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An independent Spanish-language blog (written by guys named Schmelzend and Uberbackend) Sugames have recently posted a very informative review of the game, based on a pretty thorough walkthrough of the game. It's in Spanish, but if you want you can check its Google translation. Here's what they say about the game:
I'm pretty convinced that The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings will take the award for best RPG of 2011 and sure to be a candidate for game of the year. The only thing that makes me hesitate a little is that even have to leave TES V: Skyrim, but we're talking about an RPG, Sandbox, which has great features and many virtues, but usually TES lack the strength and consistency of a script like The Witcher 2 and the charisma and character of its secondary characters. (...) The Witcher 2 and CD Projekt RED have no rival.
Read the rest of the review at Sugames - but be warned, it's a VERY lengthy read (totally worth it if you speak Spanish though)!
CDPR have broken the dev silence and finally released the preliminary changelog for the upcoming 1.3 patch. It's the big one and the one we've been waiting for for a long time. Among the changes are full support of 4:3, 5:4 and 16:10 (yay!) resolution ratios, option to store your items (yay!), a junk category in the inventory (double yay!) and (finally) the Nvidia 3D drivers fix.
You can download the changelog in pdf form, or read the notes below (warning: slight spoilers!)!
Update 1.3 Changes:
New FREE DLC � �A Sackful of Fluff� is a new quest in Chapter 2 of the game. To start the quest, visit the eccentric Elthon, who inhabits a solitary hut near the quarry outside Vergen. The quest will prove most rewarding to those who demonstrate patience.
Game now supports 4:3, 5:4, 16:10 aspect ratios.
Item storage has been added. Players can now store items from their Inventory at inns. To leave items in storage or collect previously stored items, talk to innkeepers.
A �Junk‟ panel has been added to Inventory to provide greater clarity in item classification.
New menu option added in �Extras‟ - enables players to view in-game animated sequences (flashbacks, memory flashes, dreams stolen by harpies) outside of the game.
A �Quickload‟ option has been added under the F9 key.
The game's HUD can now be hidden in order to produce HUD-free screenshots! On newly installed game copies, the option to hide/show the HUD is available by default under the 'H' key. Users who have modified the key assignments on their installations should go to the 'Input Settings' dialogue of the Witcher 2 Configuration Tool to assign a key to this option. Please note that the game cannot be played with the HUD hidden.
Issue involving the game not running at 2560x1440 resolution has been resolved.
Issues with nVidia 3D Vision technology have been resolved. Players no longer need to uninstall the related drivers.
Key bindings have been corrected to enable configuration of mouse buttons for use by left-handed players.
Assorted key binding options have been added to facilitate configuration of controls and quick access to various in-game panels.
Issue related to game settings being reset to defaults upon patch installation has been resolved. Patches no longer reset game settings.
The configuration file is no longer over-written when the launcher/configuration tool is patched and over-written.
The launcher now closes while the game is being patched, thus eliminating the resulting game patching error.
The launcher now closes completely and no longer continues to operate in the background.
�Installed game version is invalid or incomplete‟ error in updater when free space on system drive is insufficient � message has been corrected to reflect more accurately the nature of the error.
Mutagens are now alchemy ingredients. Minor mutagens drop more frequently than do major mutagens, though the overall mutagen drop rate has been reduced.
Corrections have been made in the mutagen drop rate and in Thorak‟s store.
�Dragon‟ section of Prologue does not become available until after all assault-related sections have been completed, thereby softening the difficulty curve at the start of the game.
During the fight against the kayran, when the bridge collapses, a map pin appears at the end of the bridge to facilitate player navigation and quest completion.
Map pins have been corrected in many quests.
Quen Sign slightly de-buffed � Sign dissipates 20% faster after foes land a blow. Assorted minor balance issues related to this Sign have also been resolved.
Issue with Dragon‟s Dream bombs has been resolved. Damage to bosses from cast daggers has been reduced by one-half.
Several optimization improvements have been made in the tavern in Vergen.
Problem with music accompanying �stealth‟ sequences has been resolved.
Issue related to arm wrestling Bart Bargee has been resolved. Players can no longer win coin from this character endlessly.
Option to fist fight woman praying at a statue in Vergen has been deactivated.
Mini-game contestants at one of the in-game taverns now switch positions correctly without blocking one another.
Problem involving Fenn‟s sword in combat has been resolved.
Problems with herbalist‟s gloves have been resolved.
In the Prologue, Geralt retains his steel long sword throughout, i.e., he is no longer automatically equipped with his default sword for the �Assault‟ sequence.
Problem with some nekkers being immortal has been resolved.
Issue with triggered black screens blocking game progress has been resolved.
Interactions no longer appear on nekker nests after these have been destroyed.
The �Scent of Incense� quest no longer shows up as failed after being completed successfully.
Sudden switch to gameplay just prior to cut scene involving Cynthia and Philippa has been eliminated.
Triss, Roche and Iorveth are now de-spawned before the final credits roll.
Guard pacing cycles have been corrected.
The Redanian messenger in Henselt‟s tent can no longer be killed, preventing him from re-spawning.
Elf woman in Vergen no longer strikes a T-pose.
