Depends what you mean. You get three trees you can spec to and at least the Alchemy and Swordmanship tree are very good. Though I wouldn't recommend going alchemy on your first go as you can't pot in combat any more and getting caught in a (mini)boss fight without pots will get you killed. Haven't tried the magic tree because casting loads of signs isn't my thing.
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LttP: Witcher 2 - or "where has this rpg been all my life?"
- Thread starter FloatOn
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Depends what you mean. You get three trees you can spec to and at least the Alchemy and Swordmanship tree are very good. Though I wouldn't recommend going alchemy on your first go as you can't pot in combat any more and getting caught in a (mini)boss fight without pots will get you killed. Haven't tried the magic tree because casting loads of signs isn't my thing.
RadarScope1
Member
Really really want to play this but I know the story is pretty important and engrossing so I want to play the first one first.
However, I'm not a PC gamer.
However, I'm not a PC gamer.
There's minimal carryover from the first game to the second. That said, I much preferred The Witcher to The Witcher 2.
RadarScope1
Member
Yeah, mainly it's that I know they're both great games with a narrative tie, however loose. And from what I've seen it looks like W3 is going to kick all kinds of ass. So I just want to play both and then hit up part 3.There's minimal carryover from the first game to the second. That said, I much preferred The Witcher to The Witcher 2.
Wish a double pack port of 1 and 2 would come to next gen consoles ahead of 3.
EDIT: Looks like W1 is on Mac? Likely getting a new Mac Book Pro with the Nvidia card soon. So I assume I can use a controller and run HDMI to my TV. Hmmmmm.
Fantastapotamus
Wrong about commas, wrong about everything
Witcher I is probably one of my favourite RPGs of all time. W2 is great, but not W1 great
This might be a sensible decision if the game had minor variations in outcomes between different decisions, but in the case of Witcher 2, it's like saying you will play 50% of the game and watch an LP of the other 50%. Don't do this. Do yourself a favor and replay the game with the 'other' guy.
can anyone run down what changes to the systems Witcher 3 will bring? i'm afraid to google it in fear of W2 spoilers
i watched an LP of W1 (3 hr vid on youtube) & read The Last Wish... i felt good about diving into W2
i've since changed my mind. i'm only a few hours in but i can see this becoming a very engrossing experience.
i watched an LP of W1 (3 hr vid on youtube) & read The Last Wish... i felt good about diving into W2
i've since changed my mind. i'm only a few hours in but i can see this becoming a very engrossing experience.
No controller support in W1. It's the main reason I never played it.
Messofanego
Banned
Oooooodrin where aaaaaaare you?
RadarScope1
Member
I see. Maybe I'll give it a go anyway on the small screen.
Open world and you traverse by horse. I think they said something about "there always being something interesting in the horizon" for the open world so they should be packing it with content.
Three skill trees is hardly extensive. Also, there was little-to-no equipment to upgrade in TW1, either. It was pretty much missing several keystone aspects of a traditional WRPG, IMO. Unfortunately it had the overall playstyle of a WRPG, which really didn't help it.
I liked a lot of things about The Witcher...except that I was playing *as* a Witcher, so there wasn't really anything to do in terms of developing the character.
Well, you will still play as Geralt, a witcher. Though 2 has more equipment to gather and the Dark difficulty adds in an additional set for each Act that you can craft.
W2 is a great game but I did find the controls a little wonky for me with k/b and m so I switched to a controller and it worked fine. Don't get the complaints about the combat. Yeah its not perfect but it works fine after you get an idea of how combat encounters work and it can be fun.
I enjoyed taking screenshots more than anything with Witcher 2. I think the story stuff is massively, massively overrated. Its still terrible fantasy garbage writing and storytelling, just with a thin veneer of 'maturity' over it that people aren't used to with a video game setting. All of which is forgiveable for me, I can look past it, but I think all the praise over this aspect of it is pretty funny.
