Opinions on The Witcher 2?

Ryubusa

Ryubusa

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Sep 11, 2013
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So I just started playing The Witcher 2: Enhanced Edition the other day. I'm a few hours in now, made it to Flotsam and fussed around a bit in town preparing to head out on my first side-quests.

I'm actually really surprised at how little I'm enjoying the game so far. I am a big RPG fan, and given the critical acclaim this game has received I was expecting to love it. Alas, it's not impressing me at all. It's VERY unpolished, with terrible AI, awkward controls, clunky combat and hit detection, graphics and sound glitches, frustrating interface design, etc., etc. The story stuff seems cool, but the actual gameplay is severely lacking.

Why are people so in love with this game? Is it mainly due to the story stuff? If so, that's fair enough I guess, but story alone is not enough to carry an entire game for me.

I guess I'm posting this because I'm honestly kind of baffled at this point. IMO it feels more like a 60% or 70% average review kind of game, not an 80%+ average as it is. Seems massively overrated. I really want to like it but I'm finding it hard to get passed how unpolished everything is.

What are your thoughts on it?
 
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I have the same feelings you did. My problem was that the world was not "open" enough. I like most of the other aspects of the game, but for me. In witcher 2 I just feel like I am doing a lot of backtracking on the same paths and it got old.. an RPG really has to be "open" to be enjoyable. Witcher 3 looks to remedy that problem though!;);)
 
I'm actually playing it right now as well and I'm right about where you are, a little bit passed that. I'm having a much different experience though. I haven't noticed any glitches except for the occasional NPC getting stuck behind something, and I think the combat is great (though hard to get the hang of). I've been working on just doing side quests around Flotsam and trying to get better weapons/armor and I'm having a great time. So really I don't know hardly anything about the story at this point, but if that comes through then I see no reason why this game doesn't deserve a 8-9.
 
I didn't like it half as much as most people did. None of the characters felt real or interesting to me -- I think the game gets way too much credit in that department. There was too much politics for my taste (I'm happy to hear that Witcher 3 is going to focus more on personal stuff). I didn't find exploration that interesting or rewarding. I felt like I was backtracking an awful lot. I ended up not really caring about the story, so the differential outcomes that the game emphasizes didn't have much effect on me. I made choices that destroyed a kingdom or two, but I just didn't care. I'd read a Witcher book prior to the game, so I had a familiarity with the universe, but the game story never hooked me. Combat was pretty good, and I enjoyed some of the battles. Navigating via the map to find quest locations was a pain.

Anyhow, you're not alone. I was expecting a lot more from #2, based on the hype, and I was underwhelmed. Part of it may have been my expectations. Based on what I was hearing, I really expected outstanding storytelling, great characters, brilliant RPG mechanics, etc. It was a good game -- don't get me wrong -- but not nearly as good I was expecting.
 
The game has a bit of a learning curve to it. It's not exactly like other action-RPGs. The combat system requires a bit more technique. Magic helps, but isn't to be exclusively relied upon. The fact that there are two swords depending on what the enemy-type is, is also a factor. Also, ripostes are pretty important to combat.

Personally, I had a blast with it. It's one of the few games (with multiple paths) where I finished, and then began a replay immediately. And though the sex scenes were there mostly for eye-candy, I thought the ones with Triss (and the succubus - goat feet, yaaaay!) were particularly well done.

Witcher 3 is day one for me.
 
Yeah, despite my feelings about W2, I'm really looking forward to Witcher 3. It sounds ... epic (such an overused word, but couldn't think of a better one).
 
I was fully expecting to come into this thread and see people posting about how much they loved it. I finished it a few months ago. I initially bought this guy at released, played halfway thru chapter one and just stopped playing. In my goal to finish off my current gen backlog of games i started up again and played thru the rest of it. My feelings of the game itself is very similar to Anderson's. Instead of rehashing that, i'll just say i think its a good game but as a big RPG fan myself, it didn't draw me in like so many other RPG did. I would consider buying Witcher 3.
 
Haven't played 2 yet but really enjoyed the first game, even though it was rough around the edges. 2 is supposed to be better than that though.
 
