The Witcher

1. MarkO.

   Jan 29, 2010

   10

   One of the most captivating rpgs that I have ever played. Something that I truly appreciate about the game is that it is often difficult to One of the most captivating rpgs that I have ever played. Something that I truly appreciate about the game is that it is often difficult to predict future events. This game is not focused entirely on loot, skills (although there's a wide variety), and other distracting (though important, I know) features. The game is all about the story. The developers intentionally put less loot into the game so that the player would not be distracted by superficial materials. The main character, Gerault, instead, grapples with challenging decisions during the course of the game. In most games today, it is a matter of good vs. evil (take Oblivion, Mass Effect, or Dragon Age for example), in which good usually prevails in a concrete, simple fashion. But, here we have a game where the line between good and evil is difficult to draw and define. You really need to analyze the plot to get a sense of Gerault's purpose in the game and whether his actions are good or bad. You might think that the main character is this nice guy that sets out to destory some evil nemesis (sadly the plotline of most games today), but you're really dealing with a much more complicated plot (which makes it interesting of course). Gerault commits wrongdoings like gambling, drinking, adultery, and etc. which shows how he is flawed despite his heroic deeds (he is indeed a tragic figure). I also found the ending very profound and philosophical. Unlike most video games, you'll actually find some insights into the human character. You'll question whether it is right to interfere with nature, and ask whether it's right to live in an ideal world. The quality of the artistry, dialogue, music, and gameplay is also very good. Overall, good game. At least give it a try. It will stick with you, I promise.… Expand

   • 24 of 26 users found this helpful
2. BobS.

   Nov 3, 2007

   10

   Best game i've played in a VERY long time. Nothing like a good story to get me interested in games again. I must be getting old since I Best game i've played in a VERY long time. Nothing like a good story to get me interested in games again. I must be getting old since I feel like i've played every game before. Not this one though!… Expand

   • 1 of 1 users found this helpful
4. AdrianH.

   Dec 7, 2007

   10

   This is simply the best CRPG game I played since Planescape:Torment and Baldur's Gate II. I must admit, I'm a big fan of This is simply the best CRPG game I played since Planescape:Torment and Baldur's Gate II. I must admit, I'm a big fan of Sapkowski's books about The Witcher, so my opinion may be a bit biased, but still... it's a really great game with deep, immersive story - even if it still has a few technical problems, like long loading times etc.… Expand

   • 1 of 1 users found this helpful
5. MikeC.

   Oct 26, 2007

   9

   Brilliant immersive RPG based on a modified Bopware Aurora engine. Strides above NWN2 and MOTB, brilliant storyline, impressive graphics and Brilliant immersive RPG based on a modified Bopware Aurora engine. Strides above NWN2 and MOTB, brilliant storyline, impressive graphics and just after a few hours play, you're totally engrossed.… Expand

   • 1 of 2 users found this helpful
6. Pr8Dator

   Mar 7, 2014

   9

   The Witcher is a game that feels dated by today's standard but strangely one game that despite its flaws, never fails to have me glued to itThe Witcher is a game that feels dated by today's standard but strangely one game that despite its flaws, never fails to have me glued to it two to three hours a time, for me, thats a very long time to be playing games! The clicking style combat is boring for me and serves no purpose but its really the story that keeps me glued to the game for hours a time. The whole world is so alive with everything and everyone living their own lives with or without you. There's so many ways to handle everything that you can really get creative... want to buy a kickass piece of gear? You can either gamble for it, fight for it, trade stuffs for it... etc... its just how much you want it. This is truly an amazing piece of RPG which doesn't really deliver on the action side but its RPG elements are what I have never seen before... much better than Baldur's Gate. If you want good action and awesome enemy design, this is not the game for you... every other action games out there ace this game in terms of these two areas but if you want a DEEP, and I mean DEEEEEP, RPG... this is for you!… Expand

   • 1 of 2 users found this helpful
7. JasonJ.

   Dec 23, 2007

   8

   Good so far, but the game has some problems. If those problems were fixed before release, Witcher would have been in serious contention for Good so far, but the game has some problems. If those problems were fixed before release, Witcher would have been in serious contention for GOTY. As it stands, it's nominations are clearly just a well-deserved nod. Witcher is a game driven by story-- and since it is, the translation to English needed to have been more thorough. Dialog vital to plot and character development is sometimes very poorly translated, or often it's just elided, which can make things downright confusing. There are also questionable word choices; it is jarring to hear modern slang used in a setting that is so successful at being visually medieval and other-worldly. The graphics are stellar, notwithstanding that they are built with a heavily modded version of a 6+ year old engine; and although it runs about twice as good, CDProjekt's version of Aurora still contains some of the flaws that hurt NWN2: Archaic character movement, general camera wonkiness, and irremediable texture tearing-- just to name a few. Some reviewers love the new 'click to chain' attack system, but I am not thrilled by it, even if it seems like it is the best that the devs could do with Aurora's native 'one click to defeat enemy' mechanics. The motion-captured medieval fighting styles, which is a truly awesome thing that other games should copy as soon as possible, don't get the treatment they deserve during combat, but they look fantastic during the many, NWN2/KOTOR-styled cutscenes. (The way the PC holds up his arms when entering 'strong stance' looks so bad, it causes some serious cognitive dissonance, while matted against such beautiful environments and non-mobile NPCs.) I started with patch 1.2 and have a high-end single GPU PC with 4 gigs of RAM; the loading is intrusive but not as horrible as it sounds like it might have been (or is) with earlier builds or for midrange or worse machines. Again, the combat itself is not very impressive, and is for me, so far, the major drawback of the game; I really wish it were better. The visuals generally, and the overall aesthetic, however, are in my opinion exactly what a fantasy-RPG should have. Leather looks like leather, steel like steel; the 'medieval' world is gritty and realistic. No one looks like a superhero made of plastic wrap. You don't get a +7 bastard sword of awesomeness. The horse carts are shabby and have wheels that wobble. The music is decent but not great, the Foley sounds are good, but the voice acting is hit and miss; most of the time it's nice stuff from someone you've never heard before; often it's downright cringeworthy, from someone you hope you never have to hear again. (One of the main NPCs, who is beautifully rendered, and has the best hair I think I've ever seen in any game ever, clearly doesn't 'get' the nuances of voice acting for games, where dialog needs to always be spoken with a hint of ambiguity so that the dialog trees don't turn out confusing or contrary-- not just however she feels like shading it at that moment.) The sexual conquest mechanic that earned the game a censored version for U.S. distribution, with it's post-coital dirty playing card mementos, is titillating and superfluous, but at least someone went there and set a precedent for adult-themed content. Short and sweet: Witcher falls somewhere between NWN2 and Oblivion, probably more on the NWN2 side. With some vigorous post-production for the English version, it could have possibly earned GOTY and an easy 9+. As it is, I've given it a very solid 8.… Expand

   • 1 of 2 users found this helpful
8. Ivoren

   Jul 15, 2021

   0

   Long load times. Boring. Too much reference to the book. The worse game od series.

   • 0 of 0 users found this helpful

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