Compare Kingdom Come: Deliverance II vs Starfield

AI and NPC behavior were praised for believable reactions, routines, crime responses, and increased sophistication over the first game.

Enemy and security behavior drew sharp complaints, especially where foes seemed easy to exploit or failed to react convincingly.

Reviewers repeatedly framed the systems-heavy design as a major strength, praising how mechanics connect to role-playing, dialogue, world simulation, and player expression.

General gameplay draws both praise and disappointment: it offers a huge Bethesda-style RPG framework, but some reviewers find the actual moment-to-moment play bland.

The visual style of menus, maps, and medieval presentation received praise for matching the game’s historical tone.

Art direction splits opinion, with NASA-punk praised for a distinctive look in some places and dismissed as bland or ineffective in others.

Family friendliness was limited by repeated profanity, sexual content, and depictions of women that one reviewer found objectifying.

The gifting comments are positive, but the reviews do not give a detailed family-suitability analysis.

One reviewer praised the way locations were recontextualized into memorable set-pieces that rewarded planning and awareness.

Level design criticism focuses on repeated arenas and spaces that do not support the scope of the world.

World-building was repeatedly praised as immersive, historically grounded, and central to the game’s appeal.

World-building is divisive: some admire the sci-fi scale, while others find the vision of humanity and space underwhelming.

The open world drew strong praise for its scale, density, historically grounded cities, and lived-in regions across multiple maps.

The open-world structure disappoints reviewers who expected seamless discovery, with empty terrain and repeated outposts undercutting the sense of a living galaxy.

The dog companion Mutt was praised as useful and worthwhile, especially for tracking and early side-quest benefits.

Companions are divisive. Some reviewers enjoy their stories and usefulness, while others complain about chatty behavior, getting stuck, or interrupting the flow.

Writing was described as excellent, engaging, humorous, and consistently strong across main and side content.

Writing quality is one of the weaker areas for critical reviewers, especially in main-quest dialogue and characterizations.

Atmosphere was praised alongside world-building, especially in cities, music, and historically grounded locations.

Atmosphere is uneven. Some players miss the expected Bethesda charm, while others are pulled in by the large sci-fi setting.

UI feedback was positive when reviewers discussed improved, adaptable, or visually polished interface presentation.

Interface design is a regular drawback, especially with maps, menus, and navigation that feel awkward for a game this large.

Onboarding divided reviewers: returning and new-player recaps helped, but some found the opening overloaded or blunt.

Onboarding is a weak spot because important systems can be under-explained, leaving players to figure out menus, building, and progression on their own.

Crash stability was praised by multiple reviewers who reported no crashes, no soft locks, or no hard crashes.

Stability is inconsistent. Some players report only rare crashes, while others describe freezing, repeated restarts, or crashes serious enough to interrupt progress.

The PS5 Pro version was praised as a graphical treat, with platform-specific technical strengths noted.

Platform-specific support is mixed: PS5 features and smoothness are praised, but the physical-disc/download and internet requirements frustrate some buyers.

Exploration was praised for beautiful spaces, meaningful discoveries, and a strong adventuring feel, though harsh systems made some travel demanding.

Exploration is the biggest fault line. Some players love the scale and city discovery, while many criticize empty planets, fast-travel dependency, and repeated points of interest.

The post-launch expansions were credited with adding a large amount of extra content to the package.

DLC and expansion value is mixed. Some reviews like the added content, while others call specific expansions dull or worth waiting on sale for patches.

Dialogue was mostly praised for impact, humor, and organic choices, though one reviewer found some repeated dialogue drawn out.

Dialogue is polarizing: one reviewer calls conversation trees best-in-class, while others find the writing flat, generic, or dated.

Narrative quality was a major strength, with reviewers praising the historical saga, main quest, character arcs, and cinematic ambition.

The main story is one of the most mixed areas. Some reviewers find it surprisingly interesting or a useful guide, while others call it weak, flat, or forgettable.

Facial animation feedback was mixed: one reviewer noted lifeless dialogue faces, while another praised key character animations.

Facial animation and conversation presentation feel dated to several reviewers, even when voice work is praised.

Value was praised because the game is both strong and very long, with some reviewers reporting enormous playtime.

Value depends on taste and edition. Fans can get a strong price-to-playtime ratio, while skeptics may find the full-price or DLC value harder to justify.

Fast travel opinions were mixed: one reviewer praised dynamic events, while another found it cumbersome and interruption-prone.

Fast travel is convenient but also one of the most repeated complaints, with many reviewers saying it fragments the space fantasy.

Quest design was one of the strongest points, with reviewers praising memorable side stories, branching approaches, and strong writing, despite a few disappointing payoffs.

Side quests and faction quests are among the most praised parts, even when the main story disappoints.