Rotfiends feeding on corpses no longer re-spawn after corpse is burned.
Several fixes have been made in the functioning of in-game populaces.
Numerous problems with cameras in dialogue sequences have been resolved.
Assorted corrections have been made in dialogue sequences (including King Foltest‟s gestures on the town walls in the Prologue).
A progression break in the �In the Claws of Madness‟ quest has been eliminated.
Great patch incoming, guys. Looking forward to that one.
The Witcher 2 has received quite a lot of great press from all corners of the globe, but it seems that Geralt is just too much of a globetrotter to let it go at Arabic countries. The latest review comes courtesy of Manilla Bulletin of Philippines, of all places! And the winning streak continues, too:
One of the best qualities of Witcher 2 is its robust combat system. Not only does it involve the player�s thinking-prowess, but it also keeps the player on their toes as enemies provide different challenges to the player. Ample preparation is also encouraged as there are times when players have to drink concoctions to remove disadvantages. Enemies in Witcher 2 tend to swarm the player with their numbers, and if lucky, a bid bad boss appears.
Witcher 2 is a graphic marvel. Be it in the consoles or the PC, the game is a sight to behold. The Red Engine employed by the developers made use of the lighting, the blurs, and the overall textures of the surroundings. Music is exceptional during times of exploration, but mostly gets drowned in combat.
With just a smidgeon of salt, the reviewer gives a glowing recommendation to the title -- from so far away it's almost daunting to see Polish studio's effort go that far:
Witcher 2 is undoubtedly one of the best RPG games to date. The large number of game-significant decisions and the combat system is a sure win. The story is intriguing and can be comparable to a hard-to-let-go novel. The only thing bad about this game is its steep learning curve and initially hard gameplay in the first few levels. But as you play and go along the game, you�ll get bewitched by Witcher 2.
Last week, RPGSite got a chance to talk to Doug Cockle, the voice actor who plays Geralt in both Witcher games. Doug is not just a voice actor though, as he gained his first experience with acting in theatre, on silver screen, where he played a part in the "Band of Brothers" and on the big screen, where he had a role in "Reign of Fire". But to gamers he's first and foremost the Witcher:
RPGSite: In the same year as your on screen debut you also began voice acting, which is an area that seems to have dominated your career ever since. How did you first get involved with voice acting and what is it that draws you to that particular field?
Doug: Getting into voice over acting was another very lucky accident in some ways. Honestly, I had never really thought of doing voice over work seriously. When I first moved to England I talked my way into the role of the Gentleman Caller in The Glass Menagerie at York Theatre Royal. Great production! It starred Honor Blackman as the character Amanda.
Through that production I got the interest of an agent who was based in Sheffield. She put me forward for a game called Independence War II: Edge of Chaos. The voice production was being recorded in Harrogate by a fairly new company called Outsource Media. I went to the studio and auditioned and they offered me the lead character Cal! So that was how it started.
Since then I�ve worked a lot with Outsource Media on many games and I don�t think even half of them are on IMDb or my CV! I�ve also done some radio plays and readings for BBC Radio and that has been good fun.
RPGSite: Recently you were working on The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings, in which you reprise your role as Geralt of Rivia from 2007�s The Witcher. When did the role first come to your attention and when did you start working on the original game?
Doug: I knew nothing of The Witcher until I was called in to audition for it. Mark Estdale at Outsource Media knew me pretty well and suggested me to the UK production team. They liked what they heard and suddenly I was playing Geralt! I think we started on the first Witcher in 2006, but I don�t remember what time of the year. I seem to remember it being cold!
RPGSite: The Witcher games are based on the short stories and novels of Polish author Andrzej Sapkowski. Were you at all familiar with his writing before working on the games?
Doug: I had never heard of Geralt or of Sapkowski so it was all new. But the character image told me a lot and the production team from CD Projekt were pretty clear about what they were going for so realizing the character was really a team effort.
Machinima isn't only about nice vids and trailers, as this latest Witcher 2 review at their Inside Gaming blog confirms. After analyzing all the pros and cons of the game they give it a solid 8.5/10, recommending to skip reading altogether (and just play it) if you'd said any of the following:
They just don�t make RPGs like they used to.
I wish I could find a game that wouldn�t coddle me and teach me how to do everything.
Games these days are too simple / easy.
I love to get lost in a game for hours.
I just dropped $600 on a video card and have nothing to use it on.
I like boobs.
On a more serious note, they recommend reading the manual, as the tutorial just doesn't cut it:
Combat and alchemy vary from the RPG norm, and are established as well as the setting (which is to say, not at all). They�ll throw you right into the deep end in The Witcher 2, providing little in the way of tutorial or explanation. If you can bear to read an instruction manual in this day and age or tolerate a little experimentation, you�ll find your footing quickly enough. However, if you�re accustomed to the way modern games walk you through mechanics, prepare to be confused.
