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Off-Topic Discussion => Gaming Discussion => Topic started by: Ravenholme on May 20, 2011, 08:17:40 pm

Title: The Witcher 2
Post by: Ravenholme on May 20, 2011, 08:17:40 pm
I just thought I'd get a thread started for this.

Anyone played it? I've played the first 15 minutes, as I'm busy revising for exams, but so far it really blows DA2 out of the water. DA2 was abysmal, this has RPG excellence (albeit with slight flaws) stamped all over it.
Title: Re: The Witcher 2
Post by: Ace on May 20, 2011, 09:05:30 pm
Act 3 seems a bit short, compared to Witcher 1 which had a very long end/epilogue sequence. But overall this game actually has decisions/consequences unlike every recent Bioware RPG.
Title: Re: The Witcher 2
Post by: BlueFlames on May 20, 2011, 09:24:50 pm
After watching Giant Bomb's hour-and-a-half Quick Look, I rapidly jumped from 'not interested' to 'do want'.  It looks very much like the developers built a world and a ruleset and refused to dumb down either.
Title: Re: The Witcher 2
Post by: mxlm on May 20, 2011, 09:48:51 pm
(http://i52.tinypic.com/2wcl7iv.jpg)
Title: Re: The Witcher 2
Post by: Pred the Penguin on May 20, 2011, 10:51:34 pm
It looks awesome... but I don't I'll be able to run it. I'll try out the first game though.
Title: Re: The Witcher 2
Post by: Fury on May 21, 2011, 01:48:21 am
How's combat in Witcher 2, particularly controls? I hated controls in the first game so much I haven't gotten further than the first town after the castle siege.
Title: Re: The Witcher 2
Post by: Grizzly on May 21, 2011, 03:03:19 am
Quote from: Ace on May 20, 2011, 09:05:30 pm
Act 3 seems a bit short, compared to Witcher 1 which had a very long end/epilogue sequence. But overall this game actually has decisions/consequences unlike every recent Bioware RPG.


You mean unlike any Bioware RPG. I can hardly think of anything where the outcome was decided by your choices made before the end (as opposed to... at the end) (The only one I ... think it does (never finished it) is KOTOR).
Title: Re: The Witcher 2
Post by: QuantumDelta on May 21, 2011, 05:21:22 am
Witcher 2s controls are /similar/ but not the same as Witchers controls, there is a combo system but it's not as strict, however, it's also not as obvious when you're making a stance (there are no stances persay) based mistake.

Edit;
Forgot to add.
This is as good as portal 2 for me, which is making my game of the year decisions harder!
Title: Re: The Witcher 2
Post by: Ravenholme on May 21, 2011, 05:31:57 am
Quote from: Fury on May 21, 2011, 01:48:21 am
How's combat in Witcher 2, particularly controls? I hated controls in the first game so much I haven't gotten further than the first town after the castle siege.

More structured, if that makes sense. Best way to describe it from my little play of it. I might cave and play some more tonight so I'll let you know what I mean by that once I've formed more of an impression on the combat.
Title: Re: The Witcher 2
Post by: starbug on May 21, 2011, 07:12:20 am
I havent got it yet, really enjoyed the first one, and from what i am hearing the second is just as good. Will pick it up when i get some money
Title: Re: The Witcher 2
Post by: JCDNWarrior on May 21, 2011, 08:05:24 am
Playing it right now, first impression is more than amazing. That picture above didnt even show half of the amazing setting at that scene. ;)

Also, if you do decide to buy it, buy it from GOG.com . Makes sure the makers get more money, AND, especially in Europe, you get a total of 3 GOG games for free with it. Amazing offer.

