Note: This review is based off the Xbox 360 version and will be as spoiler free as possible. I will give fair warning so you know to go hide in the shrubs, but be ye warned. Reader discretion is advised. On a side note, I did install this to my hard drive on my console and suggest you do the same for optimum performance. I experienced no carpal tunnel, irritable bowels or dementia during my "Normal" play-through, only slight insomnia. Moving on....
I remember a couple years ago getting so utterly frustrated at the release of The Witcher. At the time, my PC could barely run Joe & Mac 2: Lost in the Tropics, so how in the hades could it ever run a complex and gorgeous engine sported in a title like The Witcher? Then, The Witcher 2 surfaces, calling my name, getting rave reviews and I had to miss out again. But was all of the fuss worth the wait for The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings Enhanced Edition? Read on down the road and see for yourself.
Upon booting up The Witcher 2, you are treated to a cinematic that rivals anything you'll ever see from Pixar. I kept saying to myself how I would love to watch a whole series of anything in that amount of jaw dropping detail. Heck, I would watch "I Love Lucy" if it was done in this glorious fashion. Anyhow, you begin your role as a witcher. Witchers are unique warriors who are born and raised to decimate monsters of every assortment. Swordplay, alchemy and magic mastery are at their disposal. They are hired guns, lone renegades, rejected mercenaries accepted only when needed.
But you don't play as just any Burt Macklin, F.B.I. witcher. You play as Geralt of Rivia, a flawed gem who is revered and feared. His eyes tell all. He has such a mysterious air about him and you can sense the reluctance in the large cast characters you interact with. From recent events, Geralt's memory has been sketchy, except that he has been framed for the murder of King Foltest.
This is where it all comes together. In order to get a game right, you need to captivate the audience. In this case, the player needs to give a damn about holding hands with the character to see it through to the credits. For this to happen, you have to give the player a character they care about, then place them in situations that force compromise. You will never win with your decisions in The Witcher 2. There is always a price to pay and therein lies the victory of the narrative. It's in the weight of your decisions as Geralt.
The Witcher 2 does an excellent job of telling a story that layers plots on so thick, you'll be buried in difficult decisions, but never happier in making them.
What's a believably good story without a believable world? Absolutely nothing. The PC version took the term "eye candy" to a whole new level. The Xbox 360 version delightfully does the same by the standards of current gen consoles. Rich textures are everywhere on everything and they don't look like pixel puke. Character models are rendered splendidly and their animations are smooth and silky.
The RED engine really pushes the hardware with brilliant results. By far, this is one of the prettiest games you will see to grace the aging system.
Geralt's swordplay during combat is very well done and you are in for a treat watching the combos chain into brutal finishers. And all of this while being engrossed in lush environments that are carefully constructed. Nothing ever looks out of place in terms of how landscape is arranged. It all feels so organic and fresh.
Speaking of which, the lighting is breathtaking. Watching gorgeous sunset gradients siphoning rays through trees while the sky progressively turns to twilight is outstanding. The good thing is, the frame rate stays solid. Something I feared would surely hiccup when there are 20 billion things happening at once.
Particle effects look a little bit more toned down say to games like KOA:Reckoning, but one could argue it's fitting for the game's tone. I guess I just wanted to see a little more with the magic effects. Installing the game is recommended and will significantly help pop-in from texture loading. However, even with it installed, there is occurring pop-in, particularly noticed while changing angles in cut scenes. There were also some graphical glitches with people getting stuck in the background during conversation. Screen tearing is evident, but not severe. Nothing game breaking, moreover distracting.
The music sets the ebb and flow, giving you a dynamic experience. Brooding and ominous strings accompany the shrill shrieks of Nekkers as they charge one moment, but playing dice with a dwarf will issue in some good ole' knee slapping. The soundtrack is gorgeous and if you nab the Dark Edition, it's included on disc. Voice acting is top notch and you'll be thankful that when everyone opens their mouth, they deliver a solid performance. In a title so steeped in narrative, the effectiveness of having these performances is crucial to conveying the story. The Witcher 2 does this with ease.
Go Suck An Egg, Letho - Control and Gameplay
Sure it looks and sounds nice, but how does it handle? The adaptation from it's PC counterpart spun a guessing game of how it would translate to console. Don't worry, you'll feel right at home. Using a radial system, you can cycle through your signs (magic) and pockets holding LB and using the left thumb stick. It helps that using this menu slows down time, allowing you to get what you need when you need it.
Navigating through inventory, journals and quests all make sense and are easy to access. The map however, can be a bit deceiving. The mini map seems slightly wonky, which doesn't help that the main map lacks detail. The quest tracker seems to have a mind of it's own too. There were times where I had no idea where that thing was taking me, but it wasn't to the right destination for certain quests.
