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The Witcher III: Blood & Wine |Reviews Thread| Pour another goblet
- Thread starter shinobi602
- Start date
Exentryk
Member
I saw a master version of it in one of the screenshots, so hoping for a relic version that might have unique skills. Just like how we got New Moon gear master version in an HoS quest, but the relic version was hidden in various locations.
I'd prefer to avoid all spoilers, but your screenshots have been relatively spoiler free. So all good.
No, I just added more exp via console commands because I needed some extra points for my build. I was thinking that BaW would start at level 40, so it wouldn't be too big a deal. Oh well!
There's absolutely no way you did all the Witcher Contracts and other side quests from notice boards in 43 hours. Also k wouldn't dismiss the treasure hunts, a lot of them have cool little side stories. Anyway, even playing on easy, skipping all the dialogues and fast traveling everywhere it would take a very deliberate effort to finish that fast.
Cool, thanks. I'm really digging the color in those shots, some really vibrant stuff in there. I noticed in the trailer they literally just have a bunch of different colored pools of paint lying around somewhere, which there was a tiny bit of outside Novigrad if I remember correctly.
Gotcha. I was actually just playing around with some console commands yesterday to try and test out some different builds for fun. I couldn't find a command to spawn enemies around my level to fight though so it wasn't working out too well.
Exentryk
Member
Yeah, the enemies can't be spawned based on level. They have fixed variations like level 1, 2, 3 and mh (which is the strongest version and might even be higher level than you). May be with this upcoming patch and scaling option, we'd be able to spawn them at our levels.
EatChildren
Currently polling second in Australia's federal election (first in the Gold Coast), this feral may one day be your Bogan King.
Last one
.
for now
Exentryk
Member
Wow, that looks amazing!
jim2point0
Banned
Here I am frantically trying to wrap up the main campaign + Hearts of Stone so I have a character I can easily transition into the new area with.
I tried to create a new "Hearts of Stone" only game but... I was not happy with the equipment it starts you out with.
@EatChildren
Are you not using any AA? I see a lot of stuff that looks like it would be easily cleared up with SMAA (injected, of course).
I tried to create a new "Hearts of Stone" only game but... I was not happy with the equipment it starts you out with.
@EatChildren
Are you not using any AA? I see a lot of stuff that looks like it would be easily cleared up with SMAA (injected, of course).
The foliage is amazing and the background looks like a matte painting. Can't wait for the 31st.
BigTnaples
Todd Howard's Secret GAF Account
God I am hyped. Have to finish up Uncharted, and probably something else while I wait on my EVGA 1080.
I may cave to the hype and just start playing on my 970's though. I DO still have like 50% of the Vanilla campaign and HoS to get through, so even if I started now, I probably would not be done with that content before my 1080 got here.
Ohhh choice...
I may cave to the hype and just start playing on my 970's though. I DO still have like 50% of the Vanilla campaign and HoS to get through, so even if I started now, I probably would not be done with that content before my 1080 got here.
Ohhh choice...
Last one.for now
That's the mountain!!! So you can't go there and it is just for decoration? Or you haven't went there?
BigTnaples
Todd Howard's Secret GAF Account
Here I am frantically trying to wrap up the main campaign + Hearts of Stone so I have a character I can easily transition into the new area with.
I tried to create a new "Hearts of Stone" only game but... I was not happy with the equipment it starts you out with.
Stop it. You're going to make me do something ridiculous like buy a $1600 PC monitor.
Exentryk
Member
I recall it was level 39 or 40.
CopperPuppy
Member
Was going to wait to play this but I don't think I'll be able to resist after reading through this thread.
Quick question I can't find the answer to: will there be a pre-load for this on PS4? If so, when?
Quick question I can't find the answer to: will there be a pre-load for this on PS4? If so, when?
kraspkibble
Permabanned.
i guess if there was one then it'll happen on monday. don't see it happening over the weekend. i can't remember if HoS got one. i think also the PS store gets updated on a tuesday, the day of the expansion release. The download will be 13GB.
HoS had a pre-load for definite, and while I can't be sure exactly when it'll start, I recall HoS starting to download on the preceding Sunday during the morning (GMT).
BigTnaples
Todd Howard's Secret GAF Account
I would be really interested to see someone get VR working with Wild Hunt much like Lucky's Tale, where you are just above Geralt, but "In" the world.
