Kingdom Come II: First Hands-On Preview

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

With Kingdom Come: Deliverance II now available, let's explore whether Warhorse Studios' latest historical RPG is worth your time. After 10 hours of gameplay, my initial impressions are overwhelmingly positive. The game's captivating nature has me itching to play more, rather than work – a strong testament to its appeal.

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Comparison to the First Game:

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 – valiant knight, stealthy rogue, or diplomat. Resource management (eating, sleeping) remains crucial, and direct combat against multiple opponents is challenging but rewarding.

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Visually stunning landscapes surpass the original, yet the game runs smoothly on both PCs and consoles – a commendable feat in modern AAA game development.

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Combat is refined, with a more intuitive system and smarter enemy AI. While the core mechanics are familiar, the strategic depth is enhanced, making battles more engaging and tactical. Enemies exhibit improved coordination, flanking and utilizing injured allies' retreats effectively.

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Blacksmithing joins alchemy and other mini-games, adding another layer of depth and rewarding gameplay. Crafting various items keeps the experience fresh, although the unique controls presented an unexpected challenge (horseshoes proved trickier than swords!).

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Bugs:

Unlike its predecessor's troubled launch, Kingdom Come: Deliverance II appears polished. Minor graphical glitches were encountered (flickering dialogue buttons, a teleporting tavern maid), easily resolved with a simple restart. These minor issues didn't detract from the overall experience.

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Realism and Difficulty:

The game strikes a balance between realism and enjoyable gameplay. The immersive experience is enhanced by believable mechanics, without sacrificing fun.

The lack of a difficulty setting may deter some players, but it's not excessively punishing. Players familiar with titles like The Witcher 3 or Skyrim should manage, provided they approach combat strategically.

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Historical accuracy is impressive, subtly woven into the game rather than explicitly forced upon the player.

Should You Play It?

Newcomers can easily jump in; the prologue effectively bridges the gap to the first game's storyline. The opening hour is a masterclass in pacing and tutorial integration, seamlessly blending combat, humor, and immersion.

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While the long-term story and quest quality remain to be fully assessed, my initial impressions are extremely positive. Kingdom Come: Deliverance II shows significant improvement over its predecessor across the board. It’s shaping up to be a truly exceptional RPG, and I’m eager to see how it unfolds.