"Kingdom Come: Deliverance" Review

It's rare to see a swords-and-armor RPG that uses genuine locations, characters and medieval technology. "Kingdom Come: Deliverance" is refreshing in that regard, plopping you into 1403 Bohemia as the son of a blacksmith who becomes embroiled in deadly political intrigue.

Forced into the service of Lord Radzig Kobyla, you start with nothing and are forced to scrap by for every advantage you can manage. Fetch quests are the norm, since a the beginning you have little to offer most power players other than your willingness to do whatever it takes to survive.

You build up your capabilities and resources gradually, finding yourself thrust into deeper conflict with ever-rising states. The story plays like a sort of real-life "Game of Thrones," with backstabbing, conniving and clashing egos striving to one-up each other.

A staggeringly detailed and deep interface allows you to play you want. You can be a stealth-favoring thief, a smooth-talking power broker or a brutish tank who lets your sword do your negotiating. Taking more than a few cues from the likes of "Skyrim" and "Breath of the Wild," the game gives you more in nuance and lore depending on how much you're willing to put into it.

The main flaw is that the overall experience can be a little obtuse. Unless you are willing to dedicate yourself to exploring the outer reaches of what's possible, "Deliverance" can be an obstructive and stifling experience rather than the wide-open realm ripe for exploration and experimentation it strives to be. Not for the weak-willed or dilettante, "Deliverance" is a robust, rich experience for those looking to sink their teeth into something rich, meaningful and sometimes depressingly realistic.
Publisher provided review code.