Despite the massive amounts of praise the franchise has gotten, a recurring theme in Witcher games is baaad gameplay. The combat feels extremely clunky and can be very frustrating at times. The mechanic for recovering loot also feels pretty slapped together. So why is that ignored? Fallout gets shit on for the same things yet the Witcher seems immune?
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If Gameplay is king, why is Witcher acclaimed?
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shinobi602
Member
1. Not everyone thinks the gameplay is bad
2. A game is the sum of its parts
2. A game is the sum of its parts
Fancy Clown
Member
Well The Witcher games have progressed their gameplay substantially with each genre, along with everything else about the games. Fallout 4 isn't too different from the last two games as far as I know.
NoblesseOblige
Banned
I don't think gameplay is king, it's a pillar. So if the other pillars are sound enough you can have one that has slightly less structural integrity.
Dombrowski
is responsible for the well-being of this island.
People value story more than gameplay, they just don't want to admit it.
Angry Puppy
Member
The witcher 3 gameplay is good
SmarmySmurf
Banned
PR and groupthink.
Oh, I guess a few people actually like it too. Whatever.
Oh, I guess a few people actually like it too. Whatever.
GeordieMark
Member
Because it has decent gameplay?
Terbinator
Member
"Gameplay" is made up of more than just combat/loot mechanics you may or may not like.
I wonder if this is new school vs old school gamers/player.
Intheflorsh
Banned
Exploring the map, engaging in dialogue, making decisions, etc. are all just as much "gameplay" as combat.
And the combat is pretty good.
And the combat is pretty good.
If gameplay were combat were king then no games would be worth playing this year aside from Transformers: Devastation, and before that with Bayonetta 2, and before that with Rising, and before that with Bayonetta, and before that with Devil May Cry 4, and before that with Devil May Cry 3, and before that with Ninja Gaiden.
But role-playing mechanics and exploration and any kind of general activity are also gameplay, and gameplay can be more than the sum of its parts.
But role-playing mechanics and exploration and any kind of general activity are also gameplay, and gameplay can be more than the sum of its parts.
InsaneTiger
Member
Here we go again.
There is not universal consensus that the gameplay in the W3 is baaaadddd. I find it extremely fun to play and enjoy the combat.
Gameplay isn't the only part that matters and judging by your avatar you must shill for Fallout.
There is not universal consensus that the gameplay in the W3 is baaaadddd. I find it extremely fun to play and enjoy the combat.
Gameplay isn't the only part that matters and judging by your avatar you must shill for Fallout.
ebullientprism
Member
But its not. For a lot of people it is (including me admittedly) but the abundance of walking simulators, scripted third person adventures etc etc would clearly tell you games arent just about gameplay.
Gipsy Danger
Member
HERE WE GO AGAIN.
Astral Dog
Member
Gameplay is thw most important part imo, but in the end you can have serviceable gameplay mechanics and great everything else and its going to be a good experience.
LonelyGreyWolf
Banned
You act as if this is objective fact and not your subjective opinion.
The gameplay is amazing imo. Combat is really good. I never had any problem with it. Much better than most RPG's imo.
CosmicQueso
Member
Not every game needs to be a Souls game. Christ.
Kurt Russell
Member
I thought that the gameplay in the Witcher series steadily improved. The first one had a weird combat system, but all the other little details more than made up for it. The Witcher 2 improved a lot in the combat department, and The Witcher 3 has great combat for the genre. What's with all the Witcher threads lately, btw? It's weird that a lot of people suddenly decided to compare it with stuff that has nothing to do with it, or to start bashing on it.
It's not a foregone conclusion that the combat mechanics are bad. A lot of people have many different opinions about it. I'd say it's definitely a common point of contention and debate.
In addition to that there are many other things that Witcher 3 does well. I personally love the world building the game does, the feeling of discovering the world and people inside it.
In addition to that there are many other things that Witcher 3 does well. I personally love the world building the game does, the feeling of discovering the world and people inside it.
Nights Owl
Member
Because it has decent gameplay
it has decent gameplay
decent gameplay
decent
Really? That's worth GOTY? Good story and "Decent" Gameplay?
TheOfficeMut
Unconfirmed Member
I agree with you, Shinobi, but we've seen a lot of people here spout that 60 FPS or a particular mechanic is a requirement in order for a game to be considered good, which I think is total horse shit.
Pertaining to Witcher 3, I tried the game but I couldn't get into it. I can't provide a valid opinion of the combat system since I didn't play any more than an hour. But the visuals, atmosphere, and voice acting were great, from what I did see.
