Welp, I finished the game (first play through) earlier today (neeeded sleep so waited till now to give my final reveiw (for time being...)

Lets go with the Easy stuff first!

Graphically this game is stunning and stays stunning through out. Amazing game visually and if this engine is flexible and allows for more complexe gameplay designs, I hope some other independant studios start to use this. It will REALLY bump up the independant studios who usually dont have the bank roll of the big corperate developers like Blizzard, SOE, and now Bioware.

Storywise, I didnt enjoy the story as much as I did The Witcher 1, but I still give it a A rating (90%-95% score). Saying I didnt enjoy it as much as part 1 should NOT be taken as it being a bad or lacking story. Depth wise, concept wise, almost everything was on equal footing with The Witcher 1 storyline wise. The area that came up lesser (but not lacking, just lesser) was immesion. I simply didnt feel the same connection to Geralt, Zoltan, Dandelion, or Triss this time around.

Daring to say it, it was almost like the game was so visually stunning, the debelopers knew this and didnt work as hard this time around selling the characters and making them important to you! Far to often after meeting Zoltan and Dandelion, they had nothing to say but preprogramed responces rather then fleshed out conversations. As for Triss, while im not complaining, she quickly became nothing more then eye candy for most of game. I guess I wanted more regarding these characters as I love the writings and the first game so much and felt a connection still not explored fully.

Anouther issue with the Witcher2 is its advertised as a stand alone RPG adventure where you dont need to play the previous game or read the previous writings. I dont not feel this is 100% honest.

*Please note, none of this a issue for me because I did read the stories and did play the original like 12 times*

The first glaring issue is Yennifer, I dont think its every truely explained in TW2 who she is to Geralt prior to the first flashback of her (Ill leave that vague as she plays a important part in story from then on). I know the back story so I understood it all but Im 100% certain people who havent read the writings are confused and left wondering!

2) Through out the game characters respond to you "arnt you the guy that killed so and so?" or "hey I knew you from ...." with no more explaination. These are occurances from first game and if someone didnt play the first game they would be lost. I even read the books about Vizima to see if they explain the characters and nope, they dont! CDProjekt needed to flesh out these responces more. They add to game sure but not really if you no idea who or what they speaking of.

3) Speaking of The Witcher 1, My saved games are on a different hard drive as my old motherboard blew up so I took advantage to upgrade my main harddrive when I replaced mother board and vid card and everything. So because of that, I cant import my saved game files from it. Normally when you imprt a saved game file you direct game where to look but with The Witcher 2, if its not on that harddrive your SOL, and that sucks. I got The Witcher 1 on Steam for $10.00 and that was still 2 years ago now. People upgrade their equipment. One of the reasons (not only reason) I was so determined to recover and use that old harddrive with out formating it upon activation of the new motherboard WAS TO HAVE TW1 Saved game files.

So in a nut shell, everything about this game except the following item scores a 9 outta 10 or higher.

Then we come to combat!
Now if you read the GOG forums you will quickly see a battle forming between the older tactical/stratagy crowd of RPG players and the younger minded, more modern/with the times twitch/action style RPG player. At first I was VERY TURNED OFF by the combat in The Witcher 2 and almost shut down game and walked away when I encountered the first boss mob (Kayran). I ranted and screamed about how I didnt like the combat and what not and the kids were more then happy to proclaim their "self appointed" superiority and talk about how they had no issues with the combat, like that was helpful in anyway.

Finally my anger faded and I sat down to figure out what I needed to do to stop having so much trouble in this game. The answer was amazingly simple. STOP THINKING, STOP PLANING, STOP TREATING THIS GAME TACTICALLY! Figure out the patern and repeat it mindlessly. And thats what I did and quickly found myself raising the difficulty level from easy back up to hard setting (ill never have the reflexs for above hard settings).

The issue here is this game is clearly designed (gameplay wise) for consoles, not PCs. Your fist fighting, not so surprisingly, has 4 keyboard buttons that will quickly and easily switch over to the game controllers 4 bottom set up!
The menus are all designed for you to enter via 1 click/button and then move a directional pad to area you want (meditation is very obvious on this).
And the conmbat is your standard JRPG (or Bioware game) movement plus button push attack rather then the more advanced hot bar style combat where you utilize different attack styles and abilities (on cool down timers) and out think the encounter.

So if you like console style combat, your going to love this games combat/gameplay. I sadly expected more from a game that was being promted loudly and longly as a ADULT RPG FOR PC PLAYERS.

