Summary
- Players must adapt their combat approach based on the scenario to succeed in Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2.
- The addition of new weapons in the sequel adds variety and allows for diverse playstyles in combat.
- Refinement in enemy AI and the introduction of new weapon types ensure unique encounters in combat.
Given how much Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 leans into realism and historical authenticity, it’s perfectly understandable why its combat might be seen by some as falling short of remarkable and innovative. After all, in that approach to historical authenticity, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 can’t feature spell-slinging, double-jumping heroics that give its protagonist, Henry, an edge over his enemies. Nevertheless, at the very least, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 has done everything in its power to make its combat far more accessible and exciting than its predecessor’s, even to the point of ensuring that no two duels in the game feel the same.
It’s a considerable challenge, attempting to make every battle in Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 feel unique, but the sequel manages to do just that — at least, as much as it can without compromising the realism that defines it. It ultimately accomplishes this with its design philosophy that not all enemies in Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 are created equal, thereby requiring players to adjust their strategy depending on the scenario they find themselves in. Furthermore, the addition of several new weapons in the sequel adds a decent amount of variety to combat, as players can now choose between a more diverse array of playstyles than they could in the first game.
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Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 Review
With Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, Warhorse Studios delivers one of the first great games of 2025.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 Takes Its Duels to the Next Level
Players Must Adapt Their Approach to Combat Depending on the Scenario
In Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, NPCs respond and react to the player almost like real people would. While this is a major goal of the game’s intent on immersing players in a living world, it simultaneously ensures that every interaction with an NPC feels different, especially during combat. If players apply the same approach to every NPC they fight in Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, they will surely find the gameplay to be far more difficult than it should, as the game’s NPCs are free of static design and instead primarily rely on the player’s actions to decide what they are going to do next.
The addition of several new weapons in the sequel adds a decent amount of variety to combat, as players can now choose between a more diverse array of playstyles than they could in the first game.
This can be most clearly seen when players shift the direction of their weapon in Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, as doing so will frequently cause the enemy to respond in turn. This was, of course, how the first Kingdom Come: Deliverance was designed to behave as well, but that concept has been dialed up in the sequel to produce NPCs that are far more reactive and dynamic than they were in the first game. As a result, every duel in Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 feels unique, as players are encouraged to adapt their approach to combat depending on the scenario and the enemy or enemies they are fighting.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2’s New Weapons Help Add Variety to Combat
While swords are still considered one of the more realistic and immersive weapons in Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, the sequel has also added several new weapon types that are meant to not only increase the accessibility of the game’s combat, but also the diversity of playstyles. For example, early firearms have been incorporated into Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2‘s combat, and while they are almost impossible to use, they can be quite effective when they land a hit. The addition of crossbows and halberds also adds new variety to Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2‘s combat, ensuring that players can approach battles in a variety of different ways.
Other weapons, like axes, are even built for greater accessibility, and Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is more rewarding of aggressive play than its predecessor.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 may not offer the high-fantasy spectacle of other modern RPGs, as its combat remains committed to realism and historical authenticity above all else. However, by refining enemy AI and introducing new weapon types, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 further ensures that no two encounters play out the exact same way. Every battle requires attentiveness and adaptation, reinforcing the idea that combat isn’t just about skill but also about understanding one’s enemy and predicting their next move.
RPG
Action-Adventure
Open-World
- Released
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February 4, 2025
- ESRB
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Mature 17+ // Use of Alcohol, Blood and Gore, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Intense Violence, Partial Nudity
- Developer(s)
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Warhorse Studios