Kingdom Come 2: A Beautiful, Bumbling Historical Journey
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 picks up the saga of Henry of Skalitz, a 15th-century blacksmith’s son turned accidental hero, embroiled in a quest to recover his late father’s sword from a despicable noble. The sequel kicks off with Henry serving as the armor-clad, fully-skilled bodyguard to Sir Hans Capon, his infuriating yet charming companion from the original game. Their mission is to secure an ally in the ongoing civil war, but their plans are quickly derailed by bandits, leaving Henry and Sir Hans barely escaping with their lives.
Stripped of his gear and bleeding from numerous wounds, Henry’s plight resembles the aftermath of a wild British stag do, minus an embarrassing tattoo and a traffic cone for company. As Henry’s adventure (mis)continues, he and Sir Hans face a series of humiliations that strip away any pretense of nobility, turning their journey into a humbling ordeal of survival and mishaps.
Their misfortunes culminate in a heated argument about Sir Hans’s haughty demeanor, leading to a dramatic parting of ways. This leaves Henry alone and free from any lordly obligations as the real journey of Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 begins. What path will Henry carve out for himself? The possibilities are as varied as they are thrilling: from a cunning thief or a persuasive scholar to a formidable swordsman or a charismatic rogue.
Once again, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 offers a sprawling, system-rich open world where social mobility and character development are as dynamic as ever. Among the intriguing new gameplay features is the ability to swap among three different clothing loadouts on the fly, setting the stage for some ingenious escapades that might involve sneaking past guards in rags then suddenly appearing in knightly splendor, like a medieval Superman.
This sequel promises a blend of freedom, strategy, and unpredictability, set against a richly historical backdrop that challenges players to navigate its complexities as they shape Henry’s destiny. How will you forge your version of Henry in this expansive medieval sandbox?
Currently, after a five-hour jaunt into the game, my version of Henry has morphed into a tranquil, nature-loving botanist rather than a vengeful warrior. He seems to have entirely forgotten about reconciling with Sir Hans or avenging his father’s death. Instead, he and I leisurely explore the verdant expanses of the “Bohemian Paradise,” our eyes scanning the lush flora and ears tuned to the melodious sounds of nearby streams.
Our days are spent meandering through the woods, identifying various herbs and flowers like eyebright and belladonna, guided by the detailed illustrations in our beloved herbarium. Occasionally, we contemplate whether to sample a herb to discover its effects or to consult an apothecary for advice. However, the thought of venturing into town and possibly encountering Sir Hans again dissuades us; the forest’s serene embrace is too enchanting to leave.
Henry’s needs are simple; hunger is easily sated by the cabbages found near the forest’s edge, though we must stay vigilant of the occasional bandit. As was true in the original game, wearing the right armor is crucial, and our lack thereof is painfully obvious when confronted. Yet, avoiding danger is simpler when you’re already nestled deep in the woods, with only the wildlife and the HUD’s rabbit icon to keep you company.
The interface design of Deliverance 2 is subtly sophisticated, though the menus can feel a tad cumbersome, adorned with ornate calligraphy and rendered in textures of soft leather and polished wood. The map is depicted as a detailed wartime table, complete with paper elements that mimic the tactile feel of navigating through tangible materials.
Familiar HUD elements like the horizontal compass for quest navigation remain, alongside a crucial combat stance indicator around the cursor. Mastering combat requires learning to read subtle NPC cues beneath these icons, a skill as crucial as recognizing the herbs before they pop up on your HUD.
In Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, the game’s design respects its own lush geography, ensuring that the immersive world it crafts feels integral, not just decorative. This commitment to authenticity makes every quiet moment in the underbrush feel like a discovery, urging players like Henry and me to truly connect with the world around us.
Despite Sir Hans’ dramatic escapades, my choice to remain secluded in the woods means I’m somewhat bypassing the rich historical tapestry that Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 offers. However, my burgeoning knowledge of local flora could be seen as aligning with Andreas Inderwildi’s critique of the first game’s approach to history. Inderwildi suggests that such gameplay, with its emphasis on collecting data and items, mirrors the “realist” perspective of history as a mere aggregation of facts and artifacts, similar to the loot systems found in games like those in the Elder Scrolls series.
Inderwildi argues that this view of history, as something to be pieced together like a puzzle or a lost collection of items, fails to capture the true essence of the medieval world, which is a complex tapestry of fragmented records, diverse viewpoints, and both intentional and unintentional inaccuracies. He posits that such a method of historical representation may inadvertently gloss over or simplify the real decisions involved in depicting, for example, different ethnicities and their roles in historical conflicts.
At this early stage in my journey through Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, it’s premature to provide a thorough evaluation of the game’s handling of these issues. Currently, my Henry is quite literally barefoot and has been since the recent bandit raid; he’s not even washed, which partly explains his reluctance to venture into populated areas. While you can freshen up quickly at a horse trough, gaining the respect of the nobility and succeeding in skill-based dialogues, requires a bit more effort, including the use of perfumes.
Yet, from what I’ve observed, the sequel seems to continue the first game’s exploration of history as an active practice rather than a static field, reflecting the lived experiences and complexities of 15th-century Bohemia.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 initially seems to adopt a conventional portrayal of medieval society, where women primarily appear as decorative figures, passive observers, nurturing allies, and the targets of male desire. The first interaction with a female character outside of the introductory cinematics involves a somewhat voyeuristic stealth lesson with Hans, where they spy on women bathing. The first meaningful conversation Henry engages in is with a healer, followed by her daughter, who quickly assumes the role of Henry’s emotional supporter.
These early interactions may suggest a reductive view of women that leans heavily on outdated tropes of chivalric narratives where men’s actions are excused by a “boys will be boys” mentality. However, my initial experiences with the game indicate there might be room for a broader portrayal of women, as I’ve encountered a few women in less stereotypical contexts, including a brothel owner who defies simple categorization.
The dynamics between Henry and Sir Hans heavily color the early narrative, with Sir Hans embodying the worst of aristocratic privilege and misogyny, highlighting Henry’s slightly less objectionable behavior by comparison. This relationship sets the stage for the game, though it hints at deeper, more complex character developments to come.
In the original game, Henry’s lowly social status was central to the storyline, resonating with themes common in medieval literature. This aspect persists in Deliverance 2, where initial conflicts with Sir Hans underscore a societal obsession with appearances and status rather than inherent worth, mirroring critiques often found in historical romances. As the game progresses, I’m curious to see if and how the depiction of women evolves beyond these initial impressions.
At one moment, Sir Hans eloquently discusses the divine right that separates peasants, nobility, and clergy, yet falters when trying to categorize Henry. This may simply be a typical example of ludonarrative dissonance, yet it intriguingly sets the stage for a historical tale focused on the fluid class identity of a character who, in RPG terms, transcends traditional roles as required by the narrative.
With Sir Hans no longer in the equation, I’m entertaining the notion of reshaping Henry into an anachronistically progressive thinker, perhaps even a proto-feminist. Of course, this transformation would require me to cease endangering him with the various toxic mushrooms I’ve been foraging in the forest, a compromise I’m prepared to accept. Stay tuned for my comprehensive review of Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, coming in just a few weeks.
