but definitely worth watching.Yes. I don't know anything about those games, but it was a very nice trailer, and unsettlingly-real looking. The "monsters" were not what I was expecting to see, and the ending was great, though I don't know how he knew he was doing the right thing, maybe I would if I played these games.
This makes me so glad I bought my new video card. :DI'm waiting until the benchmarks in this game come out before I pick out my next card.
It seems to me -- and this is a really hostile analysis -- that the Witcher is made by and for the stereotypical 'hardcore PC gamer', to satisfy a bunch of personal dogmas. The graphics are designed from the get-go to take advantage of all the latest blit-mapping and re-triangulating and what have you (but aren't so concerned with the actual art). The game mechanics and interface are very complex, none of that 'streamlining' here. The setting and story are all grit and darkness and moral ambiguity. The main character and tone are unabashedly macho (sex cards). It just... all seems like pandering.
It seems to me -- and this is a really hostile analysis -- that the Witcher is made by and for the stereotypical 'hardcore PC gamer', to satisfy a bunch of personal dogmas. The graphics are designed from the get-go to take advantage of all the latest blit-mapping and re-triangulating and what have you (but aren't so concerned with the actual art). The game mechanics and interface are very complex, none of that 'streamlining' here. The setting and story are all grit and darkness and moral ambiguity. The main character and tone are unabashedly macho (sex cards). It just... all seems like pandering.Check out the source material. While out of context, this might seem like pandering, it fits The Witcher novels perfectly. Setting and the story, as well as large amounts of sex (yeah, the sex cards were a bit much, but just a bit) were all like that in the novels, too. In 1 you can, at one point, sleep with a townswoman you met 10 minutes ago, without much effort. Geralt was actually known for doing that, especially in the short stories. I've only played the first game, but I must say it catches the atmosphere of the novels perfectly.
In 1 you can, at one point, sleep with a townswoman you met 10 minutes ago, without much effort. Geralt was actually known for doing that, especially in the short stories. I've only played the first game, but I must say it catches the atmosphere of the novels perfectly.
It seems to me -- and this is a really hostile analysis -- that the Witcher is made by and for the stereotypical 'hardcore PC gamer', to satisfy a bunch of personal dogmas. The graphics are designed from the get-go to take advantage of all the latest blit-mapping and re-triangulating and what have you (but aren't so concerned with the actual art).
The game mechanics and interface are very complex, none of that 'streamlining' here. The setting and story are all grit and darkness and moral ambiguity.
The main character and tone are unabashedly macho (sex cards). It just... all seems like pandering.Yeah, the sex cards were a bit over the top. The game, however, never forces you to pursue a sexual encounter, it's up to the player. In TW2 sexual relationships are much less random than they are in TW1, and should be more serious in TW3.
And the game world is as misogynistic as it is misandristic. When it comes to being an asshole, then there's not much of a difference between men and women.Couldn't have said it better. :) You pretty much described humans as presented "The Witcher". It's worth mentioning that race doesn't really matter, either. Humans, elves, dwarves... they're all bastards with a very few exceptions. Oh, and those exceptions have a depressing tendency to die horribly. That's "The Witcher" for you. The only consolation is that assholes also sometimes die horribly. It's a grim and cynical world, unlike most High Fantasy out there.
I don't really think you can deflect critical analysis of the Witcher games by saying it's all taken from the books like that.No, what I'm trying to say that the elements criticized are a part of it being set in "The Witcher" universe. It wouldn't be "The Witcher" without them. Now, you're free to criticize the series as a whole, but considering the game without the context of the books is a mistake. When talking about a licensed game, it's essential to consider it's relation to source material.
When talking about a licensed game, it's essential to consider it's relation to source material.
I really don't get how the devs are excused any flaws in their game because 'it was in the original work'. They chose to make a game based on that. They obviously thought those elements were acceptable, otherwise they'd have picked something else or toned it down.
for what it shouldn't change is pointless
i really don't know how to explain this to you
edit: ok in desperation i will resort to a nazi analogy: if i make a film based on mein kampf, presenting all the ideals it holds in earnest, arguing that i'm just faithfully representing the source material does not get me off the hook of being a nazi, because i have still willingly put my own stamp of approval on it by making it into a film
to put it in D&D words: Geralt is a chaotic good character in world that is mostly neutral/chaotic/lawful evil. Or as a member in the Witcher forums put it: Geralt is a moral absolutist in a world of relative morals. (Which is inherently tragic and ironic)Except a moral absolutist... is Lawful, not Chaotic.
I always thougt that a lawful good character strictly adheres to the respective laws governing a certain community, whereas a chaotic good character has a personal moral code, which he always follows, regardless of any conflicts with the law. And Geralt often enough "piss[es] on the laws" to quote a Temerian king ;)to put it in D&D words: Geralt is a chaotic good character in world that is mostly neutral/chaotic/lawful evil. Or as a member in the Witcher forums put it: Geralt is a moral absolutist in a world of relative morals. (Which is inherently tragic and ironic)Except a moral absolutist... is Lawful, not Chaotic.
