View Full Version : The Witcher 2
Have you guys played this awesome game? It's a definate GOTY candidate.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L3092t3RmH0
BangTail
Jun 4 2011, 19:09
I find this game to be totally overrated tbh. It does look nice but the game itself is boring and the combat system is terrible.
The first Witcher game is easily one of the most overrated games in PC history and the sequel looks destined to surpass it in that department.
The combat is a lot of fun aside from the auto-lock which wants to screw you over and over agin.
I didn't find the story boring and actually it's the most mature RPG out there.
Can't say too much about the first one though, the combat system of that game broke it for me, so I didn't buy it.
BangTail
Jun 4 2011, 21:21
It's definitely not the worst game ever made or anything like that, I just wasn't that impressed but to each their own :)
Inkompetent
Jun 4 2011, 21:22
Finished it yesterday, and I think it was a fantastic game. I loved the first game, and this one was in most regards much better.
There are some things that I think should be improved (such as possibility to upgrade mutagens with more powerful versions), but it is still a masterpiece, both in gameplay, story, and aesthetics.
Solid purchase.
Yeah, the mutagens were weird. It made me wonder why you could loot so many crappy ones when you have only so many slots.
Btw I've read some people complaining about act 3, but I thiugh it was visually great despite being a ruin. It could have been a lot longer though.
I must say, I'm ready for an expansion already.
beat it once already and playing it a second time over. i like it overall, the quests are interesting and how the story branches out is neat and i heard DLC will be free. but theres alot of little gripes i have about the game too. the combat part of the game isn't that great. and some of the monsters are really annoying like the golems who will often get you trapped against a wall and keep knocking you over repeatedly untill you die and the annoying wraiths which i have a hard time hitting with my sword. the dragon fight at the last act was pretty lame too and the alchemy tree feels pretty useless since you no longer need to spend any points in it to make anything. wish i could post some screen shots but the print screen buttons won't work in the game for some reason.
Inkompetent
Jun 4 2011, 21:53
Well, the alchemy tree does have some nice things. For example I pretty much only used Swallow, Cat, and Golden Oriole potions simply because the negative effects on all other potions made me stay away from them, being a swordsman with pretty much zero alchemy points. Think alchemy can become very impressive once one gets into that tree.
Agreed also that Wraiths are one of the tougher opponents. Think that quick->heavy and heavy->heavy attack combos worked pretty well on them though, simply trying to stay out of range of their attacks instead of blocking them.
CameronMcDonald
Jun 5 2011, 02:16
WHAM, tits on screen.
That pretty much sums the Witcher 2 up.
combat in both witchers is awful and boring.
I'd rather watch a movie.
That pretty much sums the Witcher 2 up.
Tits on screen account for rougly 0.01 % of the playtime. :)
Regarding the alchemy tree, it's great if you just want to spam grenades. :D But berserk doesnt do a whole lot, or at least I didnt notice.
This is some of the old school style RPG game on the market, which isn't all that bad if you are into that type of game.
Great game, I love it, voice acting is great, combat system is quite good imo once you go through the sword skill tree.
Kinda glad it came out after somewhat disappointing Dragon Age 2, I liked 1 a lot more.
VanhA-ICON
Jun 6 2011, 08:55
Well, the first Witcher was one of the best games I've played and I'm still at first chapter in sequel. So far the only complaint is from the combat system... the blocking is somehow fubar.
It seems to work very randomly... I first thought I have a faulty keyboard.
I think also I have to wait for another pc until I continue further because it's a bit too much for my ancient system.
Well, the first Witcher was one of the best games I've played and I'm still at first chapter in sequel. So far the only complaint is from the combat system... the blocking is somehow fubar.
It seems to work very randomly... I first thought I have a faulty keyboard.
I think also I have to wait for another pc until I continue further because it's a bit too much for my ancient system.
The framerate issues is a little easier to endure if you play with a controller.
Well, the first Witcher was one of the best games I've played and I'm still at first chapter in sequel. So far the only complaint is from the combat system... the blocking is somehow fubar.
It seems to work very randomly... I first thought I have a faulty keyboard.
I think also I have to wait for another pc until I continue further because it's a bit too much for my ancient system.
Update to patch 1.2 for some better performance.
And ref the blocking; that's what I thought at first too, but the reason is your undeveloped character, that's all.
Blocking requires iirc the same orange blocks that using signs consume.
You upgrade blocking through the sword skill tree, these are quite interesting upgrades:
- Reduced vigor needed for blocking
- Ability to block blows from multiple opponents
- Ability to perform counter
- Ability to hit multiple foes at once
(most can be upgraded twice)
I was annoyed with it first too, until I figured that out, and it was pretty rewarding being able to upgrade these skills :)
Until then, you might wanna evade more often and take it into account :)
VanhA-ICON
Jun 6 2011, 16:56
Update to patch 1.2 for some better performance.
