Kingdom Come: Deliverance II: First Impressions

With the recent release of Kingdom Come: Deliverance II, it's time to figure out whether Warhorse Studios' second attempt at presenting Czech history through video games is worth diving into. After spending 10 hours in the game, I'm eager to share my first impressions. Honestly, the urge to launch Kingdom Come: Deliverance II instead of working speaks volumes about its allure. Let's delve into the analysis of the game to see what makes it so compelling.

Image: ensiplay.com

Table of Content

• 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 that emphasizes historical accuracy and realism in its mechanics. Players can take on the role of a valiant knight, a stealthy thief, or engage in diplomatic resolutions. Essential activities like eating and sleeping are crucial for maintaining efficiency, and tackling three bandits alone remains a formidable challenge.

Image: ensiplay.com

The first thing that catches the eye is the graphics. The landscapes are even more stunning than before, yet PCs and consoles run smoothly without sounding like they're about to take off. This balance between visual quality and performance is a rare gem in modern AAA games.

Image: ensiplay.com

The combat system has seen minor but welcome improvements. There's now one less attack direction, making switching between enemies easier, and parrying has become a rhythmic dance rather than a surefire victory tactic. The fighting mechanics are more intuitive, yet still challenging. The game introduces more tactical variety, and enemies exhibit more intelligent behavior.

Image: ensiplay.com

When battling groups of enemies, their advantage feels more pronounced than in any other game. They constantly try to surround you and attack from behind. If one of them is seriously injured, he retreats behind his allies, allowing them to take over the fight.

Image: ensiplay.com

In addition to alchemy, dice, and other mini-games, players can now engage in blacksmithing. This craft offers both income and quality equipment. The process is engaging, with many different types of items to forge. Due to the unique controls, forging a horseshoe proved more challenging for me than crafting swords and axes.

Image: ensiplay.com

Bugs

Many remember the technical issues that plagued Kingdom Come: Deliverance at launch. However, the sequel has been released in a more polished state, as much as possible for a large-scale RPG.

Image: ensiplay.com

So far, I've encountered only a few minor bugs. Early in the game, the dialogue selection buttons flickered and became unresponsive, but a simple restart resolved the issue. Once, a tavern maid climbed onto a table and then teleported back to the floor. These are minor visual glitches—imperfect but not frustrating.

Realism and Difficulty

Kingdom Come: Deliverance II strikes a balance between realism and gameplay, ensuring the experience remains engaging without feeling overly cumbersome. Everything feels believable, which is crucial for immersion.

Image: ensiplay.com

The game does not have a difficulty selection, which might deter those who prefer less challenging experiences. However, 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 Kingdom Come: Deliverance II—provided you avoid obviously challenging situations, like attacking groups of enemies head-on alone.

Image: ensiplay.com

The historical aspect is well-executed. As an average player, I appreciate that the game doesn't force facts upon you but encourages curiosity about them.

Should You Play Kingdom Come: Deliverance II?

Even if you haven't played the first game, you can jump into Kingdom Come: Deliverance II. The prologue gradually introduces the events of the original, ensuring newcomers understand Henry’s backstory.

Image: ensiplay.com

The epic opening blends solid tutorials with an engaging pace. Within the first hour, you'll fight, laugh, and immerse yourself in medieval Bohemia.

It's still too early to fully judge the story and quests. What I've seen so far is impressive, but whether that holds for the full 100 hours remains to be seen.

Image: ensiplay.com

These are my first impressions after 10 hours in this medieval life simulator. I appreciate the improvements in every aspect compared to the first game. It's shaping up to be a fantastic RPG. Will it maintain its strengths throughout the full playthrough? Time will tell.