The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings Premium Edition PC Games and Downloads

Released on 16/05/2011

The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings Premium Edition for PC

This extremely limited run Premium Edition is packed full of goodies that aren’t available anywhere else, The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings Premium Edition is the ultimate fan service package. Complete with a making of video DVD, official Witcher 2 soundtrack, world map, game guide, pamphlet and cursed coin and two very exclusive Papercraft characters, the Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings Premium Edition is must have for fans.

The Witcher 2 Premium Edition Includes:

• Game DVD: The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings game DVD.
• Making-Of DVD: All the cinematic materials related to game - trailers, dev diaries, gameplay footage, interviews and making-of exclusive video.
• OST CD: Audio-CD with in-game music.
• Premium Edition Packaging: Box with all the contents of The Witcher 2 Premium Edition.
• World Map: A map of the game's world.
• Game Guide: The Witcher 2 strategy guide for both novice and experienced role-playing fans.
• Game Manual: A rulebook and interface explanation to help you get started.
• Pamphlet and Coin: A physical representation of one of the in-game items.
• Papercrafts: Two papercraft dolls - Geralt and one random character for collectors.

The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings

The second instalment in the RPG saga about the Witcher, Geralt of Rivia, features a thoroughly engrossing, mature storyline defining new standards for thought-provoking, non-linear game narration. In addition to an epic story, the game features an original, brutal combat system that uniquely combines tactical elements with dynamic action. A new, modern game engine, responsible both for beautiful visuals and sophisticated game mechanics puts players in the most lively and believable world ever created in an RPG game. A captivating story, dynamic combat system, beautiful graphics, and everything else that made the original Witcher such a great game are now executed in a much more advanced and sophisticated way.

After helping to stop the rebellion undertaken by the Order of the Flaming Rose and saving King Foltest’s life, Geralt became one of the central figures of political turmoil in the Kingdom of Temeria. Geralt continues to protect the King in the monarch’s mission to bring peace to his state. The last bastions of the Order yielded to the royal army. The only remaining task is to pacify the rebellious castle of Baroness La Valette, who announced separation from the Kingdom. It’s been a month since the attempted assassination of the king, when his army arrives at the gates of Baroness La Valette’s fortress in preparation for the final battle. In the meantime, Geralt, stuck with Foltest, cannot begin his personal quest—to discover the origin and identity of the mysterious witcher-like assassin responsible for the attempt on the king’s life - a quest that would answer many questions...

The player takes the role of Geralt, a professional monster slayer who became embroiled in the political turmoil in the Kingdom of Temeria by helping to squash the rebellion undertaken by the Order of the Flaming Rose, and who saved the King’s life by protecting him from a witcher-like assassin. In the second part of the saga, Geralt remains at the center of political events. He begins his quest to reveal the identity of a group of assassins responsible for the slaying of rulers across the Northern Kingdoms, to find their connection to witchers, and to discover their motives. His investigation will lead him up the river Pontar into the turbulent borderland between Temeria, Kaedwen and Aedrin, where he will be entangled in a conflict between the most powerful forces of this world.

The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings Features:

• A complex, realistic and mature story touching upon subject matter seldom seen in other RPGs, told in a manner that is understandable and attractive to contemporary gamers. We investigate the assassinations of the rulers of the Northern Kingdoms and follow Geralt’s personal theme, in which he’s looking for his own identity. Gradually we learn how powerful forces influence our situation and what role they order us to play.
• New, improved system of flashbacks. Now the reminiscences of Geralt, in which we observe the link between our past choices with current actions, are realistically and smoothly woven into the gameplay.
• Believable, true-to-life characters with their own motivations and goals. During our journey we meet ordinary men, soldiers, rebels, powerful mages, rulers and their assassins. Depending on our decisions we meet different game characters, and our relationships shape further actions in the game.
• Highly varied, breathtaking locations, which thanks to the new engine create a cohesive, fully accessible world!
• Rich, living world in which every character has their own way of life and unique occupations. Our actions modify the relationship with the game-world population and, in the case of the main plot line, open or close the possibilities of interaction with the game world.
• Greater freedom of exploration to provide increased game realism and a wider range of new tactical options. Geralt will surmount barriers, jump over fences, scale walls and ascend rock formations.
• Unique quests more connected with the main plot - no more “FedEx” quests (simple “deliver or pick up object” quests).
• Greatly enhanced character development, in which each decision with regards to development, including individual skills, result in different kinds of gameplay. It is based on three specialisations: sword, magic and alchemy, which can be mixed to create hybrid character styles.
• Traditional system that has the player fight opponents with a fixed difficulty level, maximizing satisfaction gained from developing a powerful character. Battles with particular types of opponents become progressively easier as the player advances in level, in complete contrast to what we see in many current titles, which offer simplified systems where opponents’ difficulty levels adjust alongside the player’s. These are systems that help make the game and its development easier, but offer much less satisfaction for developing a very powerful character.
• Advanced crafting mechanics vastly increased the possibilities for players to create their own items: about 200 items - weapon and armour elements – are possible, compared with just 10 swords in TW1.
• Many elements of armour – jackets, gloves, belts, knee pads, etc. increase variety for the player. There’s ability to upgrade each element separately, offering many combinations of armour, as opposed to just four types of armour available in The Witcher 1.
• Composit-built weapons, allowing many different types of swords (about 300 vs. 10 in TW1).
• Random statistics introduce additional variety among similar items.
• New equipment system, streamlining and making gameplay more flexible, thanks to no limits in the number of carried items, clear division into sections, and an improved sorting system.
• The best-looking RPG to date, competing with games in other genres in which the standard of visuals has traditionally been superior.
• State-of-the-Art, new, ultramodern technology created by CD Projekt RED
  