They also find the interface and ergonomics of the controls a bit lacking:
Witcher 2 controls similarly to other PC action RPGs like Gothic, though there are some quirks that take a while to get used to. Combat controls are mostly tight, though occasionally you�ll wait for Geralt to finish up a flourishing attack before you can evade or move. Inventory screens are a little uncomfortable, too (though they sure do look pretty). Often handy information is either extremely hard to get to or absent entirely. Comparing equipment is awkward, and you have to wait for the item description to slowly scroll down to see the ingredient lists for any item-crafting schematics in the vendor window. Picking up items in the game world is finicky too. Using your Witcher pendant will temporarily put a glow around anything lootable, but finding the right place to stand to actually loot them can be difficult.
Still, it's definitely a must-have title for any RPG lover:
If you have a seminal RPG void in your heart that wasn�t filled by Dragon Age II, you�ve found the perfect surrogate. The Witcher 2 improves universally over the original, and also manages to be the best looking PC game at the same time. If you�re a fan of meaty RPGs or if you�ve been desperate to stretch your computer�s technical legs, you need to play The Witcher 2.
CD-Projekt RED have finally officially announced the regional publisher for the Xbox360 version in a press release sent out earlier today. It's going to be THQ, and the company will cover the markets of Western Europe, the Middle East, Australia and New Zealand:
THQ announced an agreement to publish CD Projekt RED�s revolutionary role-playing game, The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings, for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft. Under the deal, THQ, through its THQ Partners program, will market and distribute the anticipated title in Western Europe, Australia, New Zealand and the Middle East.
The Xbox 360 version will be an enhanced adaptation of the PC game released to instant international acclaim and commercial success in mid-May. It will incorporate numerous improvements and enhancements, of which details will be announced in the coming months.
CD Projekt RED Studio Head Adam Badowski said, �Adapting The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings Xbox 360 is a massive endeavor for us, and we�re committed to delivering one of the most complex and mature games ever to Xbox 360 players. We believe that with the marketing strength and distribution network of THQ we will be able to make the game an incredible success in Europe and around the world.�
Tim Walsh, VP of THQ Partners said, �We are excited to work with CD Projekt RED to bring this unique role-playing game to Xbox 360 gamers. THQ Partners� mission is to work with world class game creators who want to bring their games to market utilizing THQ�s best-in-class global distribution channels.�
Latest review for the Witcher 2 comes courtesy of Thunderbolt, a gaming portal. They give the game a solid 9/10, noting the complexity and sheer scope of the game. They also note the game's sink-or-swim approach in terms of lore and world -- and not just combat:
But The Witcher 2 goes much deeper than this basic premise, leading its protagonist on a wild journey filled to the brim with political intrigue, conspiracies, warring factions, supernatural forces and a whole host of superbly written characters, all with their own real, corrupt and existential motives. It can be hard to grasp everything happening in Geralt�s world, particularly when characters regularly reference various names and locations, mixed in with The Witcher�s own slang and fantasy dialect. Even if you�ve played the first game it can be bewildering at times. However, the in-game journal features an encyclopaedic history of pretty much everything and anything in this sprawling world, and you�ll eventually learn to appreciate its idiosyncrasies.
Unlike many other reviewers, Thunderbolt also point to the fact that after the recent 1.2 patch many of their issues were solved. Some items are just flawed though, no matter what patches there are:
If there�s one misstep it�s that the final chapter feels rushed and it�s over all too quickly. A lot of loose ends are wrapped up but there are still many unanswered questions, leaving the door open for a sequel or any number of expansion packs. It�s a brisk and anti-climatic end to what is a memorable story.
Luckily this is not enough to actually diminish the sheer enjoyment to be had from this grand adventure:
The Witcher 2�s visual fidelity is second to none.
And that persistent quality exerts itself throughout The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings. Its story isn�t afraid to delve into an often bewildering world of complex politics, but at its core it�s a character tale. Backed by superb fantasy writing and a fantastic sense of moral ambiguity seeped into the choices you make and the ramifications they have on the world and the narrative. It�s a smart, refreshingly dark take on RPGs, complemented by action-oriented and tactical combat with a surprising amount of depth. It has its flaws but they�re only minor in what is a landmark title and a series we can only hope will long continue.
For some odd reason we've missed this rare mainstream review of the Witcher 2 from the esteemed the New York Times. It doesn't give out the usual stars or percents, but instead gives a glowing review that might sway some of the hesitant players to obtain their copy:
In this world dwarfs and elves are a persecuted minority treated not entirely unlike Jews in Eastern Europe 100 years ago. While a few nonhuman merchants and craftsmen are tolerated, pogroms are common, and a few human radicals wouldn�t mind getting rid of the nonhumans altogether. In this universe human children are basically taught that elves want to eat them, and battles rage in the woods between men and elves. The elves say all they want is an independent homeland and to be left alone, but if they have to kill human civilians to accomplish that, they will.
You, the player, will be thrust into this conflict, as well as into the political machinations among no fewer than five human kingdoms jockeying for influence in the strategically vital Pontar Valley. It all evokes Europe on the brink of World War I, with you, the Witcher, a force that can tip the balance of history.
For all that, the game�s technical interface could use some serious sprucing up. I shouldn�t have to spend several hours installing third-party modifications to do simple things like figure out which way is north. But a few rough edges can�t obscure the brilliance and importance of The Witcher 2.
