Oh man, where do I even start with this “Game of Thrones: Kingsroad” journey? Well, first off, don’t expect polished perfection here. This is all about my chaotic trek through the early access version of the game — picture me, head full of dragons and politics, just trying not to get offed. Netmarble tossed me right into Westeros, and all I could think was: power, baby, power! But after 20 hours of battling up north, gathering my imaginary gold, I’ve hit a snag. And no, it’s not the big baddies down south. It’s the grind, man. Like, am I supposed to pay my way to power?
Set in season four, Kingsroad has you, the last of House Tyre’s bastards — no pressure there, right? Your dad’s out of commission, and you gotta rally support. I bumped into a who’s who of Westeros. Jon Snow? Check. Those devilish Boltons? Double check. This game’s got the charm of the series alright, throwing you into the drama with a tutorial that says, “Here’s the Wall, White Walkers, have at it!”
Oh, and before the real adventure kicks off, there’s this whole character picking thing. Knight, Sellsword, Assassin — kinda like picking what flavor of chaos you’ll wield. I went with Sellsword. Tormund vibes, heavy axe, all brawn. But, hey, if you’re fickle, the game’s nice enough to let you dabble with other classes anytime. You’ll replay missions, sure, but it’s like cheating the system. Sweet, huh?
Now, if you’re into character creation, you’re in luck. Kingsroad lets you tweak your avatar to your heart’s content. Want a massive scar? A shiny mane? Go wild. Not as deep as some games out there, but it scratched the itch for me.
Yet the lure of ruling House Tyre isn’t just handed over. You gotta earn it, you know? It’s quests, loot galore, and all that jazz. But, uh, the magic dwindles quickly. At first, Westeros looks stunning—cue the winter chills and castle nostalgia. Stick around, though, and it’s like the world’s a broken record. Weird NPCs abound. Citizens that look like they’ve been recycled from a wax museum. It’s bizarre talking to them, honestly. Their eyes – ugh, don’t get me started.
Exploration’s no picnic either. Whether you’re hiking or horseback, it’s a slip-slidey affair. Ice skating on dirt — fabulous, if you like accidental acrobatics. Imagine careening off a hill into a bandit camp. Not quite what I planned, but hey.
Combat? It’s that love-hate relationship. Patterns repeat like a Top 40 radio station. Soldier after soldier, boss after boss, same old. Sometimes, I had to flex my brain for strategy — rare moments — but mostly, it was rinse and repeat. Spoiler alert: it gets monotonous. Thankfully, story snippets tugged at my heart, with tales of missing kids and distressed villagers. Good stuff, if only the fights weren’t so tedious.
Here’s a surprise: there are puzzles hidden around this medieval sandbox. Sort of a brain plus — even with all the floaty jumps. Kingsroad almost channels a Watchtower-of-Assassin’s-Valhalla vibe, just…stripped back. If you’ve played Ubisoft’s stuff, you’ll know the feel.
But wait, open world’s got these weird gates — ‘Momentum requirements’ they call it. Like a numbers game for your gear and skills. Sounds good, until loot dries up. Then it’s like the game’s whispering, hey, maybe a little cash will speed things along? Sigh, live service games, right? Lean into spending or lean back and grind till you drop.
Every fun system is locked behind an easier, pricier version. It’s like Netmarble wants you just annoyed enough to reach for your wallet. This pay-to-win itch hovers over the whole experience. Sure, I get it, free-to-play. But still.
And here’s what’s truly a bummer: beneath all the money traps? There’s a decent game. Riding across those icy landscapes should be magical. And, yeah, it almost gets there — just don’t linger too long without expecting a sales pitch.
Still, twenty hours in and I’m barely scratching the surface. So much left to explore, try, and maybe critique in the final release. Crafting, manor managing, all of it. But for now? It’s as clear as Valyrian steel: in this game, cough up cash or brace for the grind. Welcome to Kingsroad.
