| Technetbook Rating | |
|---|---|
| Rating Score | 9/10 |
| Stars | ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆ |
Pros:
- Riveting and Magnificent Story: Surpasses its predecessor in narrative scale and intensity.
- Refined Gameplay: Smoother controls, improved combat, and engaging blacksmithing.
- Deep and Customizable RPG Systems: Extensive perk system, impactful reputation mechanics, and organic dialogue.
- Living and Reactive World: Side quests with lasting consequences and dynamic character interactions.
- Vast and Detailed Open World: Historically authentic and visually stunning Bohemia, especially Kuttenberg.
- Exceptional Audio and Soundtrack: Immersive sound effects and a phenomenal, diverse musical score.
- Masterclass Main Quest: Cinematic quality, expertly paced, and narratively compelling.
Cons:
- Save System Quirks: Savior Schnapps dependency and potential for lost progress, despite improvements.
- Long Load Times: Initial loading and reloads can be lengthy.
- Occasional NPC Repetition: Faces and voices can repeat, breaking immersion for some.
- Inconsistent Side Quest Payoff: Some side quests lack satisfying rewards.
- Sim-like Elements Can Be Divisive: Realism aspects like hunger and sleep may not appeal to all players.
Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 Review
After seven long years in development, Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 finally sees its light of day. This is a truly well-awaited continuation of Henry's medieval Bohemian adventure. The sequel does not reinvent the wheel compared to the first. It rather introduces crucial changes that build up into a truly impressive RPG worthy of much praise.
Story and Setting: A Riveting Medieval Epic
Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 picks up right where its predecessor concluded. Henry and Hans Capon are on a quest to deliver a fateful letter to an ally. This is set against the turbulent backdrop of 15th-century Bohemia. A violent civil war engulfs the land. Henry, the son of a blacksmith, once again navigates complex political machinations far beyond his initial scope.
The sequel ramps up stakes and scale exponentially. It includes the sprawling hub city of Kuttenberg and another major city yet to be fully revealed. This game's pace and narrative intensity are magnificent. They are way better than the first one on all possible parameters. Players are hooked from the very first moment into the action without letting them go.
Refined Gameplay Mechanics: Combat, Blacksmithing, and More
Stepping into Kingdom Come Deliverance 2, players notice refined in-game control. First-person camera movement and aiming are way smoother. Sword combat is tightened, not as clunky and more responsive. The innovative rosette cursor, characteristic for this series, was streamlined to four sections. This adds urgency and dynamism to battles.
Combat is further enriched with unlockable combos. These are learned through investment into trainers and completing their quests. Pulling off a "master strike" is greatly satisfying. Pulling off a well-timed counterattack is too. Those who want to attack from range also get to try crossbows and handguns in KCD2. Historically accurate to a fault, the laborious weight of the heavy crossbow and wild inaccuracies of handguns bring tactical depth. Swords are highly effective, but the option for ranged is a welcome yet challenging addition.
A big new feature is blacksmithing. Henry now has the option to follow in his father's footsteps and forge weapons. Blacksmithing feels intuitive and hands-on. The shaping process is fairly satisfying for more patient players. The shaping mechanics may not be hyper-realistic. As a system it's a nice addition. It provides a crafting outlet and some viable means for earning Groschen, especially when paired with relevant perks.
Deep RPG Systems: Perks, Reputation, and Dialogue
Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 truly shines in its deep RPG systems. The perk system is most notable. Perks are awarded regularly as players gain experience. They level up various attributes through gameplay activities. This intricate system allows deep customization of Henry's abilities and playstyle. Whether enhancing stealth through improved pickpocketing and lockpicking perks or bolstering combat prowess, the perk tree offers a balanced and impactful progression path.
With 278 perks to choose from, players can shape Henry into their ideal form. Perks include everything from passive buffs to active abilities. These fundamentally change how certain game mechanics are utilized. For instance, one perk restores health by bathing, adding a new layer to survival. "Dreaded Warrior" gives Henry a morale-damaging shout-like ability, similar to Skyrim. This adds strategy to encounters. This system of entwined perks, working together with other in-game mechanics, makes for a personalized RPG experience.
Another new, influential system is reputation. Henry's actions now affect his reputation among different towns and settlements. Low reputation may entail villagers refusing to serve or even talk to him. High reputation opens many doors and opportunities. Building reputation involves completing quests and paying good attention to conversations. Reputation can be manipulated fairly easily with wealth and a silver tongue. It is at first an interesting dynamic that makes players interact with the world and its inhabitants in a meaningful way. Reputation ties into dialogue options, adding gravity to player choice.
Dialogue in Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 is outstanding. Options are varied and meaningful. They avoid color-coded morality systems. The lack of overt guidance on dialogue choices encourages players to genuinely consider the situation and character motivations. Dialogue outcomes are unpredictable and realistic. Some choices lead to violence, others to quests or alliances. Persuasion is a key element. It is influenced by Henry's appearance, knowledge, and skills. This is a complex persuasion system. It is deeply intertwined with other game systems. Dialogue feels organic and consequential. It is arguably the most organically implemented dialogue system seen thus far in an open-world RPG.