Performance was generally praised across PC and console contexts, with reviewers noting strong optimization and technical improvements.

Performance varies by hardware and mode, from smooth PS5 impressions to inconsistent PS5 Pro behavior and demanding PC requirements.

Pacing opinions varied: some praised the sustained momentum, while others complained about indulgent cutscenes or late-game pacing issues.

Pacing is uneven. Reviewers describe slow openings, rushed-feeling story beats, and stronger stretches once the game finally clicks.

One reviewer reported a consistent frame rate and treated that as part of the game’s stronger technical state.

Frame rate impressions depend on platform. PS5 and PS5 Pro comments range from smoother performance to fluctuating modes that still need work.

Several reviewers found the game highly entertaining, addictive, and rewarding once its demanding systems clicked.

Overall fun is sharply split. Many players are hooked or having a blast, while others find the game boring, underwhelming, or only fun for a narrow sandbox audience.

Menu usability was mixed to negative, with some praise for navigation but others calling the menu system dire or frustrating.

Menus and inventory are repeated pain points, with reviewers calling the UI clunky, slow, or shockingly poor for a game with so much item management.

Reviewers repeatedly emphasized how unusual and specific the game feels compared with modern RPGs.

Originality gets some credit for the space RPG ambition, though several reviews also call the formula familiar.

Graphics were broadly praised for impressive landscapes, cutscenes, lighting, and major visual improvements over the first game.

Visuals are usually a strength, with praise for gorgeous graphics and presentation, though some reviewers call the look dated or bland.

Tutorial quality was mixed, with one reviewer calling it decent while others criticized dense text screens and poor explanations.

Tutorial quality is a complaint when players want more help; several reviews say the game leaves too much unexplained.

Load times were criticized by one reviewer as long enough to worsen stealth retries and experimentation.

Loading screens are one of the most consistent complaints. A few note short load times, but many say frequent transitions and menus make the universe feel chopped up.

Bugs were present but usually minor; reviewers ranged from calling glitches common to saying issues rarely disrupted play.

Bug frequency varies widely by version and platform, from almost no issues to repeated freezes, broken interactions, and crash-adjacent problems.

One reviewer found the loop rewarding but volatile, with strong highs offset by repeated frustration and setbacks.

The core loop works best for players who enjoy Bethesda-style wandering, looting, and quest chaining, though it can take time to settle in.

Sound design was praised for supporting immersion and helping players identify attacks or stealth-relevant cues.

Sound design is a high point in the strongest audio-focused review, especially ship and ambient effects.

Difficulty was often called demanding and unforgiving; reviewers generally treated this as part of the appeal, though not always an easy one.

Difficulty earns limited praise where late missions test combat skill without feeling unfair.

Combat drew broad attention for its realism, skill focus, and improvements, though several reviewers still found it harsh, clunky, or frustrating early on.

Combat is one of the better-liked systems overall, often described as Bethesda’s strongest gunplay yet, though a few reviewers still find it basic or merely serviceable.

The early economy was described as restrictive, especially when selling damaged or stolen goods with limited vendor money.

The economy and resource balance are recurring frustrations, especially around ship costs, resource pricing, inventory clutter, and limited trading fantasy.

Henry and Hans received strong praise for their evolving relationship and character arcs, with Henry’s trauma and growth adding stakes.

Companions and character arcs are a relative strength when reviewers spend time with them, though the broader cast is not universally loved.

Reviewers praised the breadth of activities, quests, and post-launch additions, with many describing a large and varied set of things to do.

Content volume is a major selling point, with reviewers pointing to many quests, systems, updates, and activities that can keep players busy for a long time.

The learning curve was repeatedly described as steep, slow, and friction-heavy, rewarding patience but likely turning some players away.

The learning curve is steep. Several reviewers say Starfield has many systems and does not explain enough up front.

Progression was widely praised for turning early friction into rewarding growth through skills, perks, equipment, and player learning.

Progression is a relative strength, with skill trees, outposts, and build growth giving players multiple ways to shape their playstyle.

Reviewers saw the sequel as much more polished than the first game, with rough edges reduced and systems better realized.

Polish is better than many expected for a Bethesda-scale RPG, though it does not eliminate bugs, crashes, or rough UI.

Reviewers generally agreed the sequel stays true to the original while improving its systems, scope, and accessibility.

Fans of space RPGs and Mass Effect-style adventures may feel at home, but this is not framed as faithful to an existing Starfield franchise.

Replay value looked strong thanks to hardcore mode, major content additions, and reviewers wanting to return for more playthroughs.

Replay value is positive for players who like long RPGs, new game plus, and self-directed builds.

Reviewers liked the depth and usefulness of perks, weapon techniques, and skill trees, especially when they enabled meaningful playstyle specialization.

