The Witcher

[DreamThrall]

Anyone else play this game? I just finished and I thought it was awesome, though the 5th chapter seemed a little light on content. Maybe that was just because I finished the main storyline quests by accident before any of the other ones.

If you haven't played it, and you like RPGs, I'd definitely go buy it.

 

[Teta_Bonita]

For something that's supposed to be fresh and original, I found it oddly cliche and boring. Maybe it's just not my cup of tea.

 

[DreamThrall]

Well I also don't really play RPGs that much.

 

[Lucid]

Installing the demo as we speak.

I heard that the load times are pretty bad, true or no?

 

[Cheomesh]

Saw it at Wal Mart. Considered getting it.

Is it less :| than Oblivion was?

 

[Lucid]

Meh, not really my kind of game.

I thought it'd be hack n slashy like Diablo 2 but with different combat stances... but it's more or less a very revamped Neverwinter Nights.

 

[Cheomesh]

Hm, I am a fan of the DnD PCRPG's (if and only if I can play with other humans...).

 

[ricera10]

Installing the demo as we speak.

I heard that the load times are pretty bad, true or no?

The 1.2 patch fixed them, the demo is patched too so the loading times shouldn't be bad in it either.

 

[Lucid]

The 1.2 patch fixed them, the demo is patched too so the loading times shouldn't be bad in it either.

They're average load times for me, takes me 3/4 minutes to load new areas.

 

[Adrien C]

I bought it and five minutes later uninstalled it.
The engine is badly coded, ran like hell in my comp ( COD4 looks great and verry smooth in revenge)

The combat system is just no there, you need to wait and click to kill the baddies and the character won't seem to react to your commands.

Fable is more my cup of tea.

 

[PimpinPenguin]

I got it not so long after it came out and still haven't played it. It lags so much and the graphics look very pixelated. I'll stick with COD4 whichs works great.

 

[Deleted member 56031]

I haven't tried it personally but it doesn't seem to be my type of game. I've never liked the D&D style RPGs or pretty much anything in that style(with the exception of LOTR). I prefer sci-fi. :dork:

 

[repiV]

I haven't tried it personally but it doesn't seem to be my type of game. I've never liked the D&D style RPGs or pretty much anything in that style(with the exception of LOTR). I prefer sci-fi. :dork:

So do I, but The Witcher is no ordinary fantasy setting. There is no "good" and "evil" - just the choice of which is the lesser evil. People tell you to **** off, priests are rapists, there are brothels and street hookers who get murdered by assassins, children that get kidnapped for horrific experiments, institutionalised racism and brutal terrorist organisations.
It's a refreshing change from the usual "do the right thing" or "do something that's plainly evil" choice that RPGs usually give you. This game gives you choices you'll really have to think about, and they often come back to bite you in the arse 10 hours down the line. Not to mention that most people regard you with indifference or outright hostility, as opposed to other RPGs where everyone you meet wants to be your friend.
The dialogue is also entertaining and cinematic in its own right, which is a big plus - as lots of RPGs (I'm looking at you, Jade Empire) send you to sleep and you just want to enable subtitles and click through it all as quickly as possible.

Great game.

 

[Deleted member 56031]

Hmmm..I might try it out at some point then although my friends told me similar things about oblivion and I didn't like that and I just got annoyed at the enemies levelling with you crap :|

*flame shield on just in case*

 

[repiV]

Hmmm..I might try it out at some point then although my friends told me similar things about oblivion and I didn't like that and I just got annoyed at the enemies levelling with you crap :|

*flame shield on just in case*

The Witcher is nothing like Oblivion. It's complicated, plot driven and functions similarly to a traditional RPG but with the benefit of modern technology - it's not dumbed down as games like Mass Effect are.
Very long game too - I've spent many nights playing it for hours on end, and I'm at the beginning of Act 3 of 5. It only gets better as it goes on, too...

 

[Deleted member 56031]

I like mass effect ;(

so far i spent all of xmas day playing it

 

[repiV]

I like mass effect ;(

so far i spent all of xmas day playing it

I like it too, but a lot of the RPG elements have been toned down in order to appeal to a wider audience. Nothing wrong with that of course, but The Witcher has all the trappings of a game like Baldurs Gate for example.

 

[StardogChampion]

2GB's a bit steep for the demo, but I'll download it when I get my new comp put together.

 

[bbson john]

It is a good game, imo. There are a lot of conversation, which can be tedious if you like Diablo-type of gameplay. But I think it is a game beyond simple slash and kill. There are a lot other great elements. It has a good, though not the best, storyline.

If you really want to buy the game, avoid US-version like plague. Buy the UK version. A lot of things are cut in the US-version/

 

[Kadayi]

Buy it, forget the demo. I've been playing it solidly for a good couple of weeks and it is hands down one of the best RPGs I've played (just starting chapter 5). Everything RePiV said I'm in agreement with, it's very adult, and there are tough decisions to make all the way through. There is no right or wrong way to play the game, no good & evil, just consequences which is far better than anything you'll find in most other RPGs. The combat is a little 'meh' initially, but once you get the hang of it, and you get a few skills it soon becomes more interesting. 5 minutes play isn't going to teach you shit about the game or it's mechanics.

As for running the game, if you are having frame rate issues just take the resolution down a few steps, ordinarily I run in 1680x1050, but for the Witcher I dropped back to 1280x768 and everything runs fine with all the effects on.. Also the 1.2 patch addresses the loading times is available.

If your a PC only gamer and you are looking for a game to occupy you for a good few evenings for a couple of weeks, then this is it. 10/10.

