Kingdom Come 2: Early Gameplay Impressions

With the recent release of Kingdom Come: Deliverance II, it's time to decide if Warhorse Studios' second foray into Czech historical video games is worth your time. I've spent 10 hours immersed in the game, and I'm ready to share my initial impressions. Honestly, the game's pull is so strong, I'm fighting the urge to play instead of working – a testament to its captivating nature. But before I succumb completely, let's dive into an analysis.

Table of Contents

• Comparison with the First Game
• Bugs
• Realism and Difficulty
• Should You Play Kingdom Come: Deliverance II?

Comparison with the First Game

Like its predecessor, Kingdom Come: Deliverance II is an open-world action RPG prioritizing historical accuracy and realistic mechanics. You can embody a valiant knight, a stealthy rogue, or a diplomatic peacemaker. Essential actions like eating and sleeping directly impact your efficiency, and facing three bandits alone is a significant, challenging undertaking.

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Visually, the game is stunning. The landscapes are even more breathtaking than before, yet the performance is remarkably smooth on both PCs and consoles—a rare feat in modern AAA titles.

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The combat system boasts subtle yet significant improvements. With one less attack direction and smoother enemy switching, parrying feels more like a rhythmic dance than a guaranteed win. Combat is more intuitive, but not easier. The game introduces more tactical depth, and enemies exhibit increased intelligence.

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Facing multiple enemies feels more challenging than in most games. Enemies actively try to surround and flank you. A wounded enemy will strategically retreat behind allies, forcing you to adapt your tactics.

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Beyond alchemy and dice games, blacksmithing adds a new layer of depth. This engaging craft provides both income and access to high-quality equipment, promising lasting appeal due to the variety of forgeable items. The unique controls, however, made forging horseshoes surprisingly more challenging than crafting swords and axes for me.

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Bugs

Many remember the technical issues plaguing the original Kingdom Come: Deliverance at launch. Thankfully, the sequel launched in a much more polished state, as expected from a large-scale RPG.

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During my playtime, I encountered only minor bugs. Early on, dialogue selection buttons flickered and became unresponsive, but a simple restart resolved the issue. I also witnessed a tavern maid briefly teleport, minor visual glitches that didn't significantly impact my experience.

Realism and Difficulty

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Kingdom Come: Deliverance II avoids excessive realism that might hinder gameplay. The game feels believable, enhancing immersion.

The lack of a difficulty setting might deter players who prefer less challenging experiences. However, it's not Dark Souls level difficulty. 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 manage, provided you avoid recklessly engaging multiple enemies head-on.

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The historical detail is impressive. While I can't fully assess its accuracy as a non-historian, I appreciate the game's approach: it subtly encourages players to learn more, rather than forcing historical facts upon them.

Should You Play Kingdom Come: Deliverance II?

Even newcomers to the series can easily jump in. The prologue cleverly introduces the events of the first game, ensuring players understand Henry's backstory.

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This epic opening seamlessly blends tutorials with engaging gameplay. Within the first hour, you'll fight, laugh, and be fully immersed in medieval Bohemia.

It's still early to definitively judge the overall story and quests. My initial impressions are positive, but whether this holds true over a full 100-hour playthrough remains to be seen.

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After 10 hours in this medieval life simulator, my first impressions are overwhelmingly positive. The improvements over the first game are noticeable in every aspect. It's shaping up to be a fantastic RPG. Will it maintain this quality throughout a complete playthrough? Only time will tell.