that "1v1" bit in Ben's description is critical; For Honoralso embraces the spirit of fighting games with its deceptively deep duel swordplay.

It works like this: every warrior can either guard or attack in one of three directions at any given moment: left, right, or top (i.e. over the head). You ward off damage by blocking in the same direction your foe attacks from and you dish it out by attacking whichever direction they're not guarding.

It works because of smart iconography. Whenever you find yourself in a duel, a three-pronged meter appears in front of your warrior and in front of whomever you're facing. It's an easy-to-read visual that communicates the direction you and your opponent are attacking or guarding.

Like so:

You noted the white directional indicators on each warrior, right? That's the meter. It's really the only thing to keep your eyes on when you're facing off in For Honor's 1v1 combat.

The above GIF just highlights blocking. It's best to start out by mastering that skill. Reading your opponents -- not just howthey're attacking, but with what frequency -- is critical to success in For Honor.

Unlike more traditional fighting games, there aren't any complex button combos here. Attacks chain together more organically than that; if you dish out three light attacks in quick succession and you time the button presses right, your chosen warrior will make it look cool on his or her own.

Your foes can also chain attacks together, and that's where the natural ebb and flow of For Honor's swordplay comes into focus. Ideally, you're guarding against a quick flurry of attacks and then striking back immediately afterward, when there's an opening.

Here's a good example:

Those are the basics of combat, but you have other tools as well. You can dodge attacks instead of blocking them, for instance. The timing is trickier, but doing it right can position you for an easy strike at your foe's exposed flank.

You can also perform a guard break, delivering a quick fist to your foe's midsection that stuns them momentarily. You can follow that up with a quick attack or, if you prefer, a throw.

Much like dodges, well-timed throws disrupt your foe's momentum by moving them out of position. On certain maps, throws can also end a round prematurely if you manage to toss your opponent out of the arena.

It's fun. Definitely try it.

Note the red shattered shield icon. That means you've successfully broken through your opponent's guard.

That's really all there is to the basics of For Honor's combat. A "Revenge" meter fills up as you block attacks; once you top it off and trigger it, your warrior does increased damage/takes less damage for a short time. It's a mechanism that lets you turn the tables when you're barely hanging on.

There's plenty more to the game, of course. A variety of multiplayer modes -- against humans or A.I.-controlled bots -- alongside a story mode. Multiple warrior classes with their own quirks that mix up the basics described above. An elaborate system of loot and level unlocks.

Much of this is showcased in the beta throughout the weekend. It's great to have that sampling, but For Honor's combat is the best reason to check the game out while it's totally free.

This is such an unusual game. It's one of those "easy to learn/difficult to master" types of experiences, with an original approach to melee combat. You won't get the complete experience from a beta, but if the combat clicks for you -- as it did for me -- you'll definitely want to sample more.

To try it, visit your preferred online store (Uplay if you're on PC) and download the beta.