• The Witcher 2 Review

  Town Called Malice

  An RPG's first town can almost always tell you everything you need to know about the game. That's certainly true here- the first quest hub of The Witcher 2, the sordid, secretive swamp town of Flotsam, is a showcase of everything you should play this game for.

  First of all, it's a deeply ominous place. The Pontar river, which traps the village on one side, is the home of a monster that’s bigger than most final bosses. On the other side of Flotsam a forest of poison undergrowth and monumental trees is the home to colonies of imps (“Nekkers”), entire families of Smart car-sized spiders and, worst of all, the Scoia'tael- a guerrilla army of elves who want to live in peace, yes, but they'd also like to tear Flotsam apart. These are all great enemies.

  Secondly, it's an interesting setting. The only reason the elves can't have their way is because Flotsam's cruel commander keeps a sizeable, unwieldy militia of grubby thugs. They keep Flotsam safe, but at what cost? “Good” and “evil” aren't words in The Witcher 2's vocabulary, and while the moral grey area the game keeps the player in leads to some tough decisions, these are endlessly refreshing moments.

  Ugly Beautiful

  Thirdly, I know I'm making Flotsam out to be the Hull or Slough of Fantasy RPGs, but it's actually a breathtakingly pretty place. Sure, it's a rotting, boozy pit full of racism, fear and injustice, but it also might be the most believable settlement a fantasy RPG has ever produced. This goes beyond the game's astonishing graphics - The Witcher 2's themes might often be ugly, but the backdrop behind them, the architecture of this world, its scenery, its quests and deeply nuanced characters, all of it showcases a level of artistry that drowns out the darkness. The game's world might be a miserable place, but you'll still want to live there.

  Likewise, the character you control, Geralt of Rivia, might be as sad, damaged and haunted as a funfair ghost train, but you'll still want to be him. Geralt is a Witcher, which sounds effeminate but actually makes him one of the manliest beings around. Witchers are professional monster hunters that make their living going toe-to-talon with creatures that even the land's warriors might think of as forces of nature. Witchers are also mutants, making them stronger and faster than humans, but also infertile.

  Header 3

  The “sex cards” that the original Witcher let you collect (you don't want to know) are gone for the sequel. You can still seduce plenty of characters, but there's less sex in general, in part because this game is only some 30 hours long, making it around half the size of the original, but also because it's just keener to make this game about Geralt.

  While The Witcher 2 excels itself constantly in its world and character design, combat's a bit more hit and miss (pun not intended). The system is both sluggish, yet frantic as you control Geralt from a 3rd person perspective. Blows are delivered using one of his two-handed swords along with mouse-clicks for whichever spellcasting opportunities present themselves.

  Balancing Act

  When this combat system works, it’s exhilarating. There’s an enormous amount of satisfaction to be gained from just barely surviving an onslaught through nothing more than your quick-thinking and foresight. But the balancing lets the game down. The first 10 hours of the game are amongst the most challenging, and the game becomes somewhat easy towards the end – a shame.

  Any die-hard RPG fan should not be put off by this though. No other game comes close to the storytelling and characterisation of The Witcher 2 – rather than pandering to you as a player, the game treats you like an adult. If the likes of Oblivion or Dragon Age set your heart fluttering, The Witcher 2 will surely fight for attention on your game of the year list.

