With the recent launch of Kingdom Come: Deliverance II, it's time to assess whether Warhorse Studios' latest dive into Czech history through gaming is worth your time. Having spent 10 hours exploring the game, I find myself itching to return to it instead of focusing on work, which speaks volumes about its allure. Let's delve into the details to see if this sequel lives up to the hype.

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Comparison with the First Game

Like its predecessor, Kingdom Come: Deliverance II is an open-world Action RPG that prides itself on historical accuracy and realistic gameplay mechanics. Whether you choose to embody a valiant knight, a stealthy thief, or a diplomat, the game ensures that everyday actions like eating and sleeping are crucial for maintaining your character's effectiveness. Tackling three bandits alone remains a formidable challenge.

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The first thing that strikes you is the enhanced graphics. The landscapes are more breathtaking than ever, yet your PC or console won't sound like it's about to take flight. This balance is a rare treat in modern AAA titles.

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Combat has seen subtle yet significant improvements. With one less attack direction, smoother enemy switching, and a more rhythmic parrying system, fights have become more intuitive without being any less challenging. The game offers increased tactical variety, with enemies displaying smarter behavior.

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When facing multiple foes, their advantage feels more pronounced. They actively try to surround you and attack from behind, and if one is seriously injured, they retreat, allowing others to take their place in the fight.

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Alongside traditional activities like alchemy and dice games, the sequel introduces blacksmithing. This engaging craft not only provides income but also access to quality equipment. The variety of items to forge keeps the process interesting, although I found crafting a horseshoe more challenging than swords and axes due to the unique controls.

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Bugs

Many recall the technical issues that plagued the original Kingdom Come: Deliverance at launch. Thankfully, the sequel has been released in a more polished state, typical of large-scale RPGs.

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So far, I've only encountered minor bugs. Early on, the dialogue selection buttons flickered and became unresponsive, but a simple restart resolved it. In another instance, a tavern maid climbed onto a table before teleporting back to the floor. These are minor visual glitches that, while not perfect, don't detract from the experience.

Realism and Difficulty

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Kingdom Come: Deliverance II maintains a balance of realism without making the gameplay tedious. Everything feels authentic, enhancing immersion.

There's no difficulty setting, which might deter those who prefer less challenging games. However, it's not as punishing as Dark Souls. If you've completed games like The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt or The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim on any difficulty, you should be able to navigate Kingdom Come—as long as you steer clear of obviously tough scenarios, such as solo assaults on groups of enemies.

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The historical detail is impressive. As a non-historian, I can't judge its accuracy fully, but as a player, I appreciate how the game encourages curiosity about history without force-feeding facts.

Should You Play Kingdom Come: Deliverance II?

Importantly, even those who haven't played the first game can jump right into this one. The prologue gradually introduces the events of the original Kingdom Come: Deliverance, ensuring newcomers are up to speed with Henry's backstory.

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The epic opening blends solid tutorials with an engaging pace, allowing you to fight, laugh, and immerse yourself in medieval Bohemia within the first hour.

It's too early to fully assess the story and quests. What I've experienced so far has been impressive, but whether that holds true for the entire 100 hours remains to be seen.

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These are my initial thoughts after 10 hours in this medieval life simulator. I appreciate the enhancements across the board compared to the first game. It's shaping up to be a fantastic RPG. Will it sustain these strengths throughout the full playthrough? Only time will tell.