The Witcher

So, I have been saying this for years but I am finally getting a decent gaming PC. My goal is to play The Witcher Trilogy. I know, I know, the second two games are on console but I need a gaming PC anyway. I'm not getting it just for these games, they're just high up on my To Play list.

Now, I love WRPG's for choices and whatnot. How are the Witcher games in terms of giving me options on how to resolve things?

Geralt is the main dude I know but what about companions? I thin I heard you control otehr people in at least the first game?

The game doesn't have companions in a part sense - you have allies and relationships. Most of the other characters are influenced by decisions. As for controlling others - no, you have segments where you play as other people (in 3 and I think a moment in 2) but the games are not party based RP Gs.

But your companions do react to decisions, romances and all, as well as quests, items etc. All influenced by your choices.

The first game is an odd one - very chapter based and you CANNOT backtrack. There's also a sharp learning curve with the first main boss fight (post tutorial). There's a LOT of scope for the consequences of your actions too - characters will die, and some of those choices carry through the games (Less so in 2 and beyond to 3, as some cannon choices are made, but they do flow through mostly) - but gear carries over from 1 - 2 which helps.

The first game is broader, more open world to a point. Explore, learn combat, learn potions. Don't panic too much about cash. DO have multiple saves so you can game your choices if you want... and also when talking to a green lady, take the alternative reward. You get an AWESOME sword anyway.

The second game has a quite a big twist halfway through. So much so you will need to replay to get "all the content" as it were.

The third one is the most famous for impacts and choices; arguably where they refined it. But it plays so differently to 2, which in turn plays differently to 1.

I love all of them, Witcher 1 was a fantastic alternative to Origins and a good challenge. But it's easy to bounce off it. 2 is a good ARPG, albeit a bit linear. And the combat takes a bit. 3 is by far the most accessible.

edited 29th Mar '18 3:23:24 AM by JerekLaz

Yeah it's so strange. Part of what got me interested in this was a recent debate elsewhere on the Witcher games. I stopped paying attention when they started going into details to avoid spoilers but the gist was "Witcher 3 is the only good Witcher game."

And that was the strange thing. I've heard good things about the Witcher games since they first came out. They were vaguely niche-y compared to Skyrim or something but still a lot of people played and liked them. But nowadays people are saying they were total shit and amateurish and only with 3 did Projekt figure out what they were doing.

Sort of rlated, have you read the books? I was gonna start those, too. Maybe after I play the games, though.

And thanks for the info. Greatly appreciate it.

edited 29th Mar '18 3:28:28 AM by Nikkolas

Honestly, the biggest strike against Witcher 1 is that Witcher 1 really wants you to know about the The Witcher books. At least at first. It's prone to dropping names of things and events, and the game lacks a codex / background to give you the info you lack. Admitedly with a wiki nowadays its easier, but I remember playing the first game when it came out, when the books had no English translation. The plot is possible to follow without knowledge of the series, but you constantly feel like you're missing context to anything.

And I'm definitely on the camp that Witcher 3 is really the one truly great game of the trilogy (I actually restarted playing it 2 days ago). The others are ambitious, but flawed, and you can see the trilogy as CD Projekt Red honing their skills.

edited 29th Mar '18 5:26:39 AM by Ghilz

I still think Witcher 2 is one of the best games of all time and think of it as much much better than Witcher 3.

Certainly in politics, characters, and decisions.

I'd argue that's because it has a narrow but well developed character set, with definite arcs all over it. Witcher 3 suffers by being broader and more disparate. Note that it's strongest elements are the areas where they really delve into specific characters (Bloody Baron etc)

Also, the focus on the split half way through helps a lot to invest you as that is a MAJOR choice.

Have only read the first book but I'm going to get them all. The author really goes from a one shot "short story" point to actual fleshed out fantasy, but towards the end he's sick of the character, I hear. That said, it does bleak, realistic grit quite well.

The first game definitely leans heavily. Luckily I got the Enhanced Edition which came with a set of short stories which helped set the scene. The whole game comes after the final Witcher book, so it's not concurrent. For the most part characters are at best new or expies of book characters OR worst introduced with an As You Know.