I've got a lot of hope for Witcher 3. Open-world should hopefully mean dungeons that aren't laughably simple and tiny. Better weapon/armor progression. More diverse playstyles.
I'm quite interested in how well they get the 'sense of exploration' part down, as 1 and 2 really don't have much of it beyond the constant backtracking that'll have you cover most every square inch of area as it is.
I've got a lot of hope for Witcher 3. Open-world should hopefully mean dungeons that aren't laughably simple and tiny. Better weapon/armor progression. More diverse playstyles.
I'm quite interested in how well they get the 'sense of exploration' part down, as 1 and 2 really don't have much of it beyond the constant backtracking that'll have you cover most every square inch of area as it is.
I picked this up, but it doesnt run very well on my laptop, sub 25 frames
It looks amazing though, is the 360 port worth grabbing?
Yes
Thats how i played it
It was great
Roche is the boss
Oh god I remember saving just before that and reloading it. I remember it being hilarious when he falls and swears or something and it just sounds damn funny.
for those that don't know
someone who works at cdprojekt released a full combat rebalance mod, which streamlines a bunch of things. I think it's also supposed to be closer to what they have planned for witcher 3's combat
http://www.nexusmods.com/witcher2/mods/635/?
someone who works at cdprojekt released a full combat rebalance mod, which streamlines a bunch of things. I think it's also supposed to be closer to what they have planned for witcher 3's combat
http://www.nexusmods.com/witcher2/mods/635/?
The Witcher 2 is a better game than Skyrim.
I really appreciated how The Witcher 2 kept dungeon crawling to the bare minimum. Very little filler or repetitive missions. As a result it's a well paced and focused RPG that takes about 35 hours to beat. I very rarely used the quick travel option because exploring the environment was such a joy.
I really appreciated how The Witcher 2 kept dungeon crawling to the bare minimum. Very little filler or repetitive missions. As a result it's a well paced and focused RPG that takes about 35 hours to beat. I very rarely used the quick travel option because exploring the environment was such a joy.
Turin Turambar
Member
There's minimal carryover from the first game to the second. That said, I much preferred The Witcher to The Witcher 2.
There is a minimal carryover in the story, yeah. But... I think the first game present the character, the general idea and tone, and the world and all the little idiosyncrasies in it better than the second game.
phazedplasma
Member
I would play the second instead of the first. The first is great but the combat sucks and the amount of time you have to put into it to get to the end might be too much for some to suffer through.
The second scrapped the combat system from the first and its night and day.
I need to replay the second one again. Such an amazing game, pity they had to cut the last act short.
The second scrapped the combat system from the first and its night and day.
I need to replay the second one again. Such an amazing game, pity they had to cut the last act short.
Have you played it with the extra content they added? It's not much, but it's nice that they put it in there for free.
Witcher 1 is rather wacksauce compared to Witcher 2. You wouldn't believe the gap in quality between the two games.
Witcher 2 however is SO good. I agree. The only reason why I bought a 360, and the only game I ever played on the 360. Yep, I bought the 360 for one game and after beating it, put the console away.
This game simply has everything I need...a mature game beyond just in theme only; mature combat, mature goals, mature dialogue. A game for a grown man like me!
I'm going to lose my mind when Witcher 3 comes out.
1st Course
Member
Great game.
Glad you enjoy it, OP.
Glad you enjoy it, OP.
Witcher 1 is absolutely must-play for old-school PC gamers.
I'm late to the party on Skyrim (now 50 hours in), but Witcher 2 is a more engrossing game for its unparalleled presentation. Skyrim engrosses you in the world itself.
Basically CD Projekt took the Bioware formula and surpassed it.
I'm late to the party on Skyrim (now 50 hours in), but Witcher 2 is a more engrossing game for its unparalleled presentation. Skyrim engrosses you in the world itself.
Basically CD Projekt took the Bioware formula and surpassed it.
making my way through chapter 1 - i probably have a dozen open side quests! gonna go ham on them tmrw, includin one really interesting sounding one
W2 crushes Skyrim in nearly every regard.
