It's no secret that I was not exactly a fan of the originalKingdom Come: Deliverance. I thought it was bloated, buggy, and more importantly, boring. It was a game that put realism at the forefront overactual fun and that did not sit right with me. It’s safe to say that it was certainly not my cup of tea. Thankfully, though, it was the cup of tea of millions of people, and, as a result, developer Warhorse Studios was able to get to the table and create an inevitable sequel.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 sees the 15th-century conflict between former king Wenceslas and his usurper brother Sigismund reach new heights, as the land is effectively torn in two. Picking up not too long after the events of the original game, the sequel sees reluctant hero Henry, and his long-standing friend, Sir Hans Capon, head to Trosky as a peace envoy, as the lords of the land look to put a stop to the devastating war that’s troubling the land. From there, everything goes to hell, and what ensues is a series of freakily unfortunate events with poor, young Henry at the forefront. From start to finish,Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is a wild ride of twists and turns, with betrayal and triumph around every corner - one that is sure to captivate any player who steps foot into the seemingly idyllic world of Bohemia.
Like the original,Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 tells a captivating tale of two sides, with many a frenetic setpiece littered throughout. One minute you’re repelling advancing forces trying to seize a fortress you find yourself cornered in, and the next you’re stealthily infiltrating another fortress or posing as a waiter to get the inside gossip from Sigismund himself. It’s a game full of moments and setpieces that demonstrate an impressive diversity throughout. Warhorse has demonstrated once again that it can create a free-flowing narrative, while still keeping each moment as fresh as the last.
That, however, was never an issue with the originalKingdom Come. The original’s issue was that you spent an interminable amount of time just trying to stay alive, whether that was through eating, sleeping or healing wounds. It promoted realism over enjoyment, and if video games aren’t fun, then what’s the point? Thankfully, every genuine gripe I had with the original has been tuned in the sequel, meaning that’s no longer the case. Everything just seems more finely balanced and streamlined.
InKingdom Come: Deliverance 2, you no longer have to eat every two minutes and sleep every twenty to ensure your basic survival. In the sequel, it can take ages for your hunger to become a problem, and the same goes for sleeping too. Fast travel is seemingly quicker, as well, which is a relief. On top of that, with the right perks, you can sprint at what relatively feels like the speed of light, and run forever without a care in the world. It’s clear that Warhorse has dialled back the realism, opting for more player-friendly mechanics, without taking away from the game itself. In fact, the studio has made the game infinitely more enjoyable.
That’s not to say that realism takes a backseat, oh no. You’ll still find yourself doing inane chores at times. and following people while they blather, but everything is so much more streamlined in the sequel, making tasks that seem like chores feel slightly less so. As such, the game is simply much better as a result. So, if you enjoyed the smithing or alchemy from the original, then fear not, all that and more is still very much a part of the game. It remains a monster RPG with plenty of depth for even the most ardent stats nerd - like me. The difference is that everything dull in the original has thankfully been given a once-over by Warhorse.
I’d still argue that - and it was the same in the original - the overall balance of the game is a bit skewiff. The opening few hours can feel arduous, with combat being particularly tricky, but once you get over that hump, acquire proper armour and learn major skills like the Master Strike, you’ll almost becometoo powerful. I went from getting my ass-kicked by a farmer with an axe, to taking out dozens of bandits on my own without taking a hit. Did I get better? No. Did I get better gear and access to new skills? Yes. And yes, I know it’s an RPG, and that’s how RPGs usually work, butKingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is less about player growth, and more about the equipment you manage to obtain.
While Warhorse Studios made massive strides in the balance of the game with realism vs. fun, it’s more of a sideways step when it comes to performance. Yes,Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 does still suffer from its fair share of bugs and crashes. Sure, it’s not as bad as the original, but it’s still a problem, which is a shame. The number of times I had to reload an earlier save, reboot the game or hard reboot the console just to get it working was actually pretty insane. In fact, I don’t know another recent game quite like this when it comes to those issues. To sayKingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is rough around the edges is an understatement.
And when I say bugs, I don’t mean things like your dog constantly walking under your feet and the lockpicking still being insanely hard on consoles - it’s clearly a PC game first and foremost - I mean actual bugs. Thankfully, though, I was never short of Saviour Schnapps (which you glug to save your game), so it meant I never lost too much progress. It may have been mere minutes of lost play, but it’s still a massive inconvenience. The exit save is also pretty great, too, so if you do play it, take advantage of that often!
The truth is, that despite its bugs, I thoroughly enjoyed my time with Warhorse’s sequel to its 2018 cult hit, which is something I never thought I’d say. The studio has done something that I didn’t think possible, and that’s completely turned me around on a series in the space of one game. As far as sequels go, the jump fromKingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is so impressive and astronomical, that it could go down as one of the greatest sequels of all time in some respects. From being one of the most boring games I’ve ever played, to being a captivating ride chock full of some interesting ideas,Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2’s focus on fun and impact over realism, has given this franchise a new lease of life.