GamingBolt have just posted a list of ten things that need to be changed in the console version of the Witcher 2. They point out the most common design decisions or omissions that might stick out on Xbox360 - like the pacing, less punishing difficulty at the beginning, better tutorial and the like:
I like a good challenge, especially when a game introduces a well balanced difficulty curve. My problem with the Witcher 2 was that it got the difficulty curve the wrong way around. Whilst the challenge was mildly refreshing, the prologue is tough. Tough to the point where it would likely put off a lot of console players who just want to jump in and get on with them game. (...) I�m not sure if this is yet another element of properly hardcore PC gamers, but us console guys aren�t clairvoyants. The Witcher 2 throws you right in at the deep end and expects you to be able to magically divine how the game should be played.
Then there're the less obvious items, such as a better pad support (allow customizing all of the buttons), tighter combat and a greater variety of skills:
I had very little issue with the story and narrative in the Witcher 2, something that will seem odd to those who are used to my usual rants. The weakest element of the Witcher 2 was actually the combat. There were just a few things that need balancing and changing. The main irritant is the lock on system. Without it Geralt winds up losing his target and swinging wildly at regular intervals, and with it nothing seems to change at all. There is also the generally repetitive nature of the proceedings. The whole �light and heavy attack� system is over-used and, without any combos to keep things fresh, the Witcher 2′s combat tended to fall a little flat. Fix the targeting and add in some basic combos and 360 players will be happy.
Lastly, the editor would like to see the map, inventory and back story revamped in order to make the Witcher 2 a more joyous experience on consoles:
With a few hours of play under my belt, I�d begun to understand the intricacies of the Witcher�s world and lore. For the first few hours of the Witcher 2 however, I was pretty lost as to what was going on. With the Witcher 2 taking place directly after the events of the first, console gamers who haven�t played the first game will be left at a disadvantage. With it seeming unlikely that the original Witcher will get a console re-release, CD-Projekt will have to find another way to bring console players up to speed with the continuing adventures of Geralt or Rivera.
GameBanshee took their time to write a very detailed review of the game, detailing about every little aspect of the Witcher 2. They don't give a score, but note that the game is lovingly crafted and already an early contender for the title of "RPG of the Year".
Graphics and art direction are, of course, among the first to be noted:
Like its predecessor, The Witcher 2 is a great-looking game, probably the best-looking RPG I've played from an engine capacity standpoint. The change from Aurora to the RED Engine is noticeable not just in how good buildings and characters look, but also in the additional flexibility given to map design - The Witcher 2 offers us large and multi-leveled maps, where you can move or climb up and down. It doesn't seem like a major advancement, but it's a bit of a relief after The Witcher's tendency towards flat maps and cutting you off with knee-high fences.(...)
Like much of the game's setting, the graphic design is all about the bleak realism of this game's medieval fantasy setting. This design can be seen in the equipment and weaponry, which are all directly believable.
Interface and character development are done well but there're a few of design misses:
While we're on talents and crafting, it's worth taking a moment to talk about the game's interface. The Witcher 2 is console-friendly relative to the first Witcher game. The camera is always stuck in an OTS view with no options to zoom out, and the interface screens for selecting signs or items to use are easily adapted to console. It's not too blatant and still works fine on PC, though the camera is a bit of a pity, as the combat could have done with a top-down overview but the targeting system doesn't really allow for it. One odd design decision here is that because you can only level up and drink potions outside of combat � which is fine � they put both actions under the meditate screen, which is a bit annoying. The frequent act of selecting and drinking potions becomes more awkward than it needs to be, as I need to perform multiple actions and watch Geralt go through repetitive motions every time I do so.
As many other reviewers, GB editor is also baffled by the lackluster tutorial and a pretty unorthodox difficulty curve:
This lack of balance is a major part of The Witcher 2's difficulty curve. Because contrary to first impressions, this is not a difficult game, at all. Yet the first time I played it I kept getting beaten up in the prologue and Act I, before coasting on through the final two acts. There's two reasons for this: One, The Witcher 2 does have a reverse difficulty curve, much like the Gothic games, meaning it's more difficult at the start as you have fewer skills and inferior equipment and gets easier as you progress. This is unusual in cRPGs, but I'm a big fan of it since it really makes you experience your character's progress. Two, the game does a terrible job teaching you how it's supposed to be played. The prologue acts as a tutorial of sorts but given the complexities of the combat system its short pop-up screens are simply inadequate, at best just telling you how the interface works rather than how combat works. Much of the difficulty of the early game stems from not knowing what you're doing, and this is not a fun way to be challenged. The lack of a proper tutorial or gameplay instructions is probably the game's biggest flaws, and inflates the difficulty artificially.
GeForce have prepared a pretty informative Witcher 2 Tweak Guide, mostly useful for Nvidia Card owners (but some tips may hold true for those of ATI persuasion as well). This guide is a must-read if you're having any of the following:
Random crashes
Low FPS despite meeting requirements
Trouble using the settings page
Or if you simply wish to find out more about what different graphics options do and how this impacts the performance and quality of the game.
