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 immersed in the game, I find myself eager to dive back in instead of focusing on work, which speaks volumes about its allure. Let's break down the key aspects of this sequel.
Image: ensiplay.com
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 your character's efficiency, and tackling multiple bandits alone remains a formidable challenge.
Image: ensiplay.com
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 between visual quality and performance is a rare gem in modern AAA titles.
Image: ensiplay.com
Combat has seen subtle yet impactful improvements. With one less attack direction, smoother enemy switching, and a more rhythmic parrying system, the fights feel more intuitive yet challenging. The game introduces greater tactical variety, with enemies displaying smarter behavior.
Image: ensiplay.com
When facing groups of enemies, their strategic advantage is more pronounced than in most games. They attempt to surround you and attack from behind, and if one is seriously injured, they retreat, allowing others to take the lead.
Image: ensiplay.com
Beyond combat, the game expands on mini-games like alchemy and dice, introducing blacksmithing. This new craft not only provides income but also access to quality equipment. The variety of items to forge keeps the process engaging, though I found forging a horseshoe more challenging than crafting swords and axes due to the unique controls.
Image: ensiplay.com
Bugs
Unlike the first game, which launched with numerous technical issues, Kingdom Come: Deliverance II has been released in a more polished state. In my 10 hours of playtime, I 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 significantly from the experience.
Image: ensiplay.com
Realism and Difficulty
Kingdom Come: Deliverance II strikes a balance between realism and gameplay, ensuring immersion without making the experience 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 The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt or The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim on any difficulty, you should be able to handle this game, provided you avoid recklessly engaging groups of enemies alone.
Image: ensiplay.com
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 facts rather than force-feeding them information.
Image: ensiplay.com
Should You Play Kingdom Come: Deliverance II?
Even if you haven't played the first game, Kingdom Come: Deliverance II is accessible. The prologue effectively introduces the events of the original, ensuring newcomers understand Henry's backstory. The epic opening blends solid tutorials with an engaging pace, allowing players to fight, laugh, and immerse themselves in medieval Bohemia within the first hour.
Image: ensiplay.com
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.
Image: ensiplay.com
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. Whether it maintains its strengths throughout the full playthrough is something I'm eager to discover.