EDIT: also, 5 euro off for pre-ordering, much like Steam.
Title: Re: The Witcher 2
Post by: Pred the Penguin on May 21, 2011, 10:29:23 am
heh, I'll probably end up buying it 2 years... like a I usually do. Don't feel like buying this one for the 360.
Title: Re: The Witcher 2
Post by: PsychoLandlord on May 21, 2011, 12:21:36 pm
I still haven't played the first Witcher, and ended up getting this randomly as a gift from a friend. Should I go splurge on the first one for the sake of Story or are the two not connected that well, ala Dragon age 2?
Title: Re: The Witcher 2
Post by: Ransom on May 21, 2011, 12:40:55 pm
They're connected directly - the sequel's story is derived from a cliffhanger at the end of the first game - but they're both fairly self-contained. All the first game's major plot threads were resolved and the cliffhanger in question was an unrelated sequel-tease. Playing the first would give you more background on the characters and your choices can be imported into the sequel, but the two games tell distinct stories.

Quote from: Pred the Penguin on May 21, 2011, 10:29:23 am
heh, I'll probably end up buying it 2 years... like a I usually do. Don't feel like buying this one for the 360.

It's not out for the 360.

Quote from: Fury on May 21, 2011, 01:48:21 am
How's combat in Witcher 2, particularly controls? I hated controls in the first game so much I haven't gotten further than the first town after the castle siege.

Nothing like the first game's. It brings to mind the combat of Demon's Souls, if not with its exact mechanics then with its intent. It's quite dynamic: there's lots of dodging around, discreet swordplay and spell usage to alter a battle's shape. The game rewards mindful play and is merciless towards recklessness. Position is crucial and your ability to manage your location relative to opponents has a lot of sway.

I could just barely tolerate the first game's combat. This, though, is good. Great, at times. There's some rough edges - it's not as responsive as it probably should be, for one - but after conquering the harsh learning curve I've been having a blast with it.
Title: Re: The Witcher 2
Post by: Fury on May 21, 2011, 01:06:25 pm
Harsh learning curve? That's what they said about W1 too, and it still sucked.
Title: Re: The Witcher 2
Post by: Ransom on May 21, 2011, 01:24:48 pm
Way to make me regret writing that post for you, Dismissive McDismisspants. Go watch the Giant Bomb quicklook or something.

Here, I'll even link it for you: http://www.giantbomb.com/quick-look-the-witcher-2-assassins-of-kings/17-4139/
Title: Re: The Witcher 2
Post by: Grizzly on May 21, 2011, 02:50:03 pm
So, does it run on slower computers?
Title: Re: The Witcher 2
Post by: SpardaSon21 on May 21, 2011, 03:07:03 pm
Ha ha no.
Title: Re: The Witcher 2
Post by: Pred the Penguin on May 21, 2011, 10:18:31 pm
Quote from: -Joshua- on May 21, 2011, 02:50:03 pm
So, does it run on slower computers?
I have a huge list of games I need to play when I have a better computer...
Title: Re: The Witcher 2
Post by: mxlm on May 22, 2011, 02:20:05 am
Having now played through the prologue, I think Bioware ought to be ashamed. There are more soldiers in one goddamn siege tower than there were NPCs in all of [Bioware Game's Capital City Name Here].

And hell, it only took CDP:Red two iterations to get damn good action/RPG gameplay, whereas Bioware, which started trying to figure that out back with Jade Empire, didn't get it down until Mass Effect 2. And DA2 wasn't exactly well done in that respect either.
Title: Re: The Witcher 2
Post by: Turambar on May 24, 2011, 08:31:04 am
This game is good enough to disrupt my sleep, and I really like my sleep.
Title: Re: The Witcher 2
Post by: Ghostavo on May 24, 2011, 02:53:53 pm
Does the story make sense if you haven't played the first?

I found the first one's gameplay atrocious, at least as far as combat was concerned, so...
Title: Re: The Witcher 2
Post by: Grizzly on May 24, 2011, 03:52:20 pm
Quote from: Ghostavo on May 24, 2011, 02:53:53 pm
Does the story make sense if you haven't played the first?

I found the first one's gameplay atrocious, at least as far as combat was concerned, so...

