The Witcher 2
Disclosure: I did play The Witcher 1, and let me just say, it was rough, really rough. From performance issues to getting lost in a complex and slow moving story, Geralts first PC adventure was a laborious trek. It did feel good to finish it, though I wish I could say the same for playing it. Naturally finishing the first game led me to the inevitable sequel, all that stood in the way of the third and most delicious entry in the series, Witcher 3. So how was the 2nd game?
Let's get this party started
Our tale starts with Geralt in a heap of trouble after being mistaken for the games subtitle: an Assassin of Kings. With the help of Vernon Roche, Triss Merigold, and a merry band of side characters, Geralt must unravel a plot so sinister that it threatens the very political stability of the northern kingdoms. Whilst dealing with beasts and bandits, Geralt's memory will slowly return and answer the question we've all been asking for years, wtf is the 'Wild Hunt'? The Witcher 2 answers some important questions and builds the hype to a game we fortunately don't have to wait for.
Another rough start
No matter how great a games story is, you still have to play the damn thing, unless you work for IGN. So here come's the complaining. Initially the game is tough, almost unplayable. Combat has been modernized to the point of resembling a clumsy Ninja Gaiden. Dodgeroll, slice, die. Some would say it's a 'souls like', I couldn't tell you though, I haven't even tried Dark Souls yet. Geralt's starting combat abilities match his gear, crappy and ineffective, though that's the point of RPG games, get better and dish out the payback to the bullies that kicked sand in your mutant face. Later on I would find combat to be almost easy with some decent leveling, but that can be said of many RPGs.
Some new tricks
The Witcher 2 accommodates butter-fingered players with a brand new weapons wheel. Slow the action and select the sword, magic, shuriken, or bomb you need. It's not a perfect system, but allows the use of a controller. I found the hold-release style of throwing mechanics clunky and impractical. Enemies are going to rush you anyways, so I opted for sword play and did fine. The inventory is where you'll equip your armor, swords, knives, etc, but this time instead of a huge grid, it's a tab based system that can works nicer with a controller, and this, in my opinion, is a gamepad optimized game. Not that I minded.
Same Old Geralt
Keeping faithful to the first game, The Witcher 2 revolves around monster hunting, questing, womanizing and classic rpg leveling. Monsters drop loot, merchants sell items, smiths can forge as long as you have the blueprints and materials. This all maintains the gameplay loop of the first game, but I'm not complaining. CD Projekt Red laid the foundation out, now it's all about perfection. My only complaint here, is that the final chapter is pretty short, so there were a lot of high quality items I never crafted. But my hindsight would come in handy for a second playthrough, and not just for that high quality armor...
Which way does a Witcher go?
The Witcher 2 pushes multi-choice storytelling to surprising degree. At pivotal moments in the game there are branching story paths that greatly alter the outcome of the game. This spills over to The Witcher 3 which allows Witcher 2 game saves to be imported, just to keep the story consistent. Taking one objective over the other, the choice you make in dialogue, it has consequences. Throughout the campaign I was sweating bullets deciding who's 'right' or if I should let someone live, or even succumb to a gruesome fate. I didn't get to be my own character, but I got be me my own Geralt to some degree, all in a world of moral greys and complexity. When someone says the Witcher 2's story is the main selling point, they're not lying.
Roll credits
Final boss slain and dialogue spoken, The Witcher 2 really left me hyped for the next game. The plot and characters are a lot more interesting now than before, but just as importantly the gameplay is moving closer to perfection. The Witcher 3 is the greatest rpg of all time according to some, so I'll be putting that claim to the test. But until then, toss a coin to your blogger, Comrades.
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