Needless to say, The Witcher 2 could use a little more polish in its player/NPC movement, and AI, though these frequent bugs are not game-breaking. They can at least entertain when running on the spot or into walls in the background.
These hiccups take away from the good parts of the game and even the friendly NPCs get in the way by walking through Geralt or other characters during conversation. These varied moments are the better parts of the game, but there are mini-games and quest phases that involve things like sneaking which is broken at times - when the NPCs do not react to Geralt walking in circles or bumping into them. The game's side-quests often tie into the overarching story and return as conversation topics later. Sometimes it's the physical obstacles in the way, made problematic by a not-very-useful map and lack of a fast travel system, other times it's because the journal does not clarify where Geralt must go for the quest or that follow-up parts of the quest will happen in later chapters/other areas. Sometimes these won't work if standing too close or too far and when combined with Geralt's inability to swim or step-up, the game's beautiful set pieces and environments begin to feel like cages.Īs mentioned, for a linear game, it's not always clear where the player needs to be headed. Enter the ever-annoying invisible walls and non-traversable obstacles, ranging from stones and bushes to ledges (all the exact same height) which require context-sensitive animations. In many cases there's only one way to go on a given quest, but the map often indicates otherwise. That said, there's a lack of freedom in the environments - which, due to the linear design, poses a problem. Its story and character interactions however, depend on player choice through conversations and this is where the game shines. Unlike Skyrim, The Witcher 2 is a linear experience in the sense that it does not offer an open world to explore. The same goes for certain armors and the variety of items allows players to customize Geralt quite a bit, both from an appearance standpoint but from a playstyle perspective as well. The better items have slots for enhancements where the player can customize their weapons, of which Geralt may equip two - one for fighting humans, one (made of silver) for everything else. The player then must pay a smith to construct the desired item. Alchemy and the use of potions can only be done outside of combat when Geralt meditates - although this idea and how it affects the day/night cycle isn't really played out or explored much in the game.Ĭrafting is more interesting as it involves the collection of schematics and materials - not unlike alchemy. The Witcher 2 includes the standard fare of RPG game mechanics, including looting, foraging, crafting and alchemy. Although that's not an ability the player has control over. He can even attempt to persuade certain NPCs to change their tune, a la Jedi mind trick. He's a master swordsman, an alchemist and he has several special abilities called "Signs" that allow the player to do things including emitting a defensive buff, launching fire at enemies and laying traps on the ground. Geralt is one of the last remaining Witchers, a mutant with special abilities who makes a living as a monster hunter. Think Game of Thrones but on a smaller scale, with more sorcery and and an abundance of fantastical creatures. Geralt's journey is that of discovering himself through regaining his memory and his path frequently relies on the player having to choose which side to fight for, while at the same time seeking to clear Geralt's name and unravel the mystery behind the assassinations of kings during a time where war is brewing on several fronts.
The game is setup as a three-act saga with a lengthy tutorial chapter and an epilogue serving as bookends. The Witcher 2 is a lengthy single-player game that pits players in the shoes of Geralt for the majority of the story - and several of the supporting cast members for brief but key story moments. Due to the protagonist's amnesia and the nonlinear style of storytelling, players learn the story and characters of The Witcher 2 as the plot unfolds - a plot mind you, which depends partially on player choice.
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