GameBanshee managed to caught Tomasz Gop in his last moments as Senior Producer for the Witcher 2 and managed to squeeze him almost dry of info on various Witcher 2-related topics. Of note are the first confirmed pre-order numbers for the game:
GB: We know that well over 100,000 copies of the game were pre-ordered, but what sort of sales numbers are you seeing since the game's release? Are the numbers meeting your expectations? How does the sequel's sell-through rate compare to the original game's?
Tomasz: We�re glad to tell you that the final pre-order total was over 150,000 units, which is one of the highest numbers in recent memory for a PC-only game. The sell-through figures so far have been very satisfactory.
And then there's info on possible licensing out of the RED engine and a very cautious assessment of a possibility for the next instalment in the series:
GB: The RED Engine has to be one of the most impressive engines we�ve seen on the PC, particularly for a role-playing game. Do you have any plans to license it to other developers or perhaps even to develop other non-Witcher titles in-house with the technology?
Tomasz: While ideas like the ones you mentioned have come up, we have been completely focused on getting The Witcher 2 out the door. So we have not taken any steps in either direction.
GB: At this point, I doubt there are any Witcher fans who wouldn't want to see a third installment to the series. Are there any roadblocks that would keep you from developing The Witcher 3? Are there further negotiations that would have to take place in order to give you the green light to pursue such an endeavor?
Tomasz: The main potential roadblock is the obvious one; i.e. if The Witcher 2 somehow fails to warrant a third game. It�s still a bit early to be certain, but the indications so far are pretty favorable. Pre-sales were very solid, the sell-through so far looks strong, and the feedback from our players and from the game media has definitely been positive.
Last week, ElectronicTheatre have conducted an in-depth review of the Witcher 2. They give the game a solid 89% score, citing combat, non-linearity and expansive world as major strengths of the title.
The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings is a huge, delivering a staggering amount of content. Its main quest line may be significantly shorter than that of the original, but it�s no less absorbing. Journeying through many locations, meeting many characters and taking sides on many occasions, The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings is a series of continuous events tied together with questionably good deeds. Geralt is by no means a bad guy in this story, but there are some unusual events that cast a layer of doubt upon the worth of other character�s kinship. And that�s the important thing to remember about The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings: it�s not in the way your decisions affect the game, but in the way they affect the characters and your relationship to them.
There're elements that are less impeccably designed though:
e Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings is a very well designed game, with skin textures and draw distances that are never less than wholly convincing. It�s a believable world held together by some dramatic and detail environments. The greatest limitation of the game�s visual quality is in its animation: by no means a poorly animated Electronic Theatre Imagegame, The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings does bring its characters to life in a very hit-and-miss fashion. The opening sequence shows Geralt stumbling about in a very unconvincing manner, followed by a scene in which the story is delivered in more detail through the facial expressions of two opposing characters than any amount of words could ever do. Thankfully however, when things do get a little overly wordy, the voice acting in The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings is as openly worthy of commendation as the character design itself.
A few days ago, GameZilla.pl (Polish gaming culture portal) have posted pretty sad news -- Tomasz Gop, CDPR's Senior Producer for the Witcher 2, is leaving the company after five years. We've known Tomasz as one of the most energetic and positive devs and met him a few timesin person. GameZilla's insider tells them that "Gop is tired and a bit burned out", and the portal shows LinkedIn profile snippet to prove that Tomasz is, indeed, looking for a new job.
What can we say? Good Luck, Tomek! It's been very fun and we've enjoyed taking our interviews with you, watching numerous videos where you explain the Witcher 2, and reading first impressions from the game's presentations led by you. You will be missed!
G4tv still can't get over how great Witcher 2 is, considering they've posted a text review, a live video review with Morgan Webb and now also an X-play video review (narrated by Morgan Webb too). All of the reviews give the game the highest score of 5/5. You can watch that latest X-play one below or directly at G4tv!
After all the previews and first impressions from E3 it might seem that everything has been said as far as the Witcher 2 is concerned. That's not so as two recent interviews prove; first, VG24/7 has an interesting in-depth talk with Tomasz Gop in regard to the coming Xbox360 adaptation of the game. Some interesting questions have been actually answered:
The Xbox 360 version looks surprisingly nice, given how battered and bruised Witcher 2 leaves even bleeding-edge PCs. Can you say how many frames-per-second you�re shooting for?
-We need to be certified by Microsoft, so there are restrictions for this. But I think 30 FPS is what�s bound to happen. More? Quite possible, yeah. And obviously, we�re running a pre-Alpha version of the game, so it�s definitely more of a tech demo than anything that reflects the final product.
The sleeping dogs aren't left to lie either -
Similarly, I feel like a lot of choices in modern games are merely elaborate arrangements of smoke and mirrors. For instance, dialog options are always fun, but what�s the point when glorified NPC talkboxes spew out the same automated spiel regardless of your responses?
-You�re right, but please bear in mind that � in our case � we�re a developer that stresses [choice] the most. It�s the most important feature of our game. So we do these extra stretches � extra work, extra locations � because we know we want to invest in it, because it comes back to us in a way that we planned for. Maybe some developers don�t put that much stress on it. I don�t know. Dragon Age, for example. Dragon Age II. They probably invested more than us in their combat system. So it all depends on your priorities, I would say.
