"Kingdom Come: Deliverance II - Initial Reactions"

With the recent release of Kingdom Come: Deliverance II, it's time to dive into whether Warhorse Studios' second venture into depicting Czech history through video games is worth exploring. After spending 10 hours in the game, my first impressions are overwhelmingly positive. The game's allure is so strong that it's tempting to launch it instead of focusing on work, which speaks volumes about its engaging nature. Let's delve into a comprehensive analysis of the game.

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. You can embody a valiant knight, a stealthy thief, or opt for diplomatic solutions to conflicts. Essential activities like eating and sleeping are crucial for maintaining your character's efficiency, and taking on three bandits alone remains a formidable challenge.

Image: ensiplay.com

The graphics are the first thing that catches your eye. The landscapes are even more breathtaking than before, yet they don't push your PC or console to its limits. This balance is a rare gem in modern AAA games.

Image: ensiplay.com

The combat system has seen minor but welcome improvements. With one less attack direction, smoother transitions between enemies, and parrying transformed into a rhythmic dance, fighting has become more intuitive without being easier. The game offers more tactical variety, and enemies exhibit smarter behavior.

Image: ensiplay.com

Battling groups of enemies highlights their tactical advantage more than in any other game. They constantly attempt to surround you and attack from behind. If one is seriously injured, he retreats behind his allies, allowing them to continue the fight.

Image: ensiplay.com

In addition to alchemy, dice, and other mini-games, you can now engage in blacksmithing. This craft provides both income and quality equipment, and with the variety of items to forge, it's unlikely to become tedious quickly. The unique controls made forging a horseshoe more challenging for me than crafting swords and axes.

Image: ensiplay.com

Bugs

Many remember the technical issues that plagued the launch of Kingdom Come: Deliverance. However, the sequel was released in a 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, dialogue selection buttons flickered and became unresponsive, but a simple restart resolved it. Once, a tavern maid climbed onto a table and then teleported back to the floor. These are minor visual glitches—not perfect, but not frustrating either.

Realism and Difficulty

Kingdom Come: Deliverance II strikes a balance with realism that enhances immersion without making gameplay dull. Everything feels believable, which is crucial for engagement.

Image: ensiplay.com

The game does not offer difficulty selection, which may 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 manage well in Kingdom Come—as long as you avoid obviously challenging situations, such as attacking groups of enemies head-on, alone.

Image: ensiplay.com

The historical aspect is outstanding. As an average player, I appreciate how the game encourages interest in historical facts without forcing them upon you.

Should You Play Kingdom Come: Deliverance II?

It's worth noting that even those who haven't played the first game can jump into this one. The prologue gradually introduces the events of the original Kingdom Come: Deliverance, ensuring newcomers understand Henry's backstory.

Image: ensiplay.com

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

It's too early to fully judge the story and quests. What I've seen so far is impressive, but whether this holds for the entire 100-hour journey remains to be seen.

Image: ensiplay.com

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