...No. If that were true, heroes in a tyrannical dictatorship would cease to be Lawful simply by not complying with laws like "you must kick a puppy every five minutes". Which would be stupid.I always thougt that a lawful good character strictly adheres to the respective laws governing a certain community, whereas a chaotic good character has a personal moral code, which he always follows, regardless of any conflicts with the law. And Geralt often enough "piss[es] on the laws" to quote a Temerian king ;)to put it in D&D words: Geralt is a chaotic good character in world that is mostly neutral/chaotic/lawful evil. Or as a member in the Witcher forums put it: Geralt is a moral absolutist in a world of relative morals. (Which is inherently tragic and ironic)Except a moral absolutist... is Lawful, not Chaotic.
Ah, alright. I stand corrected. :) I guess what I described above would be a lawful neutral character then?If you think a character is unconcerned with Good or Evil, then Neutral is where they must inevitably end up.
Yes. At some point the writers of the movie or the game must have felt sufficiently comfortable with the original material to render it in the new media.But if there's something really stupid in an otherwise brilliant work, we're allowed to call them out on it and wish it wasn't there, no?
However, the worst thing ever is when someone says he "likes" the original material and then tries to "PC" the hell out of it, so he now has a "clean" version of the thing that so tickles him. I hate when that happens. Give me "Passion of Christ" a thousand times more than "The Bible".
Impressive, indeed. I'm still not done with the first Witcher (doing extras now), but I think I'll get back to it soon. Yes, it's violent, brutal and sexually explicit, loaded with bigotry from everyone against everyone else. It's also written so darn well that you keep returning to it anyway, only to see the few remotely decent people in that world have bad things done to them... Still can't help it, though. :) A new novel came out recently, so I'm gonna get to it right after I'm done with Metro 2034. And definitely looking forward to the game.The Witcher 2 is an infinitely superior game to TW1 - the writers replaced that brutal, bleak, depressing tone with a relentless moral ambiguity where the characters constantly surprise you in both good and bad ways. Treat TW1 as the part of the story that sets up your expectations, so that TW2 can gleefully subvert them.
I got the original Witcher as a freebie in some past Steam summer/winter event; I need to give it a try someday.
But yeah...part of me wonders if CDProject is making a terrible mistake by changing their style and following Skyrim, seeing as they pretty much mastered their craft in TW2...
Those three black rectangles are gorgeous.What do you mean? The videos work fine for me.
Those three black rectangles are gorgeous.
I didn't play Witcher 1, but TW2 just by itself is good enough as standalone, IMO. TW1 is like 50 hours with a ****ty combat model and crappy voice acting, so I've heard. Its writing is supposed to be alright though.
Those three black rectangles are gorgeous.What do you mean? The videos work fine for me.
Not until you fix the embed. :)
SOOOO well. This is kinda ridiculous. It is a big game, lots of content etc, ok, have 40GB HDD space and 6GB ram. But the CPU/GPU is ridiculous. You should be able to play it on hardware for a little over half their price. If this doesn't change until may, this is gonna be stupid.I'm sorry what?
I hope there will be an option to turn off those slowdown finishing moves. They are lame.
Letho is in the game?You're always with Triss at the start of Assassins of Kings.
Wow, did not know that. I killed him in Witcher 2 and I expected that they'd just leave him out of the game. I wonder, if you have a romance with Shani in the first game, does the thing with Triss never happen in the second (and therefore 3rd) game?
I'm level 26, kitted out in superior feline armour (which I'll upgrade to masterwork as soon as I'm high enough level to wear it). I'm highly specialised sticking almost all my points in signs and quick swordfighting (which goes with me being cat school). I've done almost all the side quests so far with only a couple that are level 29 and 30 left before going back to the main plotline. I'm also a gwent playing monster. Played in the tournament and beat the final player by over 50 points in the last round.
Letho is in the game?
Wow, did not know that. I killed him in Witcher 2 and I expected that they'd just leave him out of the game. I wonder, if you have a romance with Shani in the first game, does the thing with Triss never happen in the second (and therefore 3rd) game?
Letho is in the game?
Wow, did not know that. I killed him in Witcher 2 and I expected that they'd just leave him out of the game. I wonder, if you have a romance with Shani in the first game, does the thing with Triss never happen in the second (and therefore 3rd) game?Spoiler:It does happen, but if you developed something with Shani, Shani's biography in your journal mentions that the doom scenario that Geralt mentions during the romance (Basically, a Witcher's lifestyle is ill-suited for settling down) happens. As such they break up and Geralt finds solace with Triss.
Finally finished it. Probably the best RPG I've ever played. Definitely the best one of the series.Spoiler:I loved that stupid, in-character role-playing stuff I choose to do like refusing the emperor's coin and snowball fighting with Ciri made a difference in the end
There are even more swings in quality when it comes to the fan-translated versions of the last 2 books, and sword of destiny.Reading the Paul French version of Sword of Destiny right now and it's pretty damn good (doesn't come out in paperback in America till december but you can buy it for Kindle right now).
My biggest gripe is how they use Witcher 2 concept art as cover art and it has nothing to do with what's going on in the book at all, but I'm just reading it because I want to know what happened to these characters.
Just make sure to clear about 100 hours of your life to play through it all. It's a very big game.