Even the first boss, I spent 3+ hours fustrated on it as I was trying to think and plan and use my different abilities and use different ideas and concepts and all were failing. Turns out the first boss is nothing more then a patern fight, you do the patern and you win, appearently everytime with ease. Your other abilities and what not are meaningless and in no senario will they help you! Simply do the patern! It was actually this fight that everything clicked finally and I simply stopped thinking regarding gameplay and combat!

BUT LET ME BE CLEAR, you dont play The Witcher 2 for its combat. You play The Witcher 2 for its story, its non linear play, its adult setting (which I admit they overdid in areas with the swearing. Some swearing sets enviroment and atmosphere, to much swearing and your once again pandering to 15 year olds (age wise or mentality) as those the only ones impressed with excessive swearing I find.

This game delivers on the areas it matters and the areas that will draw people to the game.

Ive finished 1 play through, I have 15 left to go. I dont know if Ill do all 15 more to be honest, but I played The Witcher 12 times and I can see a good 6-7 runs with The Witcher 2 because as you play you see all the different crossroads where making a different choice will develop a entirely new conclussion and playing out of events. This game most definately has replayability. Not as much as The Witcher 1 (and thats completely and utterly on the gameplay/combat IMO) but far more then recent titles like DA2 (refused to purchase), Mass Effect 2 (played 1.5 times, had no real replayability that mattered and was more a action shooter with a backstory then a RPG) and other titles.

The one thing im kinda excited on, but also bummed is the ending! I wont go into specifics and spoil for anyone (and besides there is sooooo many different paths to choose from, I couldnt possibly speak to them all anyways) but its very clear The Witcher is now a trilogy (or more) series. Yes, events of this game are finished...kinda. And thats where I have mixed feelings.

Im thrilled to learn that more Witchers coming out but at same time feel like I didnt really fully resolve this games issues!

LOL, then again, I remember the decades where you play a great RPG and anouther one never came, despite great sales. Guess I should just be happy that this game will most definately have a follow up and I just hope and pray CDProjekt learns from the comments about TW2 gameplay/combat and makes a true PC game next time around and 2) We dont have to wait 4-5 years for the next title :) Hopefully as they have the engine and own the engine, we looking at 2 years max for the next game!

Thats my reveiw, in the end I give The Witcher 2 7.5/10 score. And if you dont mind (or even like) console gameplay on a PC title, the score goes up to 9-9.5/10.

Far as RPGs in recent history go!
This isnt Mass Effect, Dragon Age: Origin, or The Witcher
But its a whole hell of alot better then Mass Effect 2 or Dragon Age 2

I guess The Witcher 2 will slip down to just below the Old SSI Gold Box Games on my all time RPG list!

1) Mass Effect
2-3) Tie: Dragon Age: Origin/The Witcher
4) Knights of the Old Republic 2
5) Knights of the Old Republic
6) Jade Empire
7) Neverwinter Nights (SSI Gold Box game, first MMORPG ever)
8) Dark Age of Camelot
9-17) SSI Gold single player games (excluding Spelljammer)
18) The Witcher 2
19) Knights of Legend
20) Might and Magic 1

Depending on your reasoning I should love the combat in this game. I love God of War and its combat.
However I think the combat in TW2 is not very well built. It got all kinds of problems. Auto targeting and limited blocking in number and direction cripples it tremendously.
Even though I usually heavily prefer direct realtime combat, I think the combat of The Witcher 1 was splendid for an RPG.
They should have either kept that or went for a complete action based combat system like in GoW.

I can see people's frustration with combat. I played it on my 360 controller from start to finish and I must say it was extremely pleasant really fun targetting is not hard at all. I don't think it will work well on keyboard with this god of war style combat.

I don't agree with your bashing of combat. What exactly is ADULT combat you so desire?

Every games in history use pattern for boss fights. The difference however is how many varieties developers put them in the fight. Patterned fight does not mean childish or only for younger audience. I don't see where you get that idea from. KOTOR, Mass effect all have patterned boss fight you rinse and repeat certain combination on certain boss phases. Witcher 2 admittedly lack pattern variations the pattern become blatantly clear after a few minutes and you will down the boss in seconds, so that's the down side. All boss fights are pretty easy if you know what to do.

Also I disagree that planning is not needed. If you play on hard signs are mandatory, traps, and bombs are extremely helpful. You can bash your way through with just sword on normal.

I agree, The Witcher 1 was definately more real time then I was comfortable with at the time, but I still felt like I controlled the battle with tactics. Yes there was some reflexes thrown in there as well, but there was alot of tactics.

