The much-anticipated release of Kingdom Come: Deliverance II has arrived, and it's time to assess whether Warhorse Studios' latest foray into Czech history through video gaming lives up to the hype. After dedicating 10 hours to this sequel, I find myself eagerly drawn back to the game, a testament to its engaging nature. Before diving back in, let's delve into a detailed analysis.
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Comparison with the First Game
Much like its predecessor, Kingdom Come: Deliverance II is an open-world Action RPG that prides itself on historical accuracy and realism. You have the freedom to embody a valiant knight, a stealthy thief, or opt for a diplomatic approach to resolve conflicts. Essential activities like eating and sleeping are crucial for maintaining your character's efficiency, and tackling three bandits alone remains a formidable challenge.
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One of the first things that stands out is the enhanced graphics. The landscapes are even more breathtaking than before, yet the game runs smoothly on both PCs and consoles, a rare feat in modern AAA titles.
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The combat system has received subtle yet impactful improvements. There's now one less attack direction, making enemy switching more seamless, and parrying feels more like a rhythmic dance than a surefire win. While the combat remains challenging, it has become more intuitive, introducing greater tactical variety and smarter enemy AI.
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Battles against multiple foes emphasize their numerical advantage more intensely than in most games. Enemies attempt to surround you and attack from behind, and injured foes strategically retreat to let their comrades continue the fight.
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In addition to returning mini-games like alchemy and dice, Kingdom Come: Deliverance II introduces blacksmithing. This craft not only provides income but also allows you to create high-quality equipment. The variety of items to forge keeps the process engaging, though I found crafting a horseshoe more challenging than making swords and axes due to the unique controls.
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Bugs
The original Kingdom Come: Deliverance was marred by technical issues at launch, but the sequel has launched 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 bizarrely climbed onto a table before teleporting back to the floor. These are minor visual glitches that don't detract significantly from the experience.
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Realism and Difficulty
Kingdom Come: Deliverance II strikes a balance between realism and gameplay enjoyment. The game's believability enhances immersion without making the experience tedious.
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There's no difficulty selection, which might deter those who prefer less challenging games. However, it's not as punishing as Dark Souls. If you've managed to complete The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt or The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim on any difficulty, you should be able to navigate Kingdom Come: Deliverance II—just 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 feels authentic and encourages players to explore and learn more about the era without force-feeding facts.
Should You Play Kingdom Come: Deliverance II?
Importantly, Kingdom Come: Deliverance II is accessible to newcomers. The prologue effectively recaps the events of the first game, ensuring that new players understand protagonist Henry's backstory.
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The opening sequence masterfully blends tutorials with an engaging narrative, allowing you to fight, laugh, and immerse yourself in medieval Bohemia within the first hour.
While it's too early to fully evaluate the story and quests, the initial impressions are promising. Whether this quality sustains over the game's full 100-hour duration remains to be seen.
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These are my initial thoughts after spending 10 hours in this medieval life simulator. The improvements across the board from the first game are evident, and it's shaping up to be an exceptional RPG. The real test will be whether it can maintain these strengths throughout the entire playthrough. Time will tell.
