Kingdom Come: Deliverance II was announced by Warhorse Studios earlier this year. Described as a first-person perspective open-world action role-playing game, Deliverance II made me want to explore a medieval setting despite having never played the first entry in the series.
During PAX West, I finally played a lengthy hands-on demo of Kingdom Come: Deliverance II and walked away impressed. Here are more thoughts on the wildly ambitious sequel and what you can look forward to when it drops early next year.
An Epic Historic Drama
Kingdom Come: Deliverance II concludes the story of the lead protagonist Blacksmith Henry of Skalitz during the 15th century in Central Bohemia. After joining a resistance movement in the previous game, Henry must become a warrior fit for taking down Holy Roman Emperor Sigismund, the man responsible for killing his family. While most of the story is still being kept under wraps, Warhorse has promised an even more immersive action RPG experience that is authentically medieval in every way possible.
Fans of the first game can expect a more fluid combat system and improved level designs set within a world that is twice the size. The cultural landscape of Bohemian Paradise and the bustling city of Kutná Hora are two huge regions with tons of activities and mini-games to explore. It’s also worth noting that playing the first game in the series isn’t required to enjoy this entry. This is ideal for new players like myself and others to dive into the story without playing catch up on everything that happened before.
A Living World Where Choices Matter
The demo opened in the town of Kuttenberg where Henry comes across a man named Menhard. This master swordsman claims to have the best sword-fighting technique and is actively recruiting students to join his class. As you engage in deeper conversations with Menhard, Henry can choose to join his class or challenge him to a duel. I decided to fight him which immediately reinforced the idea that the combat mechanics are easily adaptable but hard to master. Timing and precision are equally important for a successful parry as rushing into an attack too quickly will end any fight faster.
After losing the duel, the outcome caught the attention of some nearby guards who confronted Menhard on the legitimacy of his school and whether or not he could compete with him. This is where things got interesting, as I was given the option to either speak up for Menhard or remain quiet as the group ganged up on him. I ultimately decided to make up a lie in defense of him which led to the group setting up a future duel with him.
As a result of my choice to back him up, Menhard made me an offer to join his team after completing a specific job to prove my loyalty. This task involved sneaking into a guarded area late at night and stealing a sword to leave displayed to the public the next morning. There also was a requirement to pull off this heist without any casualties. This mission did a good job of teaching me how to use stealth while navigating the world. I like the ability to fast-forward time and watch as the townsfolk continue to live their everyday lives uninterrupted. At night time, Henry needed to carry a torch or lamp to avoid drawing suspicion from the guards.
After completing the mission, Menhard allowed me to join his team in preparation for the group duel with the guards that confronted him earlier. Since I lost my first duel to Menhard, I had to train with his assistant before progressing further in the storyline. Unfortunately, this is where my time with the demo ended. I also didn’t get to explore all of the RPG mechanics but the scope of the setting and what you can do feels so massive that there will be an endless amount to cover once the game drops. Lastly, as a huge fan of games like Mass Effect, I love how your choices have consequences and it makes me very eager to see what happens next.
Final Verdict
While my time with Kingdom Come: Deliverance II was short, I played more than enough to know that I’m sold on Warhorse’s epic adventure. 2025 will be another standout year for video games and this will undoubtedly be one of the reasons why.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance II launches on February 11th, 2025 for PC, Xbox Series X/S, and PlayStation 5. Stay tuned for more details on the game in the months ahead.
