With the recent release of Kingdom Come: Deliverance II, it's time to delve into whether Warhorse Studios' second venture into Czech history through video games is worth exploring. After spending 10 hours in the game, my initial impressions are overwhelmingly positive. The urge to launch Kingdom Come instead of working speaks volumes about its engaging nature. Let's break down the key aspects of the game.
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Comparison with the First Game
Kingdom Come: Deliverance II continues the tradition of its predecessor as an open-world Action RPG, focusing on historical accuracy and realism. Players can choose to be a valiant knight, a stealthy thief, or opt for diplomatic solutions. Essential mechanics like eating and sleeping remain crucial for maintaining efficiency, and tackling three bandits alone remains a formidable challenge.
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The graphics are a standout feature, with landscapes that are even more breathtaking than before, yet the game runs smoothly on both PCs and consoles. This balance is a rare find in modern AAA titles. The combat system has been refined with minor but significant improvements, including one less attack direction, easier enemy switching, and a more rhythmic parrying system. While combat remains challenging, it's now more intuitive and offers greater tactical variety, with enemies displaying smarter behavior.
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When facing multiple enemies, their advantage is more pronounced than in most games. They strategically try to surround you and attack from behind, and injured foes retreat to let others take the lead. Beyond combat, the game introduces blacksmithing alongside existing mini-games like alchemy and dice. This new craft not only provides income but also access to quality equipment. The unique controls make forging a horseshoe more challenging than crafting swords and axes, adding depth to the gameplay.
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Bugs
The first Kingdom Come: Deliverance was notorious for its technical issues at launch, but the sequel has been released in a much more polished state. In my 10 hours of playtime, I've encountered only minor bugs. Early on, dialogue selection buttons flickered and became unresponsive, but a simple restart resolved the issue. Another time, a tavern maid climbed onto a table and then teleported back to the floor. These are minor visual glitches that don't detract from the overall experience.
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Realism and Difficulty
Kingdom Come: Deliverance II strikes a balance between realism and gameplay, ensuring that the experience remains immersive without becoming tedious. The game does not offer a difficulty selection, which might deter some players, but it's not as punishing as Dark Souls. If you've completed games like The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt or The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim on any difficulty, you should be able to handle Kingdom Come—as long as you avoid recklessly engaging groups of enemies alone.
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The historical accuracy is commendable. While I'm not a historian, the game's approach to history is engaging and encourages players to explore the subject further without forcing facts upon them.
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Should You Play Kingdom Come: Deliverance II?
Even if you haven't played the first game, Kingdom Come: Deliverance II is accessible to newcomers. The prologue effectively introduces the events of the original, ensuring that everyone understands Henry's backstory. The epic opening seamlessly blends tutorials with an engaging pace, allowing players to fight, laugh, and immerse themselves in medieval Bohemia within the first hour.
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While it's too early to fully judge the story and quests, what I've experienced so far is impressive. Whether this quality holds for the full 100 hours remains to be seen.
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These are my initial impressions after 10 hours in this medieval life simulator. The improvements across the board compared to the first game are evident, and it's shaping up to be a fantastic RPG. The question now is whether it can maintain these strengths throughout the entire playthrough. Time will tell.
