Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2is the sequel that fans were hoping for, and the game surpassed all expectations to become one of thegreatest open-world games of all time. Impressively, it improved upon almost every aspect of the original, but nevertheless, there are a few things that the firstKingdom Come: Deliverancedid better.
The original medieval Bohemian experience is a great game in its own right and truly laid the foundations for the sequel’s global success. Often, thethings thatKCDdid better thanKCD2aren’t faults of the sequel, but rather standouts of the first or small missing features.
8The Iconic Loading Screen
While the sequel has the superior main menu screen with different live environments displayed depending on Henry’s location, there’s nothing quite like loading up the originalKingdom Come: Deliverance. Hearing ‘Charles IV, King of Bohemia and Holy Roman Empire, had a long and successful reign…’ never gets old, and the medieval manuscript images are just the icing on the cake.
Although this is a small part of the game, the rush of nostalgia simply feels amazing. In some ways, it would have been nice to see inKCD2, but as the monologue finishes with ‘It is here that my story begins…’, it wouldn’t have fit halfway throughHenry’s story.
7Church Interiors
Beautiful & Sorely Missing From The Sequel
The elephant in the room when it comes to thingsKCDdid better thanKCD2is church interiors, as the sequel barely has any. In the first game, players can enter any church they see, and they are all beautifully decorated, prompting players to walk around in wonder or attend church as part of a role-playing experience.
Unfortunately, Warhorse Studios did not have time to make church interiors inKCD2, although there are a few chapels, such as at the top of Trosky Castle, and theMysteria EcclesiaDLCwill allow players to explore the entirety of Sedletz Monastery.
6The Monastery Quest
There’s Nothing Quite Like Adhering To A Strict Monk’s Schedule & Sneaking Around At Night
A Needle in a Haystack is one of the more divisive quests inKCD, with some players frustrated at having to live the life of a monk, while many fans see this as the peak experience. Without going into spoilers, Henry has to follow a strict schedule for a number of days at the Sasau Monastery, but as he’s there on a mission, he must sneak around at night to discover the truth.
While a direct repeat of this in the sequel wouldn’t have been a good idea, it could have been fun to experience a different aspect of medieval life with a strict schedule. This would have worked best in a side quest, so that it is optional for those who don’t like such quests.
5Hunting Quests & Hunting Permit
Henry Cannot Legally Hunt In The Sequel
Hunting is better inKCD2, with more realistic animals, crossbows, and even wolves for added danger. However, there aren’t any quests where Henry goes hunting, and the only one that comes close sees Henryattempting to catch poachers. This raises another problem, as hunting is outlawed, meaning players doing a morally good playthrough won’t want to hunt, and if they do, they can only sell the game to fences.
In the firstKCD, however, there are plenty of hunting quests, including one quest line where Henry can become the Master Huntsman and gain a permit for hunting.
4Henry’s Come To See Us & Places To Call Home
Henry Was Never Too Far Away From Home In KCD
As the first game took place in Henry’s home region, and his fellow Skalitz refugees could be found in Rattay or other locations, the game had a more homely feel to it. Best of all was everyone saying ‘Henry’s come to see us’, one of many iconic lines from the series, which unfortunately could not be said as much in the sequel due to Henry being a stranger inTrosky and Kuttenberg.
Early on inKCD, Henry gains a bed in the Rattay mill with Theresa, and while he can sleep in other places, this bed will always feel like home, especially if Henry romances Theresa. His true home of Skalitz is never far away, despite being burned down, and while the sequel is better overall, no place can ever capture the homeliness of the first game. This is partly due toKCD2having two maps, but even then, Henry is never tied down to one place for better or worse.
3Mercy Kills
Players Could Finish Off Downed Enemies With Unique Animations
During fights inKingdom Come: Deliverance, enemies had a small chance to fall on the ground as if bleeding out or almost dead. Players could then hold the Mercy Kill button, and a unique animation for finishing them off would play, with variations for different weapons.
Best of all was the longsword mercy kill, with Henry grasping the sword in both hands and bringing down the point in an honorable way. Unfortunately, this is one of theKCDfeatures missing inKCD2, although there are more animations forfinishing off foes mid-fight.
2Theresa Romance & Post-Romance Content
Romance Is More Meaningful In The First Game & Some Players Miss Theresa
There are way moreromance options inKCD2, but after characters declare their feelings and do the deed, there isn’t much content, and they may seem like strangers to Henry. In the first game, however, when Henry romances Theresa, they can become a proper couple, and everything feels more meaningful.
The pair of lovebirds are able to go on walks together, talk, and via theA Woman’s LotDLC, Theresa can tell Henry about her experience of surviving the raid on Skalitz. Some players also simply missed her in the sequel, as she’s such a great and important character.
1Learning To Read
Via the Mightier than the Sword quest, Henry can learn to read in the firstKingdom Come: Deliverancegame. At first, Henry will see all the letters jumbled up, and players must attempt to make sense of them and recite the correct lines. This is aunique experience in open-world RPGsand both fun and immersive.
Unfortunately, as Henry can already read at the start ofKCD2, the feature could not be repeated, meaning players who only experience the sequel miss out on this mechanic.
