Kingdom Come: Deliverance

Gameplay – 8.5/10

An extremely immersive and historical RPG, Kingdom Come: Deliverance requires all its actions to develop the very character being played. The game refuses to fall into any traditional RPG conventions—there are no magic spells, dragons, or legendary chosen ones.-Instead, you play Henry, an ordinary blacksmith's son who must step above the chaos of 15-century Bohemia. Progression is purely skills-based; you don't choose a class; instead, you get better at combat, riding, reading, and yes, even drinking. The combat shines: a nuanced melee system modeled after real types of sword martial arts. Attacks can come from different angles in a way that requires real timing, management of stamina, and some strategy instead of just button mashing. It is brutally unforgiving but rewarding once you get the hang of it.

From fighting to farming, the game keeps things as realistic as possible. Starve, and you can't run. Eat too much, and you slow down. Just take a look at how your clothes fall into disrepair: they start affecting NPC interaction with you. If you enter a noble court in filthy rags, it's not going to be pretty. Keeping your weapons in shape is more than just a cosmetic concern. Dull blades do less damage. Quests in this game allow for open-ended completion. You may resolve them by persuasion, by sneaking behind enemy lines, or by gallantly charging them wielding an axe. Mind you, the last alternative is not so bright early on when playing Henry, for he is utterly inept. Consequences to your choices can last for quite a while, and even minor events can significantly affect how things happen later. However, the same spirit of realism can be aggravating: Realistic combat can be quite unforgiving for newcomers; lockpicking is notoriously hard on consoles; and game mechanics that allow saving only via drinking special potions or sleeping on a bed can feel less immersive than they are meant to be.

Graphics & World Design – 9/10

The world of Bohemia is breathtaking, creating a soul-stirring essence of medieval Europe with meticulous craftsmanship. Rolling hills, dense woods, winding rivers, and authentic medieval villages give the game life. The towns and castles are based on real historical sites, and everything about them-from the architecture to how the people dress-is based on actual 15th-century history. NPCs live by their routines, and your actions will influence them; a rich merchant may refuse to trade with you if you are caught stealing but a guard may look the other way if you have a good standing. The day-and-night cycle and changeable weather genuinely build immersion-a real treat to just sit and watch the sun set over a medieval village or get drenched in a downpour in the woods.

Lighting and environmental detail; it's beautiful, but flawed because of bugs, texture pop-ins, and the occasional frame drop; all of which very much distract from immersion. Sometimes heavy, rigid movements and facial expressions seem to have "less gloss" than in many other RPGs. Still, just the level of detail in the game world makes Bohemia seem less like a stage and more like a real place in which it can be entered, rather than just put into context with a story.

Story & Atmosphere – 9/10

While most RPGs offer you the chance to be a legendary hero, Kingdom Come: Deliverance tells a personal story: it finds you not to be a knight or a king, but a blacksmith's son stripped of everything when his village is raided. The narrative tells of revenge, survival, and political intrigue against the extra backdrop of a real historical conflict. Indeed, while the promise of the main story is appealing, side quests and the world itself are mostly what offer the true strength. The NPCs feel like realistic people with their respective problems, and many quests present many different ways to resolve them. Helping a struggling monastery, investigating a murder, or getting drunk with a band of soldiers, making the world feel rich and alive at all times.

Every dialogue choice matters. Your speech skill, reputation, and even your clothing play a role in how people will react to you. A well-spoken, well-dressed Henry will be treated with respect, whereas a dirty, disheveled Henry might not be met with respect or even worse, with insults. The game also doesn't hold your hand a lot-you won't get waypoints for every objective, and many of the quests require you to pay attention to conversations before solving it. Overall, it will be a fully immersive experience, but one that requires patience from the player.

Sound & Music – 9/10

Beautifully composed orchestral music that shifts dynamically depending on the situation - peaceful melodies while riding into the country, intense battlefield music when swords clash. As good is the ambient sound design-heard are chirping birds, the clatter of townsfolk in the distance, and a blacksmith hammering away at his current project. It's quite possible that it's the best English voice acting of the year; although some performances sound a little wooden, lip-syncing can also prove problematic. Small touches like the echo of voices inside a church and the sound of wolves howling at a distance from each other serve to create levels of immersion that few of the other games can hope to achieve.

Replayability – 8/10

The gameplay varies widely from playthrough to playthrough depending upon the skill development of Henry and the choices made in completing quests. You have so much versatility in playing either the charming diplomat, stealthy rogue, or hardened warrior. The game is quite an open world with plenty of opportunities and side quests to explore and discover after finishing the story. The modding community contributes to the replayability with some new features, quality-of-life improvements, and expansions. Still, slow pacing, tough difficulty, and absence of a conventional 'New Game+' option don't seem to appeal too much to attract players into multiple dives.

Final Verdict – 8.5/10

Kingdom Come: Deliverance is possibly the most ambitious RPG game ever made, offering a more medieval experience that is immersive and also merciless. Realism is Kingdom Come's trademark; be it its ruthless combat system or elaborate world-building-this is the hallmark of Kingdom Come, something that other RPGs rarely do. Not an easy game; it requires patience, trial-and-error, and simply the acceptance of realism to be savored; but those who are willing to invest the time will find great glory in doing so. Despite the troublesome bugs and technical hiccups, a frustrating difficulty curve, Kingdom Come: Deliverance is still a must-have for history buffs, RPG fans, and anyone looking for a truly unique gaming experience.