Alright, so here’s the gist of what I’ve seen with this new Game of Thrones game, Kingsroad. Maybe it’s just me, but I’m in two minds about it already, and I’ve only been messing around with it for like, what, 20 hours? And we’re just talking Early Access here. So, yeah, let’s take this with a pinch of salt until the full version rolls out.
First up, this game throws you headlong into Westeros – all epic battles and backstabbing family drama, just like you’d expect from anything Thrones-related. Netmarble, the developers, are really pushing this power-grab angle. Feels like they’re trying to coax the HBO vibes into a mobile RPG fit, because who wouldn’t want to swing swords and trade insults in King’s Landing from the comfort of their couch?
Anyway, here you are, dumped into the story as some illegitimate offspring of House Tyre. Your dad’s not doing so hot, and your job is to ditch the ‘bastard’ label and climb the feudal ladder. What’s neat is bumping into all these familiar Thrones peeps — Jon Snow, Samwell Tarly, the Boltons (ugh, those guys). It’s a ride! But back to the point, you begin by picking an archetype for your character. I guess that’s where they hook you in. You’re basically choosing your fighting style. I picked the Sellsword because, hey, big axes and rage — sounds like my kind of chaos.
Speaking of chaos, you’ve got this character creator thing that’s surprisingly deep. Adjust chin angles and forehead shiny-ness? Sure, why not. But let’s not kid ourselves; it doesn’t hold a candle to some of the crazy detailed editors out there, like, I don’t know, Dragon’s Dogma 2 or something.
Now here’s the kicker — you need to earn your stripes. You’re not waltzing into King’s Landing and getting a throne pass or anything. Clearing out bad guys, booting up side quests, and stacking loot. It should feel like you’re building an empire, but something’s missing. Somehow, it’s hard to get truly sucked in. Everything’s shiny at first, like when you’re gazing out over the Wall; then it all kind of slides downhill. The scenery starts flickering like it can’t decide if it wants to be grass or bricks, and characters? Like, they’ve got that creepy mannequin vibe going on — not cool when they lock eyes with you.
Even running around’s got its quirks. It’s like you’re gliding on a rink half the time. Frosty roads get that little extra slippery effect, which is probably intentional — but when you’re sliding on dry trails too? Come on. And don’t even get me started on combat. It’s rinse and repeat a lot of the time. Sure, some missions try to mix it up, but mostly it’s just the same faces charging you over and over.
Underneath all this, there’s a silver lining. Some of the stories tug at the ol’ heartstrings, like helping lost kids or clobbering bandits, which feels heroic at the moment. But that fades once the combat grind sets in. Now, there are these skill trees that I really need to dive into more, so there’s potential for things to shake up, but you’d need patience for that bit of good stuff to kick in.
Then there’s the open world, and by that, I mean there are barriers everywhere. You’ve got to jack up your Momentum (think Gear Score from Destiny) to unlock new zones. It’s all doable till loot gets scarce and — surprise surprise — you’re nudged straight toward in-app purchases. Want to skip waiting when you get clobbered? Pay up or tap your foot for half a minute. Want to teleport? Fork over cash or hoof it to the nearest signpost.
It’s a love-hate thing, really. The game has potential — when I’m galloping through misty forests with my dire wolf and the graphics aren’t acting like they’ve been caught in a loop, it’s epic. But then, there’s always a price tag looming, undercutting the magic.
In short, I’ve only just dipped my toes in. The full version’s got me curious, especially with all these unexplored nooks like estates and artefacts. But for now? It’s like a marathon where you’re tripping over your own feet — or wallet, in this case. Play Game of Thrones: Kingsroad — and yeah, pay, or well… you know.
