I just finished TW2, and I actually thought the ending was better than reviews made it out to be. The kingslayer story got wrapped up in a decent manner, imo. It seems clear to me that the next game will focus on the war with Nilfgaard and Geralt's pursuit for Yennefer, but is anyone else disappointed by that?

I have only read the English translations of Last Wish and Blood of Elves, so I don't really feel an attachment to Yennefer in the way fans of the books would. I do however, feel attached to Triss as a character, and I really don't want her to be overshadowed by Yennefer in the next game. Knowing CDPR, it will end up being a choice the player has to make, hopefully.

Yeah, compared to some games which end on an abrupt cliffhanger (Halo 2, anyone?), I didn't think the ending was as bad as some people were saying. The main plot of the game is the kingslayer story, and as you said they wrapped that up at least by getting Letho.

Also, I'm kind of excited about going after The Wild Hunt once and for all.

Yah, I forgot to mention the Wild Hunt. We're definitely going to see more of that in the future, and I was quite surprised when it was revealed that they were Elves from a different realm. Very interested to see more about them and why Geralt and Yennefer were so important to them.

Yeah that surprised me too, kind of a cool concept though, elves from another world. I find myself satisfied with the ending, I agree with those that say the game ended somewhat abruptly though. I think with DLC/expansion pack I'd love to see something with Saskia and deal with the consequences of Geralts choice of killing or letting her live.

I don't know you guys, but I'm really dissapointed. For the chats in chapter 1 I thought that finding Yennefer were actually going to be the main quest, or even the mistery of the Wild Hunt.
The only thing I hope, is for us to have The Witcher 3 in the next year, would suck to wait another 4 years or even more like happened with TW2, or maybe that they release a massive expansion pack that continues the history, the engine from TW2 is awesome, I don't think they should make a new one to keep customers entertained.

Edit: I forgot to mention, aren't you pissed of about the short storyline? I mean, one of the things I loved the most from The Witcher was its 6 chapters, everyone with an excelent trama which kept me playing over weeks. Now, TW2 has just 3 chapters, thats half than The Witcher.

While I agree that the Kingslayer quest was meant to be the main quest, I felt that after the first act it became overshadowed by the political power games and the plot shifted dramatically. When we finish the game we resolve the Kingslayer quest, but not the larger issues like the role of Nifilgaard or the role of the sorceresses (who were remarkably underplayed) or the internal politics between Temarian rules.

While some of the issues were resolved in the long "Debate" cut scene, I was left feeling like the game was a bridge to the next game than a standalone game.

Also, the fact that the wild hunt played such a large but bizarrely minimal role in the game perplexed me. Yes, I'm glad he's regaining his memory (which will have implications in the next game) but it had almost nothing to do with the Witcher 2's plot. I much preferred the animated sequences in the first game (which related consequences of actions far more directly to the game we're playing).

They definitely don't need a new engine. This one is quite capable, and I'm sure they can add to it over time. I think a console version will delay any major content updates for PC though. Hopefully not, because I would definitely buy an expansion.

Haven't seen this topic so I started a new one here: http://www.gog.com/en/forum/the_witcher_2/my_thoughts_on_ending_spoilers

In short, I think the ending is great!

I have a feeling you will have to choose between the two women. Keep in mind that it's very possible that Yen still has amnesia. For all we know, she could end up being an antagonist, and one route might end up with you killing her. ;p In fact, I'd be surprised if Nilfgar hadn't conditioned her into working for them. Especially considering Letho's description of her as essentially being a spoiled woman with amnesia. That's an incredibly easy personality to control and guide. :p

Or, CPR could be real mean and have Geralt get caught up in something that takes up an entire game, forcing him to postpone his saving of Yen (I'd say the safe money is on finding Yen though).

I haven't read any reviews, but I thought the ending was perfectly fine. Brought closure to the main storyline while setting the stage for what is likely to be the focus of the next game. The dragon was a really long fight for me, like...really, really, really long. Never upgraded my silver sword for one, and I was doing minimum damage outside of crits. :p I swear, that was the longest fight I've ever had, haha.

