Kingdom Come: Deliverance

Remember Oblivion? Not the gameplay, not the plot, but the feeling you had when you first got out of the sewer. This is the first real rpg in a long time who reminds me of this.

This game is a gem once you get past through the rough and slow beginning. I bought the game 5-6 years ago but only played for 2 hours and was turned off because the combat was especially rough. I kept this game in the shelf since then. Last played April 2020..
Since KCD2 was released recently, I decided to give this game another go, in the hopes of rushing the Main Quest. But guess what? I've been taking my sweet ass time doing side quests and shit. The world is immersive, the storyline is interesting, the voice acting is amazing, gameplay is fun. Once you actually level up your skills(combat mainly for me) in this game, it's actually more fun. I used to get my ass kicked, now I'm the one kicking bandits' ass whether 1v1 or 1v5's, etc.
This game reminded me of my love for RPGs when Oblivion and Skyrim were released many years ago.
Give this game a chance. I would recommend this game before getting into KCD2. This game aged pretty well.

One of the most realistic medieval RPGs I’ve ever played. No magic, no dragons—just pure history, survival, and swordsmanship. The world feels alive and immersive. A must for RPG fans!

One of my favorite games of all time. A little slow and overwhelming at the beginning but after that it just won't stop being good. Heavily recommend.
However, this review is a little bit biased and there's 2 reasons why:
1. I am a huge history nerd.
2. I am literally Czech. The region where this game takes place is not far away from here. I could walk there if I wanted to.
10/10

Played this instead as my PC isn't good enough to handle KCD:2 and found myself going through a whirlwind of emotions.
First of all, I wholeheartedly recommend this product. You will hate it for the first 2-3 days. It does a lot of things that modern day games have done away with. It forces you to stare at the fast travel indicator, which moves at the speed of a slug. It forces you into gritty, hard-hitting, claustrophobic combat, which makes you feel like throwing your controller. Save files feel few and far between, so on the rare chance you do die from falling off a cliff, or die to a surprise late-game ambush, you will be set back at least 1 hour in your progress... yet despite all of this, the game is EXCELLENT.
The combat is as simple as this: if enemy has higher stats than you, you die.
This means that if you go into combat with a bandit in full black armor, he will likely parry everything you throw at him, forever. So just don't try it. Even if you try to stealth kill him, he'll throw you off and laugh at you. This is because you are a PEASANT with 5 strength, and he is a MERCENARY with 15 strength. This is DnD style role-play, and the developers did it on purpose.
But once you DO get used to the combat, and as long as you're playing with mouse and keyboard, it is possible to joust with 2-3 bandits at once. Provided THEY ARE THE SAME LEVEL AS YOU. It took me about a week of playing (I tried on console first) to actually get used to the fighting mechanics, but eventually you get to the point where you can reliably duel a small group of bandits with mixed tactics. And you don't need heavy armor to do it, ether. I usually wear a stealth set. Which leads me to say...
Stealth and thieving feel INCREDIBLE. This is what I wanted from an Oblivion-like stealth/thieving experience. I've hoarded over 5,000 gold in the early game so far just by looting Rattay and the neighboring small towns. And due to the limited save-file system, it always feels tense. Sometimes, you won't even have to load a save if you do get caught because if you have the sense to get up, spin around, and run away from people before they manage to I.D. you, that WORKS. You won't get a bounty and they won't even fine you for trespassing!
Likewise, I cleared two bandit camps today using purely Robin Hood tactics. And holy sheet, does it feel awesome! Fire off a piercing arrow, bleed the bandit leader to death, then take out his goons that come running via kiting/picking them off one by one. And don't get me started on going into camps at night whilst they're all sleeping. That feels incredible too!
So, long story short. The game has a few things that can be annoying (looking at you foliage and rain that tanks my FPS). Enemy dogs suck during the mid-game due to their hit-box, but this is fixed by having a dog of your own. (I highly recommend getting the Woman's Lot DLC purely for the dog, as it really does help lessen the dread of the experience somewhat. The dog is OP if handled correctly.)
The last thing I will say is, the main story is tedious. This is the game's worst sin/only 'real' negative. Everything else is alleviated with time, but the story isn't.
All of the quests are detective-style fetch quests with no actual combat. This makes no sense, because you spend days learning how to fight with Captain Bernard. You get some middling armor. Then you think, ''right, I must be ready for the main quests now, let's go;'' but then... you find yourself waddling around in the woods, talking to people and asking ''SO WHeRe DId ThoSe BanDIts gO?''
You are a medieval messenger. The main quests don't treat you like a knight, or a squire. You're an errand boy--and only three of them have combat sequences involved. It's... kind of annoying? And kind of confusing. The developers couldn't think up a better quest line than this? Like, I don't know:
The bandits competing in a grand tournament under disguises and Henry has to win the tournament in order to get back Ser Radrik' sword by beating the bandits one by one in a series of listings, whilst doing this other detective shit along the way(?)
Just--you know, something that ACTUALLY used the game's combat system? Instead, the game just makes you waddle around like a numbskull for 6 hours chasing threads. It's really boring/senseless. I feel like their writer crapped out here and I don't know what else to say. The story feels like it has nothing to do with the rest of the game.
Last thing--I wish there were more 1v1/2v2 combat situations. There is an itch this game has that bugs you, and I finally identified what it was the other night. You are constantly craving a good scrap. But you will start to understand after ten-twenty hours of playing that you are either always outnumbered, or cannot find anyone to fight at all. There is no in-between, and it's a bit of a shame. In other words, Henry is always 1v5'ing everyone. You will very rarely-- except through rare fast travel coincidences--have a nice, tight duel, which is where the game completely and utterly excels....