 

[PimpinPenguin]

Tried running it on 800X600 everything on low and i got 3FPS on the cut scences shame i wanna play this game so much.

 

[Lucid]

Tried running it on 800X600 everything on low and i got 3FPS on the cut scences shame i wanna play this game so much.

What are your specs?

 

[PimpinPenguin]

What are your specs?

Pentuim 4 3.2
1 GB Ram
ATI X740 XL (128mb)

I know it's not great but it meets the minimum requirements and can handle COD 4 on the normal Minus shadows with minor lag.

 

[Lucid]

Pentuim 4 3.2
1 GB Ram
ATI X740 XL (128mb)

I know it's not great but it meets the minimum requirements and can handle COD 4 on the normal Minus shadows with minor lag.

Huh.

The Witcher isn't really -that- demanding either.

 

[Kadayi]

Pentuim 4 3.2
1 GB Ram
ATI X740 XL (128mb)

I know it's not great but it meets the minimum requirements and can handle COD 4 on the normal Minus shadows with minor lag.

Have you tried the Witcher Forums? There is probably someone there who can advise you better.

 

[bbson john]

Also the 1.2 patch addresses the loading times is available.

But I've heard that a sex scene was cut in this patch. :/

 

[tvharti]

I have been playing it for a week now and in my opinion its quite a good game. The prologue and the first act are a bit meh, lots of running back and forth. It does not change that much later but the game seems to pick up some speed from the second act on (playing the third now).

I didn't have big problems getting the game to run smoothly, although I haven't installed the 2nd patch yet. Loading times can be long (20-30 sec). A big minus is that they only have like 5 different character aminations, so when you're walking through Wyzima you think you are watching "Attack of the Clones"

The games' storyline is interesting and keeps you going (once you passed the first act). The gameplay is nothing new, they just added a little bit of tactics. The alchemy part can be confusing (at least for me), when you want to do a potion, it doesn't tell you which ingredients you are missing, just that you haven't got enough. So it's a matter of clicking through your inventory. But if there is an option for it, I didn't find it ;-)

 

[DreamThrall]

Before the 1.2 patch, I'd have 30-60+ second load times. After I patched, they're down to 2-10 seconds, depending on how big the area is and if I've been there recently. Loading saved games sometimes takes a few more seconds.

 

[Rapstah]

Is this game PC only? If it is, it's just begging for consolification.

 

[DreamThrall]

Yeah, it doesn't seem like there'd be a whole lot of change needed to the control scheme since you can do it all with the mouse.

 

[Tagaziel]

If you can find me something as responsive, quick and precise as a mouse that is designed for a console, then please tell me.

 

[Rapstah]

A wiimote?

 

[Unfocused]

A wiimote?

He said precise.

Actually, I never used a wiimote, but I seriously doubt it would be as precise as a mouse.

 

[bbson john]

A wiimote?

I'll be hard. Imagine what fighting movements are involved on Geralt's level 5 fast sword style.

 

[Lucid]

He said precise.

Actually, I never used a wiimote, but I seriously doubt it would be as precise as a mouse.

It's pretty precise as long as you set the sensitivity to the max.

 

[HunterSeeker]

It's pretty precise as long as you set the sensitivity to the max.

When I use a wiimote its shaky as hell and precision targeting? Forget it. It might just be me but I do not have that problem with a mouse.

 

[Wanted Bob]

Man, I bought this game just looking for an RPG fix (I surprisingly did not like Mass Effect, was expecting it to be too much like KOTOR).

What I found instead was a fantastic game that has kept me hooked ever since I first played it.

It seems to be what Fable had hoped to be but failed. An alive world where your choices actually do make a difference. No Joke. This isnt something that only comes into effect at the end ? la Bioshock, reprecusions will be seen as early as the first Act.

I also love alchemy in this game. In other games I found it to be a gimmick. In this game, potions are fairly unique, and are actually required for your survival in the harder difficulities.

If you want a refreshing break from standard RPGs, this game is a must buy.

 

[Kadayi]

What I found instead was a fantastic game that has kept me hooked ever since I first played it.

It seems to be what Fable had hoped to be but failed. An alive world where your choices actually do make a difference. No Joke. This isn't something that only comes into effect at the end ? la Bioshock, repercusions will be seen as early as the first Act.

I also love alchemy in this game. In other games I found it to be a gimmick. In this game, potions are fairly unique, and are actually required for your survival in the harder difficulties.

If you want a refreshing break from standard RPGs, this game is a must buy.

I'd actually go so far as to say that it raises the bar considerably for other RPGs to aspire to when it comes to handling storyline, actions & consequences. The game is strongest through the first 4 acts, the 5th is hampered a bit by some strange design choices (note: take what you need before going into Old Vizima from the Dike..you can't get back until the acts played out), but overall it's quite flawless, and I was utterly compelled to finish it (and I rarely finish games as a rule).

I also liked the alchemy in the game, it was less convoluted than Oblivion but more satisfying, and that many of the potions & salves effects last for hours was great.

 

[HunterSeeker]

This is the second time I had to alt-tab out of the game becouse I am faced with a decison with no clear right or wrong answear.

 

[Wanted Bob]

Man, I am always pressing alt key in order to see where everything is around me (items, remains, enemies, etc...) so quite often I press tab to sheate my weapon and the game minimizes! A minor gripe in an otherwise very smooth control scheme.

The in-game descisions havent been too difficult more me so far, but choosing where to spend my talents is super hard. Silver talents are uncommon enough for me at this time, but Gold talents are rare to come by, so its hard to create a balanced character.