I said in a different thread (and maybe just me) but I missed having to know and use fast or strong styles on certain creatures like in #1. In 2 typical combat id flip in fast with 2 strikes, hit with Aard, follow up with strong, and then roll out and reset/heal if need be (if facing multiple opponents).

Like I said, patern fight!

Thats pretty much what I did entire game after Kayran until he Dragon and the Kingslayer (I loved the Kingslayer fight as I found myself using multiple signs and advances/retreats...TACTICS) I didnt say adult, I said mature/older.

Old days was about tactics and stratagy and less about reflex and dexterity!
Modern day you see games less about utilizing characters abilities and more about testing players hand/eye!

I like the old days because I AM NOT GERALT and Geralt is a hell of alot more skilled then ill ever be. So make me utilize Geralts attributes and abilities, not my own!

Cant say it any more clear then that!

RPG stands for ROLE PLAYING GAME.
You play the ROLE OF SOMEONE ELSE!
Their skills
Their attributes
Their abilities

How fast you click a button, how accurate YOUR hand/eye is, all that shouldnt matter to GERALT!

Let me preface by just saying that I've only just finished Act 1 and that so far I am really enjoying the Witcher 2, it's an excellent game and a worthy successor to the original.

That said, I agree with your review entirely; in particular I definitely think you're spot on by saying that the Witcher 2 just isn't as immersive as the first game was.

The overall atmosphere, characters, and music just don't feel as interesting and special as they did in the Witcher 1.

But that's ok, I'm still having a blast and will be doing a second playthrough immediately after I finish my first :)

I knew from the start many TW1 fans may not like this game...Personally, I like both of them and they both are high on my list as far as RPG's go. This game is probably a lot more attractive to the types who weren't interested or didn't like TW1.

Did they say in the marketing that this was going to be an action game? I missed it. Was too distracted by the hype over the graphics and that it was going to be the restoration of the RPG.

I loved the combat in TW1 and I love the combat in TW2. I also don't agree with your feelings as to Triss' development. I really enjoyed being around Triss as a characters, and when she got kidnapped, I really, really wanted to save her. So much so that I pretty much neglected all side quests at that point.

Great review, and I agree with your score.

But you really liked KOTOR2 over KOTOR???

Yup. I felt the story was deeper, more interesting (as a male exile with the handmaiden as apart of story).

I just wished LA would have let Obsidian complete all the items of game.

Define RPG.
IMO RPG can go many many ways. Was KOTOR RPG? Yes, does it have a lot of action? Definitely. Morrowind get first person action treatment. What do you want then point and click? RPG is role-playing game meaning it must have great story, great character and immersion, lots of exploration etc. There is no rule to define RPG combat, it can even be shooting based (ala Mass effect.) It really depends on how developer wants the game to be played. I like both Witcher 1 + 2 Combat, different but they suit their own game / time.

I dont think its how much action but how the action is handled!

For example, I LOVE the old AD&D SSI GOLD BOX games and those had a ton of fighting, TONS OF IT!

But the fighting was being done based on your characters skill set and abilities.

THATS the difference for me for a RPG

RP is role playing, you are taking the role of someone else and utilizing THEIR SKILL SET!

I do not call Mass Effect 2 a RPG personally because it all depended on your own reflexs.
Was the combat better then ME1 combat?
Yes it was, I wont argue that
But ME1 was all about character building and advancing Sheppard's skill set.
ME2 was just about how good YOU could get at shooting with the mechanics, Sheppard didnt matter!

A story alone is not enough to make a RPG and RPG.

Its true that typically RPGs have the stories and Shooters have the action.
But thats more a side effect of the excepted targets patience or attention span.

Action players tend to get bored easier when there is a lull in the action
RPG players tend to like more story

Its the game mechanics however that decide if something a RPG or not.

And you cant be a RPG with out the RP portion.
Just like you cant play dice with out dice

Its for this reason I truely do not beleive Action and RPG can find a common ground because to be one you have to give up the other,
and thats always going to anger and fustrate either sides fans.

And honestly I dont see why the fans should have to put up with a mixing of the two!
Be freaking proffessional developers and not political figures and take a stance!

If your going to make a RPG, make the VERY BEST RPG you can and dont freaking worry if the action junkies dont like it!

and vise versa

If your going to make a shooter, dont force the shooter fans to sit through endless cutscreens and dialog choices. Thats NOT why most play action games.

Bioware tried to mix and match and the end result is they lost me (and many many many others) as customers. They can put out as many fudged numbers as they want and spin as many tall tales as they want, and buy as many rewards as they want, the general feedback to the RPG/Action mix by Bioware is neither side is happy with the watered down product they putting out!