  

  HOT:
  + Rich, dark world
  + Fantastic characters
  + Unparalleled visuals

  NOT:
  - Imbalanced combat
  - Confusing plot
  - Demanding on a PC

• The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings receives major update

  CD Projekt Red has announced the launch of a new update for the acclaimed The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings, which adds a number of new features to the experience.

  The Version 2.0 update is available now as a free downloadable patch for the PC role-playing title and delivers improved graphics and gameplay, a full selection of all previous DLC packs and several brand new features.

  Among them is a tutorial mode to introduce newbies to the game's in-depth mechanics, as well as a combat-oriented Arena Mode that sees players tackling waves of progressively more difficult foes.

  Meanwhile, pro players can now enjoy a new difficulty setting called Dark Mode, which includes powered-up enemies and special cursed weapons that combine formidable power with harmful side effects.

  Adam Badowski, studio director for CD Projekt Red, said: 'This is a major update not only for us, but also for all those who want to start their adventure with the game and for those who would like to play it again.'

  The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings has won great acclaim for its mature, non-linear storytelling, with Xbox 360 gamers to receive their own version of the game later this year.

  Published: 03/10/2011

• The Witcher 2 gets a date with Xbox 360

  Critically acclaimed PC role-player The Witcher 2: Assassin of Kings has nailed down a release date for its Xbox 360 incarnation. Just don't call it a port, as developer CD Projekt insists that the 360 is getting "the most polished and definitive version of the game."

  Rather than simply translating the game to the console format, the Polish studio has added a wealth of new material to an already fantastic game. Xbox 360 gamers can look forward to a new CGI intro sequence, over half an hour of new cinematics, four more hours of gameplay, two new adventures, new characters, new locations, an improved camera and target-lock system plus a sprinkling of interface and control improvements.

  Even the packaging will be generous. The game will come on two discs, and the standard edition is accompanied by a quest handbook, soundtrack and map. Those wanting to pay a little extra can pick up the Dark Edition, which adds a presentation box, art book, stickers, a DVD documentary about the making of the game and a reproduction wolf's head medallion that you can wear with your casually half-opened tunic the next time you head to a tavern to impress some wenches.

  April 17th is the date to mark in your diary, perhaps writing it in blood before adding a wax seal for maximum effect.
  

• The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings coming to Xbox 360 this April

  CD Projekt Red has confirmed that its acclaimed role-playing game The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings: Enhanced Edition will arrive on Xbox 360 in April 2012.

  The game is set to hit Microsoft's console in two different versions and will include a range of content that was not included in the original PC release last year.

  Gamers can expect to see new cinematic sequences, additional quests and locations, as well as several major new characters who bring new layers of complexity to the deep fantasy storyline.

  It will also include console-optimised controls and all downloadable content released for the PC version, while its technical conversion ensures that it retains the same high quality of visuals.

  The game will be released in a standard package and a Dark Edition that includes a whole range of bonus goodies, such as a soundtrack, art book, map, stickers, medallion and much more.

  Meanwhile, fans of the original PC edition will also be able to download all of the Xbox 360's new content free of charge.
  

  Published: 27/01/2012

• The Witcher 2 on console is more than just a PC port, says developer

  When critically acclaimed RPG The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings hits Xbox 360 next month, Polish developer CD Projekt is keen for everyone to know that it will be more than just a hasty port of the PC original.

  "We were adamant that we wouldn't just cut features until we could get it to fit on console," designer Marek Ziemak has told VG247. "It was one of our core aims to bring all of the content, the graphical fidelity, the scale of the world, the choices, consequences and non-linearity of The Witcher 2 to Xbox 360. We were adamant that we wouldn't compromise those key factors and that's why it has taken us a while to bring Geralt [The Witcher's brooding hero] to console."

  There will be extra material as well, including over thirty minutes of new cinematics and over four hours of additional gameplay and new quests. Fans who already forked out for the PC version needn't get too cross - they'll get the same material in a free update.

  "Mostly, the process was about optimising the game and changing things like streaming; the biggest problems to tackle were the sheer amount of content and also the rendering - rendering scripts take a lot of computing power," Ziemak said. "However, we managed to squeeze everything possible from the Xbox and we're really pleased with it."

  The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings arrives on Xbox 360 on April 17th.

• Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings - Preview

  
  

  

  Witching Hour

  Ask your RPG loving friends what the best role-playing offerings on the PC are and they will likely say The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, World of Warcraft or Fallout. But while each of them is great at what they do, none comes close to the level of hardcore role-playing depth offered by The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings.