Combat revolves around two attack buttons, a dodge, a block, and a button each for magic and secondary weapons. Sounds simple enough. However, I got my head handed back to me repeatedly, learning that the button masher will end up skewered. There's a give and take to the flow of combat, reminding me of Assassin's Creed and the recent KOA: Reckoning.
You have to give the animation some time. It's not latent, there is just a groove you need to find. The A.I. are well versed for the most part, using their own tactics. Some bosses gave me trouble, others were pretty easy. You learn quickly that timing is everything and once you get the hang of it, you'll be filleting flesh in no time.
Geralt has several mastery trees you can dump points in when you level up: training, swordsmanship, alchemy and signs (magic). Each tree has many paths to take, unlocking new active and passive abilities. Some of these can be further mutated by mutagens you find for enhancement.
Meditation is key for Geralt's survivability. Making potions and oils can only be done through it and only when you aren't engaged in a fight. This spurs some planning on your end before jumping head first into a bout. Toxicity plays another role, limiting the amount of potions you can use. Oils can be put onto your swords to add effects in your favor as well. Armor and weapons can be enhanced through upgrades, given they have the slots.
Everything can work for you, it's a matter of how prepared you choose to be.
Sometimes, I had to reload a game save after being thrust into combat without warning. For the most part, you can tell danger is approaching before you go prancing in with your guard down. Crafting is also big part of The Witcher 2. Throughout your journey, you'll collect and earn diagrams that require materials. After gathering said ingredients, you can talk to a craftsman and have them made for a price.
A word to the wise, hold on to certain alchemy materials. You will need them later, as I found out the hard way. Suck.
Overwhelmed? You think there's a lot to juggle and contemplate? Well, there sure is. The Witcher 2's combat is complex, but once you understand and read your enemies, it's pretty straightforward. The cool part is in making Geralt suit your gameplay style. With all of the trees offered, the choices for enhancing your armor and mutating skills, you'll have plenty of options to change up your tactics.
I Choose Triss - Replay Value
After playing through The Witcher 2, you have to ask yourself: "What if?" The game begs for another go around. With so much added content to tackle in a completely different way than before, you can't help but give in to the possibilities. CD Projekt Red has a very fine title on their hands. It's clear that the time they nurtured into building the game's quality will pay out in the nurturing you give Geralt.
For the RPG lover looking to get lost in the mystery of The Witcher 2, you won't find your way back, but you won't want to.
But you don't play as just any Burt Macklin, F.B.I. witcher. You play as Geralt of Rivia, a flawed gem who is revered and feared. His eyes tell all. He has such a mysterious air about him and you can sense the reluctance in the large cast characters you interact with. From recent events, Geralt's memory has been sketchy, except that he has been framed for the murder of King Foltest.
Suspicion points to Letho, a witcher known as the Kingslayer. You must clear your name and get to the truth. Your decisions are very integral to the plot, and many subplots reveal themselves while trying to accomplish your main objectives. The story is broken into three acts and come the end of the first, you will be forced to choose how the next major chunk of the game will unfold for you. Knowing that there is two paths with completely different branching arcs to pursue is just awesome. This breaks up the game and offers great pacing.
This is where it all comes together. In order to get a game right, you need to captivate the audience. In this case, the player needs to give a damn about holding hands with the character to see it through to the credits. For this to happen, you have to give the player a character they care about, then place them in situations that force compromise. You will never win with your decisions in The Witcher 2. There is always a price to pay and therein lies the victory of the narrative. It's in the weight of your decisions as Geralt.
The Witcher 2 does an excellent job of telling a story that layers plots on so thick, you'll be buried in difficult decisions, but never happier in making them.
The story deals in many situations: betrayal, deception, greed, lies, anger, politics, anguish, survival on a backbone of regicide. And just fair warning, if you haven't gathered that this is an adult game, let me just say: this is an adult game. This isn't a JRPG with sass, this is an all-out dark title jam-packed with violence, sex, nudity, language, blood and gore. Rated "M" for good reason, but let that not deter you. The presentation of this gritty backdrop brings a level of relation no other game has achieved. A truly unique experience told through it's high caliber production value.
Hear Beauty, See Beauty - Sound and Visuals
What's a believably good story without a believable world? Absolutely nothing. The PC version took the term "eye candy" to a whole new level. The Xbox 360 version delightfully does the same by the standards of current gen consoles. Rich textures are everywhere on everything and they don't look like pixel puke. Character models are rendered splendidly and their animations are smooth and silky.
The RED engine really pushes the hardware with brilliant results. By far, this is one of the prettiest games you will see to grace the aging system.
Geralt's swordplay during combat is very well done and you are in for a treat watching the combos chain into brutal finishers. And all of this while being engrossed in lush environments that are carefully constructed. Nothing ever looks out of place in terms of how landscape is arranged. It all feels so organic and fresh.
