Summary
While many players are understandably excited for a sequel toKingdom Come: Deliverance, the original title remains great to this day, and in some aspects, it still holds its ground with recent releases. Although it has weaknesses that will hopefully be improved on in the sequel, such as stiff NPC animations,KCDhas many features that put other RPGs to shame.
Many of these outstanding and oftentimes innovative features are a result of the game’s vision, which aims to fully immerse players in the medieval world of Bohemia, more specifically in the year 1403. While the more tempered and thoughtful gameplay isn’t for everyone, the originalKingdom Come: Deliveranceisa must-playforanyone who enjoys medieval games, even in2024.
6Color
Where Other Games Fail, KCD Shows The True Colors Of The Middle Ages
Unfortunately, many depictions of the Middle Ages are dark and drab. In actuality, this couldn’t be further from the truth regarding accuracy. If anything, medieval taste can often be seen as gaudy. InKingdom Come: Deliverance, however, players will see color everywhere they go, from the clothes on people’s backs to the vibrancy of the marketplace.
One of the standout features in this regard is the interiors of certain buildings, such as churches and more well-to-do townhouses. Rather than bare stone walls, players will see whitewashed walls, which, particularly in the case of the churches, have been beautifully painted with images of saints or parts of the bible. Walking around these is like stepping into a living museum.
5A Fully Immersive Alchemy System
Players Brew Potions In First Person By Following Instructions
Many RPG games feature some form of alchemy orthe ability to craftpotions. However, this usually amounts to little more than clicking a few buttons in the menu and perhaps experimenting with different combinations.Kingdom Come: Deliverance, on the other hand, takes this to a whole other level, allowing players to read instructions from a book before going through each step of alchemy in first person.
Players will begin by selecting a base for their potion, such as wine or water, and then, depending on what they are making, they will often need to crush certain ingredients with a mortar and pestle. Ingredients must be added in the correct order, and then players will use a sand timer to make sure the potion is heated for only as long as it needs. Sometimes, distillation is even required at the end of the process. If players get something wrong, their potion won’t have the desired effects, and in instances where they truly mess up, potions can quickly turn poisonous.
4The Clothing Layers System
Players Can Customize Each Layer Of Clothing To Wear Whatever They Want
Most RPGs allow players tochange the outfit of their character, often with different slots for the head, chest, and legs.KCDhowever, takes this to a whole other level, allowing players to play around with multiple layers of clothing and armor for each part of the body.
For example, the torso alone can have up to four layers, all of which serve their own purpose. Starting with a gambeson, players heading into combat might then have mail over this, followed by plate armor, with a decorative outer garment on top. Furthermore, what players wear matters outside of combat, too, with thin and dark clothes being much better for sneaking around in the black of night.
3Historical Accuracy
KCD Is Known For Its Attention To Historical Details
Since its release,Kingdom Come: Deliverancehas been lauded as one of themost historically accurate gamesever made, with every aspect of medieval life being fully researched and implemented. From the outfits and architecture to the combat and everyday details, the game often feels like a simulation of the Middle Ages.
Due to gaps in historical records or archeology and because, at the end of the day, it is a game meant to entertain, not everything is fully authentic. However, it is a great introduction to the Middle Ages, especially for those who are only familiar with the poor representations often found in other games and movies. By simply walking around and observing charcoal burners or pressing mills, players will even be able tolearn some history while playing, especially thanks to the codex entries.
2An Underrated, Beautiful, & Immersive UI
The Menus & Interface Help Players Stay In The World
It is very easy to overlook something as simple and practical as the UI, but inKCD’s case, this should not be done. From the small, unobtrusive HUD elements when playing to the stunning map and the highly informative codex entries, everything aboutthe UI is simply beautifuland further enhances the entire experience. This is a hurdle at which other games stumble, with many suffering from ugly clutter.
Inspired by medieval illuminated manuscripts, the UI carries on a theme that starts as the game is loading, and from that moment forth everything feels authentic and immersive, helping players forget they are playing a game at all. The map, for example, is full of beautiful art and as players zoom in to look at individual towns and villages, they will see even more details that somehow breathe further life into the game. As players explore and talk to more people, they will unlock codex entries that explain certain aspects of medieval life, and all of these are complete with authentic depictions.
1Realistic NPC Schedules
Merchants & Other Characters Can Be Found In Their Beds At Night & Even Take Lunch Breaks
Kingdom Come: Deliverancenot only immerses players with its historical accuracy but also with how the world and characters function. For example, there is a full-day cycle, and unlike other games, it is pitch black at night unless there is a small bit of artificial light from towns.NPCs have schedulesbased on this clock, and they will sleep in their own beds, and when dawn arrives, they will get up and go to work, wherever that may be.
Around noon, they will usually take a break, meaning that players might just mistime their visit to the tailor if they aren’t keeping track of time. Later on in the evening, many NPCs can be found at the local tavern before retiring to bed.Kingdom Come: Deliverence’s living world not only feels great to observe, but it actually affects gameplay decisions, too, with players needing to time their adventures.
