I've been playing the Witcher 2 for a few days now (preordered, got it on the 17th), and I have got to say I'm just floored. Incredible story, deep characterization, love the changes they made to combat (though still miss what the timing mechs in TW), and I just can't believe how good everything looks (it makes every other RPG look like crap, and that's saying something).

I'm just amazed at everything CD Projekt was able to accomplish with this.

My hat is off to them.

It is isn't it?

I'm playing witcher 1 and when it's in maximum detail I think that it looks far better than Dragon Age 2. And talking about towns.. These in witcher feels as it was alive. What did we get from Dragon age 2? A square town that never changes. And I think the weather was always the same. Ten years of epic tale, well that was a load of bull.

It sure is amazing. Even on my first playthrough I am taking my sweet time and searching every location and talking to every npc (sidequests). etc.

I'm just amazed at the increase in quality of production value and gameplay when comparing Witcher 2 to Witcher 1.

I mean I was the guy who refused to play Witcher 1 just because the gameplay was so clunky and frustrating, and now I can't get enough of it!!

Rather ironic, isn't it? DA 2 followed four years after TW 1, and TW 1 was built on BiowEAr's own Aurora engine. Makes me laugh my ass off. All the flack BiowEAr is getting, they sooo deserve it.

I never finished Witcher 1 either. The graphics and gameplay was meh. I also didn't like the environment bouncing up and down as the witcher moving as it was giving me a headache, lol

Witcher 2 however just feels right.....graphics, gameplay, story...everything just feels right, best action RPG ever made. Production value is so high....

Oh, me, too. I haven't yet made it ouf the prologue. Sometimes, I'll just stand there and take in the scenery or listen to others talk. The game as a whole is immersive at a level I haven't seen before.
Personally, I loved the Witcher 1, especially after the Enhanced Edition that took care of most issues. My top three games of all time:

The Witcher 2
Baldur's Gate 2 (SOA w/ Throne of Bhaal)
The Witcher

I can't believe BG 2 has finally been topped...it only took what ten years? LOL

Prologue itself is just so detailed. I thought I was deep into the game! lol

That was until I finally escaped, took the ship and the cutscene read, have arrived in "Act 1", haha.

I love the prologue, how they handled it. That was just so smooth, pure fricking genius.

Precisely!

The prologue storyline just drew me into the game and got me hooked. Great storytelling!

Bioware makes good games and has made so many in past. I did not hate Dragon age 2 it was good and playable but after origins that was so disappointing. It wasn't very long and it still used the same caves over and over. So if TW2 is shorter than TW1 but it's made with style and class, it wont be a problem for me.

I loved the prologue and Act I and I took my time and smelled the roses but... I'm not sure what it was but the end of Act II and most of Act III seemed pale in comparison. It felt rushed, like the pacing was off. My gear seemed to be outclassed, everything was boxed in and there was less and less room to stretch your legs.

The looks, combat and dialogue was great, but I still prefer the play style and story of the first one. Here's hoping the third one is a mix of both.

I have to admit, after playing through The Witcher, I was really impressed with the owrk and detail in that game. I figured it would be a hard act to followi and really didn't expect as much the second time around. Well, not only did they do a good follow up, in my opinion, they surpassed themselves. I'm finding hidden tunnels and all sorts of stuff. Yeah, there are easily missed trails that will take you some really good stuff at times, or nowhere, so it is best to take your time and enjoy the scenery ( not the pesky Nekkers though ).

In 1 , you had plaenty of stuff to keep you busy in and Around Vizima, but once ypu completed the story line there and left Vizima, each Chapter seems to have less to do in as far as side quests and the story itself and the chapters seemed to grow shorter. As you went along, the thing became more and more focused on the main story and the deviations from it fewer, although I do like my deviations. : )