Alright, let’s dive into this. So, I grabbed an early copy of this game — Game of Thrones: Kingsroad — all because I love a good RPG where you can mess around with power dynamics. And sure, it’s Game of Thrones, so you’d think battles, deceit, you know, dragons. Played about 20 hours. And man, I’m still figuring things out — which sounds like a lot, right? But I swear, it feels like I’ve just peeked under the hood.
They start you off during the show’s fourth season. You’re a “bastard child” — lovely title, right? Your dad, the lord, is not doing too well. The gist? Gather allies and power because, oh boy, you’ll need it. And yes, you’ll bump into some familiar faces: Jon Snow, Samwell Tarly — and yep, the Boltons too. Roose and Ramsay, those cheery folks. It’s a bit dense, plot-wise, but you’ll get a quick intro. A cheeky trip beyond the Wall to get you acquainted with White Walkers and dynasties clashing. Y’know, just casual stuff.
Anyway, first thing you do? Pick your style. Are you a Knight, Sellsword, or Assassin? Choices, choices. I picked Sellsword, inspired by Tormund because why not? Plus, you can switch it up anytime — no worrying if you get bored. Main story missions are replayable, so plenty of room for experimenting. Just make sure you’ve got loot to swap with your alter egos. It’s like dressing up but with swords. Or daggers. Whatever tickles your fancy.
Creating your character is surprisingly complex. You can tweak your face, pick scariness levels, and adjust hair sheen. Feels a bit like those moments when you’re trapped in a character generator for hours wondering if your avatar’s nose is just right. What’s the use? No clue. But darn if I didn’t obsess over it.
Now, the world — Westeros — is its own character. Initially, exploring is a joy. Like skimming along on ice — yes, it feels icy, literally — or like slipping on dry land. Unintentional humor? Maybe. And the NPCs? Either stiff as a board or strangely alive with eyeballs tracking you. Unsettling, yet… fitting?
You can’t just stroll into King’s Landing and demand respect. Ha, if life were that easy. Nah, you’ve got to climb that social ladder — completing quests, defeating baddies, and oh, hoarding loot. Basic RPG 101, right? Except Kingsroad slightly stumbles on execution. Feels like a diet version of something way bigger. Grass pops up and down like a weird dance, NPCs repeat the same gestures — world’s a bit glitchy.
Combat keeps it standard — some mix of light, heavy, or special moves, taking down grunts or bosses. Rinse, repeat. Occasionally a quest throws something unique at you, but not enough to keep monotony at bay. There are skill trees for leveling things up, though I haven’t dived deep yet. Floaty movement is challenging, especially when you face immediate danger or simple tasks like, I don’t know, moving in a straight line.
Ah, microtransactions. Here we go. Comes down to paying for every little shortcut — like a return from combat or quick travel. The quintessential “pay-to-not-suffer” model. Yeah, expected it, still not thrilled. It’s like you’re coaxed to spend cold cash to avoid needless grind. To progress, keep that wallet handy, otherwise… you wait.
When it gets going, the game teases with glimpses of what could be. Riding a dire wolf feels like a magic moment, as is exploring and finding bits of lore. Yet every moment of triumph’s shadowed by the leering grin of monetization.
So, this is just my take before I fully judge what’s here. Already, it’s apparent. Kingsroad isn’t shy about its business model, and it’s there in every shadow, asking if you’re gonna pay up.
The journey’s promising, that much I’ll say. Exploring feels endless, and there’s much to uncover with Version 1.0 ahead. It’s got potential; I’m sticking around to see if it rises. But hey, you play or you pay, and Kingsroad isn’t letting you forget that.
