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[Exentryk]

Make sure you explore all the interiors and the forest in flotsam.

TW2 may not be "open world" but the flotsam and the forrest surrounding it is incredibly dense and filled with interesting things to see.Do the troll quest and Milleena,the quest about the elf being bullied in public,probably hard to miss that one.It involves a certain cave that's almost definitely inspired the one you go through in Episode Duscae(even the enemies are similar too)

There is also a certain optional "possessed" castle of sorts you can find.

Also,I gotta disagree about it being generic looking.The game has a very unique "oil painting" look about it that's different from most WRPGs ;p

Yeah, I've explored a bit of the flotsam area. Done the elf and cave quest. If the map wasn't as annoying to use, I'd be enjoying the exploration more. Also, the quests aren't that easy to predict. I've gotten wrecked by trusting people twice now lol.

I don't mind the art style, but I don't find it anything special. Anyway. The story and the cutscenes are very nicely done, and I can see myself enjoying the story.

As far as the story is concerned, you didn't miss much by skipping W1, there is very little connecting the two beyond the assassination attempt. TW3 is suppose to do a much better job of easing people in and explaining everything you'll need to know in the prologue.

I think it was mainly about getting used to the names of places like Aedirn, and Temeria, and this king and that king, etc. Trying to get your head around it all takes some time. But I am following it alright now, so let's see how it develops. Story is definitely the strongest point here.

Is this a joke image?

Just googled images for WRPG and that came up.

 

[Sou Da]

Yeah, I've explored a bit of the flotsam area. Done the elf and cave quest. If the map wasn't as annoying to use, I'd be enjoying the exploration more.

I don't mind the art style, but I don't find it anything special. Anyway. The story and the cutscenes are very nicely done, and I can see myself enjoying the story.



I think it was mainly about getting used to the names of places like Aedirn, and Temeria, and this king and that king, etc. Trying to get your head around it all takes some time. But I am following it alright now, so let's see how it develops. Story is definitely the strongest point here.



Just googled images for WRPG and that came up.

Right, joke image. Got it.

 

[HeelPower]

If the map wasn't as annoying to use

.

Shit I forgot the map horrors in this game.

Yeah the map is absolutely awful and one of the worst maps ever in an RPG.This includes both minimap with is 100% useless and the full map ,because it was too focused on style over usability.

I really struggled with it my entire time with the game ,and I hope to the lord that they worked on it in TW3.

TW1's minimap was terribad too ,but the full map was simple and perfectly usable at least.

 

[tuxfool]

Is this a joke image?

Yeah. I'm inclined to agree.

 

[RedSwirl]

Most WRPGs are High Fantasy and somewhat removed from medieval styles, the Witcher definitely is much more grounded in medieval styles in that sense. They're fairly different, this is also one of the attractions to the series.

I agree, though the difference is pretty subtle.

The biggest difference I can point out with the Witcher games (particularly Witcher 2 and 3) is in the clothing and armor designs. Most RPG armor designs look like something grandiose the artists drew up inspired by every other high fantasy RPG. The armor I've seen in the Witcher games on the other hand looks like something out of actual 13th century art. Early-to-mid-game armor in the Souls games has a similar look to it. Another great example is Kingdom Come. Some of Matsuno's games like Tactics Ogre and FF Tactics are still clearly fantasy, but their armor designs look closer to reality.

This is a really good comparison image I found and decided to edit a bit. It's for female armor but I think you can apply the comparison to fantasy armor in general.

Earlier Fire Emblem games are probably a combination between #1 and #4, but more recent ones have started to err closer to #1. Late-game Souls armor tends to look a lot more like typical fantasy armor.

 

[Sou Da]

I agree, though the difference is pretty subtle.

The biggest difference I can point out with the Witcher games (particularly Witcher 2 and 3) is in the clothing and armor designs. Most RPG armor designs look like something grandiose the artists drew up inspired by every other high fantasy RPG. The armor I've seen in the Witcher games on the other hand looks like something out of actual 13th century art. Early-to-mid-game armor in the Souls games has a similar look to it. Another great example is Kingdom Come. Some of Matsuno's games like Tactics Ogre and FF Tactics are still clearly fantasy, but their armor designs look closer to reality.

This is a really good comparison image I found and decided to edit a bit. It's for female armor but I think you can apply the comparison to fantasy armor in general.