Well, the first is a closed book. There was just a bit of sequeal teasing at the end cinematic, but the first is a pretty stand alone story. So I assume that hte second is too.
Title: Re: The Witcher 2
Post by: QuantumDelta on May 24, 2011, 04:21:09 pm
You can get by without playing the first, but it really does help.
Title: Re: The Witcher 2
Post by: NGTM-1R on May 25, 2011, 01:47:37 am
Quote from: -Joshua- on May 24, 2011, 03:52:20 pm
Well, the first is a closed book. There was just a bit of sequeal teasing at the end cinematic, but the first is a pretty stand alone story. So I assume that hte second is too.

Second pretty clearly sets up a third.
Title: Re: The Witcher 2
Post by: Vidmaster on May 27, 2011, 11:27:48 am
BRILLIANT GAME
Title: Re: The Witcher 2
Post by: phatosealpha on May 27, 2011, 07:32:21 pm
Eh.  It's pretty firmly in "Meh" territory for me so far.  The plot is interesting, but not captivating.  Combat is stiff and unengaging, the controls aren't especially responsive, the 'must meditate to drink potions' is a terrible decision in light of the short duration they run on, potion making is clunky and the ingredients it auto selects are at times highly questionable. 

I'm in the middle of chapter 2, and I have no desire to continue to play.  It's not fun.
Title: Re: The Witcher 2
Post by: Ransom on May 27, 2011, 08:15:23 pm
are you sure you're playing the same game as me
Title: Re: The Witcher 2
Post by: phatosealpha on May 27, 2011, 10:35:33 pm
Is the one you're playing starring a white haired potion addict, trying to chase down a kingslayer in a game that goes way out of it's way to demonstrate clearly and undeniably that all kings are dicks?
Title: Re: The Witcher 2
Post by: Ransom on May 27, 2011, 10:54:07 pm
There is certainly a white-haired fellow in it but the only king I have met was a pretty stand-up dude who I felt honestly moved to avenge
Title: Re: The Witcher 2
Post by: phatosealpha on May 27, 2011, 11:42:18 pm
Er....Foltest?  The dude who banged his own sister? 

At any rate, I take it back.  I'm not playing the same game as you guys are.  Not anymore, anyway.  You're playing Witcher 2, while I'm playing "Download a 9GB patch, only to discover the game won't launch afterward."

Unable to load cooked 'globals\controls.csv'. Make sure resource was gathered and check log for details.....

Still can't register Witcher 1 on my new machine. 

Title: Re: The Witcher 2
Post by: Ransom on May 28, 2011, 12:21:04 am
Quote from: phatosealpha on May 27, 2011, 11:42:18 pm
Er....Foltest?  The dude who banged his own sister?

That's the one! He also spoke plainly, fought beside his men and cared for his bastard children. As far as kings go you could do much worse than incest.

That's a shame about the 9GB Steam patch issue. It's 20MB everywhere else - apparently CDProjekt patched one of the major game files directly and Steam can't handle that without replacing the whole thing.
Title: Re: The Witcher 2
Post by: Grizzly on May 28, 2011, 12:46:25 am
Quote
That's the one! He also spoke plainly, fought beside his men and cared for his bastard children. As far as kings go you could do much worse than incest.

He also went off to another country at some point, letting his country dissolve into chaos.
Then again, he also went back and did something about it, amiably.
Title: Re: The Witcher 2
Post by: Ravenholme on May 28, 2011, 12:47:20 am
Quote from: Ransom on May 28, 2011, 12:21:04 am
Quote from: phatosealpha on May 27, 2011, 11:42:18 pm
Er....Foltest?  The dude who banged his own sister?

That's the one! He also spoke plainly, fought beside his men and cared for his bastard children. As far as kings go you could do much worse than incest.

That's a shame about the 9GB Steam patch issue. It's 20MB everywhere else - apparently CDProjekt patched one of the major game files directly and Steam can't handle that without replacing the whole thing.

