Among the big games that await us in 2025, there is a certain Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 which will arrive on PC, PS5 and Xbox Series on February 4, 2025. A sequel which will land seven years after a first episode which was successful. a place of choice among fans of quality medieval RPGs. Because even if the game was marred by numerous bugs upon release, the first Kingdom Come Deliverance found its audience, since the game even sold 8 million copies around the world. For a first attempt, the Czech studio Warhorse Studios succeeded in its bet, which was founded by former members of 2K Czech who worked on the first two episodes of Mafia. But for this sequel, the developers will not make the same mistakes and after postponing the game by a few months, here it is finally ready, so much so that it has already been a week since the studio sent the game to the press and the creators of content. The opportunity to deliver our hands-on impressions to you after 8-10 hours of play.
First thing to know is that the story of Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 takes place just after the events of the first episode. Obviously, the first question we ask ourselves is whether it is essential to have done the first episode to appreciate this sequel? According to the developers, this sequel was made to allow newcomers to enjoy the game without having the impression of being excluded, but we will not hide from you that in terms of script and references, it is preferable to have played the first game to know all the ins and outs of this sequel. For the rest, rest assured, the developers have put in place everything necessary to fully understand the gameplay mechanics and the subtleties that await us in this great historical fresco. Given that Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 picks up just after the events of its predecessor, we will therefore find ourselves in 1403 in the heart of Bohemia, which is none other than the current Czech Republic and which was a historical region of Europe Central. At this medieval time, the region is surrounded by dense forests and populated by many types of animals and it is this type of green and exotic setting that we will discover in this game. But there are not only large plains to explore, there is also the great city of Kuttenberg, much larger, more vast and more labyrinthine in the first Kingdom Come Deliverance. This is where the NPCs will be more numerous, where we will be able to appreciate other atmospheres, between crowded markets, filthy and muddy streets, gardens to contemplate and grandiose Gothic architecture. The city has also been modeled on a realistic scale, giving this feeling of vertigo.
THE SAME THING BETTER?
We will find ourselves once again in the shoes of Henry de Skalitz, accompanied by Sir Hans Capon as a bodyguard to continue his quest for revenge to eliminate the forces of Sigismund, responsible for the death of his parents and the total destruction from his native village. But before becoming the brave knight he claims to be again, Henry will have to go through tutorial mode again to relearn the basics of this combat system like no other. Like the first episode, the fights in Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 are both tough, a little austere at first glance and above all, the game never gives you the hand. It’s up to you to understand all its mysteries and it is important to never rush headlong if you don’t want to die stupidly. According to the developers, the combat system is inspired by real medieval martial techniques of the time, combined with wrestling elements, which makes it a mixture as bizarre as it is interesting.
Each confrontation, each fight is a challenge in itself, especially when the enemies are in numerical superiority. He will always demonstrate strategy, patience and precision, because again, it is this ability to manage his stamina bar and perfect parries that will define your skill.
The system is similar to the first episode, with this reticule that you will have to monitor since it is this which will allow you to escape. There are always directions to give to land your blows, but above all there is this green shield which is the indicator for making perfect blocks and allowing you not to exhaust your stamina. Because in Kingdom Come Deliverance 2, it is always not recommended to keep the guard button constantly pressed, but to counterattack after each perfect parry, inflicting as many blows as possible by varying the angles as much as possible. Reading enemies is still just as important, taking into account their outfit, spotting their weak points or the parts of their body that are the least protected, knowing that the effect of surprise will allow you to gain the advantage. That hasn’t changed. What has changed in Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 is the arrival of guns, but given that this is the early 1400s, these are extremely primitive guns, but if you use correctly, you will then do very significant damage to the enemy. On the other hand, since reloading your weapon takes a long time, know that you will not be able to shoot on sight like a Kalash and this is the reason why the sword will remain your means of defending yourself most effectively, because the enemies do not They won’t wait for you to reload before jumping down your throat.
ROLE VERY PLAYING GAME
If the open worlds that constantly give you the hand, or chew up your work ever get out of your way, Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 should please you, since the game is the complete opposite of an open world like Ubisoft, so much so that some may find it austere or laborious. Everything in the game is done to make you want to explore, and especially to live the life of a man from 15th century Bohemia, and as a result the educational value of the game becomes obvious. We learn a lot about the relationships between the different layers of society, and we discover the different environments thanks to the encounters that Henry will make during his adventure. The player is free to make our hero a good person, like a vile crook, then suffering the consequences of each of his actions. The promise of Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 is also to offer us a more organic world, where NPCs live their lives and interact according to your look, your attitude and your actions. And since the developers have opted for a realistic approach, situations, dialogues and exchanges will always have an important role. Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 is a talky game, but it’s also a game that has a multitude of settings to watch out for. Life gauge, endurance gauge, hunger gauge, sleep gauge, wound to bandage so as not to bleed out after a fight, washing yourself, all of this is part of the major elements of this suite. Each vital function must be carried out carefully because overeating is the guarantee of difficult digestion, and therefore reduced sporting abilities. Likewise, a prolonged fast will be fatal to the hero, while eating spoiled food can do more harm than good. Each item in the inventory also has a lifespan, wear and tear for weapons, armor and clothing, organic decomposition for perishable foods. Gathering is always on the agenda, whether it is food to eat, something to make a bouquet to seduce a lady, or ingredients to make potions.
Those who have already played the first Kingdom Come Deliverance will of course be on familiar ground, and it is true that this sequel seems more like the same game, but boosted in all areas. The basic mechanics are mostly the same, but they are finer-grained and the progression is more advanced. The world seems familiar, but it’s bigger and grander. But it is on the side of its more organic world, the quality of its writing, its characters, its sometimes funny, sometimes more serious situations and the numerous side quests that Kingdom Come Deliverance should stand out. More beautiful and above all free of bugs, this sequel also seems to have focused on quite crazy immersive and sound quality and of course, I will have the leisure to go further in my analysis and bring you a final verdict after having finished the game There is a month left before the final review and still hours and hours of play for me…