Earlier Fire Emblem games are probably a combination between #1 and #4, but more recent ones have started to err closer to #1. Late-game Souls armor tends to look a lot more like typical fantasy armor.

That's a pretty condescending image especially given that Witcher likes to give the women who wear armor sexed versions of actual armor.

Art direction wise you're right though.

 

[tuxfool]

I agree, though the difference is pretty subtle.

It isn't just about armour. It is also how the world is represented, lore, character interaction and attitudes etc.

Very few RPGs go for the medieval grimness that translates more directly from real history books.

 

[boskee]

They all look mostly the same to me.

Who the hell is Tolkein?

In other news, footage from the recent YouTube event is embargoed until 04/27

 

[Jotthah]

Who the hell is Tolkein?

In other news, footage from the recent YouTube event is embargoed until 04/27

He's the author of Lord of the Rings.

I'm hoping for some XboxOne footage.

 

[boskee]

He's the author of Lord of the Rings.

No, Tolkien is.

 

[Jotthah]

No, Tolkien is.

*badumtsh*

 

[StrongBlackVine]

So in other words, people shelling out money for this game on either console are unwise to do so.

No wonder CDPR keeping the console versions hidden.

You could say that about any game that has a superior PC version. Hasn't stopped people from buying more AAA games on console yet.

 

[boskee]

So apparently Youtubers were allowed to record footage of their gameplay and can post up to 45 minutes of gameplay on April 27th when the embargo lifts. Now, this guy says he recorded 3 hours of 1080p/60fps PC footage on ultra. Also some cool footage from the cosplay event they were invited to. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BS7D5aCL-84

 

[UnrealEck]

Freudian slip?
Hope not.

 

[erawsd]

So apparently the Youtubers were allowed to record footage of their gameplay and can post up to 45 minutes of gameplay on April 27th when the embargo lifts. Now, this guy says he recorded 3 hours of 1080p/60fps PC footage on ultra. Also some cool footage from the cosplay event they were invited to. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BS7D5aCL-84

Oh, nice, so we'll get to see ultra after all. Although, these are youtubers which means it'll look like a smeared oil painting. Wonder what're the chances we'll get an uncompressed source...

 

[Tovarisc]

Freudian slip?
Hope not.

Finishing/touching up PC specific features were left to be done after getting console versions through cert?

I hope not as it would mean that even after this delay they would cut it awfully close before getting everything done and locked down for launch.

 

[JumPeRJumPzZ]

So apparently Youtubers were allowed to record footage of their gameplay and can post up to 45 minutes of gameplay on April 27th when the embargo lifts. Now, this guy says he recorded 3 hours of 1080p/60fps PC footage on ultra. Also some cool footage from the cosplay event they were invited to. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BS7D5aCL-84

I hope some of this youtubers recorded some console gameplay. Its about time to see something recent and real from either console.

 

[ndawgdrake]

Hype for W3 is through the roof for me. Might have to come back from my videogame abstinence period (haven't gamed since Dec of last year). My 6970 2GB is trembling.

 

[boskee]

Finishing/touching up PC specific features were left to be done after getting console versions through cert?

I hope not as it would mean that even after this delay they would cut it awfully close before getting everything done and locked down for launch.

There were previous previews which specifically mentioned playing with mouse and keyboard so I'm not sure about this guy's claims.

 

[Tovarisc]

There were previous previews which specifically mentioned playing with mouse and keyboard so I'm not sure about this guy's claims.

Well he was over at CDPR, along with many other YouTubers, just few days ago playing Witcher 3. There must have been some very good reason not to give them KB&M access to the game and give them pads instead.

Unfinished KB/M support would be quite good reason.

 

[boskee]

There must have been some very good reason not to give them KB&M access to the game and give them pads instead.

Unfinished KB/M support would be quite good reason.

https://twitter.com/OtherJoe_AJS/status/589031556209111040

it looks like they were hooked to the PCs tho. Regardless, the German journalist who published his preview in Gamestar specifically mentioned playing with kb+m and that was a month or so ago.

 

[i-Lo]

You could say that about any game that has a superior PC version. Hasn't stopped people from buying more AAA games on console yet.

That's not the issue. With almost all other games, game sites would have been able to cover all other versions of the game as well.

