How can you describe Witcher 2 in a nutshell? Unique wouldn’t be the right terminology for this lavish, exquisite game which CD Projekt Red has created.
Witcher 2 takes you on a voyage of a bloody conspiracy across the Northern Lands, with assassinations leaving chaos in its wake and intensifying the situation at hand. I will admit, I haven’t played the first Witcher game, but yet, Witcher 2 doesn’t exactly scream out that you need to play the first instalment. Without going into spoiler territory, new players will learn of Geralt of Rivia background/origin, and the meaning why he his called a ‘Witcher’.
This game is for adults and adults only. Why I say that? Witcher 2 is the only game I have experienced which delivers a very strong narrative, and every decision you make will lead to a heavy consequence immediately after or later down the line. Of course other games have decisions made by the player, but, not on this level, nor matching Witcher 2’s great attachment.
Witcher 2 is like your typical RPG game with dialogue choices, decisions to make, looting, levelling up and completing all the side quests as possible. If you are a RPG fan, then you will simply fall in love with Witcher 2’s beauty, and bloody skirmishes. I would easily put this game in a bracket of its own, simply because of the implicitly manner that this game rides on. It’s certainly a strong narrative game, which will throw you throughout the course of the game, questioning who to trust or not.
I know there will be people comparing this to Skyrim, and it’s bonkers if you do. Skyrim has set a benchmark for RPG’s in general, but, both of these games are completely and entirely different from each other.
I’m a gamer who likes to do all the side quests before I sink my teeth into the prized steak. Witcher 2 side quests are beaming with interesting stories, and probably the only game which has got me to go further than before like for example the nekkers contract quest you will receive in chapter 1. You have the option of whether to go straight in and find out the weakness of the enemy for yourself, or you could go to a book merchant, and read up on the monsters that you have agreed to slay, to get the one up and be better prepared. I like this especially, because, it delivers a provocative to go out and make an incentive to get the best out of those quests.
The gameplay to Witcher 2 is fairly straight forward and easy to pick up. The game can be challenging at times when you are in combat, definitely when outnumbered, so don’t go with the mindset of hack & slashing your way out of a sticky situation. You have two swords, one for slaying the normal enemies like bandits, monsters etc, or the Witcher Silver Sword, which is for those more daunting enemies which require that extra TLC before you slay it. You can mix up your arsenal with magic or secondary weapons like bombs, traps and even long range weapons. Using every piece of resource you have is vital for a more victorious battle, and it is very rewarding when you quickly make up a battle plan out of thin air.
The nice feature of Witcher 2 is crafting. A game that I don’t have to worry about levelling up which takes forever to gain the best piece of kit! You can buy diagrams, for potions, weapons and armour plus secondary weapons to craft. Alchemy is also achieved by the same process of course, and with the press of the RB button, you will enter into that mode to craft items. I like the fact that I don’t have to worry about the endless grind of boosting my skills to achieve the great items. I can wondrously explore and find ingredients or crafting items in my own time. When brewing potions you have to be careful of the toxicity the potion can give you. Drinking too many potions will poison Geralt, and you won’t be able to neck down potions for health during battle either! Bad move? No as the combat is now more intense, and makes the player even more curious in the approach of battle.
Believe it or not, I have laughed quite a few times as well whilst playing this game. When you do the prologue you will come to a place called Flotsam. Here you will witness pure comedy gold, and it seems ‘ploughing’ is the new f-word. I still laugh now when I think of that Welsh fella shouting out later in Flotsam. (No spoilers here!)
I’m keeping away from story related spoilers, as it’s definitely a game you need to play. Like I said above that this game is a very strong narrative game, it really is. Each character has agenda’s of their own and all play a part on the destruction which is happening to the hierarchy in the Northern Lands.
Witcher 2 is in a class & league of its own. Many RPG’s have been successful, whilst others have fallen flat on their face. CD Projekt Red has a wonderful world with Witcher and I cannot wait for more. I was astonished on how great the Xbox 360 handles this game, as Witcher 2 looks bloody fantastic on max settings on the PC. The music and atmosphere of the places you will encounter is all spot on. I think the folk could be a bit more on edge on what is happening, but other than that, it scores highly in all departments. The environments are fantastic and well detailed to the eye, so you know a lot of passion has gone into this game.
The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings is bloody, sexy and damn right awesome game. It’s a must have Xbox 360 game, and is one of the best or ‘THE’ best game to own this year.
10/10
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