Speaking of which, the lighting is breathtaking. Watching gorgeous sunset gradients siphoning rays through trees while the sky progressively turns to twilight is outstanding. The good thing is, the frame rate stays solid. Something I feared would surely hiccup when there are 20 billion things happening at once.
Particle effects look a little bit more toned down say to games like KOA:Reckoning, but one could argue it's fitting for the game's tone. I guess I just wanted to see a little more with the magic effects. Installing the game is recommended and will significantly help pop-in from texture loading. However, even with it installed, there is occurring pop-in, particularly noticed while changing angles in cut scenes. There were also some graphical glitches with people getting stuck in the background during conversation. Screen tearing is evident, but not severe. Nothing game breaking, moreover distracting.
The music sets the ebb and flow, giving you a dynamic experience. Brooding and ominous strings accompany the shrill shrieks of Nekkers as they charge one moment, but playing dice with a dwarf will issue in some good ole' knee slapping. The soundtrack is gorgeous and if you nab the Dark Edition, it's included on disc. Voice acting is top notch and you'll be thankful that when everyone opens their mouth, they deliver a solid performance. In a title so steeped in narrative, the effectiveness of having these performances is crucial to conveying the story. The Witcher 2 does this with ease.
Go Suck An Egg, Letho - Control and Gameplay
Sure it looks and sounds nice, but how does it handle? The adaptation from it's PC counterpart spun a guessing game of how it would translate to console. Don't worry, you'll feel right at home. Using a radial system, you can cycle through your signs (magic) and pockets holding LB and using the left thumb stick. It helps that using this menu slows down time, allowing you to get what you need when you need it.
Navigating through inventory, journals and quests all make sense and are easy to access. The map however, can be a bit deceiving. The mini map seems slightly wonky, which doesn't help that the main map lacks detail. The quest tracker seems to have a mind of it's own too. There were times where I had no idea where that thing was taking me, but it wasn't to the right destination for certain quests.
Combat revolves around two attack buttons, a dodge, a block, and a button each for magic and secondary weapons. Sounds simple enough. However, I got my head handed back to me repeatedly, learning that the button masher will end up skewered. There's a give and take to the flow of combat, reminding me of Assassin's Creed and the recent KOA: Reckoning.
You have to give the animation some time. It's not latent, there is just a groove you need to find. The A.I. are well versed for the most part, using their own tactics. Some bosses gave me trouble, others were pretty easy. You learn quickly that timing is everything and once you get the hang of it, you'll be filleting flesh in no time.
Geralt has several mastery trees you can dump points in when you level up: training, swordsmanship, alchemy and signs (magic). Each tree has many paths to take, unlocking new active and passive abilities. Some of these can be further mutated by mutagens you find for enhancement.
Meditation is key for Geralt's survivability. Making potions and oils can only be done through it and only when you aren't engaged in a fight. This spurs some planning on your end before jumping head first into a bout. Toxicity plays another role, limiting the amount of potions you can use. Oils can be put onto your swords to add effects in your favor as well. Armor and weapons can be enhanced through upgrades, given they have the slots.
Everything can work for you, it's a matter of how prepared you choose to be.
Sometimes, I had to reload a game save after being thrust into combat without warning. For the most part, you can tell danger is approaching before you go prancing in with your guard down. Crafting is also big part of The Witcher 2. Throughout your journey, you'll collect and earn diagrams that require materials. After gathering said ingredients, you can talk to a craftsman and have them made for a price.
A word to the wise, hold on to certain alchemy materials. You will need them later, as I found out the hard way. Suck.
Overwhelmed? You think there's a lot to juggle and contemplate? Well, there sure is. The Witcher 2's combat is complex, but once you understand and read your enemies, it's pretty straightforward. The cool part is in making Geralt suit your gameplay style. With all of the trees offered, the choices for enhancing your armor and mutating skills, you'll have plenty of options to change up your tactics.
I Choose Triss - Replay Value
After playing through The Witcher 2, you have to ask yourself: "What if?" The game begs for another go around. With so much added content to tackle in a completely different way than before, you can't help but give in to the possibilities. CD Projekt Red has a very fine title on their hands. It's clear that the time they nurtured into building the game's quality will pay out in the nurturing you give Geralt.
For the RPG lover looking to get lost in the mystery of The Witcher 2, you won't find your way back, but you won't want to.
Yays:
+ Unrivaled narrative and universe
+ Satisfying and visceral combat with depth
+ Plethora of customization to tackling gameplay
+ Enhanced Edition adds more reasons to come back
Nays:
- Wonky map and mini map
- Wonkier quest tracker
- Texture pop-in
- Minimal screen tearing
- Minimal screen tearing
 |
4.75 out of 5 Werewolf Unicorns
"RAVENOUS"
"RAVENOUS"
