The Witcher 2 - Hyped or No?

**Monk** · 04-10-2011, 18:33

So four years after the first game, the Witcher 2 is set to be released May 17 of this year, just over a month away.

When I played the demo of the first Witcher I was intrigued. It seemed like a decent enough RPG with deep combat mechanics and an okay story. What killed it was the 15 min loading screens every time you went through a door. When the Enhanced Edition came out, i happily bought it... and was treated to some of the most dull, underwhelming voice acting I'd ever heard. I got breasts shoved in my face every five minutes, usually after I said "That's a lovely dress you have." and was incredibly put off by the entire experience.

Add to it that the story.. just didn't go anywhere. You ever have that "What the heck am I doing?" in an RPG? That was The Witcher at about hours 4-12. It sits in my Steam Library to this day unfinished and unwanted.

When Dragon Age 2 turned out to be (imo) a great game but still something of a let down, most of my friends were quick to chime in "No it's okay, Witcher 2 will be way better." ...How? The first one did nothing to endear me to the franchise and I'm planning to steer way clear unless I get confirmation that everything about the first has been changed.

Is anyone interested in this game? Have I missed a ton of media that will put my pessimistic view at ease and get me hyped with just a month left?

I will admit, i'm always hungry for a great RPG.

**rajpoot** · 04-10-2011, 20:00

I liked the moral ambiguity of the story. What I did not like was the vague manner in which it was told. As for voice acting, sure it wasn't Bioware level, but then I've heard lot worse.
Combat in the new one seems better of anyhow...the clicking on time is gone as are the different styles. It's just light blow from left and heavy blow from right and attack chaining combos. There are also some quicktime events to finish off bosses (a la Force Unleashed I think) but hopefully they'll be far and few in between.

**Graphic** · 04-10-2011, 20:00

First game is a personal classic. You bet I'm hyped.

**Husar** · 04-11-2011, 05:44

I set the voice acting to German, problem solved.

I'm not sure what to think about the second, I really liked the first but the second introduces console versions and these cutscene thingies where you have to press buttons that are shown on screen etc. I'm a bit afraid it may have lost some of the depth and become more action-oriented.

**rajpoot** · 04-11-2011, 06:35

Originally Posted by Husar

these cutscene thingies where you have to press buttons that are shown on screen etc.

Quick-time events?

**Graphic** · 04-11-2011, 12:56

Originally Posted by Husar

the second introduces console versions

It's still PC exclusive. They were working on a console port of the original Witcher a few years ago but there was some snafu with the funding and it was scrapped.

**Husar** · 04-11-2011, 15:59

Originally Posted by Graphic

It's still PC exclusive. They were working on a console port of the original Witcher a few years ago but there was some snafu with the funding and it was scrapped.

It is? I remember reading that they were planning to release it on PC and consoles but maybe that info is outdated by now.

And yes, india, there was a video where Geralt was fighting some huge beast with quick-time events, it was very actiony but I didn't find that it looked like a lot of fun.