Summary
Highlights
The game features a wordy but well-written narrative with excellent voice acting, particularly for Henry. The story blends political agendas and warring nations with raw, relatable human moments, such as an evening spent in a bathhouse. Henry's character grows significantly throughout the story, making him more endearing to the player.
One of Kingdom Come Deliverance's strongest aspects is its world design and impressive attention to detail. Examples include fireflies, dogs drinking from puddles, realistic shadow casting, and clever Easter eggs and references (like the horse armor and Wolverine's claws). The natural environments are atmospheric and beautifully crafted, encouraging players to stop and appreciate the scenery, despite occasional bugs.
Kingdom Come Deliverance is an open-world knight simulator where players start as a weak blacksmith's son, Henry, and gradually progress into a formidable character. The game's slow burn approach to character progression is deliberate, making the eventual advancement satisfying for both Henry and the player, despite initial challenges like its 'wonky' combat system.
The game boasts one of the most realistic first-person sword dueling combat systems. It emphasizes careful spacing, countering, and tricking opponents rather than mindless flailing. Unlike Skyrim's combat (likened to 'checkers'), Kingdom Come's combat is compared to 'chess,' requiring strategic thinking. However, the game maintains realism by making players vulnerable against multiple enemies, often requiring stealth or archery to survive such encounters. The combat system has a steep learning curve but offers immense satisfaction once mastered.
The video concludes by recommending playing Kingdom Come Deliverance before its sequel if time permits. Not only does it provide important narrative context for the next game, but it's also a great medieval open-world RPG with memorable moments and a beautiful world that remains impressive today.