The only glaring issue is installing the game directly through the Galaxy launcher which throws back an error in the 90 percents. Download and install the game with the backup game installers. The game itself is a solid throwback. The performance is good with no crashes or stutters as of writing this review - exactly how it used to be back in the days. The music, artwork, characters and gameplay are masterpieces and the only complaint is the game isn't longer than it is. Runs right out the box, 10/10 must-play if you like Tactical CRPGs.
The story telling in this game is riveting to the point where you would have played the whole game in one, single bated breath. Though the (five) maps are linear to look at - there is not a semblance of linearity in gameplay . With every shining rock which catches your attention, you'll be pushed down a road to collect and complete more and more objectives. With almost 5 hours spent in 5 maps with one of the repeating as prologue and epilogue, the 30+ hours you spend on this game will fly past leaving you both wholesome and yet yearning for more. In spite of barely knowing these characters at all, you find tethered to them and their emotions. Like the Witcher trilogy, every decision you make splits into a path you will find an emotional bond to, giving the players many chances of replayability - 20 to be precise. The story picks up from the perspective of Meve - the Queen of Lyria and Rivia who took to Guerilla Warfare during the Second War with Nilfgaard as presented in the Witcher books by Andrzej Sapkowski. CDPR extended the tale of Meve - the character only introduced by Sapkowski, and provided her a fleshed out background and an epic tale in between her defeat and her winning back her legacy. Again, thrust in the twisted and gruesome world of the Witcher, no event can be labeled as righteous and evil. With a small army at her disposal, Meve is presented with a world of pain and consequences – one she must brave to achieve victory. In between the main events of the game – interaction by no means takes a backfoot. With numerous activities happening along her path, Meve can either choose to participate or to opt out – every choice which will come back to bite her when least expected.
The HC release of the game has made Gwent better and more immersive than before. After crossing some of the hurdles of UI & Navigation, few visual bugs, and a tutorial which could have explained more - the game feels very wholesome and I'm pretty much hooked to the game trying to find out all the possible archetypes one can experiment with. The card interactions work well with both structured and Arena type games. If you're a newcomer, the learning curve might be steep, but can be easily overcome by spending time and learning from some of the best streamers around Every whiner you see complaining is probably an entitled brat - so it's safe to ignore them.
