Kingdom Come: Deliverance was a game absolutely chock full of potential. A gritty game very grounded in realism, it was an impressive attempt from a development team that clearly had high ambitions. In our review, we said that “it sacrificed player enjoyment a little too much but I can’t understate my appreciation and respect for the end product regardless. A little rough around the edges, undeniably, but there’s something truly special at the heart of the game.” Now, six years later, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 has been revealed, and the sequel looks to be the ultimate medieval RPG adventure.
We got a behind-closed-doors early look at Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, and with the game launching later this year, and with a bigger budget and more resources, it could certainly live up to that claim.
One theme that kept ringing through during our preview session from the team at Warhorse Studios was ‘evolution’. In this direct sequel, the main character Henry embarks on a quest for revenge on those who butchered his family and burned his home to the ground. It’s a continuation from the previous game, but written in a way that is “perfect for newcomers” according to the development team. In a way, the description of what they’re trying to do reminded me of the recent Dragon’s Dogma 2, which felt more like a ‘re-do’ than a sequel.
“What we’re making now is what we wanted to make in the beginning, but we didn’t have the resources.”
“What we’re making now is what we wanted to make in the beginning, but we didn’t have the resources. The game is much bigger in scope, with more than 5 hours of cutscenes, the world is twice as big, and the story is longer and much more epic.”. It seems like the team has continued with their ambition; the story itself seems to have much higher stakes, too. What was previously a story about bandits in their villages, now it’s the problem of kings. With more energy, pace, adventure, action and fun, they’re promising big things for this Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2.
The team also notes that you can build your Henry in different ways; you can save the world, or you can help punish it for its sins. The idea of choices seemed to be a key for the experience, with them claiming that it “feels like the good old school RPGs”, adding that it will always surprise you with what you can and cannot do.
“You can be good at combat, be a charming knight, a thief, or a scoundrel. Anything you do will be recorded, people will remember it, and our crime system will react. If you’re drunk and naked, people will comment on the street and you can reply ‘Sorry sorry’ or ‘piss off man'” they add, laughing. One thing’s for sure, there is a lot of potential with a system like this, if they can pull it off.
Much like the original, combat will be historically accurate. “We want you to feel the sword in your hand, we want you to feel threatened by enemies on the battlefield, and fight for your life”. With authentic first-person combat, these real-time battles are set to be visceral and exciting, with a range of authentic weapons and combat styles that are said to suit every player. You can tackle situations by foot, by horse, or by stealth, and ranged combat will come into play, as well, with crossbows and early firearms available.
Visually, the adventure promises a “stunningly authentic rendition of 15th Century Bohemia allows you to experience this fascinating setting like never before. Get lost in a sprawling city, engage with peasants and talk with nobles while exploring a vast and rich countryside with taverns, bath houses, castles and more.”
To cap it all off, Jan Valta, the composer from the first game, is back and looks to be providing another epic soundtrack to go along with this medieval adventure. With all of these pieces in place, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is in a good spot to meet its ambitious goals.
Warhorse Studios was extremely excited to share the news of this sequel, and with the learnings from the original, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 has a serious opportunity to be one of the standout RPG’s of the year.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is set for release on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and PC, sometime later in 2024.
About the Author
Luke Mitchell
he/him
Luke spends his time making radio, playing video games, binge-watching TV, getting unreasonably invested in wrestling, hosting bear events and hanging out with his beautiful pets.