Glad I'm not the only one who likes Foltest. His captain of the special forces is pretty cool too.

Also.. stiff unresponsive combat... wut? We must be playing different games. Combat is tough, yes, until you start acting strategically.
Title: Re: The Witcher 2
Post by: phatosealpha on May 28, 2011, 10:45:37 pm
It's not about difficulty at all.  The game becomes very easy by mid game, but remains unresponsive.

In particular, the core attack mechanics are aggravating as hell.  The two attack buttons can have any number of actual moves performed by pressing them.  At close range, they're all very similar, but if you're passed an arbitrary range limit, Geralt uses one of his close in attacks.  But those vary from a direct slide in and stab to a ridiculously over the top, arcing out whiling slice which has the tendency to send you flying directly into the pack of enemies, off center enough to ensure that any nearby foes in the pack will get an easy shot at you.  If you get hit by one of those enemies, then you have to deal with not being able to dodge while in a 'hit animation'.  Which might be okay, if it queued and you dodged the moment the animation was over, but it doesn't.  Any command entered during an animation gets lost to the abyss. 

The inability to cancel out of actions combined with a semi-random move selections, which are not by any means all equivalent, just adds up to stiffness.  I don't much care for a game where the actual actions a button press will result in are not completely obvious.  And in an action based game, any moves with animations long enough to leave you very open need to be either cancelable, or purposefully invoked.  Not grouped with a number of other actions which don't leave anywhere near as open.  It's equivalent to a version of street fighter where hard punch occasionally throws a regular punch, and occasionally a fireball move that leaves you open to counters. 

It's as if the animators managed to ensure that every animation be played fully, gameplay be damned.  By late game it doesn't much matter, since you're not instantly dead from a couple of hits, but it's still unresponsive.


Anyway, finally beat it.  One huge, poorly thought out patch, followed by a "Can't start the game bug" which magically solved itself after an hour, managed to finish up the rest of the game.  Not entirely sure what I think yet.  It's not a bad game.....but there are a lot of very bad decisions made regarding the core mechanics. 


And Foltest was a dick.  Look how many people die in the prologue cause of his lover's quarrel.  Still, compared to every other King in the game, he's really not that bad.
Actually, compared to most of the characters in the game, he's not that bad.  By the end of the game, I'm wondering why Geralt doesn't just retire to a nice cabin in the mountains and let the damned monsters eat everyone.   It's pretty much a world where I can let a grue eat anyone I see, and be confident that they did in fact deserve it.

Title: Re: The Witcher 2
Post by: Ransom on May 29, 2011, 12:16:43 am
I can't disagree with the unresponsiveness. After a while it stopped bothering me - I've been having tremendous fun with the combat system - but it's definitely a fault. It's a shame because it's pretty much the only thing keeping the combat from being fantastic.
Title: Re: The Witcher 2
Post by: QuantumDelta on May 29, 2011, 04:12:05 am
Get better with the combat system, maybe read a guide or two, then don't play on easy.
You WILL have more fun.
Title: Re: The Witcher 2
Post by: NGTM-1R on May 29, 2011, 05:17:32 am
Quote from: QuantumDelta on May 29, 2011, 04:12:05 am
Get better with the combat system, maybe read a guide or two, then don't play on easy.

Considering his complaints, I fail to see how any of this will help.
Title: Re: The Witcher 2
Post by: QuantumDelta on May 29, 2011, 06:10:12 am
On easy (like in freespace, flying **** ships with ship weapon loadouts but you can get away with it) you're not punished for being ****, so it doesn't matter what you do, you can just press one button and get through most of the game with ease.
After you learn the combat system you'll realise on the higher difficulties how combat is actually tactical, involving, and intense.


