Gamespot's review is way off...
The game can be a bit rough around the edges sometimes i admit, it doesn't have a linear story of any kind, you are a character and you can go out and make a name for yourself.
It's as realistic of a medieval experience as you can imagine, where your survival depends on good gear, money, an army of good troops, and did I mention money?
What really shines in this game is how immersive the overall strategy gameplay is, going around the map as a vassal or a rebel, attacking enemy lords or taking castles, the combat system blends in seemlessly and you'll think you're really on the battlefield.
Even with a best armor, if 30 peasants are whacking you, you're done!
What i absolutely love though, is when you go from strategy map to combat map, it literally takes 5 seconds. Whereas another game I love Total War, takes 30 seconds...and that totally changes the experience.
Give this game a chance...it isn't perfect by any means, you sometimes wish it had a bit more variety, a bit more depth...but there's always stuff to do, troops to train, castles to take, towns to defend!