When the first Witcher came out, I was real late to the game. Pretty sure I picked it up out of a bargain bin and immediately regretted not getting it upon release. I did not make the same mistake with Assassins of Kings. Witcher 2 is not just a spiritual successor to its original, no - it is a vast improvement on what many people consider the greatest RPG of all time. The graphics are stunning and artisitic - not an easy combo to pull off. The music, voice work and cinematography are directly and 100% on point. The fluidity and variation on story are breathtaking. Combat is stressful, intense and feels meaningful. It does not feel like repackaged enemies constantly tossed in your way so that the devs could add a few game hours onto their back cover. No, in fact the fights feel appropriate and choices feel as though they have weight and global influence. Geralt is polished as a character, very easy to fall into and his supporting cast is a eclectic array of sexy, funny and dangerous characters that help this seemingly ordinary fantasy world to it is own unique voice in the choir of typical Western RPG's. Yes, at first glance it is a monster slayer in a world filled with dwarves, elves and trolls. But the things that REALLY go bump in the night in this game are much closer to human nature. Greed, power and hubris are much nastier bad guys in the Witcher's world than any troll, drowner or striga.
