Kingdom Come: Deliverance

Kingdom Come: Deliverance is a first-person RPG set in the Middle Ages that trades out fantasy for history, with an emphasis on realism in both its story and gameplay. Playing as a lowly peasant in a simple village who is thrust into a war to protect his homeland, you'll journey across the beautiful Czech Kingdom circa 1403. As you work your way across warring countryside, you'll meet new characters, complete quests, and become entrenched in historically accurate cities. While some of its mechanics can be frustrating, this is an RPG unlike any other, that provides an excellent representation of the medieval era.

Main Game Features

• Explore 15th century Bohemia with stunning realism
• Engage in medieval battles in fierce combat
• Branching story paths

Story

The story of Kingdom Come: Deliverance is set in the European region of the Kingdom of Bohemia in the 1400s and follows Henry, the son of a blacksmith living in a mining village called Skalitz. Henry's peaceful life of apprenticeship is thrown into violent upheaval when his town is destroyed by Cuman invaders, working at the hand of the vengeful king, Sigismund. Although his parents are killed in the attack, Henry is able to escape, fleeing to the nearby town of Rattay. After helping around the city, Henry starts to work for Sir Radzig, a military leader for the rightful king of Bohemia, Wenceslaus. Furious over his parent's fate and full of potential, Henry joins in the fight against Sigismund in an effort to reclaim his homeland.

Gameplay

Kingdom Come: Deliverance is all about immersion, offering players a world that is realistic yet challenging, where your choices matter. Unlike other popular RPGs such as The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, you'll find no magic to wield or supernatural enemies to fight. The story and gameplay are all firmly placed in reality, encouraging players to use strategy instead of brute force. There are a handful of character classes to pick, including warrior, thief, bard, and more. As you make choices during dialogue and decisions in quests, your stats will change, occasionally offering new abilities. Quests are designed to be non-linear, with multiple ways to complete objectives. For example, charismatic players may talk their way through conflict, while more aggressive players can choose to fight.

That said, combat is one of the most difficult elements of the game, as it requires a fair bit of practice to master. You can use all sorts of weapons, including swords, daggers, and axes, each of which feels different during fights. Instead of wildly swinging at an enemy, you'll have to pick your angle, string together combos, and properly block, or suffer the consequences. In addition to managing your health during combat, you'll also have to ensure you eat, drink, and sleep enough. Other elements of your inventory must be managed as well, such as repairing weapons as you use them, or consuming food before it spoils. Although these gameplay mechanics take some time to adapt to, it results in a truly immersive experience.

Conclusion

Kingdom Come: Deliverance is a game that has its fair share of problems and can be occasionally frustrating to play. However, the attention to detail, immersive world, and rewarding story make for a remarkably satisfying adventure. If you have the patience to learn the combat, you'll have a blast as you participate in large-scale battles, fight against bandits, and more.

Pros

• Immersive story and world
• Quests are interesting and realistic
• Great attention to detail

Cons

• Combat takes a lot of practice
• Slow pacing
• Lackluster save system