Warhorse has done it again – created an incredible game and added a special detail to one of the most intense scenes in Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2.
Warning: contains heavy spoilers for the beginning of Kingdom Come: Deliverance and the endgame of Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2!
My god, Kingdom Come 2 is such a brilliant game. I really enjoyed the first one, but with the sequel, it feels like Warhorse has heard my dreams. The attention to detail seems almost unmatched. I laughed and cried – and it’s that very love for detail that’s to blame for the latter.
When Fighting Stops Being Fun
The combat system in the second part is excellent. At first, we're weak, poorly equipped, and have almost no chance against bandits or other enemies. But with every hour, we improve our skills, gear up, and gain experience. The progress is tangible, and it’s a fantastic feeling to become stronger. Fights that seemed impossible at first become manageable – and eventually, it’s a real thrill to battle through enemy groups. Especially because it’s also financially rewarding.
- Warning, from here on, the endgame of KCD 2 is spoiled!
But this feeling doesn’t last forever. The moment the "French Frog Eater" (thanks, Hans, for that fitting description) betrays us and murders Buhler in front of our eyes, it becomes clear that our path will not be without sacrifice. From that point on, every battle felt heavier. Especially during the siege of Sukdol, every death, no matter which side it was on, seemed pointless. So many had already died. And that was a completely new experience for me in a game. The way Warhorse makes the burden on Henry feel so tangible is truly impressive.
Sadness Instead of Satisfaction
This feeling became especially strong when I faced Markvart von Aulitz one last time. Over five years, well over 200 hours of gameplay in Kingdom Come: Deliverance 1 and 2, I had waited for this moment – to face the murderer of my parents in a dramatic duel and show him that Henry is no longer a defenseless boy.
But when the moment comes, I don’t find him as an overpowered enemy, but as a man at the end of his strength – half-dead, weak, defenseless. And most of all: human. In our conversation, I realize that we are more alike than I’d like to admit. We’re just on opposite sides. And what do I feel at this moment, when I’ve been imagining revenge and satisfaction for years? Pity and sadness. Not only because Markvart isn’t the monster I thought he was – but because of a small but crucial detail that Warhorse has manipulated us with in a very clever way.
The Music Sets the Tone
If you played the first part of Kingdom Come: Deliverance, you probably noticed something very familiar during the scene with von Aulitz – the music. The piece that plays here is "Losing Father's Sword". And if the title doesn’t ring a bell: it’s exactly the song that plays during the most tragic scene of the first game – when we return to Skalitz after our escape, to bury our parents. Take a listen here. And here is the scene when we meet von Aulitz. No wonder I cried like a baby. Well played, Warhorse.
By the way: The encounter with Marvart von Aulitz is missable. You’ll find him during the 30th main mission "Reckoning" in the old inn in the village. You can also spare him, in which case he succumbs to his injuries.