Kingdoms thoughts.

[BravelilEngine]

Seems pretty cool so far. I like that we have access to all heroes, I think the Kingdoms over world map looks very cool. The custom difficulty is very nice to have. I wish more games would have that feature. I like that we have to defend the inns this time; it fits well with the game and feels more progressive then normal DD2.

However, I was really hoping they would have ditched the stagecoach for this mode, it's honestly the only thing for me that held back DD2. Also, I am playing on normal and a lot of the times I am just driving through nothing, with less events in between. The game can come off a little confusing as of what to do. They explain to fast, and vaguely, but I eventually caught on enough.

So far I say B+. I have to play more to fully understand the new mode better. Thanks for the free big update Redhook!

[Unembellished Genius]

I thought they were dropping the stage coach stuff too. Once I turned it on and saw it was still there I just turned it off.

[Solid Son]

So is it better or worse than DD1?

[JStorm]

Originally posted by Solid Son:

So is it better or worse than DD1?

if you dont like base DD2 - this is not really much different. the stagecoach is still the center (like posters above said, i was under the impression this wasnt the case and was disappointed). now the regions are smaller and broken up with camps where you can use inn items.

other than that, the overworld is cool looking but really just a means to push you to go from one place to another. Beastmen look cool, but so far i have only fought them at inns and not natively in regions.

it really just feels like base darkest dungeon 2, but with the length of darkest dungeon 1.

[Mmaster116]

Originally posted by JStorm:

Originally posted by Solid Son:

So is it better or worse than DD1?

if you dont like base DD2 - this is not really much different. the stagecoach is still the center (like posters above said, i was under the impression this wasnt the case and was disappointed). now the regions are smaller and broken up with camps where you can use inn items.

other than that, the overworld is cool looking but really just a means to push you to go from one place to another. Beastmen look cool, but so far i have only fought them at inns and not natively in regions.

it really just feels like base darkest dungeon 2, but with the length of darkest dungeon 1.

Not even the length of DD1, it's a run in circles game mode trying to keep things from falling apart and losing at the inns. The only thing that is even slightly reminiscent of DD1 is the inn upgrading and overworld board, outside of that, it's just a different coat of DD2 paint that kind of fails to deliver.

I was suitably hyped for this mode until I played it, then subsequently realized that DD1 was still better.

[Conir]

kingdoms isnt really what i expected and leaves me disapointed, sadly. i dont think this comes close to dd1 :/

[RADN3CTAR]

It's the same BS as the vanilla version but with extra steps. Imagine having 200+ hours in the game and having to unlock skills/paths for every character again. It's still the same stagecoach going into the same regions in the same "Slay the Spire" manner. They also added another layer of "meta progression" via INDIVIDUAL(yeah you read this right) inn upgrades.

The different zones all being blended into a single map was a great idea. The beastmen faction is kinda "meh" but it's free so whatever. The incursion defence fits the theme and is probably the way to go for this mode of play.

It's a free update so it's still a win.

[JStorm]

Originally posted by RADN3CTAR:

It's the same BS as the vanilla version but with extra steps. Imagine having 200+ hours in the game and having to unlock skills/paths for every character again. It's still the same stagecoach going into the same regions in the same "Slay the Spire" manner. They also added another layer of "meta progression" via INDIVIDUAL(yeah you read this right) inn upgrades.

The different zones all being blended into a single map was a great idea. The beastmen faction is kinda "meh" but it's free so whatever. The incursion defence fits the theme and is probably the way to go for this mode of play.

It's a free update so it's still a win.

Individual inn upgrades was a big negative for me. Sure, skills are now chooseable and buyable, but only after you upgrade each separate location with the ability to do so. Yikes

[Silvi the Bun]

OH I was hoping the stagecoach was gone in this mode. Unfortunate.

[Coup d' oeil]

DD2 is still DD2. This just added some of the meat back and investment . Personally I can work with it. Still figuring out the upgrades and whats what. There's no matching the charm of the village of part one.

[Kob.X]

At least there is permadeath now., and the threat of failure. Just this is a massive improvement to DD2.

[BravelilEngine]

Originally posted by Solid Son:

So is it better or worse than DD1?

Think of them as different games. DD1 has a different play style then DD2. They share the same bones, but aspects are different (think of it as a stream lined DD1). It never hurts to buy the game, and play for a couple of hours then refund if you don't like it. I think by then you will have a good idea of the game.

DD2 It's still a great game imo.

[BravelilEngine]

Originally posted by Coup d' oeil:

DD2 is still DD2. This just added some of the meat back and investment . Personally I can work with it. Still figuring out the upgrades and whats what. There's no matching the charm of the village of part one.

DD2 is more enjoyable for me, but DD1 had all the charm; It almost felt you were in the dungeons with those poor souls.

[Mixed Herbs]

What this thread tells me is what I have also been thinking in that the weakest part of DD2 is the stagecoach. I don't think it's a bad idea and I hope the devs don't get discouraged but the fact is, it's slow and tedious, the problem is that there's nothing to do during it's segments and it's not even mercifully quick, over half of your Confession run will just be holding W. I have yet to give kingdoms a try but I hope for their next big expansion if they make one it will be fleshing out the stagecoach

[BravelilEngine]

Originally posted by RADN3CTAR:

It's the same BS as the vanilla version but with extra steps. Imagine having 200+ hours in the game and having to unlock skills/paths for every character again. It's still the same stagecoach going into the same regions in the same "Slay the Spire" manner. They also added another layer of "meta progression" via INDIVIDUAL(yeah you read this right) inn upgrades.

The different zones all being blended into a single map was a great idea. The beastmen faction is kinda "meh" but it's free so whatever. The incursion defence fits the theme and is probably the way to go for this mode of play.

It's a free update so it's still a win.

Free is free :) they could have let it slowly die, so it's nice that they are still giving us free content.

[Mmaster116]

Originally posted by BravelilEngine:

Originally posted by Solid Son:

So is it better or worse than DD1?

Think of them as different games. DD1 has a different play style then DD2. They share the same bones, but aspects are different (think of it as a stream lined DD1). It never hurts to buy the game, and play for a couple of hours then refund if you don't like it. I think by then you will have a good idea of the game.

DD2 It's still a great game imo.

Streamlined? More like they cut out what made Darkest Dungeon 1 unique, and put in a StS-esque system that contributes more to the incredulous waste of time that runs are with the stagecoach travelling between points.