Skill trees earn praise for meaningful perks and challenge-based progression that gives builds structure.

The soundtrack was one of the most consistently praised elements, with several reviewers calling it orchestral, phenomenal, or legendary.

The soundtrack earns strong praise where discussed, with orchestral and sweeping music fitting the space setting well.

Weapon balance was mixed: one reviewer liked weapon choice, while another found some ranged options hard to use effectively.

Weapon balance is only lightly addressed, with one review saying the combat tools get the job done.

Reviewers admired the freedom to solve problems, exploit systems, and role-play, though the sandbox sometimes clashed with scripted story demands.

Sandbox freedom is one of Starfield’s main attractions for the right player, with reviewers praising the ability to wander, build, survey, and pursue your own goals.

Crafting split reviewers: blacksmithing and alchemy could be charming and rewarding, but several found parts clunky, slow, or repetitive.

Crafting, outposts, mods, and ship-building depth stand out, but the same systems can feel under-explained or tedious when resource handling gets in the way.

Environmental detail was praised for dense, specific objects, puddles, tools, farms, residences, and believable spaces.

Environmental detail is often praised, especially city detail, planet presentation, and the sense of visual scale.

Voice acting was broadly praised, especially the main cast, though some reviewers noted repeated or uneven minor NPC voices.

Voice acting is often praised, sometimes even when the writing or facial presentation gets criticized.

Main mission design was mixed: reviewers praised varied scenarios, but one criticized a required sequence for lacking an alternate path.

Mission design is uneven: some missions and factions are memorable, while others feel short, repetitive, or underdeveloped.

Accessibility is a serious weak spot in the most critical take, with one reviewer saying the limited options leave some players shut out rather than merely inconvenienced.

One reviewer warned that excessive profanity and potentially offensive material make the game unsuitable for some audiences.

Ranged play was viewed as improved by some reviewers, especially archery, but another found ranged combat weightless and weak.

Cutscene direction and mocap were praised for selling relationships and emotional scenes convincingly.

Camera behavior was a noted issue for one reviewer, especially through finicky first-person viewpoint problems.

Character creation earns praise for depth, with reviewers liking how far customization and background setup can go.

The cast was praised for memorable personalities, humor, and a strong sense of history.

Checkpointing was criticized for causing lost progress when autosaves appeared only at limited quest points.

Controls were described as noticeably smoother than the first game, especially in camera feel, aiming, and sword fighting responsiveness.

Reviewers described the story as memorable and emotionally powerful, including scenes that brought strong lasting reactions.

Ship flight and space combat can be fun, especially after updates, but several reviewers say travel still feels limited or merely good enough.

The game was not seen as a pure grind, but reviewers still emphasized the effort and repetition needed to gain traction.

Handheld suitability was supported by one reviewer who described the game as scalable enough for handheld play.

DualSense haptics and adaptive triggers were praised for reflecting stamina, sword clashes, and sharpening interactions.

A horror-leaning quest was criticized for being too short for its dread to fully develop.

The adaptive HUD was praised for hiding unnecessary elements and improving immersion when information was not relevant.

Immersion was one of the clearest strengths, with reviewers repeatedly describing the world, systems, and presentation as absorbing.

One reviewer praised the scale of improvement as something other studios rarely achieve.

Post-launch support was described positively through free updates, fixes, and eagerly awaited features.

Loot was criticized for early encumbrance pressure and the difficulty of carrying everything a player might want.

The historical codex and contextual detail were praised for offering extensive background on people, events, and society.

Maps were praised for medieval flair and exquisite town art, supporting the game’s historical presentation.

Mission variety was strongly praised, especially for quests that went beyond simple errands or bandit-clearing objectives.

Mods and Creations are a meaningful plus for some reviewers because they can improve rough edges and deepen the experience.

One reviewer felt early traversal was unnecessarily taxing, especially before stronger equipment and better mobility options eased the burden.

One reviewer strongly disliked Hans as a long-term companion presence, creating strain on their desire to continue.

Puzzle design receives limited but strong praise through the lockpicking minigame.

The save system was one of the most divisive topics, praised by one reviewer but criticized by many as stingy or punishing.

The sequel was credited with giving supporting women and other groups somewhat more agency than before.

Stealth was useful and sometimes satisfying, yet reviewers also called it finicky, weak, or frustrating in specific forced sections.

The revised perk and upgrade system was praised for offering meaningful upside-focused choices rather than weak side-grades.

The REV-8/vehicle addition helps planet traversal, but user reports also connect surface driving with freezes.

Visual set pieces and in-engine scenes were praised for creating striking emotional moments.

Reviewers consistently praised the reactive crime, reputation, NPC, and quest systems that made the world feel alive and responsive.