(NOTE: I am reviewing only the Witcher 2 and not the software security protection (DRM). The version I purchased was DRM free, therefore I can't discuss any issues with its implementation. I know many PC gamers, have strong feelings about DRM, and I understand the attention the subject garners as strict DRM can be very aggravating for game owners. If this issue is important to you, be aware that avenues for obtaining DRM-free copies of this game can be readily available. Now, on to the game review.)
**SPOILER FREE**
**Updated** 5-19-11
5-23-11
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I gave this game 5 stars, and I feel it easily deserves each one. Plain and simple, I like this game. It may not be 100% perfect but it's engrossing and vastly pleasurable. There are several PC game sequels of late, which have been more concerned about their playability and reception on home console systems than being true to the original quality that won them acclaim (I'm glancing at you Dragon Age and Crysis). Thankfully, the Witcher 2, feels like a glossy more gracile version of the first incarnation, while still hitting the spot for the PC crowd.
The Witcher 2
The Witcher 2 is an exceptional game. The pacing is better than the first iteration and the story is arguably more engrossing. If you are new to the Witcher games, you may feel a little lost during the first 30 minutes, but you will soon be acclimated and well on your way to becoming a deft monster-slaying machine. If you are reading this review to see if your child will enjoy this game, you can stop right here. This game is made for adults. The language, violence and intense sexual themes lend themselves to a mature audience.
The Graphics
The character models in the Witcher 2 are far better looking than the Witcher original enhanced edition. The characters feel alive and their movements look fluid and natural. The skin models are more realistic than ever, with the lead character showing the deep skin gouges and scarring one would expect from such a dangerous profession. However, the real graphical achievements in this game might be the structures and environments. Some are simply stunning, while others lend themselves to the mood of the area whether it's a dark damp cave or a dimly-lit forest. Unlike, some of the console-friendly sequels that have come to market lately, this game allows the user to adjust a myriad of graphic settings such as : texture scaling, texture memory, shadow quality, LOD distance, bloom, light shafts, blur effects, anti-aliasing, depth of field, rain and wet surface effects, motion blur, resolution etc. This is a great game to show off your high-end graphics card, or to simply revel in PC-superiority in terms of gaming visuals. I have a pretty decent gaming rig (my system specs follow my review at the bottom), and I was pleased that I was unable to play the game at the maximum graphics settings without my system sputtering a bit.
The Sound
Wow. The sweet sounds of the Witcher 2. The music is fantastic adding to the mood and excitement of each moment in the game, it's a soundtrack worthy of a $40 million dollar summer blockbuster film. The voice acting is a bit better this time around. You still encounter the occasional character who sounds a little less than natural, but there is not much to complain about overall. The main characters (such as Geralt) sound believable, sinister and downright cool.
The Gameplay
Combat Control
The gameplay in my opinion is vastly improved. In the original game I occasionally had issues making Geralt perform the action I wanted, or hit the enemy I intended. That issue has been remedied and instead the player is left with an obedient avatar slaying and playing the way he/she intends. The combat system is more dynamic, too, no longer do your spells take up their own mouse button- nor is switching between spells a cumbersome task. In the first game, I disliked the idea of having to switch to a fighting mode, whether it be group, strong, or fast. I also grew bored timing my attacks to the hit indicator (like a constant and repetitive mini-game)in order to string longer combo's together. I wanted the fights to be more fluid without me having to tinker with what "mode" I was in. Thankfully, the developers seem to have agreed and replaced the system with a more seamless combat system. Gerald can now fight a group of enemies, without having to change the fight style or account for what armor the enemy is wearing. The fighting is not easy, you will have to block and evade in order to overcome enemies. So, if you are like some, and wanted to stand in the middle of a group of enemies and swing your sword like Conan to slay them all in one swoop, this is the wrong game. It requires, technique, something a master-swordsmen would likely possess. Be wary of some of the comments others are making about the combat system, it's obvious they have not progressed far enough into the game to have unlocked some of the more deadly and impressive fighting techniques. Those techniques will come in due time and Geralt will become significantly more deadly, easing some of the normal battle encounters.
Game Path
On the cerebral, emotional side of things, the dialog choices the Witcher2 forces the player to make are ambitious. The consequences of choices bear real weight. I often paused to reflect on my dialog options before settling on a response knowing that the outcome could shape my entire experience. Occasionally when you pick an option in the dialog Geralt will surprise you (normally by being overly aggressive or confrontational) while this might be against the players intentions, it's often rather entertaining.
Game Difficulty
When the game prompts you to choose your difficulty, take it seriously. If you are a skilled RPG player and you choose EASY you will likely still die a handful of times through your journey. If you choose NORMAL, you might die within the first 10 minutes of gameplay depending which dialog options you chose (as this may give you a difficult initial sequence). Choosing HARD, will make battles seem at times laborious and incredibly challenging, you will die often. Now, if you choose INSANE (and my hats off to you brave witcher), it's just that, insane. Should you die in this mode its game over, there is no re-loading and trying again. Cool option to have though, right?
In fact, if you are not a hardcore gamer I would recommend you put the game on easy. If you read some of the negative reviews here on Amazon it is often due to difficulty, which then the reviewer blames on the game- when they could just opt for an easier setting.
Game Length and Size
The game is rich and weighs in about 15.9G of data (take that SSD!). The game lasts about 40 hours, per the developers claim. Yet, the replayability is quite high, as there are a variety of different endings and paths to take.
The Bottom Line
If you are hungry for an RPG with rich graphics,challenging combat, a gripping non-linear story and a level of polish rarely seen in games, purchase the Witcher 2. The development team behind the Witcher 2 is arguably one of the coolest around and obviously poured their hearts into this project. In fact, they provided some of the best free downloadable content for their original game long after most of the sales were finalized. If you have a question about the game, feel free to leave a comment. I will try to answer ASAP. Happy hunting.
PRO:
- Great Graphics
- Fun Story
- Dialog is well-written and inventive
- Multiple endings
- Rewarding system for leveling
- Downloadable content
- Designed for adult audiences
- well-developed characters
- engrossing world to explore
- excellent story-telling devices
- developer support
CON:
- Difficulty may be out of scale, easy is not easy.
- Occasionally unresponsive controls (button presses every once in awhile will not elicit a response)
- (very)Minor story flubs (Elf character spares a defeated enemy, the next scene he swears to kill him once he finds him)
- Some users report bugs(not me, but I have seen enough people mention them to validate the claims)
- Not for Children (Strong sexual content and language)
- Endings feel abrupt, rushed and non-climatic, there are great moments in the game, the endings are not one of them.
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MY System Specs While Playing The Witcher 2:
CPU: Sandy Bridge Core i5 2500k, Overclocked to 4.4ghz, Antec Kuhler 620 H2O CPU cooler.
Motherboard: Asus Sabertooth P67
GPU: (2x SLI) MSI N560GTX-TI Twin Frozr II/OC GeForce GTX 560 Ti (Fermi) 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card
MEMORY: G-Skillz 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory (overclocked)
PSU: Antec Truepower 23754 TP-750 BLUE LED 750-Watt PSU NVIDIA SLI Certified 80 Plus Bronze Advanced Hybrid Cable Management Power Supply
CASE: Silverstone Raven-02EW