As far as accessibility, dumbing down and making less hardcore games, Tomasz Gop has a pretty interesting comment:
I don�t know whether they earned ten million dollars or half-a-million on that game, but they had to be confident in what they do. Some people definitely want to be sure that they don�t lose money. I mean, this is business. It became a serious business. So that might be a second reason. I would compare it to the 20s, when movies came out of the silent era. That�s where I think we are with games.
Another interview popped up at NeoCrisis (a variety portal focusing on game-related content), with -- who else but Tomasz Gop -- answering their surprisingly on-topic questions concerning Witcher 2 (NOT on Xbox360).
While developing the game, what was the hardest issue(s) that you came across?
-Developing an RPG is such an enormous project that this might be a question every member of our team would answer in a different, personal manner. Building the engine was definitely a huge task.
So was designing and creating the detailed, living game world. It would be a major omission not to mention writing the story and all the associated characters. And those are just the first three things that come to mind.
What was your "best moment" during development?
-This is another question many of us would answer differently due to our individual roles and responsibilities during the development period. However, I think a lot of people would put the day The Witcher 2 went gold high on their respective lists.
Were you able to incorporate all of the ideas that were proposed?
-Certainly not. We have a lot of creative thinkers on our team, and trying to implement all of the ideas that were put forward probably would have meant never finishing. We have announced that we�ll provide free downloadable content, so registered players will see some of these ideas.
Hopefully those ideas include some of the more in-depth elements of the Witcher 1, especially regarding combat and alchemy. Read the rest of the interview at NeoCrisis!
GamingBolt have posted a new E3 preview and a brief Q&A; with CDPR (likely Tomek Gop, of course!). They were pretty impressed with the demo they've seen on Xbox360 considering the complexity of the game on PCs:
(...) the developers really wanted to emphasize the fact that they are not trying to make a simple port of the game. It was certainly made clear that they are trying to handle not just the graphical elements and that they are working really, really hard, with a team of around one hundred people at CD Projekt. The dedication that the team had shown at the demo was impressive and really made an impression on me on how much they really do care about their fans, wanting to to best job they can to make the game as enjoyable on the Xbox 360 as it was on the PC.
There's also a possibility of an expansion (or at least DLCs) coming in the future:
The game will have a targeting system of course and the developers also mentioned that will not miss out if you have not played the first game or read the books if you Witcher 2. Witcher 2 also is the first game to use the new RED Engine making it a loading free game. As far as an expansion for both versions of the game, the developers were keen on hinting at a strong possibility of the game getting more content, but did not commit to a solid yes. If it does come though, they mentioned that they will want any DLC to free for both the console and PC version.
In the Q&A; devs say multiplayer mode is so far out of the question, and there're no plans to revive ROTWW (Rise of the White Wolf), AKA Witcher 1 on consoles, right now.
Q: Do you think gamers will ever have the opportunity to play the first game on consoles.
A: As much as we would love to do that and would be willing to if the circumstances were right, there are no plans for that right now.
Q: Do you think console market will receive the game as well as the PC market did?
A: We can only hope so and we will work even harder for this project to make sure that happens. We also think that we are not necessarily doing an old school type of an RPG, but we do believe there is an audience for this type of game.
Q: Will the games achievements stay the same (Steam to Xbox 360)
A: There is Steam Achievements and some of them will definitely be there, but I am quite certain we�ll of something new.
With E3 over and the Witcher 2 being once again claimed the best game of E3 by several outlets, it's no wonder some folks are still reviewing the game as enthusiastically as at release. Aeropause joins the ranks of game's fans with the score of 4.5/5 aeropausonauts, calling it the best game they've played on PC this year (so far). Of particular note are the game's meandering choice&consequence; plotlines:
Down one path, I found out that the elf was a pathological liar that wanted to lead me into a trap, because of the hatred she had received at the hands of the humans. Of course, I could have left her be, but she would have ended up killed by the humans that fostered guilt just because she was an elf. Or, I could have bought her freedom and maybe redeemed the human race, but at the cost of humans hating me for being a dirty, rotten, no-good elf lover. Each path ended with a decision that harmed my reputation or health no matter which path I followed.
Then there's the tangible, true-to-life feel that CDPR managed to convey with their new Red engine:
The world of The Witcher 2 shows off the dichotomy of the rich vs. the poor and the strife in-between the two worlds. In the beginning, you see the regal nature of how royalty live, with clean castles and the majestic colors that surround you. Compare that to the muddy, rundown town of Flotsam, the first city that you visit in the world. Flotsam feels dirty and run down at every turn, with the lowest class of the world seeking to make a meager existence. You never feel sterility in Flotsam and it is beautiful for that. The world feels alive, with NPC characters that work, relax and tell stories about things they have heard or witnessed.
Is it a perfect experience though? Far from it:
First and foremost would be the steep curve learning the combat system. The Witcher starts you off with very little in the way of skills and overwhelms you with enemies. Routinely, I would find myself in the middle of three to five men and dead within seconds. Strategy becomes first and foremost for your survival in the game. Combat for me in The Witcher 2 would have me attacking, rolling around to dodge, luring one away to fight and then repeat as needed. It is only the first main chapter where this is a big occurance, but you never want to scare people away at the beginning with such a steep learning curve.
