For Whom The Bell Tolls Kingdom Come Deliverance 2
Okay, so you know how sometimes you finish a really good book or a super immersive video game, and you're left with this empty feeling? Like, "What do I do with my life now?" That's exactly how I felt after I finally, finally, finished Kingdom Come: Deliverance. It was a journey. Oh, what a journey. I spent more time squinting at maps and trying to find where the heck I was supposed to go than I probably spent in actual combat. And yet, I loved it. Mostly.
Now, here's the thing. We're all waiting for Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2. And yes, I'm excited. Of course, I'm excited. But I also have this... feeling. This little, nagging, perhaps slightly unpopular opinion brewing in my gamer brain.
Let's talk about Kingdom Come: Deliverance. Remember Henry? Our clumsy, perpetually slightly-confused hero? He started off as a blacksmith's son, just trying to avoid getting his head bashed in by bandits. And bless his heart, he mostly succeeded, eventually. But the real adventure was figuring out how to not starve to death, how to actually hit something with a sword without looking like a drunk toddler, and how to, for the love of all that is holy, get my horse to stop running away every time a rabbit hopped across the path. Seriously, that horse was more of a liability than an asset sometimes.
And the quests! Oh, the quests. You’d get one that sounded epic. "Save the village!" you'd think. And then it would turn out to be "Find Barnaby's lost chicken." And Barnaby would get very upset if you didn't find his chicken. Like, existential crisis upset. I spent hours searching haystacks, convinced that a single, feathery fugitive was the linchpin of medieval Bohemian salvation. It was… detailed. Very, very detailed.
So, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2. What do I really want? Do I want more of the same? Do I want even more realism? More meticulous sword fighting that takes longer to execute than it does to actually swing? More realistic bowel movements for Henry? Because, let me tell you, the first game was very realistic in certain areas. I felt like I was managing more than just my inventory; I was managing Henry’s entire digestive system.
Here’s my slightly sacrilegious thought. What if Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 doesn't need to be a perfect carbon copy of the first? What if it can lean a little bit more into the fun? Hear me out!
Imagine this: Henry, seasoned and slightly less likely to trip over his own feet, but still prone to the occasional gaffe. He’s still the same guy, you know? The one who gets flustered when the town crier shouts at him, or when a noblewoman gives him a look that could curdle milk. I don't want a super-slick, action-hero Henry. That's not the charm of this series. The charm is in his inherent, slightly awkward humanity.
But maybe, just maybe, we can have a few more moments that aren't quite so… intensely grim. Think about the first game's taverns. They were places to drink, to gamble (and lose all your money, let's be honest), and to listen to some very questionable singing. What if Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 had more of that? More opportunities for lighthearted banter, for silly side quests that don't involve finding lost livestock, but maybe… a particularly spirited game of dice that you can't lose due to some obscure game mechanic? A bit more joie de vivre, you know?
I'm not saying we need flying horses or dragon slaying. God no. That would ruin it. But a few more moments of genuine, unadulterated, slightly ridiculous fun? A quest where you have to train a village dog to herd sheep, and the dog is an absolute menace? Or a chance to participate in a village festival that’s more about slightly embarrassing dancing than, say, fending off a full-scale invasion?
The world of Kingdom Come is already so rich. The detail is incredible. I love learning about medieval life. But sometimes, after a particularly harrowing bandit ambush or a frustrating interrogation, a little light relief would go a long way. Imagine a mini-game where you have to win a pie-eating contest. Or a companion who tells terrible jokes that make you groan, but also makes you smile?
So, for Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, my plea isn't for more swords or more realistic injuries. It's for a bit more laughter. A bit more absurdity. A bit more of that feeling you get when you finally master a tricky sword combo, but then immediately trip over a bucket. Because that, for me, is the heart of Kingdom Come. It’s the struggle, the learning, and the occasional, glorious, nonsensical moment of triumph.
And if there are still chickens involved? Well, I suppose I can live with that. As long as they’re really interesting chickens.