First purchased this game through an outer source when it was first released. I have just purchased the Royal Edition so that I can write a review for my fellow gamers.

Now, I should warn you all, I am a massive medieval enthusiast.

I ardently believe Kingdom Come: Deliverance is THE greatest historical narrative game ever developed by a video game studio. The elements/characteristics that combine to make this game what it is are more akin to actual art than mere elements of your average electronic entertainment, and I will try to explain it in the following paragraphs, from least favorable qualities to the items which convince me of this game's glory.

Graphics: I enjoy a good game with compelling mechanics and a good amount of potential to do a variety of different tasks. Graphics do not really affect these gameplay elements, but I'm not complaining about Kingdom Come: Deliverance. Set in early 1400's Bohemia, the engine in this game does a wonderful job of displaying the splendor of the forests surrounding villages and towns throughout the map. Heck, even the facial animations aren't tooo bad, but it ultimately matters least when I play. It's a pretty game, and that's that.

Combat: When I say combat is my least favorable item in this game, it is by no means bad. Combat in Kingdom Come: Deliverance is actually quite invigorating, as you can invest in different combos that have various effects on your scoundrel enemies. Whether a shield bash to a stab targeting the forearm of your opposing combatant, you can invest in moves that best serve your purpose, and there are other elements to combat, too. Defense, parrying enemy attacks (and hurting them in the process!), archery, stealth, and an assortment of armor and weapons to further these purposes. Kingdom Come does a good job of portraying what combat was like in high medieval Central Europe, and my only complaints related to combat is that parrying lower-tier enemies could often result in their instant deaths, or that there isn't as many armor types as I would like. Still, combat is solid, and this game supports a massive amount of different playstyles to enjoy.

Atmosphere: I absolutely love watching the sun rise in the early hours of the day. This game truly encapsulates elements of life that we just can't experience on a day-to-day basis. With the fear of invasion on everyone's mind, there is still a hearty amount of medieval charm that many of us enthusiasts romanticize about that by-gone era. Religion's ubiquity, active farming animations, blacksmiths and vendors at work, the weather effects, the dialogue... the game nails what many of us imagine what an adventurous life would be like in medieval Bohemia. Let us not forget about the music... it's an incredible part of the game, able to either set the mood for a visit to the tavern gone hilariously wrong, or a beautiful tune to the journey of a lifetime.

Story: Where do I begin? Kingdom Come: Deliverance finds its greatest strength in the time it portrays. I cannot think of any game that uses cutscenes and dialogue to the extent Kingdom Come does... I truly admire the use of the former. Cutscenes range from simple meetings with other characters, forays into caves and hideouts with strange or sudden events, meetings with unsavory folks who question our good hero, or epic battle scenes with immense implications on what comes next. The many characters that contribute to your quest are so diverse in personality. Whether they be a calm lady, a paranoid siege engineer, staunch military men, or a young lord who isn't so good at lord-ing, the characters of Kingdom Come: Deliverance make for the best character cast of any game I have ever played. To think that this game uses a TRULY REAL event in history, and gives the story a good mix of action, adventure, political intrigue, and historicity, makes Kingdom Come: Deliverance's story the most genuine expression of our history in the form of video game entertainment.

I apologize if my review seems too deep in praise for this game. While it does have its flaws, I just cannot think of them as I write this review. Kingdom Come: Deliverance stands as a work of art among video games in the 21st Century, and to Warhorse Studios, I say the following: thank you for making such a heartfelt masterpiece. I truly enjoy playing this game, and will continue to do so till I feel quite hungry. I'll have to attend to other matters by then!