Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 makes Henry’s day even worse with a Hardcore mode

It’s not easy to be Henry, the protagonist of Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2. I spent my first 15 hours or so getting my ass beat around every corner of Bohemia; I’d either perish to a pack of wolves, stumble upon a lone soldier, or fail to subtly steal a slurp of soup. That experience looks like a balmy day in the park compared to the new Hardcore mode, which has a host of complications and obstacles to encounter throughout the already massive campaign.

First of all, Henry has to choose three negative perks to deal with throughout the campaign. Hangry Henry makes him want to eat as much food as possible, whereas Punchable Face makes traveling without being attacked a much more difficult task. Sweaty, Menace, and Numbskull are just some of the negative perks up for grabs, and none of them seem particularly appealing.

Secondly, Henry’s position no longer appears on the map, which means the player has to puzzle out his location. There’s absolutely no fast travel, either, so you better prepare to learn the countryside lest you perish in it. There’s one upside: Henry can now ask fellow travelers for directions, as long as his reputation and presentation merit a response. If the player selects Bashful as a negative perk, Henry can’t even ask for directions — he’s too shy.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2’s new Hardcore mode doesn’t include permadeath, but it seems like a much tougher experience overall. For some, that increased difficulty will likely lead to more satisfaction, as well as a more immersive experience overall.