Game of Thrones: Kingsroad – Ongoing Review

Well, so here’s the deal – I got my hands on this Early Access version of “Game of Thrones: Kingsroad.” But, before you get all excited, remember that it’s not the shiny 1.0 version. Yeah, I’m still trying to wrap my head around the whole power grab vibe Netmarble is aiming for. After running wild through the northern parts for what felt like forever (20 hours, give or take), I’m already bracing for the grind fest that’s lurking in the shadows.

First off, you jump in as this bastard from House Tyre – kind of a downer start, right? You’ve got a sick dad, and suddenly, it’s on you to roam around Westeros shaking hands and maybe, just maybe, score some respect. Which means you also bump into our old pals like Jon Snow (cue the dramatic music) and Roose Bolton (seriously, why him?). But they do drop you right at season four, and it’s like, did I miss a memo? Still, the game does try a little intro crash course, throwing you over the Wall cuz, why not, here come the White Walkers! Anyway, you get it. Just drama galore.

Now you’re thinking, “Which type do I pick dude? A Knight? Sellsword? Assassin?” – so many options! I went with Sellsword, mostly because Tormund and Brienne are, like, total goals. This big, angry, axe-smashing kind of dude who’s unstoppable. But oh hey, the kicker? You can switch it up any time and mess around with different styles. Variety is the spice of life, folks.

Now, I kinda went crazy customizing my character – it’s way more detailed than I thought. Not like Dragon’s Dogma deep, but still, I spent way too long messing with beard lengths. What’s with my fascination with facial hair?

Next, you think you’re gonna just waltz into King’s Landing and rule? Not so fast, friend. You’ve gotta earn it. Go do a bunch of side quests, fend off some bandits, collect stuff – all while avoiding looking too closely at the crappy pop-up textures and clunky NPCs. Seriously, the world falls apart if you stare too hard. All these guys with their creepy, follow-you-eyes? Nightmare material.

And let’s talk about motion – my character felt like he was on a hidden ice rink. Even when the ground’s dry, I felt like Bambi, sliding around awkwardly. Sometimes I’d end up crashing into enemy camps with style (or, you know, lack thereof).

Now combat, ugh. It’s like déjà vu – same punches, different day. You dodge, hit back, use some fancy moves. But mostly I was just smashing buttons at identical bad guys. Sometimes things got spicy, and I had to, like, think strategically, but eh, not often.

The cutscenes? Yeah, they tease you with emotion, like “go save those kids,” but the actual doing part drags. At least there’s some hidden puzzles and stuff on the map that break the madness a bit. It’s like a low-budget “Assassin’s Creed Valhalla,” minus the badass Vikings.

Oh, and here’s the rub – you’ve gotta level up with these “Momentum” things to move on. But soon, it gets less about skill and more about real world cash. Ding, ding, ding! Want this feature? How about a dollar? Instant gratification, but at a price.

And, these microtransactions? Everywhere. Die in combat? Pay to revive faster. Want easy fast travel? Slip over some cash. It’s like Netmarble’s sneaky little game of “Pay up or get stuck.”

Yeah, I’ve wasted 20 hours on this roller coaster and haven’t hit the bottom yet, but I’m curious. It’s like a coiled spring; I’ll see it through to the 1.0 release. Who knows? Maybe there’s still magic there – if only I could get past the money grubbing bits. For now, though, it’s clear: play Game of Thrones: Kingsroad with deep pockets, or prepare for frustration city.