Kingdom Come: Deliverance II: First Impressions

Kingdom Come: Deliverance II: A First Look After 10 Hours

With Kingdom Come: Deliverance II's recent launch, it's time to assess Warhorse Studios' second foray into interactive Czech history. After 10 hours of gameplay, my initial impressions are overwhelmingly positive, leaving me eager to continue the adventure.

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Comparison to the Original:

Kingdom Come: Deliverance II retains the open-world Action RPG formula of its predecessor, emphasizing historical accuracy and realistic mechanics. Players can choose their path – knight, thief, or diplomat – with survival elements like eating and sleeping impacting effectiveness. Combat remains challenging, particularly against multiple opponents.

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Visually, the game is stunning, showcasing improved landscapes without the performance issues that plagued some players in the first game. The combat system features subtle yet impactful enhancements: fewer attack directions, smoother enemy switching, and a more nuanced parry system. While more intuitive, combat remains demanding, with intelligent enemies employing tactical maneuvers.

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Enemy AI is significantly improved. Groups effectively surround and outmaneuver the player, and injured foes strategically retreat to allow their allies to continue the fight. New additions include blacksmithing, a compelling craft offering both income and equipment creation.

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Bugs and Technical Performance:

Unlike its predecessor's troubled launch, Kingdom Come: Deliverance II appears relatively polished. Minor graphical glitches, such as unresponsive dialogue buttons (easily resolved with a restart) and minor animation quirks, were the only issues encountered.

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Realism and Difficulty:

The game strikes a balance between realism and engaging gameplay. The difficulty, while challenging, is not insurmountable for experienced RPG players familiar with titles like The Witcher 3 or Skyrim. The absence of a difficulty setting might deter some, but strategic play is key to success. The historical context is well-integrated, enriching the experience without feeling forced.

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Should You Play?

Newcomers are welcome; the prologue effectively integrates the first game's narrative, providing necessary backstory. The opening hours offer a compelling blend of tutorial and engaging gameplay, immediately immersing players in medieval Bohemia.

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While the long-term narrative and quest quality remain to be fully assessed, early impressions are highly promising. Kingdom Come: Deliverance II shows considerable improvement over its predecessor, shaping up to be a compelling RPG experience. Only continued play will reveal the full extent of its quality.