Kingdom Come: Deliverance II: A First Look After 10 Hours
Warhorse Studios' Kingdom Come: Deliverance II has arrived, presenting another chapter in their historically-rich Czech setting. Is this sequel worth your time? After 10 hours of gameplay, I'm inclined to say a resounding yes. My immediate reaction was a strong desire to play more, even neglecting work, a testament to its captivating nature. Let's delve into my initial impressions.
Image: ensiplay.com
Comparison to the Original:
Kingdom Come: Deliverance II remains a historically-grounded open-world action RPG, retaining the core mechanics of its predecessor. Players can adopt various roles – knight, thief, or diplomat – navigating the world through combat, stealth, or diplomacy. Resource management, including eating and sleeping, remains crucial for character effectiveness. Direct combat against multiple opponents remains challenging, demanding strategic thinking.
Image: ensiplay.com
Visually, the game is stunning. The landscapes are breathtakingly detailed, yet the performance optimization is impressive, avoiding the performance issues that plagued some players in the original.
Image: ensiplay.com
Combat has received subtle but significant enhancements. The streamlined attack system, improved enemy switching, and more nuanced parrying create a more intuitive, yet still challenging, experience. Enemy AI is improved, making encounters more tactical and realistic. Enemies actively attempt flanking maneuvers and injured foes strategically retreat, creating dynamic and engaging battles.
Image: ensiplay.com
Image: ensiplay.com
A new addition is blacksmithing, offering another engaging skill alongside alchemy and other mini-games. Crafting provides both income and access to superior equipment. The unique controls add a layer of challenge, making even simple tasks like forging horseshoes surprisingly difficult.
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Bugs:
Unlike its predecessor's troubled launch, Kingdom Come: Deliverance II appears well-polished. During my 10 hours, I encountered only minor, easily resolved issues, such as temporary UI glitches and a minor animation anomaly. These were insignificant and didn't detract from the overall experience.
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Realism and Difficulty:
The game's realism enhances immersion without sacrificing enjoyable gameplay. The difficulty, while challenging, is fair. The lack of a difficulty setting might deter casual players, but it's not excessively punishing. Players familiar with titles like The Witcher 3 or Skyrim should find it manageable, provided they approach combat strategically.
Image: ensiplay.com
Image: ensiplay.com
The historical detail is impressive, encouraging players to engage with the setting without feeling overwhelmed by factual information.
Should You Play?
Newcomers to the series can easily jump in. The prologue effectively bridges the gap for those unfamiliar with the first game's narrative. The opening hour seamlessly blends tutorials with engaging gameplay, immediately immersing the player in medieval Bohemia.
Image: ensiplay.com
Image: ensiplay.com
While a full judgment of the story and quests requires more playtime, my initial impressions are highly positive. The improvements across the board make this a promising RPG. Whether it maintains this quality throughout the entire experience remains to be seen, but my early time suggests a strong contender for RPG of the year.