John Kowalski
Banned
combat is like one third of the gameplay in tw3
Well gameplay isn't king for a lot of people. Story seems to be the defining element for a lot of these critics giving witcher 3 goty. TLOU also got a ton of praise and story was the best thing about that game while gameplay was just a mediocre Resi4 clone.
As for Fallout 4, none of it's part really reaches the highs of Witcher 3. The game overall is ok. Most of it's parts are also ok. But none of it really amazingly good.
As for Fallout 4, none of it's part really reaches the highs of Witcher 3. The game overall is ok. Most of it's parts are also ok. But none of it really amazingly good.
Raging Spaniard
If they are Dutch, upright and breathing they are more racist than your favorite player
The right question is, why do people like Bethesda games?
RespectThySole
Member
Another salty Souls/Bethesda fan. Get over it. Most people enjoy the gameplay. It's fine if it doesn't click with you.
Gameplay is not just combat. And even the combat is not that bad for most people.
People care more than they should about other people's opinion. They see Wild Hunt winning GOTY and that offends them.
People care more than they should about other people's opinion. They see Wild Hunt winning GOTY and that offends them.
My GOTY is Bloodborne by a mile, btw, but I don't see anything wrong with The Witcher winning some awards
Gameplay isn't just combat. Things like exploration are also gameplay. Even the choice elements in the story are gameplay. Combat isn't the focus of the game, and the combat that's there is completely functional for what the game is. Sure, it's not Bloodborne, but it's not trying to be. It's well above average in combat quality for its genre.
family_guy
Member
Gameplay isn't king. People have voted games like Life is Strange and the Walking Dead as their games of the year.
Lasthope106
Member
Because underneath the so-called "shitty combat" is an amazing RPG system. That has been the case since the Witcher 1.
Interfectum
Gold Member
The gameplay in Witcher 3 isn't bad. The internet has to be so extreme. The gameplay can't just be decent or good. It's either great or it's shit.
NoblesseOblige
Banned
I don't even care about the Witcher or consider it GOTY, but yeah, a game with decent gameplay can still be GOTY so long as its other parts are superb. For a lot of people the Witcher 3 fits that bill.
Hibiki Kurosawa
Member
The only thing that has kept from playing the game is what I've heard about the combat system.
CybernatonEvolution
Member
Because the Witcher 3 is fun to play, and has a lot of things to do other than dealing with the crappy combat (that actually has some depth to it due to builds and strategies).
Witcher 3 > Fallout 4. Gameplay wise, story wise, videogame wise.
Now onto your question, witcher get shitted on a lot because of the reasons you say and rightfully so.
This thread doesnt grant for much more tbh, reads like you're butthurt about everyone praising witcher while you like fallout better.
Edit: Oh, I didnt see the Fallout avatar, yeah, abandon the thread.
Now onto your question, witcher get shitted on a lot because of the reasons you say and rightfully so.
This thread doesnt grant for much more tbh, reads like you're butthurt about everyone praising witcher while you like fallout better.
Edit: Oh, I didnt see the Fallout avatar, yeah, abandon the thread.
These kinds of games can be clunky/janky on a surface level, yet have engaging and well designed systems that are unraveled once you get more invested in the gameplay. I haven't spent much time with The Witcher series myself so I couldn't comment on its qualities specifically, but this is the general rule of thumb for CPRGs.
The difference with Bethesda's modern titles is that there's no such depth to their systems. So whatever initial value you might derive from the incrementally improved presentation of the combat in their sequels quickly becomes really shallow to those looking for something more.
The difference with Bethesda's modern titles is that there's no such depth to their systems. So whatever initial value you might derive from the incrementally improved presentation of the combat in their sequels quickly becomes really shallow to those looking for something more.
Exactly. It seems just like people are willing to forgive Bethesda under the "sum of its parts" argument, just as much as CDProjektRed fans are willing to use that argument in their defense
Also wow @ the salt
Principate
Saint Titanfall
Who exactly you told you gamplay was king in regards to critical acclaim. doesn't take a much of a cursory glance to see that notion is completely false.
Salty Bethesda fan. Did you not read the OP?
I think it's because the gameplay in The Witcher isn't bad, the consensus seems to be that it's merely okay and passable. The gameplay doesn't actually detract from the experience, in which case it would indeed be bad, I would describe it as "gets the job done". If the story, world, and characters were weak, then the gameplay most certainly wouldn't have been enough to carry it. But since the game was a grand-slam in every other regard, the okay gameplay wasn't enough to drag it down.
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