The Witcher is as solid of a CRPG that has come out in a while.

As can be found in many Euro based RPG’s your character is more focused (re pre-generated) and there is a railroading feel to character development. You will get all the same talents and skills (for the most part) it is just a matter of time and sequence. To the American role player this can be a turn off, but the story is so solid and focused on Geralt that what I normally find as a flaw is largely rendered moot.

The premise like many CRPG efforts is your character has amnesia so how you pick sides and make choices has an impact on the game. There is certainly a great deal of moral ambiguity in this process. The role playing angle is perhaps a little more nuanced than some other RPG’s. You may not know what comes of your decisions till a fair bit later on in the game. While there are big decisions to be made, but also some small and amusing ones. Try inviting Carmen to the get together for old friends and you will see.

Combat is different, it almost plays out like a rhythm game than a click fest or click once model. There are three attack styles (fast, group and strong) coupled with two forms of cambat, each with associated skills to make Geralt more deadly. Thus skills are split amongst six styles. Attacks start small and build up with chained attacks. When the sword icon starts burning you need to click in a timely manner or the chain is broken. As you gain in levels and get used to the timing combat can be impressive and rewarding.

Skills are all nearly combat related (spells and weapons) anything else is done by buying, stealing or earning books. Which in terms of direct game play equate to potion ingredients, potions and quests. You will be perpetually nickled and dimed buying books to gain knowledge to complete quests to get money for buying books. But don’t expect Geralt to be a thief or a bard. He is a randy killing machine it is mostly an issue of what kind and when. In RPG terms a Witcher

Quests are a mixed bag. While there seems to be a lot of them, many are related and dove tail together. There might be an initial panic for it looks like a laundry list, but for the most part explore, talk and read carefully and it is less daunting. Quests can be tracked on the map, which is very helpful. Less helpful is the info in the journal for quests is often sparse and pertinent info is slotted in other journal areas.

The interface has some annoying issues. In combat sometimes the interface is not quite as reactive to clicks as I would like. Also the inventory system is horrendous and archaic. It is literally four bins of stuff and there are also some stacking issues. Luckily there is not a ton of loot to get in the game, but you will be going to the inn to drop stuff off or to a merchant to sell stuff fairly often.

Luckily a lot of inventory is taken up by potion components. Potions (especially on harder levels) are critical to the game and give Geralt an edge. There are only so many to take however as potions are toxic. Potions are more effect-over-time than instant gratification. While potion making is an homage to Ultima IV’s reagents, but making potions is simple. Potions you can make are listed and if you have the ingredients the game choses the herbs or monster parts.

The Wicther is an adult fantasy. While the US version is slightly sanitized (i.e. no nudity) the uncensored Euro version is not. I would recommend the European version, because even self censoring for the US market is a bit of a slippery slope. This mostly revolves around the fact that Gerald likes the ladies, but witchers are sterile and immune to disease... so why not have a bit of fun? But beyond the sexual nature of the setting, the plot is often morally ambiguous and you will have to make some unpleasant decisions and sometimes it is the less worse option you have to take. You do have to chose sides and sometimes that side is the one who is less evil.

On the technical side, The Witcher does not need a beast of a system to play. What was cutting edge 3 years ago handles it adequately. The graphics even in a toned down mode are great. The combat is well animated courtesy of motion capture. On the not so good side is the load times are somewhere between painful and horrible. But the corollary to that is when you are in an area with a huge load time you are likely to be there for a while.

It is tough not to like The Witcher. It is a great game whose flaws are mitigated by a stellar story and satisfying game play.

Good:

• A very solid plot and a world that feels lived in
• An adult fantasy story (more so for the uncensored version)
• Solid graphics, especially combat animations
• Reasonable system reqs
• A different and rewarding combat system
• Greed is largely mitigated in the game
• Not a ton of loot

Bad:

• Repetitive NPC graphics, very few character models
• Uneven voice talent
• Some interface issues (ie click and the game does not respond)
• An inventory system that would be archaic ten years ago.
• Limited character building choices
• Not a ton of loot

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