I'm a little wary of open world games - Sleeping Dogs & Arkham City were the only ones that really grabbed me - but if W3 has W2-like combat and questing i'm in.
did they say anything about how the combat is changing? are they adding player housing?
haunted insane asylum? yesss
W2 crushes Skyrim in nearly every regard.
I'm a little wary of open world games - Sleeping Dogs & Arkham City were the only ones that really grabbed me - but if W3 has W2-like combat and questing i'm in.
did they say anything about how the combat is changing? are they adding player housing?
Played Witcher 1 and Witcher 2 at each of their launches, prior to major updates, with Witcher 1, that meant 10 second load times in and out of homes.
I love these games so much. I didn't replay anything, but in the last few months I read all the books, and now I'm replaying Witcher 1, and the references are in such a large number I never would have expected it. At the start it was like playing a game I've never seen before. The combat in the first game is a bit unfair and kind of easy to break at the same time, but it has a lot of its own charms.
Witcher 3 is basically my most hyped game ever. I believe in CDPR's abilities, I think they can pull off a Skyrim sized world but with actual content and a proper story. So few are successful at that.
I love these games so much. I didn't replay anything, but in the last few months I read all the books, and now I'm replaying Witcher 1, and the references are in such a large number I never would have expected it. At the start it was like playing a game I've never seen before. The combat in the first game is a bit unfair and kind of easy to break at the same time, but it has a lot of its own charms.
Witcher 3 is basically my most hyped game ever. I believe in CDPR's abilities, I think they can pull off a Skyrim sized world but with actual content and a proper story. So few are successful at that.
Diomedeskun
Member
Just read A Time of Contempt as well as a fan translated Sword of Destiny. The books are really great on their own, and add immensely to the games as well. I just wish they had released them all already in English. They seem to finally be picking up the pace, since the next book is due out next year, but the wait after Blood of Elves was terrible.
It took me years to finish the first game, mostly due to being mired in chapters 2 and 3 and losing interest due to dull sidequests, but once the game picked up again, it was amazing. 2 never hit the promise I expected from some of it's early highs, but it was still one of the best games I've ever played. Unfortunately, I've been in Japan since the Enhanced Edition released, and my gaming PC has been in the US, so I haven't been able to go back through and experience the additions and tweaks.
It took me years to finish the first game, mostly due to being mired in chapters 2 and 3 and losing interest due to dull sidequests, but once the game picked up again, it was amazing. 2 never hit the promise I expected from some of it's early highs, but it was still one of the best games I've ever played. Unfortunately, I've been in Japan since the Enhanced Edition released, and my gaming PC has been in the US, so I haven't been able to go back through and experience the additions and tweaks.
MoGamesXNA
Unconfirmed Member
.
Its actually intentionally confusing and hard to follow and seemingly random at times.That's one of the main flaws in TW2 story telling tbh
Its rewarding when you make sense of it.Very much so.Especially towards the end when things become clearer.
Freshmaker
I am Korean.
A bucket can run W1.
do alternate choices change alot of the game in TW1 ? I loved the game so much I feel like I want more of it but idk if choices change much in TW1
Freshmaker
I am Korean.
They don't make a huge difference overall, but some things go off the rails hard when you make certain decisions.
I ended up slaughtering everyone in town in that devil dog chapter.
yup me too...Eventhough
Abigail wasn't worth defending, I felt like the entire town was corrupt for dealing with squirrels and salamandra
Gully State
Member
You don't get the act 2 type change but the choice and consequence is more subtler but more impactful in its own way. Story and characterization in the original is way better.
Here is some info I copied from the first reveal and various posts. There is a lot more newer info, but I think this should be enough for now, I've deleted potential spoilers but not really sorted the info, so some bits may appear twice.
- This is Geralt's final adventure.
- It'll be easy for new players to enter the game, and won't require knowledge of the past games to enjoy.
- It'll have more than 100 hours of gameplay.