I'm not really sure how the Wild Hunt is going to mesh with things. I'd hazard a guess that their being elves is going to play into the whole Squirrel vs Human thing in some way.

I get what you're saying about Triss. In the novels, she's this poor woman in love with a man who is in love with another woman. In these games, she's had an opportunity to sort of live out that dream of hers (well, she got to for a short time in the novels as well, but it was always understood-I think-between both her and Geralt that she was second fiddle). Video game only players will likely find it hard to empathize with this whole Yennefer thing.

Though any talk of relationships is always a little weird as Geralt is such a horny guy in the games. In that sense, The Witcher 2 was, I thought, much closer to the novels in his horniness. In the first game, it felt like he was sleeping with every other woman he met. In this one, I've only seen him sleep with Triss, Ves, a grateful elf, and whores if he's so inclined. Made it much easier to believe he wants a relationship, whether it's with Triss or Yen. In the novels, he's no prude, but he's also not screwing everything that has boobs, like the first game.

Nearing the end of my second playthrough now, and wow. Playing the other major choice really gives you a better perspective on events. I thought they did a great job here with the choices, as opposed to how it's normally so superficial.

Edit: And sheesh, just drop the complaints about short/long games already. Long games don't exist, unless you're just really bad at video games and rack up hours by virtue of not being very good. I played W1 on Steam, and beat it in 28 hours doing EVERYTHING (Steam keeps track of playtime). So, just because it had six chapters, it was hardly a long game. Give it a rest. The only long games that exist today, irrespective of how good or bad you are at video games are sandbox games, and this is not a sandbox game or series. You'll get a sandbox game in Skyrim later on in the year. So, stop bitching already. :p

Hopefully not, I must admit, though I know I'll get some insults... I pirate most games, but TW2 was a MUST buy, so I couldnt help myself. Most pirates bought TW2 because of the respect they have to CDRP. I would hate to see CDRP turning into a console company and leaving PC platform with empty hands.

I'm really itching to do a second playthrough, but I have a 2 year old PC, and the video card literally gets hot enough to raise my room temperature to very annoying levels. Gonna wait until I can get another video card that can play it on higher settings and won't get so hot.

I wish the english translations of the books would go faster, at this rate I'll be an old man before they are out :P.

I like the ending, and I love how its contours change depending on your in-game choices. The Witcher books were always about the problems of individuals caught between their personal lives and high politics, and both games are faithful to that.

Hm, now that I think of it - my ending was very emotional (Triss/Memories), dramatic (separating with Roche who's leading the girl away, breaking of Temeria) and informative (Wild hunt, Yennifer).

But that is only 1 of 16 endings, no?

So, it may be that those who are talking how the end is not good enough, actually did not get to see anything of that. Maybe they just killed the kingslayer and did not find out abut anything, and so on...

So, I've been wondering, in the one trailer, it certainly looked like Triss was stabbed at one point. Does Triss die in one of the endings? Yes or no answer if possible, because I'd rather not spoil the details. I just want to know if it happens or not.

I liked the ending. Solved the remaining plot points of the first game, those being the assassin and amnesia. Added another (Yennefer), which was somewhat dealt with but not resolved. He did, in my ending at least, find out where Yennefer was. Simply not having saved her yet is an appropriate loose end to leave for a sequel imo.

As for Temeria, Geralt wasn't the king's or Temeria's lapdog whether he felt any loyalty or not. Very different from Roche, who is simply an arm of Temeria and doesn't truly lead his own life. A major theme of the games so far is politics being a neverending bog. So I don't truly see it as a loose plot point. Geralt got through the mess to the other side and managed to solve the mystery, after which there was nothing else for him to do except move on. This political crises would just lead to another regardless of the details, with little difference to the common peasant or even soldier.

---Edit---
"Does Triss die in one of the endings?"
That got me wondering, and I tried dealing with the last part of the game different ways. It proved quite determined to keep her alive even when it seemed it wouldn't, so I doubt she can be plot-killed.