Combat is further complicated by the complete lack of training that The Witcher 2 provides to the player. There are a few context sensitive items in the intro, but you are left high and dry as to what things do, or how they work. I played the first Witcher title, and while it was difficult, I never felt lost within the controls. But in the sequel, I was like a deer caught in the headlights.
Aeropause ends on a very positive note despite these flaws:
While The Witcher 2 is not perfect, it does pack in a beautiful, living and breathing world, complete with compelling characters, witty dialog and quests aplenty. Combat and tutorial mechanics bring the game down a slight notch, but at the end of the day, The Witcher 2 stands out leaps and bounds beyond the traditional RPG affair for the PC.
Back at E3, Witcher 2 on Xbox360 has turned quite a few heads, and
OXM shows exactly why in this 20-minute long offscreen footage of the presentation (watch it below or at Official Xbox Magazine).
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If flashy video presentations are not your thing, check out the firsthand impressions from that demo by WeGotThisCovered. Interestingly enough, Xbox360 may feature a somewhat smoother combat than the original PC version:
The combat looked fairly smooth and for originally being a keyboard and mouse based title with lots of different options, everything seemed fairly accessible with the 360 controller, although they didn�t get too crazy with the potential combat options. The movement and controls seemed to respond quickly and everything really had a nice flow to it.
That's not to say that the adaptation is even remotely close to the final product at this point:
A couple of issues did arise though, at one point Geralt and the two enemy guards he was fighting got stuck on opposite sides of an open doorway with neither able to deal damage or cross over. Another problem was that while the game looked alright, it really didn�t compare to the PC version of the game. That is, if you have a good PC that can actually run the game of course.
The developers did make it a point to remind all of us during the session that the game is still early in the console development stage and that many of the bugs and such that we saw will be fixed and the game will be much better quality once it reaches the finished stage.
Three more interesting reviews of the Witcher 2 surfaced lately, starting with Adrenaline Vault's full write-up of the game, in which they give the game a 4/5 stars and a "buy it" recommendation. After initial installation and setup difficulties, the editor was blown away by the graphics and art-style of the game:
The first thing I noticed about the game is that it looks amazing. The engine is impressive in and of itself, but at ultra settings, with the textures maxed out and running at 2560�1600 resolution, it was a true pleasure to behold. (By now we know that it will be also released for the Xbox 360, and I experimented with lowering the resolution and texture quality to match that of the venerable console. It�s just not the same.) The characters also look much better than those of the upcoming Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim and Mass Effect 3, if screenshots and videos are to be believed. The most impressive, however, were the vistas. The game begins with a siege of a mighty keep, and the panoramas that unfolded in front of me were nothing short of breathtaking. I�m no stranger to fancy graphics and powerful PCs, but I spent many a minute simply gawking at the sheer visual splendor.
Like most reviewers, editor of AV found combat satisfying if not very well explained:
Speaking of combat, I found it to be enjoyable (if a bit strange at first). The very first time you are faced with enemies you�ve had very little in the way of tutorials, so those initial few seconds can be a little hectic. You get the gist of it in no time though, and as your skill as a player and as a character continues to grow you will see your battles becoming progressively easier. By chapter two you will find yourself dispatching groups of enemies with ease and ballet-like elegance. Some of the bosses can pose a real challenge, and both the Kayran and Letho in chapter one, killed me more times than I care to admit. Still, in the end, I felt a great sense of achievement when I figured out how to beat them.
Then there're the choices. The choices that actually can force player to ponder on things longer than the game's limited time frame:
It�s been a while since I stayed up until the wee hours of the morning playing a game. But here, for the first time in my life, I had to take an extended break from a game in order to contemplate a simple moral choice. Usually I know where I stand, and although some games have given me brief pause before, never was I in a situation where I simply couldn�t tell which course of action was the right one. I thought about my dilemma for an entire day. I slept on it. I called friends. Nothing helped. Finally I made a choice, but even now l don�t know if I did the right thing. Being stopped dead in my tracks because I could not tell the difference between right and wrong was a new experience for me, and I have this game to credit for it.
There're flaws in the game -- and they range from minor gripes to serious or outright weird issues:
. It�s a shame that a lack of polish caused this level of frustration. I know very well than in another patch or two the whole experience will be drastically different, and honestly, I would have loved to review the game at that time, rather than right now. It pains me that I must take points for something so avoidable, and I am sorry that I am not awarding The Witcher 2 the Avault Seal of Excellence. This title would really deserve it if not for the technical problems present on release day.
Minor gripes include an occasional piece of shoddy voice-acting, inappropriate interface features popping up during �out of body experiences� and a couple of issues with monster path-finding. There was also a really weird line in the notes for patch 1.2: �Islamic�themed and similar textures have been deleted and/or replaced.� I don�t know what that is all about, but somehow it doesn�t sound good to me. If the game keeps getting changes to appease everybody�s sensitivities, we�ll end up seeing sex and violence removed from it as well.
