So, apparently one of my favorite strategy/RPG hybrids is getting a sequel. That's good.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fn6h4lLEpp0

But that trailer... Why is it so serious? Why does it looks so... I don't know, medieval and "realistic"? I mean, the whole charm of the new King's Bounty series, to me at least, was the fairy tale-ish, whimsical fantasy tone. Don't get me wrong, darker stuff can be great too, but why change the established look so radically?

The tone changed a lot. It basically went from Divinity: Original Sin to Dragon Age: Origins.

I hope it's just for the trailer. I enjoyed the light-heartedness of Kings Bounty, it felt like it didn't take itself too seriously. But since grimdark is the flavor of the month right now, it might be as dark as the trailer suggests.

Well, this day has arrived. I totally agree with Breja! XD

I also think King's Bounty greatness was in its fairy tale setting full of comedy, never taking itself seriosuly.

yeah for this particular series i definitely prefer the cartooonier graphics. looks like it could be called "the witchers bounty."

Zombies? lol

I've noticed that you put the word realistic in quotation marks...good for you.

I mean...skeleton warriors, winged paladins, trolls, changelings, zombies and dragons...nothing of these screams exactly realism. ;)

The video links to a channel which proudly mentions Jon Van Caneghem and New World Computing. Needless to say, I experienced overhype for a couple of moments, but this is developed by 1C. Indeed quite a jump from their The legend/Armored Princess/ series. Nothing wrong with 1C, they've made some very high quality turn based games, but I was hoping Jon Van Caneghem was back to making proper PC games.

Also there's no KingsBounty2.com, as was mentioned in the trailer.

There is.

And unfortunately they've got "gritty realism to ensure players remain grounded in this desperate, realm-wide struggle" listed right there as one of the features :P

Yeah 1C, thanks a pantload for turning the whimsical fable into Game of Thrones.

Call them metaphors and you've got more realism than I can handle. :-P

Can't explain why it didn't work when I searched for it.

The site mentions "King's edition" which includes "an exclusive divine weapons pack". This reminds me of the "dynasty weapons" from Heroes of Might and Magic 6, which were server side only artifacts, which forced you to have an always online Internet connection, in order to use them. I'm sure 1C won't stoop so low as Ubisoft, it just something I remembered.

Yeah, very different tone of it, and the whole atmosphere of KB really suited it. But at the same time, grimdark done right can be great. Emphasis on done right.
... And I'm yet to play even Crossworlds (which I bought years ago, Jan 2014 actually, now that I check). But heard it got way worse after that (or at least that WotN was way worse, while Dark Side being, well, with the dark side and basically tasking you to undo everything achieved until then makes me look at it dubiously ever since), and it's those ones actually developed by 1C from what I see, so not sure how much confidence there is in making it The Legend-level good again.

It doesn't look as silly as the previous games, but, first person King's Bounty? That's sounds interesting.

Cartoon world did not work for Starcraft 2 and Diablo 3. Cartoon world works for King's Bounty. What are they thinking?

Looks interesting to me and possibly even an improvement, albeit a radical change. In any case, I would like to find this "grimdark is vogue" place that some of you fine folks seem to believe exists.

It seems to me that with VERY few exceptions (pretty much just Game of Thrones), anything is considered "too dark" by society-at-large. Movies are injected with lots of "comedy," certainly not lots of grimness.

I welcome this change as long as the game comes here DRM-free and is solid enough of a game by my standards. If it doesn't meet these standards, I guess I'll just pretend it doesn't exist (like many games).

King's Bounty II. Knight’s Edition €49.99


King's Bounty II PC digital copy
Digital Soundtrack
Digital Artbook
Hounds of War warhorse

King's Bounty II. Lord’s Edition €58.99


King's Bounty II PC digital copy
Digital Soundtrack
Digital Artbook
Hounds of War warhorse
Armor of the Devastated
Exclusive Preview build
Unlock full game 3 days before its launch
King's Elite Guard Premium pack
Flamethrower Guard Golem unique unit
Armored princess Shield

King's Bounty II. King’s Edition €84.99


King's Bounty II PC digital copy
Digital Soundtrack
Digital Artbook
Hounds of War warhorse
Armor of the Devastated
Exclusive Preview build
Unlock full game 3 days before its launch
King's Elite Guard Premium pack
Flamethrower Guard Golem unique unit
Armored princess Shield
Exclusive Divine Weapons pack
King's guard hounds
Flaming Eagle
Heroes and villains Premium pack
Rage Casket along with unique questline