After playing Greedfall II: The Dying World during my time at Gamescom, it quickly became clear that this sequel is carving its own path, balancing the familiar with a deeper, more traditional RPG experience. Is it an RPG game worth looking forward to? Let’s jump in some skill trees!
A world to explore
As an RPG, exploration is a crucial part of the game, the demo took me to a small fisher’s settlement as part of a big city. With vast landscapes and a huge city lurking behind the corner, this seems like an interesting world to explore. Since it’s a demo, I didn’t really have a lot of time to discover the world but it looks like it will be a pretty solid and pretty big world. Navigation happens through a mini-map although I must say that it wasn’t always that clear to know where I needed to go. That being said, I do look forward to see more of this world.
Time to make some decissions
Besides exploration, narrative is big part of the game too. Greedfall II doubles down on player choice, with branching dialogue options and decisions that might have consequences, although I didn’t see this during my time with the game. Your decisions will impact not only your character’s fate but also the world around you, with alliances, and broken friendships. The weight of these choices adds a layer of depth that makes each conversation feel like a negotiation and even small puzzle to solve in order to have the best possible outcome.
Tactical Combat That Demands Strategy
Now, let’s talk combat, which is where Greedfall II really changes its game. Gone are the days of mindlessly mashing buttons and hoping for the best. This time, combat is a much more tactical affair, demanding precision. Before each encounter, you can pause the game to plan your strategy, selecting actions for your character and issuing commands to your companions. Want to set up a trap to catch your enemies off-guard? You can do that. Prefer to have your team focus on a single target while you keep your distance and heal? That’s an option too. This strategic layer makes each battle feel like a chess match, where the wrong move will instantly get punished.
For those who might be intimidated by the depth of this system, Greedfall II has your back. You can automate certain tasks, such as healing your teammates, which frees you up to focus on the larger battles. This system strikes a great balance between accessibility and depth, ensuring that both newcomers and RPG veterans can find a playstyle that suits them.
Early conclusion
All in all, my time with Greedfall II: The Dying World was a fun one although the final game might not be my preferred type of game. This is a game that demands attention to detail, rewards thoughtful play, and offers a rich, immersive world. If you’re a fan of traditional RPGs with a tactical edge, this one should be on your radar.