I prefer Witcher 3 for the world it builds and the sheer depth of it. I prefer Witcher 2 from a character point of view and that you don't find 55 swords in a single chest. Combat feels more weighty too. Witcher 1 makes you feel like the pirouetting ninja Witchers seem to be, with the light stance at least.

But Witcher 3 really grasps the whole "Contracted Monster Slayer" feel. W 1 + W2 have you as a monster slayer who just happens to be taking a break from all that for some wider quest.

oh so the games actually take place in the same universe as the novels? I didn't know that. It's gonna be a couple months before I start the series so maybe I should get the Witcher Saga as it's called off Audible in that time and give it a try. I had kinda the opposite plan, start with the games and then read the books. But I got fuck all to do for a few months besides save up money so a $15 book + a "free" one with one of my monthly Audible credits means I could get the whole series by the time I have my nice new computer and the games.

I'm definitely excited. I'm sure I'll like all the games to some extent or other. I'm not the hardest guy to please. Just give me my choices and an interesting world and I'm happy. Good music would help, too! Haven't heard much about the trilogy's score, actually.

I'm a bit biased because video game scores for me don't get much better than Skyrim, Xenogears, Final Fantasy Tactics or Final Fantasy VII - but from what I remember of "The Witcher 3" soundtrack, it was fairly decent. Not something I'd choose to listen on a stand-alone basis but as background to the game it did its job fairly well.

The books basically start where the novels ended (with some minor retconing here and there).

As for music, Witcher 3 has decent tunes. Nothing great, though "Silver for Monsters" is a pretty good tune.

I disagree on the character aspect. Witcher 3 is the only of the game where Geralt actually feels involved. His stakes in Ciri's well being (And Regis in the DLC) make him feel far more involved and active. I mean, he's framed for murder in Witcher 2, but despite Geralt still feels detatched from the events. And Geralt's relation with Ciri and his various love interest imho resonates far better in witcher 3.

Plus, ya know, Witcher 3 has better gameplay.

edited 29th Mar '18 6:31:52 AM by Ghilz

The games are Fix Fic fanfiction.

Very very hundreds of million dollars Fix Fic fanfiction.

But one of the best Fix Fic examples out there. :P

Isn't saying "Fix Fic Fanfiction" like saying "ATM Machine?" :-P

Though seeing the author has lately been a bit butthurt about the Witcher's success is kinda funny to me. Like, dude, no one outside of Poland would care about your books if it weren't for the games.

edited 29th Mar '18 11:35:33 AM by Ghilz

I agree. If it was me, I'd be ecstatic that people love my character and are cherishing the property. However, if I wasn't entirely happy with the portrayal and the direction they were taking it in, there are several author/creator examples out there where the author put forth 'official statements' correcting the discrepancies and that was perfectly fine. Viewers/readers/audiences are smart enough to recognize the divergence, especially if the author points it out and enjoy both continuities with equal pleasure.

To be fair, I think he's more annoyed coz he never got royalties. He negociated for a flat fee and no one involved knew how big the games would be - CD Projekt Red was an unknown at the time, and there was no guessing if asking for royalty would give one any profits.

And I think seeing the games likely make more money than the books they are based on ever did soured him up.

But still, he's getting a Netflix series, and lets not kid ourselves, that's solely happening because of the games. And ditto with his books sales outside Poland. So it's not like the games haven't given him anything in return.

edited 29th Mar '18 11:41:22 AM by Ghilz

The Witcher audiobooks started coming out in 2015 too. So I'm grateful to Witcher 3's massive success and I'm sure the author is too.

I'm just curious if I'm gonna fall in line with the crowd like usual. I went into Mass Effect being very skeptical about 2's rep. I even thought "why don't people talk more about ME 1?" Well, after playing the games, 2 is hands down my favorite and 1 is deservedly forgotten.

Same thing sorta happened with Persona. I was all skeptical about P4 being the best game ever. Yet I ended up adoring it.

So I might very well end up thinking Witcher 3 is the greatest WRPG in ages. Only time will tell. But I'll always be thankful for it helping get the novels theirown audiobook version.

edited 29th Mar '18 12:22:57 PM by Nikkolas

Yeah, ME 1 is...not good, in a variety of ways. Good story, good writing, interesting universe, but the gameplay is abysmal.

