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The Castlevania Dungeon Forums => Hardcore Gaming 101 => Topic started by: Ahasverus on May 01, 2012, 03:23:35 AM

Title: The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings (or How I fell in love)
Post by: Ahasverus on May 01, 2012, 03:23:35 AM

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I'm not sure.

Action Adventure was supossed to be my favorite genre. You know, the good old tales of saving the world from mythic creatures, short  (or not) stories about masters and slaves, kingdoms and princess, dark lords and fairies. Pretty standard stuff, but it never gets old (for me). It always simple, hack, slash, jump, backtracking here and there, and voila, I'm pleased.

But the Western RPG genre is just a storm, impossible to miss.

First it was Jade Empire with its vibrant world nad charming eastern ambientation, then Mass Effect and its revolutionary moral system, then Oblivion with endlessa mounts of fun and customization, then Fallout 3 that is fairly Oblivion with Guns (and just as good). But only in the recent months the genre became a poewrhouse of revolution. Skyrim as you know is oblivion on esteroids, then Amalur became the best WoW since Wow, after it Mass Effect became the epitome of a dream come true, a game spanning 3 games, great.

but I wan't ready, I wasn't ready for THE WITCHER.

The Witcher 2 is the most un cliche of un cliche games. Your protagonist? An ugly scarred hated anti  hero who works for pay.
Your mission? Just get money.
Your world? A decaying kingdom of civil wars, fallen kings and fights between races.
You are not saving the world, you are just living your story while watching a greater one happening, and it doesn't notice you. People doesn't respect you, guards doesn't fear you, you're a pawn, and they know it, you know it.

What makes the Witcher so special?

It's just foregin.
You have never played a game like this one before. Not only cliche fantasy races are twisted from their source material as it gets (Pretty Elves? not here, just bandits that like to tell pretty stories about themselves, for example). Potions aren't abusable, they can kill you, you must get every recipe for making anything, saving a maid in distress could cost you your head, or someone else's, refusing the offer from your mission giver won't break your game, etc...
The game is not about freeedom, it's a bout a story, a story that you shape but don't control. Were you impressed by ME choices? They don't hold a candle to this game. Did punch a mean guard in the prologue? He will come and steal all your weapons PERMANENTLY in the third act. That's the way it works here.

Did I mention than depending of a choice you have to make in 10 seconds you get a completely different game afterwards?

And the combat, ooh, the combat, I've never, ever, encountered such a fine sword combat engine. Every swing counts, a single enemy could kill you,  but it's not unfair, this is no hack and slash, but the combat is so responsive and satisfying that you'll wish every fight was a little longer.

Add enormous bosses, magic and one of the best stories in the medium to make a game o be remembered by anyone who plays it.

I can't beg enoug, buy, play this game, and talk other about it, it's made with such care, with such love that no other AAA production has (besides Rockstar games,  Arkham games and Elder Scrolls games). It's something like nothing before, and like nothing that will come afterwards, besides the new Witcher.

And after all, the biggest compliment that I could give to it, it's that all its rpg intricancies and complexity just melts with your brain, after a while, you won't think of number stats or skills, you'll just play.

Not bad for the most hardcore AAA game out there.

Title: Re: The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings (or How I fell in love)
Post by: JR on May 01, 2012, 04:29:07 AM

I just got done playing the first one, and I had a lot of fun. The game was really easy, but really fun.

I did like how the game did carry more weight with its consequences than I expected. Or how I was able to pick and choose sides (well, up to a point, when they make you stick with the group you sided with) depending on which side I thought was more deserving of help.

I've been hearing a LOT about this now that it's getting a console release. I'm still debating on whether I should buy the console version, or wait until I have a more powerful PC and play it then. I guess it depends on what they take out of the console version.

Can't wait to find out what happens with

(click to show/hide)

The whole witcher sent to kill Foltest thing. It's awesome how it opens up more questions. Was he possibly sent from Kaer Morhen? Or was he more of a rogue like Berengar? Does this mean Salamandra isn't dead?

I haven't read much about the sequel (to avoid spoilers), but I hope the antagonist is a little more fearsome than Azar Javed. That guy just seemed like a sneering coward to me. And yes, I realize that Jacques was really the main villain, but it was almost too late in the game to count, if that makes sense.

e.

Title: Re: The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings (or How I fell in love)
Post by: Kale on May 01, 2012, 07:55:51 AM

Just wanted to point out. Mass Effect's system was not revolutionary. Their previous series KoTOR has a better system. There might even things that is almost as good that came before those but I don't know for sure.

Title: Re: The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings (or How I fell in love)
Post by: Mooning Freddy on May 01, 2012, 10:21:26 AM

I heard that the game was uber-epic. Unfortunately, I do not own the hardware, or the time to play such an addicting game.

Title: Re: The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings (or How I fell in love)
Post by: Nail_Bombed on May 01, 2012, 12:37:12 PM

I mourn... for my PC is not of the caliber that it needs to be to play this incredible looking game....

.... what am I saying? Having bad hardware is saving me from sinking my precious hours into gaming addiction!  ;D

..... actually, it's still...  :-\ :-[ :'( - having very little money sucks, bigtime.

Title: Re: The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings (or How I fell in love)
Post by: Dark Nemesis on May 01, 2012, 02:36:04 PM

Quote from: Nail_Bombed on May 01, 2012, 12:37:12 PM

I mourn... for my PC is not of the caliber that it needs to be to play this incredible looking game....

.... what am I saying? Having bad hardware is saving me from sinking my precious hours into gaming addiction!  ;D

..... actually, it's still...  :-\ :-[ :'( - having very little money sucks, bigtime.

I can feel you bro........

Title: Re: The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings (or How I fell in love)
Post by: Ahasverus on May 01, 2012, 08:35:31 PM

For those without PC's, 360 version is amazing. No doubt it's beautiful on PC but I had my jaw dropping lots of times in my playthorugh.

Quote

Can't wait to find out what happens with

You have No idea...  ;D

Title: Re: The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings (or How I fell in love)
Post by: KaZudra on May 02, 2012, 03:32:04 AM

as a PC player, I opt the console version until the hardware gets cheap (two - three years)