...Little less ignorant now?
Title: Re: The Witcher 2
Post by: phatosealpha on May 29, 2011, 12:14:27 pm
I'm actually quite good at the combat system by now.  That doesn't stop the system from randomly selecting an attack from a list of non-equivalent moves on every button press. 
Title: Re: The Witcher 2
Post by: NGTM-1R on May 29, 2011, 08:54:41 pm
Quote from: QuantumDelta on May 29, 2011, 06:10:12 am
On easy (like in freespace, flying **** ships with ship weapon loadouts but you can get away with it) you're not punished for being ****, so it doesn't matter what you do, you can just press one button and get through most of the game with ease.
After you learn the combat system you'll realise on the higher difficulties how combat is actually tactical, involving, and intense.


...Little less ignorant now?

You might want to try reading his complaints. He's helpfully reprinted them.
Title: Re: The Witcher 2
Post by: QuantumDelta on May 30, 2011, 02:08:07 am
I'm sorry, but I disagree.
If the combat system worked like that the hardest difficulty just wouldn't be possible.

You control the more 'ridiculous' attacks with directional button presses (and camera angle) combined with mouse clicks BEFORE you make them, there is function and form and flow to all of the attacks, and assuming you're not just LMB or RMB spamming like a spaz it quickly becomes very apparent how that part of the combat system works.

Needless to say those lunges can be damning, but if you use them correctly they're a good way of working up to the group finishers on higher difficulties.
More often than not though you find yourself rolling away or at the very least blocking immediately after one of those.

If the game didn't rape my GPU so much I'd make a freaking tutorial :I
Title: Re: The Witcher 2
Post by: Ghostavo on May 30, 2011, 05:28:48 am
So, how do you handle the hundred million thousand nekkers in the caves?
Title: Re: The Witcher 2
Post by: newman on May 30, 2011, 05:47:36 am
Quote from: Ghostavo on May 30, 2011, 05:28:48 am
So, how do you handle the hundred million thousand nekkers in the caves?

I think I know where you are. 4 tricks to surviving there:

1) Do NOT go too deep into the cave. The Nekkers will spawn at a certain distance and go after you. Take care of a few then go in deeper.
2) If you fall back to the point you entered the Nekkers will leave you alone. Use swallow before you go into combat and regen at that point as needed.
3) When fighting roll/jump around a lot. Always use hit and run tactics when greatly outnumbered - move around a lot and attack exposed targets, gradually reducing their strength in numbers advantage.
4) Use the Quen sign a lot - it's like a personal shield generator. Once Quen goes down, roll/jump to safety and recast it.

Most importantly, fights like that require patience. If you try to do too much too fast you'll end up dead - a few cuts and run away is a lot better than one dead enemy and your health at 10%.
Title: Re: The Witcher 2
Post by: phatosealpha on May 30, 2011, 12:01:46 pm
QuantamDelta, I don't see one thing in any of your posts that suggests that my actual points are wrong.  You can have a fiendishly hard but very responsive combat system:  See Demon's Souls.


For the cave, I used Bombs in the initial encounter.    With the enemies that densely packed, they're fiendishly effective.  5-6 Samum and you'll wipe out that first huge way, and after that the rest of it is easy.

Title: Re: The Witcher 2
Post by: Suongadon on May 30, 2011, 05:07:22 pm
Quote from: Ghostavo on May 30, 2011, 05:28:48 am
So, how do you handle the hundred million thousand nekkers in the caves?

If you're talking about the Ch 1 quest Malena, the answer is a nice nekker barbecue. Get a nekker lures from Cedric, make a few dragons dream bombs and a conflagration trap. Place the trap in the part they won't follow you into, liberally apply dragons dream bombs to the area, making sure to overlap the clouds and that one expands to cover the trap. Place the lure, draw them towards you, watch one set off the trap and all roast in the blast. After that I never ran into more than two or three at a time in that cave.
Title: Re: The Witcher 2
Post by: Ravenholme on May 31, 2011, 01:11:00 pm
Just finished the game on Vernon's path (which I suspect may be the more 'canon' path) - truly excellent RPG, great plot, gameplay, characters. Just all round excellent, definitely in my top 3 RPGs (BG I/II, Morrowind and TW2)
Title: Re: The Witcher 2
Post by: Nemesis6 on May 31, 2011, 04:33:54 pm
Just started. Being attacked by a dragon. The people following are talking, but they're all mumbling for some reason, and they keep leading me into the fire for some reason.