Honestly, Witcher 1 has similar issues and strengths.

I'd argue Witcher 1 has it worst. It was released on an engine that was already pretty old at the time. And the voice acting (and animations) aren't nearly as solid as ME 1's were.

Watch Witcher 1 cutscenes and you'll be impressed how Geralt's VA has improved.

Incidently, watch the Witcher 1's Prologue in the Witcher 3 engine, to enjoy how far we've come

edited 29th Mar '18 1:27:52 PM by Ghilz

Mind you, the Witcher games also turn a tragedy into a happy ending. It's not spoiling that Geralt dies in the books because Witcher 1 opens with his resurrection. Yennefer and Geralt die and Ciri leaves the Known World because she doesn't want to spend any further time in the hellhole. She throws away her role in the prophecy and the world is left to its own devices. If Sapkowski bothered to consider the games anything but fanfic, which I doubt he even knows their plot, that would bother me too.

One thing that will be pretty different, at least for me, is playing Geralt. I'm used to inventing my own character in WRPG's. With Geralt having a personality, I will have to juggle decision-making between myself and what makes sense with Geralt's persona.

I'm broke right now but I listened to the Audible sample for one of the audiobooks, Last Wish, and it is about Geralt killing the fuck out of some drunk guys who accost him at an inn. I guess Rivians are discriminated against. But anyway, I was thinking "did you really have to kill the hapless fools"?

Some of the pro-Witcher 3/anti-Witcher 1 and 2 discussion I mentioned earlier was centered on Geralt being a better character in 3, too. But whether or not you find him just a total jackass seems to be a bit YMMV.

edited 30th Mar '18 9:29:14 AM by Nikkolas

How much of an arse he is is down to you. But yeah, there's some moments in W3 where people just full on start Bullying a Dragon. But then the game doesn't let you revel in it - there are consequences. I enjoy that.

As for this being Fanfic - hell yes, but my god is it amazing. And that happy ending gets EARNED as well plus the final bit where he looks at the Camera in Blood and Wine. That got me. Not ashamed to say.

having him be a defined character is good - you can fudge how cynical he is, but it makes the story a lot more solid and (I'd argue) has a bit more emotive impact than with a cutout character. Admittedly Bioware does well with fully voiced characters, but having names being mentioned, rather than just titles; having established central relationships. It works.

Take note Geralt is amnesiac for the first two games so you CAN play him how you want.

And of course his experiences during the first two games influence his personality even when he gets his memories back.

The amnesia thing is interesting. I had no idea about that. I guess it's not really a spoiler? Might explain why I heard Witcher 1 starts off in a training area or something. I was wondering why a guy who is apparently already a veteran warrior starts off in a training area.

I am becoming more and more intrigued by the idea of Geralt.

The Witcher 3 is a weird weird game if you actually liked the Witcher 1 and the Witcher 2. It's intimately tied to the books but it also acts kind of like the previous two games didn't happen—which is damn weird because the whole previous two games had a lot of fascinating story in their own right.

But the meta-plot of Witcher 1 is Geralt shows up amnesiac with no memory of Yennefer or Ciri or anyone else. Triss promptly seduces him (awful of her) and becomes Geralt's one true love while knowing she's lying to him. Geralt is haunted by the Wild Hunt during this time, which appear to him in spectral visions and taunt him. He also finds out about the White Frost that's coming and how it could only be stopped by the Promised Child.

The second game has Triss and Geralt try to deal with the imminent Nilfgaardian invasion and making a bunch of power plays to try to make sure the kingdoms of the North are able to resist it. Phillipa is the Big Bad of this game but if you make the right moves then mages will be restored to the Conclave, there will be a strong alliance in the North, and you will have lots of allies. However, to do this you have to make some reprehensible people get away with murder. Triss bemoans the fact you will hate her once you get your memory back.

Geralt then gets his memories back and immediately goes after Yennefer.

Witcher 3 ignores a lot of the build up while using the events of both games.

edited 30th Mar '18 5:37:09 PM by CharlesPhipps