 

[Genio88]

The hype for this game is real, i'm gonna install it on my ssd, i usually install games on HD, but this is a special one

 

[gossi]

 

[epmode]

Someone wrote about the minimap rotation on gamasutra, and it was about Witcher too lol.



There is a mod that fixes it to north in Witcher 2 - Dynamic HUD mod.

I just tried this and loaded an old save. The minimap is fixed but north is definitely not at the top of the minimap. Is there any way to recenter it?

edit: Looks like my Flotsam saves all put ~south towards the top of the minimap while later saves work properly. Weird.

 

[Exentryk]

I just tried this and loaded an old save. The minimap is fixed but north is definitely not at the top of the minimap. Is there any way to recenter it?

edit: Looks like my Flotsam saves all put ~south towards the top of the minimap while later saves work properly. Weird.

You're definitely using a mod if the mini map is fixed for you.

 

[Ralemont]

That's a pretty condescending image especially given that Witcher likes to give the women who wear armor sexed versions of actual armor.

Art direction wise you're right though.

Yeah let's not get carried away. Saskia is the Witcher's version of Samara:

"We're going to give them armor straps that they don't use because the character wants to show boobs even though it's completely against the character."

For the record, I'm not against boobs.

 

[martino]

I agree, though the difference is pretty subtle.

The biggest difference I can point out with the Witcher games (particularly Witcher 2 and 3) is in the clothing and armor designs. Most RPG armor designs look like something grandiose the artists drew up inspired by every other high fantasy RPG. The armor I've seen in the Witcher games on the other hand looks like something out of actual 13th century art. Early-to-mid-game armor in the Souls games has a similar look to it. Another great example is Kingdom Come. Some of Matsuno's games like Tactics Ogre and FF Tactics are still clearly fantasy, but their armor designs look closer to reality.

This is a really good comparison image I found and decided to edit a bit. It's for female armor but I think you can apply the comparison to fantasy armor in general.

Earlier Fire Emblem games are probably a combination between #1 and #4, but more recent ones have started to err closer to #1. Late-game Souls armor tends to look a lot more like typical fantasy armor.

Ok so artistic choice automatically imply what kind of story/ content you will get and targeting audience....
What is this above scratching the surface and hyperbolic stereotypes ?

 

[Yoshichan]

That "Tolkein"-picture is irritating me.

 

[Gurish]

You have the game? :O

 

[Lux R7]

I think the whole problem stems from the idea of "level requirements" for items. Those belong in loot games, not RPGs.

this is so right.

 

[Tovarisc]

You have the game? :O

Preload is active on Xbox One already.

 

[JumPeRJumPzZ]

take some screenshots when you are at

 

[bbd23]

short video of charles dance talking about doing voice work for the witcher 3

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SuZ5YkXVEvk

 

[Denton]

Yeah let's not get carried away. Saskia is the Witcher's version of Samara:



"We're going to give them armor straps that they don't use because the character wants to show boobs even though it's completely against the character."

For the record, I'm not against boobs.

Did you play the game? Reason why Saskia wears this is explained and talked about in it. It makes perfect sense.
Not to mention she is one of the best videogame characters ever.

 

[Gurish]

Preload is active on Xbox One already.

Wow that's early, wonder why Sony is always late with this.

 

[Tovarisc]

Wow that's early, wonder why Sony is always late with this.

Well preload isn't live on Steam or GOG either yet so don't worry. Month before release is super early for preload, for other platforms I would guess week before release.

 

[RedSwirl]

Ok so artistic choice automatically imply what kind of story/ content you will get and targeting audience....
What is this above scratching the surface and hyperbolic stereotypes ?

No, I was just pointing out one small component that suggests the game's overall art direction. This particular part of the discussion wasn't about the story/content at all.

Though, the Witcher stories are also (from what I understand) pretty heavily inspired by Centra/Eastern European history, intermingled with Northern European and Slavic mythology. In fact one of the main points of the short stories was to sort of deconstruct fables like Snow White and Beauty & the Beast. Hell, Geralt and Yenn got together

Spoiler

because of a Genie.

And I think one of Witcher 3's monsters is supposed to be a take on Rudolf. All that stuff is definitely another angle of what set's the Witcher games apart -- that they more directly pull from folklore than other fantasy fiction/RPGs, but in the post above I was just pointing out armor/clothing designs.

