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, I'm compelled to say it's incredibly engaging. Before I completely abandon my responsibilities, however, let's delve into a detailed analysis.
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Comparison with the First Game
Kingdom Come: Deliverance II remains a historically-inspired open-world action RPG, prioritizing realism in its mechanics. Players can adopt various roles – knight, thief, or diplomat – with survival elements like eating and sleeping impacting performance. Direct combat against multiple opponents presents a significant challenge.
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Visually, the game is stunning. The landscapes are breathtaking, yet the performance is remarkably optimized for both PCs and consoles, a welcome balance in today's AAA landscape.
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Combat has been refined. The system is more intuitive, featuring streamlined attack directions and improved enemy switching. Parrying is now a more tactical dance, adding depth without compromising difficulty. Enemies exhibit more intelligent behavior, creating more dynamic encounters.
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Facing multiple enemies feels more challenging than in most games. They actively attempt flanking maneuvers and strategic retreats, making each encounter a test of skill and planning.
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Beyond alchemy and dice games, blacksmithing has been added. This engaging craft provides both income and access to superior equipment, offering a diverse and potentially long-lasting activity.
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Bugs
Unlike its predecessor's troubled launch, Kingdom Come: Deliverance II appears relatively polished. Minor bugs have been encountered (flickering UI elements, minor graphical glitches), but nothing game-breaking.
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Realism and Difficulty
The game's realism enhances immersion without sacrificing enjoyment. The lack of a difficulty setting might deter some, but it's not brutally difficult. Players familiar with titles like The Witcher 3 or Skyrim should manage, provided they approach combat strategically.
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The historical detail is impressive, subtly woven into the experience rather than being overtly didactic.
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Should You Play Kingdom Come: Deliverance II?
Newcomers are welcome. The prologue effectively integrates the first game's narrative, ensuring context for Henry's journey. The opening hour seamlessly blends tutorials with captivating gameplay.
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While the long-term story and quest quality remain to be fully assessed, initial impressions are positive.
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Conclusion
After 10 hours, Kingdom Come: Deliverance II shows significant improvements over its predecessor. It's shaping up to be an exceptional RPG. Whether it maintains this high standard throughout the full experience remains to be seen, but early signs are very promising.