I adore Witcher 2. My second favorite RPG this gen only behind Mass Effect 2 which was a masterpiece. It just had a fun-ness about it that lasted all the way through the 1000 gamerscore. The best $10 I've ever spent and to think it only cost them 8 million to make.
 
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Love the game. I've played through it on the PC several times. The combat had quite a bit of a learning curve initially. Once I got the hang of it and how the game operates, I really enjoyed it. The narrative was particularly engaging for a videogame and I am a bit worried how the narrative will work out in the sequel given its openness.
 
I love the story and the game, but I feel as if it should've stayed as a PC game. The combat and menus don't really fit for consoles to me.
 
Only thing I don' like so far is the map. It's just annoying to use.
 
Witcher 2 is a bit like Deus Ex: Human revolution. You need to pass around 10 hours mark or so before the game start to get good (& it has a very steep learning curve) , then really good, & then you cannot put down your controller.

Take my word for it, give it more time, & you will discovered why its one of the most loved RPG this gen.

The menu does sucks, like really sucks, but that has been well known & often critised.
 
I enjoyed it. The story was good, albeit heavy on politics. The combat is difficult sometimes, so some strategy has to come into play. It isn't as open as one would hope, but I wouldn't hold it against the game. It never was to be an open world.

I look forward to W3.
 
Obscene Jester said:
Bored me to tears. Tried twice to get through it and failed.
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This is me for Skyrim. I still haven't even got the the greybeards. For some reason I just can't do it with that game. To me, Witcher 2 is far better than Skyrim even.
 
Z A C K said:
This is me for Skyrim. I still haven't even got the the greybeards. For some reason I just can't do it with that game. To me, Witcher 2 is far better than Skyrim even.
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To get to the Greybeards you level up until you can kick some serious arse and do it from a distance and the best ranged weapon, again, is the bow. When you can swat snow wolves like flies and kill trolls with a few good shots, you're ready for High Hrothgar. You hear from the Greybeards after you slay your first Dragon outside of Whiterun. If you plan on using Melee combat, build a tank.
 
Hammerclaw said:
To get to the Greybeards you level up until you can kick some serious arse and do it from a distance and the best ranged weapon, again, is the bow. When you can swat snow wolves like flies and kill trolls with a few good shots, you're ready for High Hrothgar. You hear from the Greybeards after you slay your first Dragon outside of Whiterun. If you plan on using Melee combat, build a tank.
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No it's not that I can't do it, I just haven't tried. Quit playing before I even got that far.
 
Z A C K said:
No it's not that I can't do it, I just haven't tried. Quit playing before I even got that far.
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Understood. Not your cup of tea, Felt the same way about GTA4. Loved the maps and multiplayer, but the singleplayer bored me to tears. I'd just wind up roaming around and tripping the skylights fantastic.
 
I didn't like what I could play of it. The game gave me the worst motion sickness of any game I've ever played. It looked like it could be amazing, but multiple times of playing I suffered massive motion sickness, so I sold it. :(
 
I thought the controls were awkward, not open world enough for me
did not like the game
Bethesda spoiled me..
 
I loved the game. The combat was great in my eyes because it required a whole new and unique style that goes beyond the traditional method of combat. It's a planner's type of combat. Also adored the story and the conflicts within. I'll say this, there are moments in the game that tugged at me. Especially in the choices department. Unintended consequences completely shocked me at times. Visually, the game is astounding and quite frankly, Witcher 2 is my kind of open world. Enough to explore, but not so much where moving around becomes bothersome at times. Great game for me.
 
Two words - Boss Fights :(

Got to the Kracken fight - failed repeatedly with no save to take me back before it and try to level up. End of game for me.
 
Lnin0 said:
Two words - Boss Fights :(

Got to the Kracken fight - failed repeatedly with no save to take me back before it and try to level up. End of game for me.
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That fight is actually really easy if you know what you're doing. It's very possible to take 0 damage during it.
 
All boss fights become easy once you know the right trick.
 
It's an awesome game, mainly because of its storyline and characters. Make sure to stick with it and finish it. A friend of mine got annoyed with the creatures outside of Flotsam and doing the sidequests there. He gave up. This is just the beginning stages of the game and giving up early will keep you from discovering why people love it so much and are looking foward to The Witcher 3.

I did a playthrough of it which you can find here:
 
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