Kingdom Come: Deliverance II: A First Look After 10 Hours
Warhorse Studios' Kingdom Come: Deliverance II has arrived, presenting another opportunity to experience medieval Czech history through a video game lens. This review shares initial impressions after 10 hours of gameplay.
Image: ensiplay.com
The game immediately captivates, sparking a strong desire to prioritize it over other tasks. Let's delve into the specifics:
Comparison with the First Game:
Kingdom Come: Deliverance II remains a historically-inspired open-world action RPG, retaining the series' focus on realism and detailed mechanics. Players can adopt various roles – knight, thief, diplomat – with survival elements like eating and sleeping impacting effectiveness. Combat remains challenging, particularly against multiple opponents.
Image: ensiplay.com
Visually stunning, the game boasts improved graphics over its predecessor, without the significant performance hit of many modern AAA titles. Combat is refined, with a streamlined attack system, easier enemy switching, and a more nuanced parry mechanic. While more intuitive, the combat remains challenging, demanding tactical awareness and strategic approaches. Enemy AI is noticeably improved, exhibiting more intelligent and coordinated behavior.
Image: ensiplay.com
Group combat presents a significant challenge, with enemies actively attempting to flank and overwhelm the player. Injured foes strategically retreat, allowing their allies to continue the fight. New additions include blacksmithing, adding another layer of gameplay depth and resource management.
Image: ensiplay.com
Image: ensiplay.com
Image: ensiplay.com
Bugs:
Unlike its predecessor's troubled launch, Kingdom Come: Deliverance II appears relatively polished. Minor graphical glitches were encountered, such as flickering dialogue buttons (resolved with a restart) and a minor animation anomaly. These were insignificant and did not impede gameplay.
Image: ensiplay.com
Realism and Difficulty:
The game strikes a balance between realism and engaging gameplay. The difficulty, while challenging, is not insurmountable for players familiar with other action RPGs. The absence of a difficulty setting might deter some, but strategic play is key to success. The historical setting is well-realized, immersing the player without overwhelming them with historical facts.
Image: ensiplay.com
Image: ensiplay.com
Should You Play Kingdom Come: Deliverance II?
New players can easily jump in. The prologue effectively bridges the gap for those unfamiliar with the first game, smoothly introducing Henry's backstory. The opening hours provide engaging tutorials and a captivating narrative. While the full story's quality remains to be seen, the initial impressions are highly positive.
Image: ensiplay.com
Image: ensiplay.com
Conclusion:
After 10 hours, Kingdom Come: Deliverance II shows significant improvement over its predecessor. The refined gameplay, engaging story, and immersive world make it a promising RPG. Only time will tell if it maintains this high quality throughout the entire experience.