Same with Deadspace.
jim2point0
Banned
D
Deleted member 471617
Unconfirmed Member
The combat in The Witcher 3 is excellent in my opinion and I enjoyed it a lot. There's nothing more satisfying than chopping off an enemy's head and watching it roll down a hill due to the wind blowing.
I never played the first two games in the franchise and honestly, never will as I can't go back to play previous games in a franchise so I can't comment on the combat in previous games but I will say that there's only one negative in regards to the combat in The Witcher 3 and that's being "locked in" that stance during every fight.
If there was at the very least, an on/off option for being locked in, the combat would be perfect in my opinion. Being "locked in" was the only negative for me especially if/when I wanted to run away from the fight I was in because it was a pain in the ass to do so at times.
I finished the game on easy in over 300 hours and still missed a few of those "random" side quests which to be perfectly honest is something that I hate in every open world game. I hate "random" quests/events simply because I hate missing them and get annoyed if/when that happens. Oh well.
As for CDPR, they're easily a top 5 developer, maybe top 3 right now. Not only because of the quality of The Witcher 3 but also because of the quality of the two expansion packs as well as the fact that even a year later, they're still working on problems and in turn, fixing and solving them. Granted, CDPR isn't perfect (no developer/publisher is) but they're definitely one of the few that's the closest to being so.
Looking forward to both expansions (I haven't played HOS yet) but im holding out until after E3 with the hope that they announce a GOTY edition for later this year. If CDPR doesn't announce a GOTY edition at E3, then I'll pick up the game and the expansion pass.
I never played the first two games in the franchise and honestly, never will as I can't go back to play previous games in a franchise so I can't comment on the combat in previous games but I will say that there's only one negative in regards to the combat in The Witcher 3 and that's being "locked in" that stance during every fight.
If there was at the very least, an on/off option for being locked in, the combat would be perfect in my opinion. Being "locked in" was the only negative for me especially if/when I wanted to run away from the fight I was in because it was a pain in the ass to do so at times.
I finished the game on easy in over 300 hours and still missed a few of those "random" side quests which to be perfectly honest is something that I hate in every open world game. I hate "random" quests/events simply because I hate missing them and get annoyed if/when that happens. Oh well.
As for CDPR, they're easily a top 5 developer, maybe top 3 right now. Not only because of the quality of The Witcher 3 but also because of the quality of the two expansion packs as well as the fact that even a year later, they're still working on problems and in turn, fixing and solving them. Granted, CDPR isn't perfect (no developer/publisher is) but they're definitely one of the few that's the closest to being so.
Looking forward to both expansions (I haven't played HOS yet) but im holding out until after E3 with the hope that they announce a GOTY edition for later this year. If CDPR doesn't announce a GOTY edition at E3, then I'll pick up the game and the expansion pass.
LOL of course it is. I've said it before and I'll say it again, the PC version of TW3 (1080p/ultra) looks a generation ahead of the PS4 version. So glad I ditched the PS4 and waited till I could max the game out at 60fps. The combat feels so much better it's crazy.
Unfortunately I haven't even made it to Skellige yet so no Blood or Wine for me for quite some time
Vulcano's assistant
Banned
I'm getting someThe Blade Itself vibes from these fancy people and places in the south.
FoxnHurley
Member
I agree with you on the lack of fleshing out the Wild Hunt. It would have made a lot more sense if you saw the game populated with Scoia'tael (nonhuman rebels) in the forests as they were fighting for the same cause. Eradicate the humans who evaded their land and drove them out to the wilderness. You see a lot more of them in Witcher 2, and their absence, aside from one quest, is sorely evident in the the 3rd installation.
The interesting twist about the Witcher's world is that its Continent was home to the monsters and nonhumans before the conjunction of the spheres (colliding of two worlds) occurred. Witchers at first were created by humanoids to weed out the monsters so they could build settlements without the worry of such monsters protecting/fighting for their territory. What you are seeing in the game are the last remnants of those monsters, with some that manifested in consequence from humans dwelling in magic. In short, humans brought this shitty scenario of a world on themselves. It wasn't their world to begin with.
CopperPuppy
Member
To those who have been playing it: is the music from the beginning of the "New Region" trailer in the game? Like, as ambient music when you're roaming around?
