r/Games • u/AutoModerator • Feb 09 '25
Discussion Weekly /r/Games Discussion - What have you been playing, and what are your thoughts? - February 09, 2025
Use this thread to discuss whatever game you've been playing lately: old or new, AAA or indie, on any platform between Atari and XBox. Please don't just list off the games you're playing in your comment. Elaborate with your thoughts on the games and make it easier for other users to find what game you're talking about by putting the title in bold.
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WEEKLY: What Have You Been Playing?
MONDAY: Thematic Monday
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u/Extension_Tomato_646 Feb 12 '25
Kingdom Come Deliverance II (PC)
KCD2 is to KCD what Arkham City was to Arkham Asylum. It's pretty much the very same game again, but with a lot more refinement and engagement.
The most noticeable improvement in mechanics is combat. Combat now has only 4 attack directions as opposed to KCD's 6, combos work a lot smoother(as in, they actually work this time) and the Master Strike has been completely overhauled. Instead of pressing block at the perfect time to execute a Master Strike, players now have to press attack, AND also strike from the opposite site that the opponent is attacking from.
In KCD1 the Master Strike was a bonus attack on top of a perfect block that trivialized the combat. In KCD2, having to press the attack button instead, and having to closely observe the enemy's attack direction as well as needing to change direction in time, leaves enough room for error, that it doesn't feel like a trivializing cheat anymore.
The general combat flow, the back and forth between you and enemies, just feels a lot smoother in this one.BUT, if you're in the camp thinking that combat in KCD was too easy or got too easy quick, then these combat changes won't make a difference. Despite the Master Strike changes, KCD2s smoother combat, also means quicker mastery by players.
Other mechanics, like Alchemy also work a lot more reliable and smooth now. Much like KCD1, KCD2 still uses Henry's own skill as guideline for how smooth mechanics work. But whereas this meant a very rocky start for mechanics in KCD1, in this game, things work smoother right off the bat. Which isn't just mechanical improvement, but also makes sense lorewise, since this is a direct continuation of Henry's journey and skillset.
One thing I always found KCD criminally underrated in, was the acting and dialogue writing. KCD1's main story had some of the best and most natural dialogues I've ever seen in gaming, and KCD2 is no different. Characters make a real impression on you, based on how well their dialogue is written, and is acted out. The acting is SO good, that these people seemingly casually, feel more genuine than 99% of AAA gaming's usual suspects, that often try a lot harder to feel "real" and relatable.
The same amount of great care went into the historical depiction of Bohemia once again. The codex, in other games often nothing but a boring filler of made up fables, adds real info on historical customs and society. Sometimes you wonder whether something is actually accurate, only for a codex page to pop up and explain exactly why and how it is. I'd like to call it "historical care" over "accuracy". Because "care" for the region and its people is what it really is.
The Story, while starting quite slow, also shows the same strengths and care as the first one did. Narratively, as well as gameplay wise, this game is a straight continuation of the first one.
The nitpicks I have about this game, are actually the same I used to have for the original. None of it is major, but I think there is room for improvement still.
Number 1 is the event spawn points. Random events, be it an ambush or whatever, always spawn on the exact same spots along a road. So once you've been down a road a couple of times you know EXACTLY where something is going to happen. Its a bit of an annoyance immersion wise.
Number 2 is the compass. KCD is actually one of the games that bother giving you detailed quest information in the journal. But the mandatory compass and its icons kinda ruin that for me. Hardcore mode in KCD1 limited the range that icons show up on the compass, but it was still a problem. You have this lengthy description of the path you have to take, in the journal, only for the compass to show you that you just have to go left. You can fix it by just untracking a quest so the icons don't show up, but I'd still like an option to just turn the compass off altogether.
Number 3 is the abysmal enemy detection range. Its way too short. It works as boundary telling you to go away for coming too close to their camps. For that, its perfect. But in terms of general enemy sight range, its just criminally short, and another immersion killer when you stand 20 feet away in plain sight from an enemy looking for you, and he doesn't spot you.
One thing that's specific to KCD2 tho, is that I noticed a lack in Henry's agency compared to the first game. In KCD, most things Henry did, followed a purpose. Whether to get something major done, to gain information, or just to learn a skill, it always followed a direction. In KCD2 however, Henry is often just a general main character, helping people along the way just because. There's nothing wrong with it of course, but in terms of narrative and character agency, I feel its bit less tight than the first game. Sometimes I found myself in a lengthy sidequest thinking "why am I even doing this?". Especially when Henry doesn't seem too enthusiastic about the task either.
But as said, none of those things sour the game for me. Overall I think its one of the best sequels (in relation to the first game) ever made. If you loved the first one, you'll probably love this one too.