I really hope CDRed gets that message from here and just goes back to making the very best RPG they can make and not worry about adding Actiony type combat to the future games!

No person can do everything perfect
But some people when they limit the scope and dedicate themselves can do some stuff excellently!

Interesting review thanks for sharing. Only part I disagree is the part with console gamers have an advantage over PC gamers with Witcher 2 due to the increase in buttons. All I can say is if you a serious PC gamer you should have yourself a N52TE or Logitech G13 gamepads.

Lots of buttons, macroable and blows away any PS3 or Xbox joystick, lol

Kalfear, I agreed with most of your review. I like using my mind more than my hands when I play an RPG. I figure the hero is the hero because HE has the special abilities. I'm not a mutant intended for combat; Geralt is. I want to use HIS abilities in fighting and MY abilities in the knowledge and planning. I'll read the books he picks up and deduce the best strategy from them. The reflexes are his department. :-)

There are fewer and fewer RPG's that follow that pattern, and that saddens me. I loved Might and Magic VI, VII, and VIII, partly because Roderick, Alexis, Selena, and Zoltan PERFORMED the combat; what I did was PLAN it.

I read somewhere that the average gamer is 33 years old. Gamers are aging, just like everybody else. As the average age of gamers rises, we might see a swing back to the old, tactical style and away from the new, twitch style. Since I'm 20 years older than 33, I hope I'm still around to see it when/if that happens. :-)

Misunderstood what I said Soot

Number of buttons doesnt matter (Corylea, didnt I have this exact conversation on the old Witcher forums????? LOL), how they are used do!

For instance, I play MMORPGs and In Rift I ran with 6 full hotbars of clickable skills/attacks/abilities and thats didnt bother me as those skills were a reflection of my characters ability!

What bothers me my character living and dieing on MY (me, myself, this person behind the keyboard) ability to press those buttons fast. my reaction time to something rather then my characters reaction time!

For example, I dont take the block (Ripost) skill for swords in The Witcher 2 because I still have to time it and press it!

In my mind, either my CHARACTER (not me, Geralt) knows how to block or doesnt and it should be done automatically and have a percentage attatched to it on how often it works!

Why am I spending a point or 2 so I CAN push a button and if MY RELEXES (not Geralts) are timely enough, I succeed!

As Ive said far to many times today.

The RP portion of RPG stands for ROLE PLAYING.
That means you take the role of someone else and guide them using their skills and abilities!

As Corylea says above me.

Im not a mutant, Geralt is .I want to use HIS abilities in fighting and MY abilities in the knowledge and planning. I'll read the books he picks up and deduce the best strategy from them. The reflexes are his department. :-)



Number of buttons dont matter to me, timed and reflex based combat does because I AM NOT the hero of this story!

Trust me, if its up to ME to save Temerria, they all better get use to being slaves to who ever conquers them.

Cory, aye im 45 myself and I dont play action games because I simply do not have the reflexes for them. nor the eyesight.

I still remember the glory days of the SSI Gold Box Games where entering combat put you into a combat screen where you then did turn based STRATEGIC COMBAT against your different opponents. It was more akin to Chess then any game since.

My favorite battle in The Witcher 2 is actually my fight againts the Kingslayer! Because to do it right your forced to utilize all your abilities and to fight smartly.
Still alot of twitch to it with the diving in and out but that was ok as I was FINALLY being forced to play Geralt utilizing all of Geralts witcher abilities.
Beleive it or not, that was the FIRST AND ONLY FIGHT of the game where I changed what sign I used during combat, to use anouther and then switch back to original! I actually used 3 different signs,
staggered my attacks between fast and strong
backed off at certain times
pressed attack at certain times

That combat LITERALLY saved me from a huge negative rant about the games combat (beyond what I had done in other threads) because that combat was fun and challenging and made me think, not just react.

It literally lessened my disappointment from complete and utter to just negative over all because of combat/gameplay.

I know we will never go back to true turn based combat (though how cool would it be if someone offered that in the options for a game?) but is it to much to ask for say Dragon Age Origin style combat?

Contrary to all the posts you read now a days about how people tore through DA:O combat with ease and what not.
I remember when that game released the endless stream of complaints from people who said they normally played on hard and hardcore being forced to turn normal or easy on as they were dieing so much.

heh, I hope we both around when developers decide to drop the action portion and focus on real RPG play!

As you know, im a huge Witcher fan. CDProjekt has the story down pat, I hope they at least go back to TW1 (EE version) gameplay.