THE WITCHER 2 REVIEW HOW TO
THE WITCHER 2 REVIEW UPDATE

The process of applying mutagens is strangely cryptic, and separating potion creation and consumption into different menus is inefficient. It's all artistically presented but not without flaws. A lot of time clearly went into the interface design as well. It's a world constructed with care where everything feels custom-built, nothing cut-and-paste. The special effects impress, and so do the more subtle effects like the detail jammed into every one of Flotsam's worn and dirty shacks, or the waterfall that cuts through Vergen's rocky mountain walls. The lighting effects as beams bloom through trees and light up mountain peaks make adventuring all the more exciting, and the animations are far more natural and plausible than in Geralt's previous adventure.

From the towering heights of besieged ramparts at the game's outset to the glittering forests surrounding the riverside town of Flotsam, The Witcher 2 is one of the prettiest games you can play.

Provided you can turn everything up, the resulting virtual vistas are unmatched in modern role-playing games.

THE WITCHER 2 REVIEW UPDATE

Though I experienced some performance issues on launch day, a driver update allowed smooth play on max settings with a GeForce GTX 580 card, and the game still looks great at lowered settings.

Looking for more info on The Witcher 2? Head over to IGN's review journal.The visuals, in particular, are consistently gorgeous. Still, it's a dramatic improvement over the original Witcher, and only noticeable here because so many other aspects of the game are so stunning. Many lines for Triss, Geralt's initial love interest, aren't delivered with the conviction of others on the cast, Geralt's expressions in combat are repeated too often, and for as many hilariously brusque uses of profanity as there are, some of the cursing feels as though it's merely there to mask a lack of substance. It's a little disappointing the voice acting and writing aren't consistently on the same level as other aspects of the game. Whether it's venturing into the depths of a foreboding forest ruin and dealing with furious spirits or negotiating with a succubus in a mountainside warren, with few exceptions the quests in The Witcher 2 refuse to blend together into forgettable haze. Some involve stealth, some collection, and all are wrapped in enough story to make the label 'side-quest' seem inadequate. Even the basic kill quests feature multiple steps, requiring you to explore the terrain surrounding the game's population centers, hunt creatures and eventually strike at nests and more formidable creatures. Though The Witcher 2 does not offer a huge number of quests, none feel like arbitrary endeavors. It lends an exhilarating mutability to the experience, as dialogue responses could trigger results as mundane as a quest giver's disappointment or significantly alter the path of the main progression, even going so far as determining on which side you stand in major conflicts. Instead, the quests and opportunities change to accommodate your version of Geralt. There's no +7.2 to your evil rating when you choose to punch someone in the face.

THE WITCHER 2 REVIEW HOW TO

Decisions can be as minor as determining how to deal with a small-town drug peddler to undercutting the significance of one of the game's major motivations in the pursuit of love. He is feared by townsfolk and soldiers because of his appearance and reputation, and he's as flawed as you want him to be. Geralt slides into the background of major conflicts and, though he provides critical assistance, he is never the obvious hero. So while characters don't often launch into detailed explanations, it fits the fiction considering Geralt is not the genre-standard naïve paragon of morality stepping away from his home town for the first time. Geralt too, a well-traveled figure of renown, would hardly need someone to describe the difference between Aedirn, Kaedwen and Temeria. Despite that, it lends further authenticity to the world that a ruler of a region would not take the time to explain himself when referencing names and places. Toss in a few storytelling elements that seemingly pop up at random, like stylized animated flashbacks and moments where control is briefly switched from Geralt to other characters, and The Witcher 2's pacing can be disorienting. There's a journal to help you sort out the main personalities, but little to aid you when characters speak only in colloquialisms. If you didn't play the 2007 original, expect to spend a while reeling in bewilderment. Play There are so many involved in the game's labyrinthine plot of conspiracies, ancient curses and power grabs it's easy to get lost.

The witcher 2 review