Edit: Found a way to get past the fire which my teammates seem to be immune to: Shielding spell!  :yes:
Title: Re: The Witcher 2
Post by: Ravenholme on May 31, 2011, 06:30:46 pm
Your friends rush out when they think the Dragon is past and they have enough time to leg it, they're not always right. Judge it yourself and wait until you time yourself as safe, and yeah, use Quen.

For those who have completed the game on Vernon's path, do you want to talk about the major decisions you made at the end of Act 2 and during Act 3?

Spoiler:
I didn't let Vernon kill Henselt, as it would serve the Kingslayer's agenda. [I guessed it was Nilfgaard up to it's old tricks]. I saved Anais instead of Triss, and betrothed her to Radovid, thinking that the alliance could only strengthen the North. I let the Dragon live, as a Witcher does not slay Dragons. And finally, after hearing Letho's explanation, and for his past help in tracing the Wild Hunt, I let the Kingslayer go.

Also, Vernon is a BAMF. I can't wait for the sequel to this one, it was an excellent game and I can't wait to resolve the obvious sequel hooks of this one
Spoiler:
Yennefer/The Wild Hunt/Nilfgaard's invasion
Title: Re: The Witcher 2
Post by: mxlm on June 02, 2011, 02:38:29 am
Quote from: Nemesis6 on May 31, 2011, 04:33:54 pm
Just started. Being attacked by a dragon. The people following are talking, but they're all mumbling for some reason, and they keep leading me into the fire for some reason.
Since this isn't at all obvious and innumerable people made this mistake: the dialogue options in the dungeon? Go from the top down. Otherwise you're playing the story out of order, as they aren't really dialogue choices, they're level selections.
Title: Re: The Witcher 2
Post by: Grizzly on June 02, 2011, 07:40:48 am
Quote
Otherwise you're playing the story out of order

But... THIS IS AN RPG and all that. There was no 'playing out of order' in BG2, why would there be in W2?
Title: Re: The Witcher 2
Post by: newman on June 02, 2011, 08:41:12 am
Quote from: -Joshua- on June 02, 2011, 07:40:48 am
But... THIS IS AN RPG and all that. There was no 'playing out of order' in BG2, why would there be in W2?

It doesn't really matter much. You can play those events in order or not, they describe a very short sequence of events so it doesn't really impact the later gameplay or story.
Title: Re: The Witcher 2
Post by: mxlm on June 02, 2011, 08:06:34 pm
Quote from: -Joshua- on June 02, 2011, 07:40:48 am
But... THIS IS AN RPG and all that. There was no 'playing out of order' in BG2, why would there be in W2?

Do I look like a CDP:R employee to you?

Quote
You can play those events in order or not, they describe a very short sequence of events so it doesn't really impact the later gameplay or story.

It very much does impact the learning curve, though.

Also, the 360 version is now official, so if you don't have a computer that can run it, do not despair.
Title: Re: The Witcher 2
Post by: Mikes on June 15, 2011, 05:56:42 pm
Yeah Phatose... and Planescape sucked because of the combat system too. :)
Title: Re: The Witcher 2
Post by: phatosealpha on June 16, 2011, 10:32:45 am
I've heard that line before, and never actually understood it.  Torment's combat is Baldur's Gate combat, and nobody ever seems to think Baldur's Gate combat sucked.

At any rate, Torment had the foresight to make Nameless stupidly overpowered and completely immortal, so even if you hated the combat it wasn't more then a minor chore.  Witcher sure as hell doesn't do that.