[color=#FFFFFF]I've been in love with the Witcher universe for quite a long time now...even before the first game came out. I've read all the books and then I played the game. And it seemed brilliant to me. Sure it had some massive flaws but they couldn't hold the massive potential this game had and right on the Enhanced Edition came out which turned a good RPG into a Game of the year RPG. Today I bought the premium edition of the Witcher 2: Assassin's of kings and I am loving it so I'm going to give some pro's and cons now about the games (not just the second one)
Pros: Amazingly immersive atmosphere the moment you walk the streets of Vizima, the crumbling walls of Kaer Mohren or the Pontar Valley (which in fact is the BEST representation of a forest you've ever seen) you know you are there. The dialogue is perhaps the best I've ever heard, simple folk curse like the peasants they are royalties use their queen's English, nothing is spared if there is need for cursing they curse but in a manner that's realistic not just 'in your face there are cuss words in a PC game'. The biggest plus, you're choices matter they really do, and there is no Win-Win situation you have to choose the lesser evil and you see the effects of your choice. Another plus, it's a roleplaying game and it should be roleplay and it gives you a perfect opportunity to do so. Go do your job hunt monsters in the swamps, come back at noon go to a pub and get pissed, get a hooker go home or sleep in the inn. There is an incredible depth to the world of the Witcher that you have to experience. The plot is just as good, The main quest is pretty DERP but the details and the political schemes involved are mesmerizing. Also the music'¦incredible is an understatement if you thought Elfman did a sublime job with Fable 1's main theme you just have to hear the OST of the Witcher.
Cons: In the Witcher 1 the story is slow to develop in the beginning creating a sense of slowness to the plot but it picks up after chapter 1. The combat system is somewhat criticized, though I like it if you put enough though in it but the general opinion is that it's not good. The second game is hardware heavy and runs average even on a recommended system, the combat system is improved but a lot of clipping problems are introduced, also the second game is shorter than the first one.
In conclusion all and all a great game and I do recommend it. Just bear in mind that it's really a dark fantasy with mature plot don't expect any 'save the galaxy with flower power thingies'. Please feel free to express your opinion
im halfway through the first game. cant say i got sucked into it that much. might be the combat system. click-wait-click-wait-click. almost like assassins creed combat. that game however, caught my soul with the story.
also i hate the character control system on witcher 1. shame. it's like playing vampires: masquerade again. that game was simply epic on the storylike, but the control system killed it imo.
I pretty much agree with everything you said. Finished The Witcher 1 a long while back, and thoroughly enjoyed it. Its a bit slow, though when you get into it, it just traps you.
"Picked up" the sequel today and started playing it. Its an epic game with an even more immersible atmosphere. Played it for several hours and the only downside I could see is that my gf card (8600 GT lol) cant handle it, so I decided to stop playing until I can get something better >_>
Oh and Martin, keep your saves from Witcher 1 in case you plan on playing the sequel. It allows you to import them and affect the storyline.
Edit: Oh and if you have the card to run it on high or ultra, you'll be amazed:cool:
[color=#FFFFFF]I laughted my arse off at one point in Chapter 1. Geralt gets drunk and wakes up on the river bank without clothes and with a tatoo on the neck depicting some lusty lady with a sword. "Quest: Hung Over" Objective: Find out what you did last night. Apparantly he tried to cross the river sailing on the arses of 4 prostitutes....priceless :D:D:D
The GFX of Witcher 2 is very good. Not only photorealistic to a good part but also crispy sharp fine details. Character animations are the best motioncaptures i have seen in Games till now.
So no wonder boxes with GFX hardware 2-3 generations back get in trouble.
I have played the witcher 2 , and so far, I can tell it is a game worth playing.
Pros:
Hight end graphic, be sure you are well equiped tho.
Rich and dynamic scenario, believable interaction between the different characters.
Numerous ending, centred around the same plot but with different approach.
I liked the sounds and music.
It has a mature atmosphere.... (heavy cussing,blood, and other stufff...)
Things that made withcer 1 nice: like the spells, the potion...
You can deal with combat in multiple ways.
The difficulty setting can be changed anytime.
Cons:
Not the kind of game thatt last forever unfortunatly, expect 50 hours on your first ''full slow paste'' run.
The loots are rather useless for the most part.
The world is somewhat closed, you are to follow the main quests path.
Somewhat difficult to fully understand the plot, the map is not of any use beside being another picture.
Pretty heavy on setup requirement for maxed out graphic with decent framerate (expect an investment of at least 200$ in video extention. )
Did I mention you keep getting overwheighted because your inventory is so small? And that there is no way to store anything?
The difficulty of the game goes downhill while you gain more skills and attributes making the combats a breeze for half the game while you will be struggling at the very first combats.
[color=#FFFFFF]Make sure you get the latest patch 2.0. Adds new stuff, fixes the balance, optimizes it slightly. Oh and adds tutorial and arena modes + Dark difficulty, difficult as <bad word here> but adds new armours and weapons