The Witcher: Enhanced Edition

This was my first foray into "The Witcher" series. Though common medieval tropes abound, the game is compelling and your choices do have some weight on the outcome of your quest. The game is full of interesting quests and characters, and your loyalty or neutrality to certain factions matters. The graphics are perfectly serviceable. Geralt himself has a bland presentation and personality, which is odd considering the sheer volume of women who throw themselves at him at a moment's notice. Yes, bare-bosomed friends await you at every turn. The elephant in the room is surely the combat. There is a specific rhythm to the combat which means you have to press attack at certain times or your combo ends. It is satisfying to land a powerful combo and pulverize your enemies, but the system takes getting used to at best and may put off players at worst. Overall, the combat did not lessen the experience for me. Additionally, there is a complex skills system, as well as alchemy to give you a specific edge in combat. It takes some cautious planning to invest in the right skills at the right time, as Witchers also carry two blades: silver for monsters, and steel for everything else. Sometimes it feels a little redundant to invest in the same skills for a different material of sword. You can find weapons in shops and as loot from enemies, but most weapons you find are completely useless. You never need to use anything other than your Witcher swords. There are also bombs and traps to experiment with, but they are never required. Aside from armaments, you will also collect alchemical ingredients to concoct potions with. Rummaging through people's houses will net plenty of food, which is mostly useful for bartering or gifts to NPCs. You will also find copious amounts of alcohol, which may be given to certain NPCs or consumed in drinking contests. It's mildly interesting, but it takes too long to sober up. All in all, an above-average experience if you can stomach the combat.

I already own this game, and think so highly of it that I'm buying the GOG edition because I'm wearing out the original, plus now I'm going to enjoy the GOG extra added goodies. I'd be lying if I gave this game less that 5 stars :)

I remember when i saw clips of this game on youtube, I laughed what i considered to be hilariously bad voice acting. I couldn't understand why this game was so popular. Then, I bought the game when it was on special. Without a doubt, BEST 5 BUCKS I EVER SPENT. A lot of people are talking about the choices you are forced to make in this game, and they are right. Choices absolutely do matter in this game, and sometimes in ways you don't expect. You will also be in situations where there does not seem to be a morally correct answer. Classic example: some gravediggers/murders are hiding in a cemetary. You chase them down, but before you get a chance to kill them, they tell you they've trapped some civilians in the nearby crypt. Do you expend the time and energy to kill them, knowing that the civilians will die in the mean time? Or do you rescue the civilians, but let the murderers escape? What it boils down to is: what do YOU consider to be the least morally objectionable? Unlike the game mentioned in the title, despite the parts that are not so great (won't go into them, because everybody else has already covered that), it still has a better ending than Mass Effect 3. Why? BECAUSE YOUR CHOICES ACTUALLY MATTER. I consider it to be hilariously ironic that CD Projekt took BioWare's own engine, and made a better video game than they did. This is just the game you need to buy/replay if you need to wash the awful taste and stink of ME3's atrocious ending out of your mouth. Buy this game: the flaws in this game do not overshadow the fantastic parts of this game.

It may seem like a boring game in the beginning because of repetitive combat mechanics and outdated graphics and movement system but when you get pass the first hour or two and get accustomed to it then fun really begins. Surely it is not a game for everyone because it's not action game but an RPG or has a lot rpg elements. It is a game for people with patience and people that will appreciate good story and story in this game is the best element of it. I remember playing it for hours just because I wanted to see what will happen next and before you know it day turned into night. It is that good. There are moments where you need to make a decision and that decision will have consequences down the road. Pacing is good and fluid. I didn't feel that there were moments where story felt rushed. If you like to read then you will be satisfied because there are a lot of books and scrolls to read and it will be really useful down the road. For every monster there is a book and you will learn about its strengths and weaknesses which will be really useful in combat. Fighting becomes better as you level up and unlock new moves and there are 3 styles. It is enough. Sound design is good, graphics are outdated but there are some mods that will help to make it look sharper and it will look better. It's a 2007. game so dont have unrealistic expectations. It needs to be looked at from that period of time and there is no point to compare it with today's standards.

The Witcher Enhanced Edition Director's Cut (TWEED) shows some age, but is brilliant once you get over that hurdle. The story is pristine. I never read the books, but I could tell the developers really did. The worldbuilding is perfect. It's fun to read the bestiary. The plot is interesting, and takes some turns and dives. The characters stand out. Choices in the story are interesting. Geralt hates politics, so what does the game do? Makes you to decide between the oppressed (but terrorist) elves, the knightly (but insensitive) religion, or take the Witcher's Way and be forced to fight them both. Side quests also have choices. Do you kill an elderly, small-time cannibal who will be dead in a few years, or do you turn a blind eye in return for a rare recipe? The combat is simple, riculously so. It's just click, click, click in a pattern you learn in the tutorial, and it never gets more complicated than that. However, the game complements this with a focus on preparation. Just swinging your sword won't always cut it (pardon the pun). You should craft potions, venoms, bombs. You should try a different weapon. Heck, even getting drunk before going into battle is a viable early-game strategy. In conclusion, it is a true RPG with fantastic inspiration, but the combat is not really skill-based.