Luscious graphics and compelling narrative are the strong points of this sword and sorcery RPG, sequel to the remarkable debut by Polish developer CDProjekt RED.
Characters like Roche, Foltest, Iorveth and Letho are sharply defined, the gameworld they inhabit suitably ferocious (although exposition is handled somewhat less gracefully this time around). Fixed protagonist Geralt is once again an unflappable fantasy version of the Man with No Name. Choice & consequence moments are sprinkled throughout the game, determining which secondary characters live or bite the dust, and also the path pursued by Geralt, with a common prologue and first act, two mutually exclusive second acts and a common last act with different possible outcomes.
While combat (action-oriented, with a difficulty spike early on) is an improvement over the first game, gameplay overall isn't: character customization feels streamlined, secondary quests less meaty, a few quick time events vastly annoying (see an obnoxious boss fight against a Kraken-like monster), no location as varied as the city of Vizima in the first Witcher. This sequel is a better action game, but a worse RPG.
Overall, a flawed but worthy effort, and the Witcher 3 looks interesting already.
As a stand-alone game 8/10; as a sequel 6,5/10
Characters like Roche, Foltest, Iorveth and Letho are sharply defined, the gameworld they inhabit suitably ferocious (although exposition is handled somewhat less gracefully this time around). Fixed protagonist Geralt is once again an unflappable fantasy version of the Man with No Name. Choice & consequence moments are sprinkled throughout the game, determining which secondary characters live or bite the dust, and also the path pursued by Geralt, with a common prologue and first act, two mutually exclusive second acts and a common last act with different possible outcomes.
While combat (action-oriented, with a difficulty spike early on) is an improvement over the first game, gameplay overall isn't: character customization feels streamlined, secondary quests less meaty, a few quick time events vastly annoying (see an obnoxious boss fight against a Kraken-like monster), no location as varied as the city of Vizima in the first Witcher. This sequel is a better action game, but a worse RPG.
Overall, a flawed but worthy effort, and the Witcher 3 looks interesting already.
As a stand-alone game 8/10; as a sequel 6,5/10