Vulcano's assistant
Banned
Last one.for now
The wait is hyping me to try reshades on your screens. To my surprise, my old one wasn't that bad on the new region
Talk about hyperbole. The PC version looks better than most PC-PS4 games because they put the extra effort in for the extra options and well, it was the lead platform. Where as most other games that are on both systems get ported to PC or the PC version has bare-bones options and what not. Anyways.. The game still looks great on PS4.
I got so fucking mad at the end of the series cuz of
Major West
EatChildren
Currently polling second in Australia's federal election (first in the Gold Coast), this feral may one day be your Bogan King.
I Eat Thumbtacks
Neo Member
EatChildren
Currently polling second in Australia's federal election (first in the Gold Coast), this feral may one day be your Bogan King.
Some brief notes/impressions before I pen my review.
- The story is great, but I feel Hearts of Stone was a tighter, more intriguing adventure. But this is mainly offset by it structurally operating as a short stand-alone adventure. Hearts of Stone works because it's really just that and nothing more, and thus as a more energetic pacing. Blood & Wine is more reminiscent of the main game, wherein the narrative pressure is offset by combining it with a huge world to explore. So in that respect it doesn't "make sense" that Geralt would ever pause from following the Duchess's request to hunt down the beast, in the same way he too wouldn't when driven to find Ciri, but the diversion quests and adventuring are there nevertheless.
- Adventuring is the key here, just like the Wild Hunt main game. Suffice to say if you're one of those people who found a great deal of immersion and wonder in simply exploring, finding new areas, and reading notes from hidden treasure and monster nest to immerse yourself in the overall world and lore, you're going to be utterly enthralled by Blood & Wine.
- Grandmaster Witcher gear schools each have their own little stories. Mostly told through notes and locations, but it's not just random scattered shit. You'll learn about each Witcher that left them, where they went and why, and their fate.
- Pretty certain you can't insert yellow abilities in the unlockable bonus slots. You can only actually insert abilities with matching category to the active super mutation.
- Black Blood delivers and is strategically useful just like in the A Night to Remember trailer.
- The story is great, but I feel Hearts of Stone was a tighter, more intriguing adventure. But this is mainly offset by it structurally operating as a short stand-alone adventure. Hearts of Stone works because it's really just that and nothing more, and thus as a more energetic pacing. Blood & Wine is more reminiscent of the main game, wherein the narrative pressure is offset by combining it with a huge world to explore. So in that respect it doesn't "make sense" that Geralt would ever pause from following the Duchess's request to hunt down the beast, in the same way he too wouldn't when driven to find Ciri, but the diversion quests and adventuring are there nevertheless.
- Adventuring is the key here, just like the Wild Hunt main game. Suffice to say if you're one of those people who found a great deal of immersion and wonder in simply exploring, finding new areas, and reading notes from hidden treasure and monster nest to immerse yourself in the overall world and lore, you're going to be utterly enthralled by Blood & Wine.
- Grandmaster Witcher gear schools each have their own little stories. Mostly told through notes and locations, but it's not just random scattered shit. You'll learn about each Witcher that left them, where they went and why, and their fate.
- Pretty certain you can't insert yellow abilities in the unlockable bonus slots. You can only actually insert abilities with matching category to the active super mutation.
- Black Blood delivers and is strategically useful just like in the A Night to Remember trailer.
Markitron
Is currently staging a hunger strike outside Gearbox HQ while trying to hate them to death
Have some general questions, not sure where to ask them but I suppose this is as good a place as any.
I just restarted The Witcher 3 after finishing it shortly after launch, I'm playing on the highest difficulty. At what point can I access the two DLC packs and would they be do-able for a low-level character on Death March difficulty.
I wanted to do a new game plus but the latest version of the game just won't recognise my old saves for whatever reason.
I just restarted The Witcher 3 after finishing it shortly after launch, I'm playing on the highest difficulty. At what point can I access the two DLC packs and would they be do-able for a low-level character on Death March difficulty.
I wanted to do a new game plus but the latest version of the game just won't recognise my old saves for whatever reason.
Great to hear this, was pretty disappointed with it in the main game.
One question I do have that I didn't really want to dig around to find out:
Are Crowns still the currency in this expansion? You would think Florens are what's used in Toussaint.
PodcastFips
Member
How do you start the preload as a season pass owner on PS4?
That game has clearly been release quality for a while considering the reviews. Would have been great to play during Memorial day weekend. I guess I'll savor it over time, but really I want to take a day off and get lost in it.
