So I finished the game like 9-10 days ago. And I started hardcore run 2 days after. And I just wanted to talk about the game a bit.
You know, in steam, there is a category for steam award called labor of love. And I never understood what it meant. But this game changed that. I truly feel like this game came from a place of love. I don't think this game would ever be possible without such passion.

Now I am gonna start with the bad things. Because it needs to be said:
This game sadly has bugs. And it really felt bad searching a solution for the bug or issue and finding 4-5 year old post and realizing that these bugs never got fixed. Again, I wasn't angry because the game had bugs. I was angry cause the bug was stopping me from playing the game and I want to play the game.
There is one bug in the main game where you will get an infinite loading screen after a siege or trebuchet cutscene. And if you get this bug, then you can't finish the game unless you use a mod. But if this happens in the console version, your save is ruined. There is no in between.
And the bug with trebuchet cutscene with infinite loading screen made me the most sad. Cause it's like the passion I saw in the game was missing when it came to fixing these bugs. But again, the only way I was able to move forward in my game in a main quest was through a mod that was linked by developer in the steam forum. And honestly I don't wanna imagine how I would have finished the game if I had it on console since even now this bug can happen in a console version.

Now everything below this point is praise and love for this game:

You play as Henry who is simply a blacksmith's kid. He is basically a peasant. He doesn't know how to read, he doesn't know how to wield a sword, honestly it would be easier to write what he does know. And you help Henry to learn, to improve and see what he can become by the end of the game.

Often time, people see the tag "realistic" with a game and lose interest in the game. This game doesn't try to be a difficult game with these elements. But I think these elements in the game are what made me enjoy the game so much. It gave value to every small action I did in game.
You have like health, energy and nourishment. But what are some of the earliest perks you can unlock? You can last longer with food or insomniac perk so your energy decrease is lowered. Or perks where you gain back health outside combat, you don't lose energy or nourishment while standing in one place. There are food pots everywhere in the world and eating there is always free and gives 25 nourishment. So they have added these elements that can said be "realistic" but also added ways that easily countered it. These didn't make the gameplay the harder but it just gave the player character a routine or daily action or purposes.

I started hardcore. But again, it's just "hardcore" in name. I was worried whatever I will do with only getting 5 nourishment from food pots. But a cooked cabbage gives 20 nourishment.

The map is so well done. Even small abandoned house show up in the map and that's not even talking about hunting spot, small river, bridge, bird nest, accident, interesting site. Easily one of the best maps I have seen in an rpg game.

Even how you want to progress or finish the quest is great once you understand what kind of options the game is giving. You need something from someone but that someone wants a favor. You can lie to him, convince him that you need it, threaten him, pickpocket him, knock him out while he is sleep and then rob him or you may help him like a good guy. These are all simple outcomes but it's all great to have fun in a game.

And the combat is easily one of the most unique experience I have ever had in a game.
And then you have hunting in forest, playing dice in the tavern with that amazing tavern music, riding the horse through a forest. It took me 20 hours to realize like, wait a minute, this must be the first time I am playing an rpg game that is not fantasy or sci-fi.
Even the dialogue or humor is so enjoyable. Sometimes a bit crude but it's so down to earth. Like going back to village and talking with relatives while taking a walk. So charming.

But lastly, I just wanna say I adore this game. Sometimes you see a post where you are asked what games or genre of games would you be never bored of and I think I found that game for me and that's this game.
So without a doubt in my mind, I recommend this game every way possible.

So I finished the game like 9-10 days ago. And I started hardcore run 2 days after. And I just wanted to talk about the game a bit. You know, in steam, there is a category for steam award called labor of love. And I never understood what it meant. But this game changed that. I truly feel like this game came from a place of love. I don't think this game would ever be possible without such passion. [b]Now I am gonna start with the bad things. Because it needs to be said:[/b] This game sadly has bugs. And it really felt bad searching a solution for the bug or issue and finding 4-5 year old post and realizing that these bugs never got fixed. Again, I wasn't angry because the game had bugs. I was angry cause the bug was stopping me from playing the game and I want to play the game. There is one bug in the main game where you will get an infinite loading screen after a siege or trebuchet cutscene. And if you get this bug, then you can't finish the game unless you use a mod. But if this happens in the console version, your save is ruined. There is no in between. And the bug with trebuchet cutscene with infinite loading screen made me the most sad. Cause it's like the passion I saw in the game was missing when it came to fixing these bugs. But again, the only way I was able to move forward in my game in a main quest was through a mod that was linked by developer in the steam forum. And honestly I don't wanna imagine how I would have finished the game if I had it on console since even now this bug can happen in a console version. [b]Now everything below this point is praise and love for this game:[/b] You play as Henry who is simply a blacksmith's kid. He is basically a peasant. He doesn't know how to read, he doesn't know how to wield a sword, honestly it would be easier to write what he does know. And you help Henry to learn, to improve and see what he can become by the end of the game. Often time, people see the tag "realistic" with a game and lose interest in the game. This game doesn't try to be a difficult game with these elements. But I think these elements in the game are what made me enjoy the game so much. It gave value to every small action I did in game. You have like health, energy and nourishment. But what are some of the earliest perks you can unlock? You can last longer with food or insomniac perk so your energy decrease is lowered. Or perks where you gain back health outside combat, you don't lose energy or nourishment while standing in one place. There are food pots everywhere in the world and eating there is always free and gives 25 nourishment. So they have added these elements that can said be "realistic" but also added ways that easily countered it. These didn't make the gameplay the harder but it just gave the player character a routine or daily action or purposes. I started hardcore. But again, it's just "hardcore" in name. I was worried whatever I will do with only getting 5 nourishment from food pots. But a cooked cabbage gives 20 nourishment. The map is so well done. Even small abandoned house show up in the map and that's not even talking about hunting spot, small river, bridge, bird nest, accident, interesting site. Easily one of the best maps I have seen in an rpg game. Even how you want to progress or finish the quest is great once you understand what kind of options the game is giving. You need something from someone but that someone wants a favor. You can lie to him, convince him that you need it, threaten him, pickpocket him, knock him out while he is sleep and then rob him or you may help him like a good guy. These are all simple outcomes but it's all great to have fun in a game. And the combat is easily one of the most unique experience I have ever had in a game. And then you have hunting in forest, playing dice in the tavern with that amazing tavern music, riding the horse through a forest. It took me 20 hours to realize like, wait a minute, this must be the first time I am playing an rpg game that is not fantasy or sci-fi. Even the dialogue or humor is so enjoyable. Sometimes a bit crude but it's so down to earth. Like going back to village and talking with relatives while taking a walk. So charming. But lastly, I just wanna say I adore this game. Sometimes you see a post where you are asked what games or genre of games would you be never bored of and I think I found that game for me and that's this game. So without a doubt in my mind, I recommend this game every way possible.