  While it didn't enjoy the sales success of a Skyrim or WoW following its original release last year, The Witcher 2 was critically acclaimed and taken to heart by a passionate group of RPG fans, namely the kind that love to swim in screens of stats and favour a darker edge to their fantasy. Developer CD Projekt is well aware that there are plenty of likeminded Xbox 360 owners, hence the upcoming release of The Witcher 2 Enhanced Edition Assassins of Kings on Microsoft's console.

  The Witcher series of games is based on the novels written by acclaimed Polish writer Andrzej Sapkowski and takes place in Temeria, a medieval fantasy world squarely aimed at mature audiences. There's plenty of violence and profanity, and a fair bit of nudity too, all of which is handled responsibly. Content-wise, it's closer to Game of Thrones than Lord of The Rings, and that's what fans of the novels and the first two games love about the world.

  

  The Witcher 2 sees players take control of Geralt of Rivia, one of a few remaining Witchers - travelling monster hunters for hire, gifted with unnatural powers that enable them to take down supernatural creatures. Since these nasties make short work of ordinary men, Geralt has developed his body to an almost super-human level. At the heart of the game is a deep combat system which rewards well-timed attacks with good chunks of damage and punishes absentminded button mashing by making enemies brutally efficient at exploiting mistakes.

  Witch's Brew

  On top of the hacking and slashing, Geralt is able to access a range of powers to help him gain the upper-hand in battle. Players can brew potions to give him buffs and enhancements which allow him to dictate the flow of combat and deal heavy damage. He can cast spells such as Aard, which stuns opponents; Igni, which sets foes alight, Yrden, which immobilises enemies, and Axii, which turns an adversary into a friend for a short period of time.

  

  The Enhanced Edition offers around four hours of extra gameplay content over the original, encompassing new characters, missions, extra quests and a couple of fresh areas to visit including an underground location beneath an Elvish mountain town and caves hidden in the Loc Muinne forest. CD Projekt has also teamed up with BAFTA winner and Academy Award nominated illustrator, animator and director Tomasz Baginski to create hours' worth of stunning new cut-scenes and cinematics.

  The Witcher 2 on Xbox 360 looks beautiful and offers tons of satisfying, hardcore role-playing gameplay set in an immersive fantasy world. It's also bigger than ever in this Enhanced Edition and it's hard to not be excited by that, whether you're new to the series or an existing fan keen to experience it again in all its glory.

  Published: 21/03/2012

• The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings - Preview

  
  

  

  Any Witch Way But Loose

  How do you like your heroes then? If you've become tired of reading through acres of Mass Effect text (or grown bored of grim, gun-toting space cowboys) then last year's critically acclaimed PC giant The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings arrives on the Xbox 360 next month - and it might just be the breath of fresh air you needed.

  It stars the titular Geralt, a man - or rather Witcher - blessed with a sharp tongue and an even sharper blade as he works through an epic storyline of treachery, dark fantasy and a sprawling world that resembles a brutal, medieval Scandinavia. It's an RPG so there's no shortage of dialogue of course, but it's tightly delivered, without an inch of fat in the telling. It lends an air of maturity, gravity and believability to the characters and their perils.

  

  R-Rated RPG

  If The Witcher 2 is shaping up to be unlike any other RPG that console gamers have ever seen, then it's probably because there's no other RPG universe quite like the one the game is based on. It's an established fictional world, and Polish author Andrzej Sapkowki has an eye for the saucy rather than the sensitivities of the family console scene. You can expect plenty of grim and bloody combat, bawdy bards, and, ahem, intimate relationships with the fair ladies of the realm.

  While this might make the game sound like some awful reworking of Leisure Suit Larry, The Witcher 2 is actually one of the finest RPG games of last year. It looks good too. This might be the first console effort from developer CD Projekt Red but they've taken advantage of all the collective knowledge that's been gained during this generation of console hardware - and they've squeezed every last drop out of the ageing Xbox 360.

  The forests are richly coloured and there's an impressive amount of shadow work that's been shoehorned somehow into the engine of the gasping console. Elsewhere, run-down cities are hewn from mountainsides and supported by fragile wooden beams. It's a mesmerising world that supports the storyline perfectly as power and politics march onwards, oblivious to their effects on the inhabitants of a crumbling land.

  

  Power and Gory

  Those players who either missed out on the PC release (or have never played a game in the series before) are well looked after too. Combat in the Witcher 2 is complex, and newcomers are serviced with the tutorial and arena mode that was recently provided for free to PC players. Here you can hone your skills and truly master Geralt's parries, blocks, traps, tricks and magical signs - all essential to success on the field of battle.

