Game of Thrones: Kingsroad – Ongoing Review

Sure, let’s dive in, but remember this is going to be a bit all over the place. Bear with me.

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Alright, here’s the deal. I got my hands on the Early Access version of “Game of Thrones: Kingsroad.” Yeah, I dove in, headfirst, without much clue about what I was getting into. It’s all power plays and family drama—classic Thrones stuff. Netmarble’s cooked up this mobile-friendly RPG where you step right into the chaos of the HBO series. Excited yet? Maybe, maybe not. I mean, power sounds tempting, but after 20 hours trudging through snow and silver-tongued diplomacy…man, it’s the grind or your wallet. No joke.

So, imagine this—you’re a bastard. Yep, tough break. Sole heir of House Tyre. Yay? Your old man’s sick, leaving you to roam Westeros, running into everybody from Jon Snow (he knows nothing, by the way) to those charming Boltons. Fun crowd. It’s smack in the middle of season four’s mess, so the game gives you a crash course in White Walkers and throne-seeking maniacs. Sounds epic, right? It kind of is, but there’s this lingering dread—you’ve got work ahead, serious grinding, unless you’re ready to cough up cash.

But before the real grim stuff, you pick your style: sword-swinging Knight, big brawler Sellsword (my pick, channeling all that Tormund energy) or, if sneaky’s your thing, the Assassin. Switching between these is thankfully flexible—handy to flip classes without losing your loot. But yeah, you’ll replay missions. A lot.

Then you hit up the character creator. Not just hair or scars—I’m talking sliders for face muscles. Wanna adjust beard length? Go wild. It’s no Dragon’s Dogma 2, but hey, close enough.

Westeros? Familiarly grand. First time’s a thrill—The Wall, Winterfell, the works—but hang around too long, and it’s like, did the grass just pop in and out? Soon, all these townsfolk start acting weird, like their faces got stuck halfway through a sentence. Creepy? You bet.

Anyway, speaking of weird, you’re not skating but it sure feels like it, even on solid ground. Maybe it’s the controls—or maybe I’m just lousy. Hard to tell when you’re accidentally zooming off cliffs into enemy camps. Thrilling one time; frustrating by the tenth.

Combat? Mixed bag. Enemies are repetitive, and it’s not just your imagination. Same dudes, different numbers. Sometimes a little strategy pops up, but mostly, it’s rinse, repeat, boss battle, yawn. There are these platform puzzles scattered about—thank heavens. It’s a break from the hacking, though moving around feels floaty.

Now, here’s the kicker—Momentum. Yeah, it’s the meter that decides where you can go. Buff up your gear and hope you’re good. Or get ready to splash some cash, because the loot eventually dries up. Oh, Kingsroad, keeping microtransactions alive and well.

Every system in this world has a pay-to-go-painless option. Die? Wait it out or pay. Fast travel? Slow walk it or cough up coins. It’s like a sly nudge every time—buy your way, or stay stuck. And it’s hard to ignore.

Despite this cash grab, there’s a glimmer of Thrones magic underneath all the clutter. Riding a dire wolf? Cool as heck. The quests tug your heartstrings but never for long before another reminder to pay pops up.

Alright, so after 20 hours—yeah, a lot—I’m still only scratching the surface. More to uncover, for sure: artifacts, estate management, and upgrades to explore. But it’s clear as day: In Game of Thrones: Kingsroad, it’s pay or perish. I’ll keep exploring till the full release, but man, it’s a ride.