From February 4th we will be able to take on the role of the brave Henry again in a new epic adventure. If you can’t wait to draw your sword, we’ll give you something to play with while waiting for time to flow like blood: the hands-on preview of Kingdom Come: Deliverance II.
Developer / Publisher: Warhorse Studios / Deep Silver Price: €59.99 Localization: Texts Multiplayer: Absent PEGI: 18 Available on: PC (Steam, Epic Games Store), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series
Kingdom Come: Deliverance II takes place in the early 15th century in the kingdom of Bohemia. Although it doesn’t require us to have played it, it catapults us into a story that is linked to the events of the first chapter which our Mario appreciated so much. The kingdom is in chaos, the invaders wreak havoc on the lands, sowing panic among the population and Henry of Skalica, the improvised hero who has entered the hearts of fans thanks to his deeds, is determined to avenge the killing of his parents .
Trusted supporter of the allies of King Wenceslas IV, the sovereign imprisoned by the rebel nobles and by his brother, King Sigismund of Hungary, the son of the forge – his father was a blacksmith, ed. – is responsible for escorting Ser Hans Capon during the delivery of an important message. After miraculously surviving an ambush, both are overwhelmed by a series of (mis)adventures that will put them to the test.
NICE TO SEE YOU AGAIN, HENRY
Thus begins Kingdom Come: Deliverance II, the sequel to Warhorse Studio’s 2018 first-person RPG which has earned many admirers with its peculiar roughness, its convincing representation of the Middle Ages at the limits of simulation from different points of view, its predominant narrative component and its old-school role-playing game soul.
the portion of the game that I have tried my hand at in recent days cannot be enough to issue a verdict
If the first impression is really what counts, it is plausible to think that the characteristic features of the series will be polished in the continuation of the Henry saga. It’s time to talk about impressions because, although there is little time left for publication and what I’m trying is very close to the version that will arrive on the market at the beginning of February, the portion of the game that I’ve tried my hand at in recent days cannot be enough to issue a verdict.
The first rudimentary firearms have just welcomed a group of besiegers trapped behind the gate.
It can’t because Kingdom Come: Deliverance II promises to be an RPG full of content, adventures and main and secondary missions. It will also be full of places to visit and events, people from all walks of life to get to know and tasks to carry out, not to mention the enormous semi-open world map – divided into two freely explorable macro regions, the dimensions are something like double the map of the first – that, if the good morning starts in the morning, it will be a real pleasure to undress one area at a time. It cannot be enough also because, even more than its predecessor used to do, it takes its time between cut scenes and interactive dialogues to make us completely identify with Henry, in the intricate story that he finds himself living and in the emotional implications of what torments him. Regardless of the style chosen when it is time to shape one’s alter ego, the feeling is that an experience awaits us capable of keeping us busy for a hundred hours if we aim to squeeze it thoroughly, perhaps a little less but still a very respectable number even for a single player RPG.
KINGDOM’S AMBITION AS: DELIVERANCE II
Such an ambitious, multifaceted and elaborate title rarely comes out perfect so it is not surprising to notice a revisable optimization or some imperfections despite the steps forward of the CryEngine; some of them are already on the list of things to fix, others will probably be after day one, however I wouldn’t dwell too much on the technical details at this moment especially taking into account the past of the franchise as well as the fact that, unlike a few years ago, the team has other means and is made up of 250 people, approximately double those who created the first chapter.
the combat system is a mix of timing and dynamism that must comply with the rules of the simulation
It is much better to talk about the tactical combat system, a mix of impeccable timing and reasoned dynamism that must obey the rules of the simulation. Properly equipping weapons and armor is not enough to make us a fearsome fighter. You need to dedicate time to mastering the fundamentals such as parry, response, counter-reply, tiredness and shots on the open side by taking advantage of the “star”, an indicator that helps to read the opponent’s moves vitally in advance. Just as in the first chapter you need to do some practice before getting some satisfaction, the enemies are grim and Henry seriously risks coming to a bad end if he lets his guard down for a single moment.
Henry is again played by actor Tom McKay.
Thanks to the possibility of choosing your playing style between Soldier, Advisor and Sentinel and the freedom to improve Henry’s different aspects according to your character, you can adopt a violent approach, a stealthy one or one that does not involve bloodshed; based on one’s values, nothing prevents one from trying to get out of trouble in a more or less peaceful way, even if regarding the three ways it is to be understood whether they coexist in balance or not. The same partly applies to the Persuasion skill, which is influenced by the attributes of our character but also depends on the interlocutor, our appearance and our reputation: convincing a person to believe us is an art, all it takes is a little straw sticking out of our boots to unmask us while we pass ourselves off as a noble.
those who deeply loved the first chapter will most likely be amazed by Kingdom Come: Deliverance II
It’s just an impression and yet it’s so strong that it pushes me to think that, most likely, those who deeply loved the first chapter run the risk of being struck by Kingdom Come: Deliverance II. Without giving an inch in terms of the credibility of the medieval context and the realism of the combat system, leaning towards simulation in many ways without lacking immediacy, Warhorse appears determined to expand and perfect the formula that allowed Kingdom Come: Deliverance to become a cult for numerous lovers of hard and pure gaming. See you in some time with the review of the new epic of Henry, the son of the forge who became a knight.
Previous article
The Rings in ARPGs: from Darks Souls to Diablo – Special
