Summary
Choice-driven RPGs can be quite difficult to execute properly, as their primary objective needs to be to avoid giving players the illusion of choice rather than allowing them to truly be in charge. However, this is almost impossible to do without some sort of consequence, which inevitably leads to these games implementing amorality systemthat can determine whether the player’s actions are good or evil. Unfortunately, this is ultimately what leads to these games only having the illusion of choice, as morality is often too black and white to offer players any true power in a story. To combat this,Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, like its predecessor, abides by a reputation system rather than morality, and it’s all the better for it.
Rather than offering players the opportunity to make “good” or “evil” choices,Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2’s choice system is all about the player’s reputation with the game’s individuals, towns, and factions. No matter what players do, whether it be selecting a specific dialogue choice or getting caught trying to steal something, their reputation with someone is bound to be affected. At the end of the day, this increasesKingdom Come: Deliverance 2’s role-playing factor, as reputation is more subjective than morality, it requires more thought from the player, and it ensures that every interaction matters — not just the major ones.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2’s Reputation System Should Be the New Choice Standard
Reputation Is More Subjective Than Morality
The primary reason areputation system likeKingdom Come: Deliverance 2’sworks better than a traditional morality system is because reputation is more subjective than morality. Morality is generally treated as an overarching sense of good and evil, whereas reputation applies more to the immediate situation or a specific individual or group’s perception of the player. In turn, this makes the consequences of the player’s actions feel more genuine and, at times, relatable, as right and wrong sometimes have different definitions for different people.
Reputation Encourages More Thoughtful Role-Playing Than Morality
As a result ofKingdom Come: Deliverance 2’s reputation system relying on social perception rather than a more objective sense of morality, players are encouraged to put more thought into their decisions. Inchoice-driven RPGsthat incorporate a morality system, the “best” and “worst” choices are generally immediately clear. InKingdom Come: Deliverance 2, however, players are typically encouraged to pick the option that works best for the character they want to be, rather than being cornered into picking one choice over another for potential gameplay benefits.
For example, after using a stagecoach to navigate to another map inKingdom Come: Deliverance 2, if players neglect to thank the coachman, they will lose reputation with that coachman.
Reputation Ensures That Every Interaction Matters, Not Just the Major Ones
Finally, reputation systems like the one inKingdom Come: Deliverance 2ensure that every interaction matters and not just the major choices. Inmorality-based choice systems, players usually only need to worry about the major, narrative-defining choices, thereby trivializing every other interaction in the game. InKingdom Come: Deliverance 2, on the other hand, players need to consider every single conversation they have and every action they take, as there is almost never a way out of either gaining or losing reputation with someone.
At its core,Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2’s reputation system doesn’t just make the world feel more immersive — it makes player agency feel more meaningful. Instead of forcing players into the rigidity of morality, it allows choices to have natural consequences that showcase the nuances of real human interactions. Whether it’s a major decision that affects an entire town or a simple exchange with acoachman inKingdom Come: Deliverance 2, everything the player does carries weight. By prioritizing reputation over morality,Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2avoids the illusion of choice that plagues so many RPGs, ensuring that every decision feels like it truly matters.