And ref the blocking; that's what I thought at first too, but the reason is your undeveloped character, that's all.
Blocking requires iirc the same orange blocks that using signs consume.
Ahh, I had a hunch it might be related to that but was not sure...
I have the steam version so it is updated I think.
Finished some time ago. I must say it's one of the best RPG games I have played. I probably had more fun only when playing Kotors. Still, despite the combat system, which is impressive and playable only after you actually get the adrenaline bar and multikill skills but totally uneffective especially when fighting against several enemies, it's a top shelf product, although very very short :(. I also missed fast-travel, but then again it's role playing, right? :)
Have not played this, but maybe president Obama already has - it's already a week since he got a collectors edition from our prime minister (http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/110469-Polish-Prime-Minister-Gives-Obama-Witcher-2) (it's not a joke even if it sounds like one, it really happened..). Maybe he will present us with a review sometime later :D
Well, Putin did review CoD:MW (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ddg7reIOjL0), didn't he? :p
With 16 different endings and different choices that bring different story (e.g go with Iorveth or Roche), and the available skill trees, I might just replay it after finishing, im at the beginning of chapter 3 currently :)
Its no more "slow and boring" than OFP and ArmA. Fantastic game. The combat system took some getting used to after playing the first but both are some of the best I've ever played.
jequirity
Jun 9 2011, 13:44
I completed it last weekend following Roche's path and enjoyed every minute of it, apart from the Kayran fight which I found very frustrating initially. Nevertheless, this one negative point did not detract from a bloody excellent game!
The voice acting was superb and the characters were all very complex without being pretentious. I enjoyed the first Witcher immensely but I think the sequel is better, the diverging storyline is superb.
I thoroughly enjoyed the combat system of the first game and was a bit unsure about what the combat would be like in the second when I was watching the previews ages ago. The combat system is extremely enjoyable, occasionally a bit sluggish but thats why you have to make sure to time your attacks and parries in the flow of the fight. The blocking system gets easier as you increase your vigour and upgrade your guard and riposte skills so you can parry a blow from any direction etc.
The difficulty curve was different to other games in that it was more difficult in the first chapter than in the rest (That's not to say that the rest of the game isn't challenging though). It thrusts you straight into the action from the begginning and you've got to do your best to keep up and adapt!
I'd say The Witcher 2 is to the RPG world what ARMA2 is to the FPS world and would recommend it to anyone :bounce3:
Best RPG I have played in a very long time.
If anyone is interested I got all my The Witcher 2 gameplay and a lot of random other games like C&C and Arma 2 on my justin.tv channel (http://www.justin.tv/tore29/videos) :)
This game deservers all praise it can get!
Did you find the key to the bandit's house in that wet area outside Flotsam?
Also, any of you can run it maxed out at acceptable framerates? :D
BangTail
Jun 11 2011, 20:21
Everything but uber sampling, that will drop it to unacceptable levels (2560 x 1600).
I've warmed up to the game a little - as many have said, the combat gets better as your skills advance.
nice, i hope that gaming industry in my country will finally rise
cause i would love to work in such industry and Wiedźmin (Witcher) is ours
plus Wiedzmin are serie of fantasy: movie, books , fairy-tale, not only game
I've enjoyed it very much,it's a well made game,the story,the characters,the maturity,graphics.True,prologue had some balancing issues and I've pulled out some of my hair because of it also chapter 3 was way to short,but still a great game.Hope they sell at least 2 millions to make Witcher 3.
Witcher 1&2 best rpgs I've seen these years(this is how you make an rpg Bioware,not that crap DA2).
Regarding the ending and some other spoilers:
I let Letho live,don't know why,he fucked the Northern Kingdoms but still I drank some vodka with him and part ways like two great warriors.:D
Also I was pretty surprised with Saskia's secret,I thought with Roche path I got the blondie in bed now with Iorveth path it's time for some Saskia action "hey baby........holy crap you're THE FRIGGIN DRAGON?"(let's face it not even Geralt could manage that:p)
too feel it you should read novels or watch movies
cause Wiedzmin is game but made ON BASIS of movie/novel
Polish fantasy novels, comics, movies were popular in 80s (as whole world made a lot of movies, fantasy comics as Conan)
Wiedzmin is one of them
I heard the TV series are better than the Hexer movie,what do you think Vilas?Btw,the TV series have english subtitles?
