The Witcher: Enhanced Edition

Best game ever!!!

I'm a huge fan of the Witcher, since I grew up on Sapkowski's books and the hilariously bad polish TV series based on the short stories. So when first Witcher game rolled out, I was super excited. And most importantly, I wasn't disappointed after playing it. I've played the game at least ten times since it came out, probably more. If that doesn't spell "great game" to you, I don't know what will. The combat system is a love or hate relationship. I personally love it. What a fresh change from usual clicking like a mad-man, Diablo (or Witcher 3) style. Sure, you gotta learn how to use it, but at least the game challenges you on that front. I love the potions and oils making, something that was really missing from following Witcher titles. Again, you gotta work towards making anything in alchemy, which makes the whole thing more believable. The skills tree was perfect, if maybe a bit unusual, but it's again something I missed in following Witcher titles. So on the front of skill trees and alchemy, I'd say first Witcher is far better that W2 and W3. The environment, especially what you're allowed to do, gets a lot of hate, but I'm kind of 50:50 on that front. The game doesn't flaunt it's an open world and it's not. The fact that you can't jump or get to places you see, unless the devs made a path, is kinda annoying, but it's just how it is. On the other hand, you visit so many different, beautifully made areas, that you surely won't feel bored by your surroundings. If you don't expect freedom Witcher 3 or Skyrim style, you most likely won't be disappointed. The story is pretty great and fits with books rather nicely. However, it is kinda obvious that devs didn't really believe in making more Witcher games after this one. Or rather, they changed the course of the story after they made this game. But if you haven't played this game already, it can explain a whole lot of things happening in W2 and W3. I just wish the game treated its female characters better.

Dated controls but not so bad just don't spam the left click and you'll learn how it works. Good story just like any witcher game with choices changing ending of missions. Didn't finish it yet but i freakin loved this game. Worth every dollar if you didn't get it for free.

What I mean by that, is all these years later, I STILL remember getting up and pacing before I made a decision. Who to believe? What's the best thing to do? I was totally transported back when this game first came out. It has to rank as one of my all time best gaming experiences. In fact, I'm playing it again and surprised by how much of it I actually remember 12 years later. It makes it so much deeper than a typical game if you care about the characters. What an accomplishment. And of course, I've since read most of the books and I'm genuinely excited about the Netflix series. I hope they do the tales justice.

There are many things to like about this game: The atmosphere is fantastic, the world and characters intriguing, and the music... oh THE MUSIC! It's really among the best I've heard in a game. Unfortunately, the rest of the game doesn't quite live up to that. The story, while confusing and not without issues, is at least interesting and not the typical fantasy plot, and some choices really feel important. But it takes quite some time until it gets going, and there is a part in the middle where it completely stops for a whole chapter - really, chapter four felt like chapter one all over again, and chapter one was where I stopped playing when I first tried to play through it a few years ago. This time, I managed to get past that, and it gets better afterwards, but during chapter four I got close to quitting again. The last part was a bit better again, but overall it felt too long, and in the meantime you spend a lot of time running around the same places over and over again. Each chapter consists of a small number of outdoor maps, and they are often connected in a way that lets you run in circles all the time. While some of these maps are pretty large, movement is restricted by clear borders and obstacles, and as Geralt cannot jump he always has to run around them. And some maps are just awful (especially the swamp cemetery in chapter 5). Yeah, combat is not that great, but you probably already knew that. I must say that there was a point where I felt I'd gotten the hang of it and then I actually enjoyed it for a while, but then it became dull and repetitive, especially with all the fighting that goes on toward the end. Some boss fights were alright and offered a bit of a different challenge, but overall, there was not a lot of variation, and fighting weaker enemies becomes a chore in the later game, especially as some actions can't be done with enemies nearby, like entering a cave or building. All in all, not the worst game I've played, but far from the best.