This is the reason for which the reviewer gives the game a lower score, but notes that it's still an absolute must for every RPG fan out there:
All of the technical problems, frustrating as they may be, are insignificant next to the overall quality of the game. It is not a diamond in the rough, it is instead an elegantly cut diamond that is in the final stages of being polished. Just a little more time is all it needs to become worthy of being inserted into the crown of gaming. If you love a good story, if you enjoy difficult choices and believable characters, if you want to see a gorgeous and challenging game that was really meant to be played on a PC, please do yourself a favor and buy this game.
Another interesting review was penned at RPG Site, providing a true RPG fan's perspective on the game. They give the game a pretty solid score of 90%, noting first and foremost the world and feel of the game, and not necessarily only due to simple graphical splendour:
It is this powerful narrative that has been carried with such fanciful grace over the past two games in The Witcher that has turned it into a sort of a relic among others in its genre. The world, its characters, and the vivid atmosphere have all been fashioned in such spectacular fashion that anyone with even a hint of an eye for natural beauty will find a lot to love in this paramount magnum opus from CD Projekt RED. Utilizing a brand new engine built from the ground up for their newest project, called the RED Engine, The Witcher 2capitalizes on the latest in computer graphic technology to construct one of the must visually arresting games to ever appear on the platform. Animations flow smoothly, vegetation is fluid and alive, environments seem to stretch on for miles, and characters come alive as they all perform their cyclical routines day in and day out. Crowded cities and large open environments do a great job at establishing a well-realized and heavily detailed world for Geralt to roam around in.
This rose is not without its thorns, of course:
However, some of the core features of the game does experience its fair share of flaws: it has incredibly lousy (though bearable) mouse-clicking combat and the amount of utility required to get used to the way Geralt moves around; the ineptitude of the tutorials given to the player that do little to actually do what they are designed to do - help; a questing system that for a majority of the time does a great job in causing a massive headache, especially when it comes to navigating without a compass; and a polarizing journal system. The story can also be a little too convoluted at times, with characters and locations being introduced on such a almost constant basis that it can be difficult to follow if one is not paying close attention to it.
Let me perfectly clear, though - pound for pound, The Witcher 2 is definitely a memorable and undeniably compelling work of pure craftsmanship and comes highly recommended for PC RPG loyalists and those looking for something to really sink their teeth and free time into, though I would also strongly advocate newcomers to play the first game, if not to witness a textbook example of how to radically improve upon a game in a real tangible way.
GameInterface have provided a review of their own, giving the game an almost perfect score of 9.75/10. Skipping over the sexual content of the game and its plot outset, the reviewer instead details various game subsystems at play:
The Witcher 2 boasts a completely redesigned combat system that takes a little bit of practice to get the hang of, but allows for some really enjoyable fighting action. Geralt can execute some pretty slick moves, utilizing a strong/weak attack/block type system that seems basic on the surface but takes some practice to master. The combat is definitely more furious than in the first title, and I found myself getting a lot better as I progressed in anticipating the best time or way to attack.
Player skill is as important as avatar's gained abilities, but where the game really shines is C&C;:
The amount of content in The Witcher 2 is staggering. After the flashback sequences, I realized I had invested a considerable amount of time already and I hadn�t even reached Chapter One. If you�re like me, and enjoy exploring every available nook and cranny of the game world looking for side quests, loot, and just neat places to see, you�ll be occupied with the game for a very long time. Adding on to that content are the multiple paths you can take during the game. In order to avoid any spoilers, I won�t mention details here, but there are a number of places during the game where you are given decision points allowing you to choose how you proceed. Some are massive, game altering moments, while others are as small as refusing the wishes of someone in town who then attempts to have you beat down by thugs for not complying. It increases the replay value, as you�ll certainly want to see what would have happened if you had chosen a different path.
The review does get some minute details wrong (e.g. Geralt's journal is actually Dandelion's recount of the events), but it showcases the importance of the game to RPG genre as a whole against the upcoming contenders:
I will say I�m quite pleased that The Witcher 2 isn�t completely linear, and has branching storylines and decision points that drastically impact later events, so it�s not totally closed off in that respect. I also recognize that it�s based off an existing series of books and a strong main character, so you can�t deviate too drastically or it becomes something else entirely. I decided not to deduct points for my personal bias in this case. That said, I defy you to find a more engrossing RPG at this time or a better executed package. Even the much-anticipated Skyrim is going to find The Witcher 2: Assassin Of Kings extraordinarily difficult to unseat as RPG of the year.
A couple more interesting previews showed up, this time in video form. First one has been captured offscreen at the demo presentation at E3 by GamerTag Radio, a podcast/YT-oriented community gaming site. The video shows a rare type of walkthrough of the La Vallette's dungeons (the one following killing Aryan at the early battle), and is fully played on Xbox360.
Another new video comes from OnRPG, an MMO-oriented site. This time it's not a preview of the Xbox360 version -- instead, it's a "first impression" of the game itself on PCs. The difficulty level is shown in excruciating detail, and some nice tactics tips are given. Watch the video at OnRPG - or below!
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