I'm planning to get Sapkowski novels soon,hope I still find them on Amazon.
from fantasy (knights, dragons) i only know Conan, some US movies, Wiedzmin (Hexer, Witcher TV serie) and some movies with Rutger Hauer
---------------
our movies are different than US Hollywood
there are more "dialogs" than "action"
so they might be boring for people used to action movies like Conan
Wiedzmin is "a lot of traveling and talking" serie
it is like ... hmmm...
like playing in Black Mirror serie games comparing to RTCW :)
so probably TV serie Hexer is similar to Hexer movie (i have only seen TV version which is longer)
it is a matter do you like European movies style (in US movies presented by 12 Angry men, when there is lack of action but all is in debate of people, also special effects are not present here , our movies are cheap comparing budgets of whole team making special effects to other movies )
from our movies i can propose you : Life as fatal deadly disease sexually transmitted which is old movie but i have seen it just right now :) but european movie is offtopic here, sorry
TheCrusader
Jul 2 2011, 19:03
I love this game, can't recommend it highly enough!
This game has everything but the combat.
This game has everything but the combat.
Why is that?
IceBreakr
Jul 5 2011, 18:50
Combat? Ever played on Normal or even higher levels? ;)
Why is that?
It's pretty random.
There are two types of combat in the game.
In the first, swordplay..
You fight in very confined spaces so you spend a lot of the fight tripping over the camera.
Instead of circling around your enemy to strike him in the back where his shield can't save him, you find yourself frustratingly stuck in the enviromentals. Tripping over a tree root or chair that you could not see was there.
By the time you realise what has happened, your enemy not only has his shield facing you, he has you boxed in. That tiny window of opportunity you had to strike him in his weak point, while staying out of range of his henchmen.. is passed.
Die. Reload.
The fight mechanic is basicly dodge and hack. you manouvre yourself to keep contact with the minimum number of enemies at one time so you don't get ganked.
Getting hit from behind does double damage.
There are some nice spell effects and traps you can lay, not to mention pre-fight buffs, which add a little spice to the way in which you choose to fight, but ultimately don't do very much. Enemies regenerate damage faster than you can lay damage dealing traps.
These make for some intresting but limited crowd control moves.
The auto target has a habit of changing target. So instead of you attacking the guy nearest you to limit your exposure to the rest of the mobs, it randomly jumps targets to some guy at the other end or in the middle of the throng forcing you to propel yourself into the centre of a ganking...
Die. Reload.
It's one of those, save and reload a few times to get past the fights. The tactics are all included in the game, mellee and ranged.. shields and no shields... it's just they don't work well. The mechanic requires a lot of movement and the enviroments are almost never large enough to move freely and intuatively. This combined with a randomising auto target conspires to cause far too many sessions of save and reload.
If you win a combat in this game you most likely will have earnt it. It does require skill. Unfortunately as well as requiring a good amount of skill, it also requires an enormous amount of sheer luck. (Critical hits FTW).
Combats are won more by pig headed perserverance with the save and reloads than by satisfying feats of fluid gameplay.
Fighting the game engine not fighting the enemies.
The fast track to success is making the AI's follow you round corners until they get stuck on one. Then you have them.
The second type of fight in the game is the type where you must press a button when it is flashed up on the screen. So you get in these cool looking fistycuff duels.
A sign flashs up on the screen...."Press the blue button". So you press the blue button.
A sign flashs up on the screen...."Press the yellow button". So you press the yellow button.
A sign flashs up on the screen...."Press the red button". So you press the red button.
Win.
The fights look good. But ultimately it's a very laclustre game mechanic. There is no satisfaction in your victory, only the pleasure of the glorious animations.
Play Batman Arkham Asylum to get an idea of how fluid third person melee combat could have been or even Knights Templar to see an almost exactly identical combat system done competantly.
The second type of fight in the game is the type where you must press a button when it is flashed up on the screen. So you get in these cool looking fistycuff duels.
A sign flashs up on the screen...."Press the blue button". So you press the blue button.
A sign flashs up on the screen...."Press the yellow button". So you press the yellow button.
A sign flashs up on the screen...."Press the red button". So you press the red button.
God I hated the QTE stuff in this game,my blood pressure sure went up at the Karyan fight,such cheapo console trick to an otherwise excelent game.
The auto target has a habit of changing target. So instead of you attacking the guy nearest you to limit your exposure to the rest of the mobs, it randomly jumps targets to some guy at the other end or in the middle of the throng forcing you to propel yourself into the centre of a ganking...
Hehe yeah, thats absolutely true, but you know you can lock the target?
Btw, no need for skills, just spam the grapeshot.:D
***LeGeNDK1LLER***
Jul 6 2011, 16:17
seems good.
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