An open-world role-playing game set in medieval Bohemia. Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 takes a slower, more down-to-earth approach, but sometimes more humorous than many of his contemporaries. At its best, protagonist Henry, the lowborn son of a blacksmith and an eternal fish out of water, ventures off the beaten path to observe and converse with the game’s mammoth cast, many of whom have a strange story have something to say about which pick they’re an eye-catcher about, or some crazy plan to get you involved.

The 2018 original was rightly praised for its simulation elements and player confidence in navigating the often clunky RPG systems, but I remember the game most fondly for its side adventures and the characters you meet in them. While it got drunk with Father Godwin, investigated a “coven of witches,” participated in a public execution, and delivered an impromptu — and in my case, disastrous — sermon, “KCD” remained consistently varied throughout its long run. The series is far from the confident medieval simulation one might expect, and after spending the last week exploring the length and breadth of the sequel’s first map, I’m pleased to say that Kingdom Come Deliverance Infused with the same personality and purpose, 2 is full of the dangers and bouts of screwball mania that made its predecessor sing.

I won’t go into the linear opener or general structure here. So if you want to get acquainted with the basics, you can always check out my first hands-on preview from last year. In my final preview, I’ll focus on some of what happens when you’re eventually released into the open world, including slight spoilers for a side quest early in the game.

KCD 2 has a tendency to surprise without ever becoming so unexpected that it becomes unintentionally predictable. Early on I meet a group of deserters from the Cuman army in a small town tavern. The locals are afraid of the armed gang, and Henry immediately becomes suspicious given the murder of his parents by Cuman soldiers a few months ago. In fact, tensions rise and the scene erupts into a brawl, causing the outsiders to leave, before the violence escalates from drunken beatings to knife and slashing attacks. It’s not over yet, however, as one of the locals begs me to track down the group and deal with them once and for all.

With murder on my mind and a freshly sharpened blade in hand, I inquire about their whereabouts and soon come across their camp, but I find their only Czech-speaking member to be warm, welcoming and surprisingly happy to have a drink and comfort Henry over the loss of his parents and urge him not to dwell on the past. However, he seems interested in avoiding discussion of the raid on Henry’s hometown. Now tipsy enough to feel a possible false sense of security, I hear that another Cumans has a crush on a nomad who lives in a nearby camp. So I offer to interpret for him while he tries to confess his love for her. In the space of about thirty minutes, we’ve gone from a bar brawl to a cross-country manhunt, to a conversation about Henry’s loss, possibly with several of the men responsible, and to an enjoyably silly exchange between two would-be lovers who didn’t an idea of ​​what the other person is saying. It should be irritating, but I buy it.

Unfortunately, my low Charisma score, brought on by a recent stint in the stock market, and being covered in dirt results in a drunk trampling on every possible romantic flame. The mounting embarrassment overcomes the language barrier and Romeo challenges my efforts by slapping me in the face and sending me back to my new Cuman buddy with my tail between my legs. But that’s not even half of what happens on an evening that’s always on the verge of disaster.

There are more bumps and entertaining detours in some of KCD 2’s side quests than most RPGs can muster in a dozen hours of gameplay, and that’s before you even consider the possibility of emergent events disrupting the script. But it works because it’s often written and compelling, even as it vacillates between toilet humor and traumatic violence.

It also works because Henry is a constant outsider who never quite fits in with the peasantry, the gentry, or the gentry. His alienation is compounded now that he is away from home and, due to a series of mistakes early in the game, is traveling alone while the apartment is broke. You rarely know how people will receive you, and they can react immediately if they think you’re even the slightest bit out of line. “You really don’t know where your place is,” says an otherwise amiable lord when I ask about being invited to his son’s wedding, after going to great lengths to impress and help him.

I’ve now spent hours searching for side stories, not out of a desire to level up or upgrade my gear, but to spend more time getting to know this world and its strange, testy, friendly, and occasionally dangerous people. I want to hear their concerns and wishes, how they pass the time, or perhaps their plans to change the color of a neighboring town’s popular white bull.

I’m over 25 hours in and it feels like there could be another 80 to come, given the scope of the narrative that’s unfolding and the fact that there’s a whole other map I haven’t seen yet. The thought of investing so much time into most other open world games would normally repulse me, but KCD 2 caught my attention in the long run. I can’t imagine fans of the first installment will find it anything less than great, and those seeing the series for the first time will – if you’re willing to put up with it – find a charming and ambitious RPG that’s second to none anything else out there. Find out about Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 release date, February 4th.