A Medieval Romp With Some Cheeky Lads – Our Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 Review

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The long-awaited sequel to Kingdom Come: Deliverance is finally here and does not disappoint.

Warhorse Studios has significantly enhanced the elements that made the original game popular, while improving its mechanics, narrative, and environment creation, resulting in an experience that can be both challenging and satisfying.

If you’re anticipating a typical Role-Playing Game with plenty of sword-swinging action reminiscent of a medieval superhero, think twice. Here, things are quite different.

In the sequel to Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, you’ll find yourself back in the role of Henry from Skalitz, journeying alongside Hans Capon through the turbulent lands of Bohemia. Despite investing countless hours into the original game, I never fully grasped or resonated with its intricacies; despite my repeated attempts to develop a deep connection, it simply didn’t ignite that emotional spark within me.

Being deeply fond of expansive role-playing games such as Skyrim, I felt compelled to tackle this titanic game for a review. As I delved into it, I wondered if I would end up enamored or throw down my controller in frustration due to its challenge level.

This game requires patience, skill, and an understanding of its complex aspects. Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 doesn’t offer a guide but aims to plunge you into the harsh, unforgiving reality of medieval life.

To play this game well, you need patience, talent, and attention to detail. Unlike many games, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 won’t baby you but instead throws you headfirst into the raw, merciless world of the Middle Ages.

From the perspective of a dedicated fan, let me tell you, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 surpasses the original in visual splendor. It immerses us in a meticulously crafted and historically authentic world, filled with panoramic countryside vistas, dense forests teeming with life, and bustling medieval towns that seem to pulse with history. The attention to detail in character animations and lighting this time around elevates every moment to feel like a scene straight out of a movie.

The review pertains to the PlayStation 5 edition of the game. Although there were moments where performance dropped slightly, the general gaming experience was consistently smooth and captivating.

To make things clear from the start: Fighting isn’t something for those who are easily scared or intimidated. Despite its evolution, don’t be fooled into thinking you can effortlessly defeat numerous enemies as if you’re some invincible hero. You’ll likely face defeat time and again unless absolutely necessary. It’s often wiser to wait, learn, and carefully pick your engagements instead.

During my gameplay, it didn’t take long to realize that raw power wasn’t enough for success. The combat system required skill, and despite countless hours spent honing it, a misjudged move or rash action could lead to a crushing loss.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 often presents opportunities for humbling experiences; just when you believe you’re maintaining your ground in battle, a fresh challenge arises as soon as you enter a new town, serving as a gentle reminder that, despite your efforts, you remain mortal.

Similar to Henry from the original story, who began as a blacksmith’s son and found himself in a turbulent world of shifting loyalties during warfare, your journey in this game requires you to forge your unique path through hardship, perspiration, and thoughtful choices. The goal isn’t to transform into an invincible warrior—it’s about enduring, evolving, and defining the role you assume for yourself.

In essence, the core plot of Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is captivating, yet it’s the side quests and immersive world that truly enchant. One moment found me unearthing bones to respect a deceased hermit’s final request, and the next I was carting around a tipsy gamekeeper in search of my lost pet. The richness and authenticity of these interactions breathe life into the game.

Every mission contributes to the storyline of the world and your character’s personal narrative, regardless of its size. Here, there are no insignificant tasks; instead, each one feels intentional and fulfilling.

If you prefer concise storytelling without excessive political and historical details, be aware that this narrative dives deep into politics and history right away. You’ll find yourself navigating through the intricate webs of nobles, wars, and power struggles reminiscent of ‘Game of Thrones’. The engaging conflicts among different groups held my interest throughout the story.

In general, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 does an exceptional job of immersing players into its world, creating a sense of authenticity. The villages pulse with life, as people carry out their daily tasks—tilling fields, socializing in taverns, or engaging in casual conversations. Your choices influence how others view you, and the game takes care to ensure that every encounter matters significantly.

