I'm not so much into horror or Clive Barker at all - but this one got me. This title isn't only for horror-fans a must have - this title is the shining star that makes the sentence "There's something good in every genre!" entirely true. The first time it took me several attempts over more than a year to withstand it. Okay, I've been much younger then, but it really frosted my veins - in a good way. I dislike horror - not only because I always know what's going to happen next - but I absolutely love Clive Barker's Undying. It's a ride through lava and ice at the same time and worth more than twice the amount listed. FarCry or FEAR - the level design usually tells you where the next monster comes from and when it will come. Not with this game - you're on your own and you will die. No spoilers, no help, nothing more to say. Just get it. Turn off the lights. Maybe light a candle. Play it.
First of all: It's a worthy sequel. Beautiful, inrtrigueing, highly addictive. I think I don't need to say much about the positive side, since you possibly know The Witcher, or read enough worshipping. Here's the bad part: 1st: yeah, it's gonna be a console game some day and you will feel it already. Stupid "click your ass off" action, "only-drink-potions-while-meditating" (huh?) and unnerving "Quick Time Events" for the extra dose of plastic superaction while it's not even logically used. For me there's no point in having for about 2% of the responses you're able to give just 5 seconds time, while you can wait forever at the other 98%. Since it's pretty rare I can live with it - but it's stupid as hell nonetheless. This childish "load of action", probably taken from the latest part of Tomb Raider or the Pokemon Saga (wtf?) wasn't necessary. But you can live with it. It's a shame see this spread through almost any computer game nowadays. 2nd: If you're German like me, but don't like playing in english, let me tell you this. The translation is aweful! The synchronization is just horrible! It's even worse than the first part - and I always thought that's impossible. The speaking actors don't have ANY clue of what this game is about - it sounds like some failed soap star reads sticky notes in the bathroom! They even translated the misspelled curse of an elve "Bloddy d'hoine!" (misspelled in the subtext as "bloede d'hoine") with "blo-ehde doi-ne" - which means they've NEVER listened to the english version prior translating. It's really really ugly. Google would've done a better job ^^ Now for the Germans who'd been unable to get it so far: 2. wenn du wie ich Deutscher bist, aber nicht auf Englisch spielen möchtest, dann sei dir über Folgendes klar: Die Übersetzung ist fürchterlich! Die Synchronisation ist zum kotzen! Es ist sogar noch schlimmer als beim ersten Teil - und ich dachte DAS wäre unmöglich. Die Synchronsprecher haben KEINERLEI Ahnung worum es in dem Spiel überhaupt geht - die klingen wie gescheiterte Seifenoperndarsteller, die aufm Scheisshaus sitzen und Post-It's vorlesen. Die haben sogar den im Untertitel falsch geschriebenen Fluch eines Elfen ("verdammte d'hoine (Menschen)") mit "blo-ehde doi-ne" übersetzt (man spricht eigentlich "doann", die aber sagen wirklich DOI-NE.. krass). Das bedeutet die haben sich das englische Original nichtmal vor dem Übersetzen angehört. Das ist wirklich richtig, richtig widerlich. Google hätte das besser übersetzt ^^ Since I enjoy the game in English, I don't really care about this disaster - but it'd be nice if I could play in German too, without feeling the urge to puke all across my keyboard. Don't get a WRONG impression here! I LOVE The Witcher 2! It's just awesome overall - but these two things really suck, so I needed to mention. Nicht falsch verstehen! Ich LIEBE The Witcher 2! Ein großartiges Spiel insgesamt. Nur kann man halt leider sagen, dass es eigentlich garkeine deutsche Synchronisation gibt. Es gibt im Grunde nur eine Version bei der ständig irgendein Scheiss auf Deutsch gebrabbelt wird, während man die englischen Untertitel lesen muss um zu verstehen was gemeint ist. Spiel auf Englisch, dann is allet tutti ;-)
If you're looking for harmony and love, go away. The female characters are just as charismatic as the main proprietor, Gerald. While you're being "rewarded" with sex just doesn't feels like "love", you'll be driven at the edge of what you can bear. At least if you're as attached to the story and sensible as I am. Don't get too attached - it's realy luring you out of your mind. Don't trust nobody, never ever. Not even those you can trust, because they'll be egoistic as hell, no matter your choices. Don't expect sympathy with your feelings, so don't give any either. So much for the social part of the game. And don't you get me wrong here: The characters are great! Strong, believable, exzentric. Story and gameplay goes deep, evolves, turns. Another hard one to swallow is, that there are so very many decisions that will get back to you way, way later. You won't be able to tell the results of what you do the first, second and third time you play this game. Sometimes it feels like you just don't have enough information to decide - sometimes you just don't like the given choices. If you're a weak hearted, this game is not for you - but you will enjoy it nonetheless. This game is not for me either, but I do love it anyways. There's so much charm in it, so much magic.. it has got me compelled completely and I just can't get off it. Maybe to "play" this game, or not to, is the most serious choice you'll ever make regarding computer games. This deed is just pregnant with consequence. In normal case, you can just go back 10 minutes and chose differently. Here you'd have to start a new game - and because The Witcher is jam-packed with this, it loses one star. This is not for the relaxing evening, this is a second life in all it's complexity, and you'll be unable to get back, once you've chosen your path. You will chose a path - you will have to deal with the consequences - there is no other option. Just as there is no ideal way, no right or wrong, no well done, no happy trees and no fairies. Erare humanum est. In fact life isn't black or white, The Witcher isn't black or white, and neither your given options will be. This can drive you crazy sometimes and that's the reason for one missing star. It's not 4 of 5 stars - it's 5 stars, but one of it is deadly black with unfullfilled desires, sadness, arrogance, hate and delusions. Yes, you will lose illusions here. For the better or worse is for you to decide. I don't need to say much about the graphics, the sound, or anything - it's just something you don't need to worry about here, because it'll satisfy you whatever it is you're expecting. You will emerge into a new world. A dark world and, while almost any game claims this, with Gerald it is true indeed. More than you'll sometimes want it to. The intoxicative atmosphere gets you drunk, disoriented, befuddled and surely will change something inside of you. In the end you'll lose real hard currency in your real life, because you'll buy the sequel that's coming soon. This is your choice - take it or leave it - there won't not be no (ha!) turning back and what has been seen can't be unseen. Massive, all-out, most uncompromising.
Meh.. I thought maybe I was too young when I played it the first time - so I tried again. But still, it's way too difficult for me. But! If you like the "you're all alone on this damn planet!" theme and if you're interested in a dying simulation (this theme alone is worth a look), you may try your luck against fevers, tigers and starvation ;-) If only the water was always clean...
I played the first title a long time ago. Today it's still as funny as it was then - but I didn't knew there were more! Haven't played them all yet - but to get this "tehe, it works!" feeling again.. it's already worth it :D
