This world feels alive. I'm sure the fact that the developers had the benefit of the novels having already established the setting helped a great deal, but this is still the best written video game I have ever played. They did a fantastic job in fleshing out the characters and their motivations, bringing them to life in a way that feels genuine. The bloody baron's storyline is incredible and left me not knowing how to feel. I couldn't stand Yen at first, but she ended up being one of my favorite characters after a few story events revealed a different side to her. Even the minor characters and quests often leave a lasting impression - googling quest outcomes will often serve up forum threads full of heated debates about whether a choice is right or wrong. Sometimes there is no right answer, no greater reward to offset your guilt. Important characters can and will die because of your decisions. If you like story driven gameplay where your choices really matter, look no further. Years after it released there's still no equal to the Wild Hunt and with Cyberpunk on the horizon I'm more than a little nervous - CD Projekt Red has set one hell of a high bar for themselves with this game.
