The witcher
ReadingRambo
Member Posts: 598
Is the witcher 1 still pretty playable? I'm contemplating buying it from GoG while waiting for the next BGEE patch. I've never tried either witcher but read good things
Post edited by Jalily on
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However you only have control in so much as you would have control in a game such as Deus Ex, meaning that despite playing a memory-loss character, you aren't working with a blank slate...you're assuming the role of a predefined character with defined traits and beliefs and goals so there isn't as much leeway for roleplaying choice as you would find in something like Torment. Geralt will answer dialogues and say certain things without you as the player having any choice in the matter. That's maybe something a little disappointing coming from Baldur's Gate where you're generally allowed to interact how you see fit in most situations (less so in BG2, even less in ToB).
Or figuring out which alchemical potion or oil is best used to dispatch your foe. OR deciding on which sign to augment your oil and which fighting style to prepare for which enemy.
Great game with a lot of replayability because of that. I haven't even mentioned the mature setting and also the grey-area choices.
Awesome stuff.
Just edit your first post, select Off-Topic from the drop down Category menu and click Save.
And your done.
Regarding RP, you're not roleplaying in the traditional sense -- Geralt's never going to be puppy-killing evil, no matter how much you want him to. But you still make decisions, and those decisions can be wildly different, while still being somewhat justifiable within that character's philosophy, and they all have meaningful (and unpredictable) consequences. For someone coming from Bioware's fairly black-and-white moral choices, that's a refreshing change.
Also, once you get the hang of the game mechanics, I'd strongly recommend bumping up the difficulty. Playing on Hard makes the game's magic and alchemy systems much more necessary, and exploring those was a lot of fun for me.
http://forum.baldursgate.com/discussion/15464/is-the-witcher-2-the-best-mature-modern-rpg
It's a good game, love it, heartily recommend it.
That said, Chapter 2 can drag on a tad. I am only drawing to its conclusion and it has went on, and on, and on.
I've enjoyed Chapter 4 a ton more, it's more like Chapter 1.
There are horrendous examples of this early on in Chapter 1, leading up to a fight with the big monster, in which you get cutscene'd to the battle with no way to even use potions against it.
I don't follow. When resting/meditating you can create any potion or blade coating you wish. I try to have at least three or four of the most useful in my possession at all times. When I fall to but one of a particular type I immediately look for the nearest campfire to restock.
So long as you are in possession of the necessary potion or blade coating it's a matter of seconds to bring it into play. If Geralt is caught short it's our own lack of preparation. Expect the unexpected, as they say.
It is easier when exploring the world at your own pace. But the unpredictable nature of certain moments is a positive, for me. I think I know to what you're referring. I liked the sudden change of pace and the impending need to react accordingly. It's not too dissimilar to encountering a Vampiric Wolf at the wrong time (is there a right time) or the shock assassination attempts along the Sword Coast. They keep things interesting.
Like I said the sidequests suit the formula because you know what you are getting into and what to bring (quest says kill giant plants so whip up some anti-plant poison etc)
There are sequences that I think so are forgetting, the ghost dog for example, there is literally no way to apply the correct oil or potion to level the playing field, you can't even quickload and do it before the cutscene, the effects go away, that is terrible design for a game that touts the need to diligent and plan ahead.
Same issue with fighting indoors, you can't prep beforehand and there isn't enough room to run away and slooooowly knock back a potion.
I had Geralt knock back a potion of Swallow and a potion of Blizzard during the "ghost dog" battle. I cannot recall whether I used a potion of Tawny Oil, or not. The result was a more balanced playing field where Geralt prevailed in most due to the effects of Blizzard.
At that point of the game there are not too many option for oils, as Geralt is limited to a steel sword only. There are whetstones and grindstones, though. I applied one or the other to increase damage output, and further tip the scales in favor of Geralt.
I don't know whether it is required, but I usually do a quick double step backward to evade an attack while an enemy is lurching forward, that is where I have Geralt quickly uncork a potion and down it in one.
At maximum difficulty is there a slower rate for drinking potions? I don't recall it ever being painfully slow to activate, and I choose hard difficulty.