- The sidequests and main story can be resolved in any order.
- The game is entirely open-world, and is 35 times bigger than The Witcher 2.
- It's a branching story and the world is "completely open."
- Quicktime events will be gone entirely
- Aiming for no load times between indoor and outdoor environments
There will indeed be 36 different "world states" that your decisions will cause to go into effect, and there will be three different playable 'epilogues.' I asked what the difference was between an ending and an epilogue, and it sounds like when CDPR says epilogue, they really mean ending.
Geralt will react differently in combat—his stance will be more relaxed when he's fighting one enemy, because he knows he'll win. But he'll be more tense and more careful when he's fighting a group. Looking at your stance, you'll be able to tell whether your opponent is a threat or not. Pretty neat.
They've built an animation system that has far more unique combat animations, which are somewhat randomly selected and chained together depending on where Geralt is swinging and what direction he's moving.
Every button press gets you a single move in combat, meaning that you'll be able to break up your attacks much more easily than in The Witcher 2.
The dodge is no longer a roll—now, Geralt will pirouette to dodge enemies. No more roley-poley combat.
Parrying will now be active, and you can hold down a parry button and move, sort of like in Assassin's Creed.
Several of the screenshots show Geralt in a boat--you'll definitely be able to control the boat, though you won't get to fight the whales. They'll be more of a hazard you'll have to avoid. Aw. I was hoping for next-gen whaling gameplay.
You'll technically be able to fight from horseback, or at least, CDP is planning to let you do that, but it won't be a focus in the game. They were sure to point out that Geralt is a sword-master who is best at fighting on ground; he's not a cavalry knight. You won't be going after monsters on a horse, as that's not how Witchers work.
- Game will be broken up into 3 main areas (Skellige Island, No Mans Land, Novigrad)
- The main story ~ 50hrs
- Sidequests ~50hrs
- Sidequests are hand crafted, not random generated like in Skyrim
- Each sidequest will be directly related to the region you are in.
- The larger sidequests also impact the main story and game state, and there are more than 1 outcomes for these sidequests.
- Point of interests are always in view. Meaning wherever you are on the map there is always something in the distance to draw your attention
- Open world is 20% bigger than Skyrim
- Monster hunting will be a large part of the game and will be an integral part of earning money and upgrades
- No scaling of enemies. They are going for the Gothic 2 model where certain monsters will be very tough
- There will be many villages, medium size towns and a big city. Flotsam from Witcher 2 is compared to a village in Witcher 3.
- Graphically they are yet to add the DirectX 11 effects. What you see right now is the old DX9 renderer. The final game will look vastly different
- Development team is double the size of the Witcher 2
- New UI. PC version & console version UI will be completely different and cater to each platform
- Combat animations increases from 20 in Witcher 2 to 96 in Witcher 3
- New combat camera, so you are always aware of your enemies
- Hand to hand combat is part of the new combat system. No more QTE fist fights like in Witcher 2
- Dialogue with other game characters has been upgraded. Characters are no longer standing still, it's been upgraded to look more lively
- Geralt can swim or sail to any island. Many areas will be unreachable by swimming.
Not to the extent of W2s Act 2 choice, but there's a lot more small stuff.
Yeah. And I mean, watching a RPG LP is going to take forever, so why not play it yourself if you have the game?
nelsonroyale
Member
Easily my favourite rpg this gen and just a massive step up from the first game, which had absolutely archaic presentation. Witcher 3 is looking to crush it though, god damn it seems they have upped their ambition!
A note on the above info, pretty sure they have switched to DX11 and it has been evident since E3, since even that footage looked like a big step up over W2. Also, this game could be the best WRPG since the Ultima series...sounds incredible!
A note on the above info, pretty sure they have switched to DX11 and it has been evident since E3, since even that footage looked like a big step up over W2. Also, this game could be the best WRPG since the Ultima series...sounds incredible!
IHaveCandy
Banned
Geralt would NOT blink.Yeah it was but it's not really worth it.
