Gaming’s Most Iconic Flop: Kingdom Come Deliverance 2’s Meme Guns to Rule the Scene
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2: A Saunter Through Medieval Bohemia
Imagine stepping into the shoes of a 15th-century knight, equipped with a firearm that’s as cumbersome as it is impractical. As you trek through the rolling hills and dense forests of medieval Bohemia, you’ll encounter a world that’s as authentic as it is entertaining. Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, the sequel to the critically acclaimed RPG, delves deep into the history of the Holy Roman Empire, sans glorification.
From Guns to Glamour
Warhorse, the game’s developer, has a historian on their team who’s been researching the period since the original game’s Kickstarter campaign. The team’s obsession with medieval history is evident, but their approach is more about authenticity than historical accuracy. "We are working on a videogame," says Warhorse’s global PR manager Tobias Stolz-Zwilling. "And that is, first and foremost, the main goal: we want to have an intriguing and cool and fun and nice videogame. However, we try extremely hard to make it as authentic as possible."
Firearms: A Step into the Past
In the first game, an interesting aspect was missing: firearms, which gradually emerged in European warfare by the 15th century. However, their absence made sense, given the guns’ limitations. "Firearms were usually used en masse, like you would just fire against storming cavalry," says senior game designer Ondřej Bittner. "They were like the beginning of line battles." When positioning tense armies, the weapons’ drawbacks didn’t matter. In the heat of battle, they proved terrifying. But for a lone knight on patrol, they were quite impractical.
A Boomstick in the Forest
In Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, you’ll find yourself in situations where you’re forced to confront bandits with a gun. "Just the idea that someone goes through the forest, he’s attacked by bandits, and he takes out a boomstick—that’s ridiculous," says Bittner. "So we knew it was going to be a meme weapon, but we were cool with it."**
Practicability is a Myth
I’m still learning the ropes, and my initial encounters with the weapon were underwhelming. When I finally managed to land a hit, I felt like a pro. But don’t be fooled – the experience is far from convenient. "It’s just so impractical. The length of time it takes to get it ready means it’s never going to be a reactive weapon, and once you’re all set, you still have to light it—like a cannon—and wait for it to go off. You have to effectively be able to see into the future, knowing you’ll still have a clear line of sight and that your aim is dead on in a few seconds." Even in the heat of battle, mistakes are costly.
Ridiculous, Yet Fun
Despite my struggles, I keep finding excuses to get a shot off. "The sound of the gun is from my friend’s gun," says Bittner. "They’re very cool to shoot, but you have the feeling of extreme, like… I might die. Obviously, though, the modern replicas are way safer, because the metal casting is better." The use of firearms encapsulates the game’s playful, slapstick spirit. Yes, the world is in chaos, but there’s still room for laughs and frivolity.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is a game that’s equal parts historically accurate and whimsical, balancing the precise details of medieval life with the absurdities of gunplay. So, don your armor, grab your trusty gun (if you can manage it), and get ready to saunter through the vibrant world of medieval Bohemia.
