Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2aims to be a bigger and bolder sequel, with a script over 2 million words long and a world that far surpasses the size of the original. It’s an impressive endeavor, especially coming from a smaller studio, but one that fans are nevertheless excited about. Of course, as groundbreaking as the original game was, it wasn’t without flaws, and many players are hoping that the sequel will address them in significant ways.
Fortunately,Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2previewshave already brought up some of the ways that it improves upon its predecessor. Importantly, they mention its improved combat, which seeks to make it a far less challenging experience, as many players found it to be too punishing, especially when forced to fight multiple enemies at once. However,while the combat alterations certainly address this feedback, it comes at a cost that is both completely understandable and unfortunateconsidering the audienceKCD2is targeting.
Enemies Wait Their Turn In Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2
They Won’t Rush The Player
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2has seemingly fixed combat against multiple enemiesby reducing just how aggressive opponents are. This was highlighted by YouTuberStrat Gaming Guides, who showcased combat against a group of guards in a small village. In the footage, the enemies approach the player slowly, with only one attacking at a time. This allows them to block each attack while dispatching them in sequence, rather than getting completely overwhelmed. While the original combat style madeKCDmore historically accurate, this significant change will make it more accessible.
Another alteration made to combat inKingdom Come: Deliverance 2is that players no longer get locked into frustratingly long animations. In the original game, when enemies parried the player’s attack, they would become staggered and suffer through a lengthy animation. This then opened up an opportunity for another enemy - or often multiple - to strike again, causing the player to be wiped out without repelling the attack. Frankly,this is a huge improvement, one that doesn’t really compromise the original experience while making combat feel far more approachable.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance’s Combat Was Clunky
It Was Difficult To Fight Multiple Enemies
It is no secret thatKingdom Come: Deliverance’scombat was clunky. This was partially purposeful, as Henry was meant to feel unprepared, especially in the early game. A blacksmith’s son who is obviously unskilled with a sword shouldn’t be a match for a group of even relatively well-trained bandits. However,there was a complexity to combat that was challenging to master coupled with the rather ridiculous skill of the enemy AI. It was often the case that any enemy, no matter who they were, could parry every one of Henry’s attacks, and were practically impossible to hit in response.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2: What A Bigger Game Means For Character Progression, Recreating Kuttenberg, & More
Screen Rant recently spoke with Warhorse Studios' PR Manager, Tobias Stolz-Zwilling, while attending a press event in Kuttenberg.
On top of that, players had to deal with fighting multiple enemies at once, something thatKingdom Come: Deliverance’sapproach to combat couldn’t deal with. To parry or block an attack, or even hit an enemy, the player had to aim Henry’s blade by selecting one of the five directions. That is nearly impossible to do when Henry is being attacked from all directions. Fortunately,this and a lot of the quirks ofKingdom Come Deliverance’scombat have been ironed out in the sequel, allowing players to enjoyKCD2’snew weaponswith ease.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2’s Solution Is Less Realistic
It Is A Difficult Compromise To Make
Of course, while the changes are completely understandable, address a large portion of the fanbase’s concerns, and make the sequel more approachable than the original game, they also take away from one ofKingdom Come: Deliverance’sunique selling points. One of the main tenets ofKCDwas its focus on realism, and this new approach to combat feels like the antithesis of that. Simply put,it isn’t particularly realistic for enemies to wait for their turn to attack someone, even if it does make combat easier.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 DLC Will Finally Focus On This Underused Feature From The First Game
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is getting a DLC in autumn that focuses on Henry’s blacksmithing skills, which were underused in the first game.
However, the compromise developer Warhorse Studios has made is absolutely the right choice. Many newcomers to the series may be wondering if theyneed to playKCDfirst, or if they can just jump into the newer title on launch day. The easier combat will makeKingdom Come: Deliverance 2more accessible for those people while still retaining the challenge that previous fans want. MakingKingdom Come: Deliverance 2more enjoyable for a wider player base is surely a good thing, and the visuals, setting, tone, and characters will help maintain the realism the series is so well-known for.
