I played this a long time ago, and I loved the battle system.
My favorite tactic was rushing to people on my horse, then slashing them in the face as I rode past them. I also loved the bow and arrow physics - they really look, 'feel' and sound like big sticks of wood swooshing past your head. When you raise your shield to block them, they get stuck on your shield and will remain there until you die or the battle ends. Horses are very well designed and animated, and while they're a bit clunky to use at times, they're an important asset to have during battle. I myself was able to take down 10 or so men who weren't on horses, while I myself was. I had the advantage of speed and height, and a swift slash to the face or chest deals some nice damage. :3
The game needs a lot of polish though - the last version I played lacked enough variety in non-combat situations (only one town had actual buildings you could enter, people to talk to, etc), while others were just points on a map, with options you could select on what to do (visit a shop, talk to the boss or whatever). So aside from the engaging battles, there wasn't much that kept me interested.