A World Alive: Side Quests and Dynamic Interactions
Side quests in Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 are not mere filler content. They are integral to the world's dynamism. Side quests are aware of Henry's actions. The game world is responsive to his touch. Characters make comments on past actions and Henry's meddling. It's a continuity and consequence rarely found in open-world games. Even minor side activities have lasting repercussions. This creates a sense of camaraderie and attachment to the characters in the game. This is evident in the main quest's wedding sequence. Several characters comment on Henry's past actions and provide feedback regarding his choices.
Most side quests pay off. Some may be a little less satisfying. A couple of longer, more involved ones result in weak conclusions with little or no payoff. This seems to be the case with inconsistent side quest payoff. However, some better side quests are very well done. They can easily compare with the main quest in both cinematic quality and deep storytelling.
Scale and Immersion: A Vast and Detailed Bohemia
Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 features a game world twice as large as its predecessor. It is packed full of activities and quests. To manage this scale, the game features a fast travel system similar to the first. Players unlock fast travel points by physically discovering locations. Then they use the map to move a pawn representing Henry. Sometimes they encounter random events. While it works, frequent fast travel does strain in-game resources. It depletes hunger and sleep. It even advances time. This really fits into the game's commitment to realism.
Historical authenticity and simulation-like systems have stayed one of the core appeals of the game. Some players love the constant need to manage Henry's basic needs. To others, the pacing might be too slow because of this. KCD2 retains this realism. Certain perks offer ways to mitigate some of the more mundane aspects. The most demanding parts of the game in terms of resource management are the initial hours. Henry is ill-equipped and unfamiliar with the world then. As players progress, these survival elements become more manageable. This allows for smoother gameplay.
One divisive design element is the save system, based around Savior Schnapps. Savior Schnapps is still around in KCD2. It's more available and craftable this time around. In addition, the game features autosaves at quest milestones and exit saves. This provides more save opportunities than in the original. These do improve things. The save system, coupled with some long loading times, especially at the start of a game and upon reloads, can still be a point of frustration. This is particularly so in stealth missions or when experimentation is wanted.
Visuals, Audio, and Presentation: A Feast for the Senses
Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 is a big graphical leap over its predecessor. Sharp 4K resolution, HDR support, and deep color output come together. They create a truly stunning medieval Bohemia. It's well-rooted in realism without ever feeling drab. This is both a believable and lovely world. Each town's map art is lavishly detailed. So are the many and varied illustrations and descriptions in the codex.
Some NPC faces and voices repeat. This is a common limitation in large open-world games. The facial animations of key characters are superb. They are emotive, responding well to situations. They are complemented by good lip-syncing. The voice acting, especially for major characters like Margrave Jost, is excellent. It adds so much to character personalities and immersion.
Audio design in Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 is exceptional. The sound effects are immersive and highly detailed. The soundtrack is a real masterpiece. It easily joins the best ranks in gaming. The score is even rivaling Jeremy Soule's iconic job on The Elder Scrolls. It features everything from rustic tavern tunes to atmospheric exploration to dramatic orchestral pieces. The soundtrack raises the atmosphere and emotion of this game to a completely new level.
Cities and towns in Bohemia are greatly realized. Kuttenberg easily matches the scale and complexity of Novigrad in The Witcher 3. It is much more historically grounded. Each district is thickly packed and vibrant. It is filled with a range of NPCs going about their daily routines. They offer interesting insights into how the local population lives. Not every building is accessible. The depth of the architecture is convincing. This adds to the overall immersion. Less important interface issues, such as not being explicitly shown where unlawful entry is, are mere blemishes on an otherwise amazingly complex world.
Main Quest and Narrative: A Masterclass in Storytelling
The crowning achievement of Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 is its main plot and main quest. There is an open world to explore and optional fun side activities. But it's the seriously impressive main storyline that takes KCD2 to the masterpiece level. The cinematic quality of the main quest is among the best in gaming. The well-done, long main quest, which could be 60+ hours if playing with focus, is directed and storyboarded to near perfection. It delivers cinematics worthy of big-budget movies.
The plot writing is excellent. It offers a well-paced narrative with moments of high action interspersed with periods of character development and downtime. The soundtrack perfectly complements the cinematography and in-game animations. This makes the experience cohesive and emotionally rich. The game efficiently evades the narrative fatigue that may wear players out during the long campaign. Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 sets a new standard for the main quest in open-world RPGs.
Final Thought: A Medieval RPG for the Ages
Minor shortcomings notwithstanding, Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 is the best way to experience medieval Bohemia. It is a game that does not take one's choices as a joke and rewards exploration in many ways; the story itself is so captivating. Stepping into Henry's shoes is not just playing a game; it's going on a personal journey through a richly realized historical world. Yet it's one not of frustrations, or even close-to-perfection, but just an all-immersive, lasting experience. You don't simply play Kingdom Come Deliverance 2; you live a whole world and tell a story with every passing second, long after the credits have rolled. It is in this lonely dive into the heart of Bohemia that you find the RPG experience not found elsewhere.
