The Witcher

I started it, but with so many games around it's hard to find time for it. The combat system I find interesting, the control scheme a little clunky (I would've preferred they kept mouse-based movement of the Aurora engine, like in NWN2). The story seems fairly disjointed so far, but I didn't make it very far into the game either.

What turns me off RPGs is that they strive to be too open. It's no fun when the openness comes from 20 quests shoved into your quest log in 5 minutes. The journal system in Witcher leaves something to be desired too, some quests I've come across had very vague descriptions.

Maybe I'm just drifting away from being able to play RPGs, though. It looks like a good game, I just need to invest a bit more time in it I think

Interesting. Most people always ask for more openness in a game. Your one of the few that find many RPGs too open.

And I 100% agree which is one of the reasons I thought this game was so refreshing. While you still have a lot of decisions to make, it is somewhat more linear. This allows for much more in depth story telling which is one of the things that has got me hooked on this game .

My ideal definition of open isn't that you have 100 things you can do at once, but that you have multiple ways of doing one thing That's what gives RPGs replayability, not really quest count.

It doesn't matter if the game has 500 or 1000 quests, if they always play out the same way you'll get tired of it quickly. I know Witcher is trying to stay away from that by making a lot of things based on your own moral decisions (I did get to play out the Village vs Witch thing, that I thought was pretty awesome). It's mainly the "fluff" quests that frustrate me in Witcher.. like having to kill x of this mob, but first finding a book or some way to get their entry into your bestiary log. I know you can skip them, but I've always been a perfectionist and try to do everything

I'll assume you got fairly far, does the same thing continue? And how intricate does the main plot get? No spoilers please

I am nearly finished chapter 2. So a bit farther than you.

I play much like you do. I don't like to leave a stone unturned. This has meant I have progressed quite slowly through the game. I have played for over a week for a couple of hours every night and I am only near the end of chapter 2 (of 5 chapters + the epilogue). The game definitely offers a lot of play time.

There is also a lot of replay value too. Already I am thinking of how things would of turned out if I had made different choices.

The same pattern does continue though. There are a lot of "fluff" quests, as you call them, like optional contracts. I don't mind them too much now that I understand the pattern. I gather up as many quests as I can before I move on to the next "stage" of the game and that allows me to finish up a bunch of quests at once without having to run back and forth. A lot of quests also have a lot of synergy between them. So while you do get a decent number of quests in your journal, many of the quests will revolve around the same characters.

If you enjoyed the story in chapter one I think you will be pleased with how it continues in chapter two. The only bit of info I will throw your way is that you get to play the role of an investigator. Granted some parts of the story need a bit of imagination to tie together but I find I am very willing to suspend my disbelief for this game. A game has not done that for me in quite some time.

I found those bestiary logs very helpful. Not only do they allow you to fulfill contracts but they give good information about what tactics to use against a mob; silver or steel sword and what stance to use. They also give some clues about where to find them.

BTW I am not sure what you find clunky about the UI. I find it is very reminiscent of NVW2. I suppose the biggest difference is that you can't zoom out quite as far. I do use the W key to move forward much of the time. But for fighting I just about use the mouse (and pause button) exclusively.

So this game is good? I am sorta MEH about RPGs...

Well.. what don't you like about RPGs? If you can give a list of that, we can tell you if any of it is in Witcher

Let me give 2 examples, I loved Fable The Lost Chapters, but hated Neverwinter Nights. Which one is the Witcher more like?

I barely played Fable.. Witcher I think is more NWN-ish, but you don't get party members to worry about and such. The areas are fairly large with lots of stuff to do. In Fable I remember fairly few quests and lots of little areas. The character development system in Witcher is also a lot simpler (but at the same time more rewarding) than NWN's. In Witcher, the skills you get are usually pretty dramatic and noticeable, NWN is all based on numbers and slight increases

Sorry I can't make a better comparison since I hardly know one of the games

Hmmm sounds interesting, i shalt google it for more info...

No...

I would think Witcher is more like Fable. I loved Fable for some reason. I have never been a person that liked cute games which I think Fable is but I really enjoyed it. The game allowes you freedom to do fluff quest hehe, so that is why I would make it out more like witcher. Has a story that you can choose to do or just happily run along along doing other non important things, make choices that effect how people relate to you as well how they percieve you in the game world. For Instance I did not think my horns in fable could grow that big hehe.

Neverwinter Nights 1 and 2 is more direct, you do have your side quest but it is not fluff quest they help you more to recieve Powerfull Items that might not be available in the Quest missions. i must say the they fact that your racial traits effect how people speak to you is a bonus for me since it provides that feel of depth in the story. Although, i would have been upset if people did not fear me Tiefling Character.

I think I might try a Aasimar next.

I have Withcer on my desk, I have have about 5 other brand new games on my desk that I have not had the chance to play. Currently busy playing the OC of Neverwinter Nights 2 and add-on... Very enjoyable so far I must say after a long days work. With SINS in between ofcourse hehe.

as a gamer i have this game, its awesome, considering the grahix and the realism that it holds.
the only thing that it lacks is the freedom of Oblivion or other games like it.
but i have had issues with it such as crashing at loading screens, but i have fixed it
other than that great story line and gameplay, i was addicted to it for the longest time.

I thought they did? You can swtich between an over-the-shoulder 3rd person view controlled by keyboard and mouse, and an isometric view controllable with just the mouse. I think it's F11 by default (it's an option that you need to select as soon as you start a new game)

On a separate note, the animated finishing attacks are awesome. Like when an opponent is knocked down and Geralt slams the hilt of his sword into their chest. OUCH.

IIRC all the swordplay was mo-capped and then sent to the animators for modifications.

You can use standard point-and-click control in Witcher: press F3 or use the options. I have no idea why you'd want to play it that way, but they put the option in for blinkered purists to useif they want. You miss out on a lot of the intensity, and I don't see any reason at all to use the 'far' camera without a team, but hey, I don't see the point of the pause option either.

The game had problems (enough so that they're re-releasing it), but it's the only western RPG I can play without throwing it away in disgust over it's ridiculous linearity or terrible reams of text. Witcher is more of an adventure game, really, with quests involving investigation, dialog and problem-solving, rather than 'kill teh wolfs lol'. It has no balance (telekinesis is basically a win button), but the story is interesting and not the juvenile nonsense that is most RPGs. The unforeseen consequenes are great stuff. Sadly it's hopelessly inefficient: it runs a bit flaky even on 8800GTs, which is crazy for the level of graphics in the game.

Frankly I thank the lord jesus that Witcher doesn't have the arcane fanservice system NWN2 used.

Plz note that its based off of series of books writen by a polish guy. From what i have found its a very good series to pick up but its still being traslated. As for the game i do like it im nearing the end of chapter 2.

I've got the game and the 1st book translated into English. To me it's a bit like the write ups to STALKER i've seen - namely a bit of a flawed gem.

It has very many pluses and is worth a go. Future installments should only get better. On the other hand its quite possible to trigger quest/sub-quest waymarks without actually doing them at which point the interaction with NPC's and the resultant dialogue goes into Mad Mode.

On balance i'd rather play Oblivion.

I dont like the Witcher! it is very boring =(

but!!! muthic are very good!!!

 

 

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