As someone in my mid-30s with three decades of video game experience, I write these overviews with a focus on how games fit into an adult life full of responsibilities. The criteria are deliberately subjective - check out my other reviews to see what resonates with you. These ratings are practical descriptions, not meant to be converted into numbers.
━━Resonance Score━━
⬜ Left a lasting mark
☑️ Will definitely revisit
⬜ One and done
⬜ Didn't finish
⬜ Wouldn't purchase again
━━Breakdown━━
Initial Feel
⬜ Instantly hooked
⬜ Grew on me
☑️ Took time to appreciate
⬜ Never quite clicked
Mechanical Flow
⬜ Perfectly polished
⬜ Satisfyingly smooth
☑️ Takes getting used to
⬜ Never feels quite right
⬜ Actively frustrating
Schedule Flexibility
⬜ Perfect for micro-sessions
⬜ Easy to pause and resume
☑️ Needs dedicated time blocks
⬜ Requires long uninterrupted sessions
Hook Level
⬜ "Where did my evening go?"
⬜ Regularly loses track of time
☑️ Balanced engagement
⬜ Natural stopping points
⬜ Easy to walk away
Mental Engagement Required
⬜ Podcast Game
⬜ Split Focus Friendly
☑️ Active Focus
⬜ Full Concentration needed
Learning Curve
⬜ Intuitive flow
⬜ Rewarding challenge
☑️ Steep but fair
⬜ Frustratingly complex
Break-Friendly Design
⬜ Easy to remember mechanics
☑️ Needs refresher time
⬜ Steep re-learning curve
⬜ Like starting from scratch
Aesthetic Impact
⬜ Sensory Masterpiece
☑️ Artistically Cohesive
⬜ Distinctively Styled
⬜ Mismatched Elements
⬜ Notably Lacking

A very ambitious, realistic medieval RPG that's a bit clunky but offers a fantastic, one-of-a-kind immersive experience. If you enjoy RPGs with complex yet meaningful systems that fit seamlessly into a unique setting and compelling stories—and if you're a history buff—this game is made for you.
Pros:
- By far, the strongest feature of this game is its immersive late Middle Ages world. It offers a faithful recreation of medieval countryside life and social structures with insane attention to detail. The towns and hamlets feel alive, realistic, and fully functional. Each settlement feels like a real place, both in scale and in terms of its people, with professions true to the era.
- Environments are stunningly beautiful. The visuals are jaw-droppingly gorgeous, especially the open areas, forests, and landscapes. Traversing Bohemia is a pure joy as you soak in the breathtaking countryside and wilderness. Nearly seven years after its release, the game still amazes with its graphical fidelity and realism. The layouts and scale make the world feel authentic, not just like a typical game environment.
- The side quests and stories are wildly entertaining. I’ve completed every single one of them. They feature crazy characters, outlandish events, and surprising outcomes. These quests are well-written, memorable, and inspired by elements of the era, offering loads of fun.
- The soundtrack is majestic and perfectly complements the setting, blending historical and epic vibes. It enhances the sense of epic adventure, while the cinematic cutscenes further immerse you in the experience.
- The characters, from minor NPCs to major players, are interesting, multifaceted, and well-written. They blend historical inspiration with fictional depth.
- The in-game codex is packed with fascinating information about historical events, figures, and contexts, covering everything from social and political structures to daily life. It's both informative and engaging, deepening your understanding of the world and enhancing immersion.
- All in-game skills and mechanics reflect the historical era. You’ll need to learn skills like reading, maintaining gear, hunting, herb collecting, and many more. Most actions require deliberate input rather than a simple click, adding to the game’s realism.
- Maps in KCD are beautiful. They are intricate, visually appealing, and easy to navigate.
Neutral:
- Clunky combat is arguably the most controversial aspect of KCD. While the developers aimed for realism, the result often feels confusing and frustrating—especially if you lack the patience to master its mechanics and unique gameplay (like I did).
- Some optimization issues are still present. Despite running on a high-end PC, I experience low FPS and frame drops in certain areas. Strangely, the game performs better in open areas than in towns, even though nature looks significantly better.
- The voice acting is decent overall. While many important characters are voiced well, some performances sound amateurish or uninspired.
- While the variety of perks is admirable, many are either useless or undesirable due to their mixed positive and negative effects. This leads to awkward situations where the game encourages you not to spend your points.
- The character models and animations are serviceable for a 2018 game but lag behind AAA titles like Red Dead Redemption 2. Many models are reused, lacking detail and distinction. While not outright bad, they pale in comparison to the game’s otherwise stunning visuals.
- The armor mechanics are unclear. The game doesn’t explain how different pieces affect combat aspects like speed or stamina, leaving much to guesswork.
Cons:
- Even six years after release, the game still has numerous bugs, including reports of game-breaking issues (though I haven’t personally encountered these).
- The game struggles with NPC behavior and dialogue continuity. Characters often fail to update their reactions to new events and information, breaking immersion. For example, some NPCs act as if certain events never happened, which disrupts the flow of the story. This problem diminishes immersion and will hopefully be resolved in the sequel.
- Repetitive generic NPC Dialogue. Many NPCs repeat the same lines or slightly varied phrases, which detracts from the experience. Though, it has become a beloved community meme" (“Henry has come to see us!" and "Jesus Christ be praised!” to name a few).
- Lack of dialogue history is a shame. The absence of a dialogue history feature is unacceptable in a narrative-driven RPG, making it harder to revisit past conversations or even track current conversations. However, it aligns with the aim of realism.
- Inventory management is tedious and clunky. Features like item comparison, better sorting options (e.g., sorting by new), and clearer identification of armor parts are much needed.