So I finally got a chance to play the original game "The Witcher"
And it's... different. I find myself liking it, but the cutscene hair frightens the beejesus out of mw. So much of the time, women look like they got a bad '80's streak job. EEEK! Mind you, I'm still on the outskirts of Vizima, having lit the fire shrines, killed a bunch of drowners and two ghouls, along with a ton of Barghests (Occasionally, the beast shows up when I am fighting Barghests, howls at me and disappears), and I also went into the cave across the water, where you fight the arm/claw things that come out of the ground, and managed to survive. I missed one of the trophy quests, the named Drowner, but I can always go back and replay that part.
It's very different than Baldur's Gate, but that's not a bad thing. I actually prefer the graphics in BG, though.
It's very different than Baldur's Gate, but that's not a bad thing. I actually prefer the graphics in BG, though.
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Trivia: The Witcher 1's engine is based on Neverwinter Nights engine, so that's the reason for medicore (efen below that) graphics.
I guess I just found the pace of the game to be too slow and the combat a little clunky and longwinded
I always took the sex cards thing to be a satirical swipe at the state of the wrpg market.
Also, it's a Polish made game, and us europeans don't find nudity in media to be terribly shocking.
Sometimes developers are smarter than their target demographic, sometimes dumber. A good game is a good game regardless of it's intended demographic. I play a reasonably large number of games ostensibly aimed at girls or young children.
I think sex scenes are pretty dumb in video games, but some people seem to like them.
I was gonna say different strokes for different folks, but...
I don't mind some naked ladies or gents in my game. It's got decapitations and swearing, so it's not likely to shock the audience. If I'm playing a womanising, hardass, violent monster slayer, I don't see why only the womanising part needs to be cencored.
There is one thing that's interesting thought. I mean swearing and dialogues. I don't recall it feeling off or stupid or teenage-level. Does that means that translating/adaptating the Witcher to other languages/cultures just doesn't work? Or does it mean that in just first game case?
@reedmilfam
Yep, it is better. A lot, in fact. Basically, second game improves on nearly every aspect in comparison to the first game. Then again, believe me or not. Play it, or not. Decision is yours.
Also, no sex cards and very few women to sleep with. Alas, my pimpin' days were over.
Also, I've already plugged Gog.com in another thread, but it stays relevant; Witcher 2 is 80% off for another 18 hours. Only 6 bucks, can't go wrong there.
http://www.gog.com/gamecard/the_witcher_2
The best thing you can do there is be neutral, and even then you do some damage that way (not everything allow neutrality).
However, cencoring all sexuality because it's perverse and reasoning that the inclusion of boobs in a game immediately renders it juvenile and inane is also not mature.
Sengoku rance was pretty kickass though
The Witcher does this right in some points, wrong in others. There are a few points in the game where the women don't simply throw themselves at you, but use you (and your libido) to get what they want. They aren't just there to shag because it's mature, that's just how they manipulate you.
On the other hand, there's also a few women (for example, the town gossip) who are just there as a way to score booty, which detracts a bit from the game.
However, it does not stand out, the game has mature themes overall and you can uncover horrible things about people that require a Mature game.
Chapter 1 spoilers:
[Spoiler] Odo the merchant murdered his brother for money and buried him in the backyard. Mikul the guard and his friends raped several girls including his supposed love Ilsa (who committed suicide because of it) and the Reverend's daughter. When the reverend noticed his daughter was pregnant, he viciously beat her and threw her out so she's now a whore in Vizima. He's also selling children into slavery to Salamandra. Abigail the witch is blamed for all the monsters in the area but claims innocence; killing her is demanded by the person who can get you into the city however. [/Spoiler]
The game doesn't just throw boobs and swearwords in there and claims it's mature, it also tackles several serious issues that have no place in a Teen rated game.
I got horribly beaten by two random guards, worse by the three after them. Then, an hour later (and a dozen reloads) there came a bit with dodging dragon's fire. I didn't even know WHAT to do there, until it occurred to me to check if the spot I was standing in was actually burning.
I'd grown lazy from previous games.
Combat gets tons easier once you get Quen, the forcefield sign, which'll net you some protection. Also, rolling and dodging like a moron helps a ton. Get the "roll twice the distance" talent asap.
The game does not force you to deal with its low-brow element, so if it irks you, don't. I played through the whole of the Witcher 1, without collecting 'sex-cards' and enjoyed it tremendously. The ending is particularly good (relative to most games anyway).
I also think it's unfair to describe the game as immature because the dialogue features bad language. It's a dark fantasy setting, and the whole world is unpleasant, the characters in it behave accordingly.