So, do you think two points in one great skill should be the whole point of alchemy tree? I can count at least 10 extremely useful skills in the swordsman's tree.

Plus you have 5 frakken slots at the end of Alchemy tree.

Exactly. Once you fill these slots with mutagens along with the ones from the end of swordsman and training skill tree you're virtually unstopable.

The Witcher 1 was better in game play and control. Witcher 2 is for console lovers. Only difference is the new Engine for the game but so far they can't add to it what The Witcher 1 had such as UI controls etc... Read what people wanted in what was the patch 1.1 but didn't receive because I don't think this engine was made for PC as much as it was made for the console. IMO the console lovers changed this game to what it is now I don't like it the controls, options, and game play are poor compared to The Witcher 1 IMO. Until they patch in a good UI and add all the options that The Witcher1 had and different play styles it will never measure up to the 1st Witcher IMO.

Just because the sex is no longer a card doesn't mean its better which I beat 90% of you judge the gfx by...

I haven't finished Witcher 1 (I think I was at Act 4 or Act 5 when TW2 lured me away like a bruxae).

Combat
+I prefer TW2 combat by a fair bit. Group-fighting ability is nerfed by a lot, but there are more equally useful tactics to deal with enemies.
+TW2 doesn't have the problem where you run around after pressing LMB seemingly not knowing where to attack. Or taking a long time to get to the point where he executes the attack.

Graphics
=Both are equally good for their time. The attention to details (and the TLC that has gone to it) is evident in both games.

UI
-I have no specific preference as to whether display inventory as a grid or a list but the former allows many more items to be displayed at once. That being said, the way it is implemented in TW2 is very inefficient in terms of screen-space usage.
-No chemical ingredient sorting, cluttered diagrams/formula, no junk filter, separate crafting/shopping screen, and some other quirks.
+I like the skill screen in TW2 better, you have 4 subsections now instead of having to click through 15 tabs.
+Slick
-I miss the shift+mouse scroll feature to see what effects you are under.

Journal
-Journal in TW1 has more information even without needing to buy/read books. Plus, all your knowledge about monsters/potions are recorded there without needing to carry formula in your inventory and what-not.
-Potion entries are inconsistent with what is shown in the inventory's description (e.g. look at Virga).
=I actually preferred the quest entries in TW1 which is more concise and you can see all the phases. In TW2 sometimes not all the phases are shown and entries can be long (although sometimes it makes for an entertaining read).

Sidequests
+I might be mistaken here. I thought the sidequests were more involved in TW2. There are also more choices that you can make. And there are puzzles this time (I might have missed it in TW1 though).

I liked both. But I think the interface of Witcher 1 is an order of magnitude better than Witcher 2. Navigating the inventory, journal, alchemy, etc... is cumbersome in Witcher 2. It's very console-ized (I guess since it looks as if it is being ported to the XB360).

Combat wise, I think Witcher 1 was a little better. Witcher 2 combat is fine, but in Witcher 1, once you really learned to use the timing system well, you felt powerful like Geralt is suppose to be. In Witcher 2 you feel very normal just like any other soldier on the battlefield. And for all his agility like you see in cut scenes and finish moves throughout the game he sure does pause a lot in actual combat. You can't take a step then cast a spell like arrd without a very noticeable and annoying delay. I could understand it when he did a evasive roll, but from just taking one step seems very unlike the character. I also think the potions use was much better in the first witcher. I didn't spend even 1 point in alchemy tree because potions must be taken before a fight. The first one did potions correctly IMHO. You take them anytime during combat, and have to watch your toxicity levels or suffer the consequences.

Story wise, hands down the second is much better. I haven't read any of the novels, but I did enjoy the story of the second one better. The game does feel shorter in Witcher 2 but the quality and tightness of the story is very apparent. There is very little grind, and I did try to do every quest on my first play through.

The quest system is very well done I can't off hand remember the first Witcher quest system, but I did like the no hand holding quest system of Witcher 2. I loved that at least one of the quests required you to talk to townsfolk so that you could get info that wasn't written down you had to listen to it and remember it. If you failed to remember it correctly or didn't talk to them, you'd have to fight rather than talk your way to your goal if you couldn't answer back correctly.

I thought the way they handled sex in Witcher 2 was vastly superior to Witcher 1. It felt more in place and fitting in to the story, rather than just a "how may can I conquer" mini-game.

Overall it's a toss up IMHO. Story - Witcher 2, Interface/GUI - Witcher 1, Gameplay - depends on your play preferences. I think people who like traditional RPGs will prefer witcher 2, while people who like fast paced action games will like witcher 1 better. I do like fast twitch action and fighting games so I liked the combat system of witcher 1 better. Witcher 2 combat felt much more reserved.

Yeah, dice poker was better in TW1. I really don't like the angled view of the board.

If they gave you the perspective and betting limits from W1, W2 dice poker is better.

I'll go with 1. TW2 is a good game though.

To me, the ideal game would be TW2 w/ TW1's UI.

I’ll take Maerd’s list with a few adaptations as I feel it gives a rather good idea of which game I preferred and why :

Story:

Main story: Same
Side quests (Number): TW1
Side quests (Quality): TW2
NPC development (friends): TW1
NPC development (other): TW2
Dialogs: Same
Handling sex encounters: TW1 (a lot more variety, I think it helps immersion to be able to make out with secondary chars)
Length: TW1

Game mechanics:

General combat: TW1 (less skill/reflexes based)
Boss fights: TW2 (more dramatic fights, but still a way to go)
Monsters: TW2 (better differentiation in gameplay)
Alchemy (brewing): TW1 (ease of use mostly)
Alchemy (using): TW2 (more realistic for potions, easier to use for bombs)
Character development: TW1 (I liked the fact that you had “free” points to spend ie bronze talents that could be used to acquire very optional skills. TW2 has this in the form of char abilities, but it is less controlled).
Inventory: TW1 (hands down, the inventory interface in TW2 really needs improvingà
Items: TW1 (more varieties, more immersion, like alcohol. Traps and daggers were a nice add on of TW2 though).
QTE: WT1 (for it add none. I think it breaks immersion and doesn’t let you appreciate the cut scenes).
Crafting: TW2 (as it wasn’t really as developed in TW1, it still needs some work though.
Novelty and innovation: TW1 (it was a turning point in cRPG, TW2 just capitalized on that).

User interface: TW1 (hands off)
Visual effects: TW2
Cut scenes: TW2

Overall: TW1 (not by a big margin)

Remarks:
I hate the fact that storage disappeared in TW2.
I think the impact of a TW1 imported save should have been greater in TW2.
I may seem negative about TW2, but I really enjoyed the game, I just had very high expectations for it.

I agree with you baba AND that is why this won't(should not) be GOTY it coulda been but after all the fanboys stop engorging themselves on this and face objectively the game's content, implementation and potential it falls short!! Sad thing if it does because the rest of the candidates would suck!!

There are some flaws sure. I would wager most gamers including you and I initially get caught up with the eye candy first as that's the first thing gamers notice upon logging into the world.

Still early for GOTY, it's only June. Diablo 3 is not even out yet!, lol

That was my first thought, they really gave us a good product with the Director's cut and fixes why fuk it up?? but their Polish everythings backwards...(in a sweet way)

LOL!. I guess that I am in the minority, then. I thought the game was excellent. Ya, UI needs work. But the actual game content is outstanding. I don't Skyrim doing better at story, character, or graphics.

Call me a fan boy, I guess. I fail to see the reasons for the hate.