With the official gameplay reveal for Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, it’s clear that the developers are expanding on the immersive world of medieval Bohemia. However, there’s still plenty of room for improvement over the original game. From refining combat to deeper health management, here are 10 key changes we're hoping to see in Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2.
1. Improved Combat System
One of the biggest critiques of KCD was its complex and at times, clunky combat system. While it introduced innovative mechanics, many players found the slow-motion-heavy fights frustrating. In the sequel, fans are hoping for a more responsive system that allows for better control and more realistic duels, free from the excessive perfect blocks and master strikes that low-level enemies could randomly execute.
2. Expanded Weapon Variety
The first game provided a decent selection of medieval weaponry, but it lacked variety in terms of historically significant arms. For KCD 2, early gunpowder weapons, such as hand cannons and crossbows would add a new layer of depth and realism to combat. Including these historically accurate weapons could enrich KCD 2's authenticity and give players more tactical options in battles.
3. Deeper Stealth and Thieving Systems
Stealth players often felt their options were limited in the original game, with thieving quickly pushed aside in favor of Henry’s journey into knighthood. In the sequel, we hope for more story integration and depth in the stealth system. Expanding on the lock-picking mechanics, introducing more intricate heists, and allowing players to choose a path of crime could provide more engaging alternatives to direct combat.
4. A More Balanced Save System
Kingdom Come: Deliverance introduced the "Saviour Schnapps" system, which limited saves to certain points. While it encouraged players to weigh their actions carefully, many found it punishing. The sequel should offer a more balanced approach to saving that maintains a level of challenge without frustrating players, allowing them to save progress more freely while still preserving the game’s realism.
5. Historical Accuracy with More Drip
One of the standout improvements in the sequel’s reveal was the historically accurate clothing and armor, surpassing the original KCD's already impressive attention to detail. This deeper authenticity will add to the immersion, and players are excited about having even more customization options to reflect their personal style within the historical context.
6. Refined NPC Interaction
The world of KCD felt alive, but there was room for more dynamic NPC interaction. Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 looks to be addressing this with even better AI, potentially rivaling games like Red Dead Redemption 2. We’re hoping to see NPCs with more diverse behaviors, conversations, and realistic reactions to the player’s choices, enhancing the game’s immersive world-building.
One exciting confirmed new mechanic (thanks to Shacknews @ PAX West 2024) in Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is how the NPCs handle crimes. If you're caught committing a crime, ordinary people may deal with you directly, offering several options: you can pay indulgence, accept punishment, or attempt persuasion. Fleeing could lead to an attack or a chase involving the guards. Punishments, such as being put in the pillory, caning, or even branding, have lasting negative effects, and more severe crimes can even result in execution. This system adds depth and realism to how crimes are handled within the game world.
7. Intuitive Injury and Health Management System
In KCD, healing and injury management was often unintuitive, with little explanation on how to handle certain ailments. For the sequel, a more informative system that better explains wound treatment, health recovery, and the effects of hunger or fatigue would add depth and realism. Players should be more aware of how their character’s physical state impacts gameplay, especially in survival scenarios.
8. No More Overpowered Enemies
A major frustration in KCD was how quickly enemies scaled in difficulty, with random bandits often becoming heavily armored knights. The sequel should ensure that enemy scaling is more balanced and realistic, giving players a sense of progression without overwhelming them with overpowered foes early in the game.
9. Expanded Story Choices
The original game allowed for some freedom in how players approached quests, but many choices felt limited in scope. In Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, we’re hoping for deeper branching storylines where early decisions have lasting consequences, offering more replayability and agency for the player to shape Henry’s fate.
10. New UI and Interface Improvements
While KCD’s interface was functional, it was clunky at times. The reveal hinted at a new UI for the sequel, which looks more intuitive and streamlined. A well-designed interface will help with inventory management and combat, making the overall experience smoother for both new players and veterans.
Modding Community Improvements
During my time with Kingdom Come: Deliverance, I found that mods are essential in enhancing certain gameplay elements, particularly combat. Mods like the Better Combat and Immersion Compilation (BCAIC) helped to refine the mechanics and make combat more realistic by adjusting AI behavior and making the game more challenging. Similarly, Polearms Unleashed restored essential combat functions, turning the previously neglected polearms into a much more viable weapon class. These mods addressed many of KCD's issues, and it would be fantastic to see some of these improvements baked into the sequel from the start. If you’re still playing the first game, these mods are worth checking out:
BCAIC Mod Link | Polearms Unleashed Mod Link.
With Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, the developers have an exciting opportunity to build on the immersive world they created, addressing issues while expanding its potential.
