The Witcher: Enhanced Edition

I'm about 20-25 hours into The Witcher. It was definitely fun at first because the atmosphere and the music really grip you. But the tedious combat (consisting only of clicking with no actual tactics beyond not using the "group" style if friendlies are around) along with every quest requiring you to run back and forth along the same paths for hours makes for a very boring and disappointing game. So much potential was wasted here. The alchemy system, gathering ingredients, the character interaction, the music, sound effects, all of that is very good, and the reason it gets two stars. The linear walking around and the combat destroy the game.

100% worth full price. The game really shines in its writing: great story; characters are well written and have great personalities; world-building is done well and information is drip-fead over the course of the game; dialogue is fantastic; choices affect the storyline; brilliant voice acting; music is also great. On the other hand the gameplay isn't so great: - Most late-game enemies spam you with stun moves so I couldn't get the chance to attack before dying. So my only choice was to pick off enemies 1-by-1 which is pretty boring. - Group combat mode stopped working properly and Geralt wouldn't build up any attack streaks even when he wasn't affected by stuns, etc. - Geralt puts the torch away every time you loot an enemy/chest. - Geralt puts his weapon away a few seconds after a fight ends. This is frustrating when you're in a crypt and pull out the torch after killing enemies, and then he puts it away again shortly after. - Geralt moves quicker with his sword out on group mode, so I suggest you activate this whenever possible. But stay away from enemies or he'll put it away when the fight ends. - *possible spoiler*: there is a house in Chapter V that has a bunch of characters you met in earlier chapters which kinda just pulls you out of the immersion. Maybe if they were in separate, random houses it would be more believable, but lumping them all in one hut felt like a cheap way of saying "Hey, remember all these people you helped?!?!?" These seem like small problems, but the first two are so common that they really dampened my experience of the game. Any combat sequence or crypt location became a real bore, and I started to wish they'd just offered the game as a visual novel instead. But I played on and I'm glad I did because ultimately the storyline/characters/dialogue is what really makes this game so great. Spent 48+ hours on my first playthough. Will play again with different choices to see the other possible storylines.

The Witcher is clearly a game made with a heap of care to ever asset. It's clear that the team at CD Project poured their hearts and souls into it, unsure whether it would be their last game. These are the sorts of games that used to be made, and why they deserve the connection to the classics we love. Set in a familiar but completely new world onto itself, The Witcher takes what you may first see as "generic fantasy" and turns it on its head with a real weight to everything. Never in any game, old or new, have I ever felt like my choices hang so heavily on my shoulders. You may not see the death of planets due to them, but you do see people you may have cared for go due to a simple missed step. Speaking of the people, everything in the game feels fully fleshed out even from the tiny stints of unimportant NPC dialogue. I think a comparison to NWN is apt, since it's both built on the engine and shows exactly how the old style of play can morph into the new. The game's mechanics are definitely an acquired taste, what with fast 3D movement and a rhythm based system, but I for one loved it due to the fact that it was so strategic. Everything about the workings fits so well into the narrative, creating something very cohesive to both people who indulge in fantasy and only sample it. The worlds itself is a real draw, with that absolutely mind-blowing soundtrack completely taking you into its world despite the borders which must exist. The areas are always wide open with many interesting things to try, and a plethora of sidequests that you can outright fail if you don't devote yourself to them, and you can miss even more if you're not exploring. While one would be remiss to call it a gorgeous game, it definitely excels in its purpose more than most games do with high textures. I could go on about this game, but it's simply impossible to over recommend it if you love fantasy of any sort. It's straight forward, but complex. It's foreign, but nostalgic. It's deep and charming. There was a sense of euphoria when I really got into this game, one that I could not break even if it has a few issues in definition. In no other game have I felt so free, so at peace, and smack dab in a situation.

This game provides the background story of Geralt and serving as an entry point to the beloved franchise. Despite its age, the game's graphics possess a unique charm, and its immersive atmosphere, complemented by exceptional music, sound effects, and intricate details, transports you into a captivating world. One of the game's strengths lies in its extensive gameplay and how the development of the story can vary depending on the decisions you make, offering over 50 hours of content through an array of side quests, contracts, and additional stories. The meticulously designed interface adds to the experience, showcasing detailed aesthetics that stand out amidst the minimalist trends of modern games. This game has some camera modes, whether it be the isometric view, which allows seamless map navigation, or the third-person perspective with traditional controls. These camera modes enhances the gameplay experience, accommodating different play styles. But not all is perfect... The controls, including the combat mechanics, can be uncomfortable, lacking the desired level of action. However, the variety introduced by Geralt's abilities mitigates the monotony to some extent. Another drawback is the occasional instability of the game, with unexpected crashes occurring despite efforts to mitigate the issue. The translations of the game are not perfect, at least in Spanish. In conclusion: This game provides an immersive and nostalgic experience, serving as the foundation of the beloved franchise. Its charming graphics, setting and extensive gameplay offer hours of fun. Despite minor flaws, such as clunky controls, occasional glitches and imperfect localisation, the game remains a must-have for fans of the series and those looking for a deep and engaging RPG experience where decision making influences how the story will unfold.

This game is sublime, let me explain: PRO: 1) Its plot is very solid with multiple choises that changes the future events and the developement of the protagonist and other secondary characters, furthermore not all of the events and plotwists are openly explained and this makes you think and theory about it. The end of the game isn't obvious and has a very cool plotwist 2) For a game of 2007 the so criticated mechanichs of fighting are pretty good, alternating weapons and spells for each enemy. The alchemy system, wich was described by some useless and overcomlicated, is fantastic and essential in more difficult modes. 3) The athmosphere is very cool with the locations, the music and the "potraied scenes" when you make important choises. 4) For all the fans of fantasy the bestiary is breathtaking, you can know description, popular beliefs, strong and weak points and all the story behind every single monster. CON: 1) As a pretty old game the graphic isn't his strong point. 2) It has some crush problem ( I resolved those by just deleting some old game saves directly by the game, it basically took me 5 mins). 3) The dialogues in my language ( Italian ) sometimes are very bad, with lack of empathy from some characters and overemphasis from others. 4) The repetitions of character designs can make you break the immersion in the game.