Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2’s Henry Is The Funniest RPG Character I’ve Ever Seen

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Among the things that never fail to tickle my funny bone is witnessing someone who’s full of self-assurance, yet consistently incorrect. Characters like Danny McBride’s Kenny Powers, Steve Carell’s Michael Scott, Ben Stiller’s White Goodman, and an abundance of Will Ferrell’s characters all owe their comedic brilliance to this very trait!

As a fan, I can’t help but admire how unfounded self-assurance has been a defining trait for characters like Ron Burgundy and Ricky Bobby. Their bold statements such as “diversity is an old wooden ship from the Civil War era” and “If you ain’t first, you’re last,” respectively, have become iconic in comedy. Similarly, Henry, the well-intentioned protagonist of Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, embodies this familiar trope brilliantly within video games.

Our Sweet Boy Has Rocks In His Head

Currently, Henry isn’t as hot-headed like most leading comedians from the early 2000s. Instead, he shares more similarities with Derek Zoolander, who, despite his innocence and naivety, asks perplexing questions such as “What is this? A center for ants?” Henry is a kind individual who mourns the loss of his family and cherishes his pet dog. However, when someone requests Henry to clarify something, he frequently trips over his words, leading to comedic moments.

In my gaming journey so far, after about a dozen hours, old Henry here hasn’t managed to answer a question right yet. I’m fully aware that his speech-related abilities are still underdeveloped and he might lose Reputation points for blundering, but I just can’t resist making him chime in every chance I get, purely for the amusement factor. It’s becoming quite the running joke!

In my latest adventure, I find myself on the hunt for something called saltpeter. A friend recently inquired if I knew what it was, and I responded by saying that, no, it’s not about taking a piece of salt and asking Saint Peter to perform a miracle and change it into something else. In fact, it’s actually a chemical compound used in the production of gunpowder.

At a later point, Henry discovers that a character from the Cuman tribe has romantic feelings towards a woman who doesn’t understand his language. Since Henry also doesn’t know Hungarian, he steps in to translate. However, during this process, he unintentionally insults the woman, which angers her. As a result of his actions, the Cuman man becomes enraged and physically attacks Henry. In response to the situation, I find myself chuckling.

Previously, he attempted to recall the term for “Purgatory” and instead thought of the word “Crimbo.” He described it as a place similar to Hell but with distinct colors, possibly underground, or located in Prague.

A Vividly Thick Dunce

It consistently amuses me more than any other comedy I’ve encountered – Henry’s attempts at answering simple questions. He’s much funnier than a typical comedic character, reminiscent of an amnesiac protagonist who somehow forgets everything, yet he doesn’t have a reason for it. That’s just his nature.

Indeed, it leaves me yearning for more role-playing games to incorporate player choice as thoughtfully as this one does. Typically, we’re given the option to choose between friendly or unfriendly dialogue, virtuous or villainous actions. However, what sets this game apart is the consequence of a character’s lack of understanding. Unlike many other games, where ‘stupid options’ may exist, Henry’s confusion is more precise and effectively portrays a mind utterly lost. This adds an intriguing layer to the gameplay that I haven’t encountered in many other titles.

As a gamer, I can’t help but admire Tom McKay’s stellar performance in this game. He manages to make me believe that Henry is none other than Dev Patel from Slumdog Millionaire, diving deep into his memories for the answers. However, more often than not, the answers he provides are less than satisfactory.

In my gaming experience, I usually prefer a silent protagonist in choice-driven RPGs. This way, I can shape my character’s backstory, personality, and decisions according to my own preferences. But every now and then, a developer strikes gold by creating the ideal middle ground character, like Geralt, Arthur Morgan, or Henry of Skalitz, who are all unforgettable in their own right.

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2025-02-22 20:04