Nevertheless, an instance that significantly disrupted my immersion occurred quite early. Following a fierce fight that seemingly claimed my life, I found myself back at the herb woman’s cottage – a location of great significance to me: it was where she had once revived me, where I had helped bury the dead on her behalf, and even rescued her daughter.

Until then, I had been casually utilizing her house’s bed, which was actually labeled as “my bed” on the map. However, following the conclusion of the quest, I was abruptly awoken by the daughter—the one I had rescued from certain death—who was now demanding payment or threatening to report me to the bailiff. It served as a harsh realization that, despite the game’s lifelike feel, it still had its constraints.

In Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, it’s not just about battling that tests you; instead, it puts your skills to the test in a multitude of aspects. Mastering cooking, healing, horseback riding, and even survival itself demands time and focus. Certain features, such as weapon forging at the blacksmith or caring for your horse to boost its loyalty, are remarkably immersive. However, others, like lockpicking, can feel excessively challenging. Skyrim had mastered lockpicking years ago, but here it feels unrefined and overly demanding, particularly when you’re low on lockpicks and are in a race against time to save your friend from imminent doom.

By the 40-hour mark, I was still quite inept at battles. At this stage, I chose to navigate situations through conversation whenever feasible, focusing on enhancing my dialogue abilities rather than my swordsmanship. This didn’t diminish my enjoyment—on the contrary, it made my Henry character seem more multi-dimensional with his unique strengths and limitations.

At approximately the 50-hour mark, I had a breakthrough – I managed to repel a group of wolves in an optional quest. I felt like a warrior. However, I was far from it. Empowered by this newfound self-assurance, I rashly charged into conflict with a gang of rogues, but was swiftly taught a lesson in humility once more.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 doesn’t aim to make you feel like a divine figure in its universe. Instead, it immerses you as an ordinary character within its world. To excel at tasks, effort is required. Despite your endeavors, you remain vulnerable and not invincible. This game mirrors Henry’s transformation from an apprentice to a trusted knight, where your progression involves challenges, hard-learned lessons, and well-deserved triumphs.

The game is split into two clear sections, and midway through, it seems like it could have ended in a simpler game. However, without giving anything away, there’s a significant battle that serves as a pivotal moment, and after that, the game takes unexpected twists and turns. Regardless of how fast you play, you’ll likely spend at least 30-40 hours to reach this crucial stage.

As a gamer, let me tell you, one particularly challenging part that left me on the brink was an undercover escape mission from the castle. It was almost too much, pushing me to my limits. By this point, I had sunk 50 hours into the game and was fully immersed, but the nerve-wracking task of sneaking around undetected and conserving my life-saving potions made me reload saved games more times than I’d like to remember. If you don’t tread carefully with those healing items, prepare for a punishing experience.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 isn’t a game for casual play. It shuns the concept of power fantasies and doesn’t mind if you find it challenging. However, if you’re prepared to invest your time, it offers one of the most gratifying and immersive RPG experiences ever created.

Initially, I struggled immensely and spent countless hours attempting to get into Kingdom Come Deliverance, but this time, its captivating narrative drew me in immediately. Granted, my swordsmanship remained poor by the game’s end, but I managed to stay alive long enough to claim a few victories.

As someone deeply engrossed, I must admit, it’s got its rough patches. Occasional hiccups that disrupt the immersion, agonizingly tough lockpicking sequences, brutal fight scenes, and a relentless difficulty level might drive some away. But for those who persevere, this game leaves an indelible mark, lingering in your thoughts even after the final credits have faded away.

Multiple playthroughs will be necessary to experience all the various quests and dialogue options, and I personally can’t wait for further escapades with Henry and Sir Hans Capon. This game is exceptionally well-crafted, offering a challenging experience but also that ‘just one more mission’ appeal that many modern games seem to lack.

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In terms of its immersive storytelling, vibrant environment, and challenging yet rewarding gameplay, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is raising the bar high for RPGs in 2025, and for me, it’s currently a promising candidate for Game of the Year.

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2025-02-17 16:44