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Creating a sequel to a groundbreaking game is no easy feat. Often, a few sequels tend to fumble and create a crowd of players going, “The prequel was better.” This time, I bet all my Groschen to say that Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is the Godfather 2 of gaming sequels, and that’s just me saying it after a hands-on preview. KCD 2, in a way, brings most of what made its predecessor unique and might even seem like things haven’t changed much from one game to the other. However, the way the sequel implements these things makes it much more enjoyable and unforgettable.
From Hero to Zero, and Hero Again
As with any sequel featuring an established character, you know that something has to happen: the “weakening the protagonist” event. We can’t have an overpowered Henry slicing everyone in Trosky with ease, can we? It might sound like I’m complaining, but I’m not because it justifies it perfectly and makes Henry a clean slate we can mold to our liking.
By now, you might’ve heard about the opening hours of Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 somewhere else, which is what I played mostly during the preview. You begin the game with a fantastic opening sequence that occurs sometime in the future of the sequel. Placed in the shoes of Father Godwin, you learn the combat ropes during a castle siege. Shortly after, Hans gets an arrow to the shoulder, and we jump back in time, weeks before the siege. That’s when good old Henry takes the spotlight.
You get a fantastic tutorial that blends perfectly with the first mission’s narrative. You learn how to fight, a few combos, the basics of stealth, alchemy, and more. Once our heroes are ready to hit the first town, you get sent to the pillory thanks to Hans, and the two part ways for the time being. Then, the world opens for you, and the fun truly begins.
Initially, I thought I wouldn’t like seeing Henry go from rags to riches again, but I was wrong. The essence of KCD as a series is immersing you in an unforgiving world. Do you want food? Find a way to earn some silver or start stealing. Did you wrong someone? There’s no quick-saving to get you out of trouble. Every action you perform has its consequences, and a bad choice can even leave you without a bed to spend the night, but that’s the magic behind Kingdom Come: Deliverance. It is a masterclass in RPG systems, and it only gets better once you get to the meaty part of all the gameplay mechanics.
A World Like No Other
During early previews, we learned Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 wanted to go bigger in every aspect, and it delivered on that part. To explain further, allow me to tell you about a typical day I had in this sequel.
After following the main story, I finally found a bed where I could sleep and save my progress. Yeah, you can only save when exiting the game or by crafting specific potions, but no pressing F5 or other button to save-scum. So, I woke up and was ready to continue with the main quest. However, I was broke. I only had a sword in poor condition and bread that was about to rot. So, I thought of a way to make money.
Earlier, I discovered a place with horses with almost no guards. I waited for the cover of the night, sneaked in, and stole one. Before all this, I knew about an NPC who ran a horse black market. In other words, he bought stolen horses. So, I rode as fast as possible with the stolen steed, and one guard noticed me. Yet, I didn’t stop, hoping for the NPC to forget about my crimes eventually. So, I sold the steed for 214 Groschen. While it wasn’t a lot, it let me buy a few things, including much-needed food and a new blade.
Then, I decided to return to where the equestrian heist took place, and lo and behold, the guard recognized me. Since my charisma stat was plummeting due to Henry being dirty, I failed to convince the NPC to let me go. So, there I went to the pillory for one whole day. Tired and hungry, I decided to return to where I had my bed and heal up. On the way, two bandits ambushed me, and I died. And guess when was the last time I saved? Yeah, a long time ago.
In any other scenario, I would’ve been angry for losing so much progress, but I didn’t feel like that. See, getting caught, losing items, and getting injured are all things that make this game so special. It makes it feel realistic and makes you think twice about everything you’ll do. In my case, I was a lousy criminal, and I paid dearly for it. And while it sounds like the game punished me, it didn’t. The punishment came due to my lack of preparation. I got cocky and forgot that, while Henry is the protagonist, he is a regular man rising from the bottom, and everything and everyone is a wall Henry has to climb. And for me, that’s as realistic as a game can get.
Surprisingly Smooth
One thing I imagine many are asking right now is, “Does the game perform well?” Well, let me appease your doubts. I have a launch-day PS5, and it performs well. I’d dare say it performs better than I thought it would. While I only played 10 hours during my preview, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 delivers a smooth gaming experience, which is surprising for this day and age. Yes, there are minor graphical issues. But nothing game-breaking. I was more surprised to see that despite the many pieces moving at the same time, mainly the NPCs with their routines, I never experienced a technical hiccup or a “horse on the roof” type of bug.
In terms of framerate and visual quality, it has been great. I played everything with performance mode, and I never felt my frames drop considerably. There are a few during intense fights, such as the siege of the opening sequence, but the game never becomes unplayable. Overall, it was a fantastic experience and much better than I imagined. Also, the screenshots we’ve attached here don’t do the game justice. The game’s world is one of the most gorgeous I’ve seen, rivaling that of Red Dead Redemption 2 in terms of lighting, density, and reactivity.
Thou Art In For a Treat
The wait for Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 has been a long one, but after this preview, I can confidently say that it pays to be patient. The sequel does more than bring some of the familiar mechanics we got from the first game. Combat is much smoother and responsive. Shooting a bow feels miles better. Facial animations, dialogues, and overall storytelling have improved considerably. If there was ever a sliver of skepticism in your mind, you can let it go now because KCD 2 will be one of the best games of 2025.
It’s still uncertain if the journey will remain as smooth when aiming for the 100-hour mark, but as first impressions go, I’d say it’s on the right track. I never experienced any bugs, and the few glitches I saw were minor. And for those who thought the predecessor was a bit clunky, it feels as if Warhorse Studios gathered all that feedback and removed those bumps from the road. So, whether you’re a veteran who’s accompanied Henry before or someone jumping into this medieval world for the first time, you’re about to experience one of the greatest gaming journeys ever.