Exentryk
Member
That's a shame. Thanks for answering.
Some brief notes/impressions before I pen my review.
- Adventuring is the key here, just like the Wild Hunt main game. Suffice to say if you're one of those people who found a great deal of immersion and wonder in simply exploring, finding new areas, and reading notes from hidden treasure and monster nest to immerse yourself in the overall world and lore, you're going to be utterly enthralled by Blood & Wine.
That would be me. And love the shots, btw.
Exentryk
Member
@EatChildren - Can you please tell me what level you started B&W at, and what level you get to when you finish? Just want to get an idea on how many levels can be gained in this expansion.
Your images are really clean. What res do you use for the pics, and how you get that SMAA you mentioned earlier?
Sorry
Gimme dat DLC!
Your images are really clean. What res do you use for the pics, and how you get that SMAA you mentioned earlier?
Intheflorsh
Banned
I'd really like to know this as well, I'm wondering if my level 38 Geralt is too low.
Edit: I see the recommended level is 34, seems low for people who finished HoS.
Elysium-777
Member
For anyone that played it already, how does the main city feel?
Is it dense and lively? Better, worse, or the same as Novigrad?
Is it dense and lively? Better, worse, or the same as Novigrad?
EatChildren
Currently polling second in Australia's federal election (first in the Gold Coast), this feral may one day be your Bogan King.
Both are geared towards near if not end game play due to the level scaling of quests and enemies.
I think they are. I was just wondering the same. Could be wrong though.
I'm not finished yet, but I started at 40 I think and am now 45 after a good chunk of the main quest and quite a few side quests. Heaps to go though.
About the same as Novigrad I feel, depending on where you are, but it's quite large and at least feels lively. CDPR didn't just copy/paste the animation cycles from Wild Hunt. NPCs are engaging and interacting differently to the main game, more contextual to the kind of city this is.
jim2point0
Banned
6880x2880. I get around 20-25 FPS at that res
I inject SMAA with ReShade. It's not as blurry as the in-game AA (which is FXAA, I beleive).
Some more shots of my recent adventures....
Getting very close to the end of the game now I think. Just did some side questing and then wrapped up the big battle at Kear Morhen. Hoping to finish it tonight and power through Hearts of Stone over the weekend...
EatChildren
Currently polling second in Australia's federal election (first in the Gold Coast), this feral may one day be your Bogan King.
You're at the shortest stretch of game but you might be surprised at how much there is to go. Hearts of Stone isn't anything to scoff at either. It's quite long, all things considered.
- I was 39 when I started and I think I'm now 45 with a metric fuckton of stuff still to do. I think the highest quest 'recommended level' thing I've seen so far (again, not very far) is 46.
- So the colour of the new one-at-a-time mutations dictate what colour ability you'll be able to put in the slots. If you've selected one that purely uses signs, it'll be blue, potions, green etc. There are some that use more than one however, which means you'll be able to put different coloured abilities in the slots as you unlock them.
- Yes crowns are used.
- Beauclair is lovely. The vibe is very different to Novigrad. NPCs are much cleaner and proper. You won't find any muddy streets here. Music is also great.
Another really cool vineyard-related thing, but beware straight up spoilers for early in the main quest:
- So the colour of the new one-at-a-time mutations dictate what colour ability you'll be able to put in the slots. If you've selected one that purely uses signs, it'll be blue, potions, green etc. There are some that use more than one however, which means you'll be able to put different coloured abilities in the slots as you unlock them.
- Yes crowns are used.
- Beauclair is lovely. The vibe is very different to Novigrad. NPCs are much cleaner and proper. You won't find any muddy streets here. Music is also great.
Another really cool vineyard-related thing, but beware straight up spoilers for early in the main quest:
You're tasked with finding a Wight and instead of killing it I broke the curse on it. The Wight turned back into an old lady who Geralt took back to Corvo Bianco. After a time I went back to check on her and she's now a permanent resident and helping out as my cook!
Exentryk
Member
6880x2880. I get around 20-25 FPS at that res
I inject SMAA with ReShade. It's not as blurry as the in-game AA (which is FXAA, I beleive).
Some more shots of my recent adventures....
Damn, thats an insane res! I've never used reshade, but I might give it a crack. Is SMAA more costly than the ingame AA?