 

[Ralemont]

Did you play the game? Reason why Saskia wears this is explained and talked about in it. It makes perfect sense.
Not to mention she is one of the best videogame characters ever.

Yes, I played the game. It makes perfect sense if your goal is to show cleavage for a female character and build reasons into the story based on that.

I don't really blame CDPR since the series needs to sell and boobs help with that. They are also very good at female characterization, so it doesn't really bother me.

 

[Lunar15]

One thing that was weird to me in Witcher games is that some people had british accents (Roche, Iorveth, most NPC's) while others had no discernable accent, most notably Geralt.

Was this ever explained?

 

[Odah]

^ Poland. Techland, the guys who made Dead Island also used british accents in their games...and the studio is polish aswell, dunno why that's a thing lol



Important Question: Do I have to play the previous 2 games to understand the vast majority of this one? Like, the background of Gerald, or the world...or anything else.

??? DD:D:::::::::

 

[ricki42]

One thing that was weird to me in Witcher games is that some people had british accents (Roche, Iorveth, most NPC's) while others had no discernable accent, most notably Geralt.

Was this ever explained?

What does 'no accent' sound like? Either way, since Geralt isn't local, he'd have to sound different. I only just started reading the first book, but right at the start people notice he's from Rivia because of his accent.

 

[epmode]

You're definitely using a mod if the mini map is fixed for you.

Right. But north is supposed to be at the top of the map and this isn't happening in my Flotsam save.

Ah well, I disabled the mod. The Witcher 2 world is small enough that it doesn't matter much. I really hope the sequel allows us to prevent minimap rotation though.

 

[Ralemont]

What does 'no accent' sound like?

"English Broadcast" or "General American." Basically a neutral American accent.

 

[Marvel]

short video of charles dance talking about doing voice work for the witcher 3

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SuZ5YkXVEvk

Wonderful.

Big fan of Charles.

 

[Chaos17]

I agree, though the difference is pretty subtle.

The biggest difference I can point out with the Witcher games (particularly Witcher 2 and 3) is in the clothing and armor designs. Most RPG armor designs look like something grandiose the artists drew up inspired by every other high fantasy RPG. The armor I've seen in the Witcher games on the other hand looks like something out of actual 13th century art. Early-to-mid-game armor in the Souls games has a similar look to it. Another great example is Kingdom Come. Some of Matsuno's games like Tactics Ogre and FF Tactics are still clearly fantasy, but their armor designs look closer to reality.

This is a really good comparison image I found and decided to edit a bit. It's for female armor but I think you can apply the comparison to fantasy armor in general.

Earlier Fire Emblem games are probably a combination between #1 and #4, but more recent ones have started to err closer to #1. Late-game Souls armor tends to look a lot more like typical fantasy armor.

This remind me how the Fire Emblem topic became toxic because : realism vs direction art.

It became awfull *shiver*

 

[Denton]

Yes, I played the game. It makes perfect sense if your goal is to show cleavage for a female character and build reasons into the story based on that.

I don't really blame CDPR since the series needs to sell and boobs help with that. They are also very good at female characterization, so it doesn't really bother me.

Hahaha ok buddy, you know best I am sure.

 

[Lunar15]

Important Question: Do I have to play the previous 2 games to understand the vast majority of this one? Like, the background of Gerald, or the world...or anything else.

??? DD:D:::::::::

I'm not sure, but apparently the prologue will get you up to speed.

I feel like they've separated 3 enough so that all of the important plot details will be given to you within the game. You'll miss some things, but the main central plot will be relatively self contained.

 

[ScepticMatt]

One thing that was weird to me in Witcher games is that some people had british accents (Roche, Iorveth, most NPC's) while others had no discernable accent, most notably Geralt.

Geralt is a foreigner to Temeria, a Kaedweni raised in Kaer Morhen to be precise.

Does this game have fishing in it? OR Bow and Arrows? Always prefer archery to sword play if given the option.

Technically he has a Crossbow, but it's not a main focus by any stretch

but right at the start people notice he's from Rivia because of his accent.

"from Rivia" is just a title, not his place of origin (can't detail more without book spoilers)

 

[MrPressStart]

Does this game have fishing in it? OR Bow and Arrows? Always prefer archery to sword play if given the option.