  It's a bit of a tight squeeze to fit all this action onto a 360 game pad, but the wizards behind the development of the game have just about pulled it off. You'll lack none of what made the murder and mayhem in the PC version so enjoyable, and everything that made the original release's head-lopping and throat-ripping so much fun has made it to the console version.

  The modern RPG is enjoying a thundering renaissance in 2012, riding high off the success of last year's The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. This is a different sort of beast though - as a game with a mature storyline, and some of the most ferocious and tactile combat ever seen in the genre, The Witcher 2 is a must-buy for RPG nuts - and a very timely release for an eager crowd. Ready your weapons.

• CD Projekt Red promises Cyberpunk RPG will be "realistic and brutal"

  CD Projekt Red, the acclaimed Polish studio behind superb role-player The Witcher 2 has spilled a few beans on its upcoming science fiction game, Cyberpunk.

  "The choice of the game universe was easy," studio man Konrad Tomaszkiewicz told VG247 in an interview this week. "We still wanted to create games designed for the grown-up gamer, and Cyberpunk is the perfect setting which allows us to touch other important themes than those in The Witcher, because of its fantasy setting. What you can expect from Cyberpunk is that it will be as mature as The Witcher and set in a realistic and brutal world."

  Cyberpunk is an updated version of the cult 1988 RPG series created by Mike Pondsmith. According to Tomaszkiewicz, Pondsmith "likes our vision of the game and he cooperates with the Cyberpunk team a lot".

  The developer also explained a little about the secret to handling mature themes in games, something that The Witcher 2 was highly praised for. "Don't get too preachy and let gamers judge what's going on the screen for themselves," reckons Tomaszkiewicz. "It's easy to put a brutally wrecked corpse or a naked woman into the game, but it's tricky to do it in a way that serves the narration you want to tell. This has to be done with taste and be a tool in achieving your goal, not the goal itself."

  The Witcher 2 is out now for PC and Xbox 360. Cyberpunk has yet to be given a release date.

  Published: 09/08/2012

• Rule of the Dice - The Games That Made Role-Playing Cool

  
  

  If you wanted to paint a portrait of the stereotypical geek, you'd have to include a nod to role-playing games in there somewhere. Along with Star Trek, the stat-based fantasies of the RPG form the basis of society's clichéd view of 'sad geek stuff'. And yet to look at the games charts today, you'd swear that role-playing was the hottest ticket in town.

  

  The Skyrim's The Limit

  The massive success of Skyrim last year was perhaps the most obvious indicator that RPGs were cool again. Bethesda's vast time-sucking epic is about as nerdy as role-playing gets, filled with magical weapons, skill tree management and all the trolls and dragons you could shake an enchanted mace at, yet it still thundered to the top of the charts and stayed there. Millions bought it, and the acclaim was unanimous from the critical community as well. As 2011 came to a close, Skyrim was over-encumbered and could not run, so full was its backpack with Game of the Year trophies.

  

  But Skyrim wasn't alone. Vying for hardcore affection at the same time was Dark Souls, the punishingly brilliant third-person RPG by Japanese developer From Software. As foreboding and claustrophobic as Skyrim was empowering and liberating, Dark Souls showed that the genre could take console players to terrifying new places, simply by slowing down the pace, ratcheting up the difficulty and making every swing of your sword count. Few will manage to excavate all of Dark Souls' depths, but for those who make it out the other side alive, the experience will be transforming.

  

  Royal Flush

  Had the RPG bandwagon ground to a halt there, it could be written off as a freak occurrence, brought about by anticipation stoked by the five-year wait between Elder Scrolls sequels. But then along came Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning, another massive open world fantasy game, stocked with elves and magic and dwarves, and that too raced up the charts.

  With a story by acclaimed fantasy author R.A. Salvatore, and design work from legendary comic artist Todd McFarlane, Kingdoms of Amalur wore its geek credentials on its extravagantly embroidered wizard's sleeve. It may not have achieved the same ubiquity as Skyrim, but the fact it was so successful, so soon after Bethesda's monster smash should have exhausted the available pool of role-playing enthusiasts suggested that the genre could be on the upswing.

  So where will this renaissance take us next? Onwards and upwards seems to be the answer.

  

  Dungeons and Dragons and Monsters and Pirates and Demons and...

  April sees the Xbox 360 release of The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings, a console remake of the critically acclaimed PC adult role player. Cast as a monster hunter in a complex world governed by prejudice and fear, it's a far cry from the whimsical fare people commonly associate with fantasy gaming.

  Had Polish developer CD Projekt simply shunted the Witcher 2 code into an Xbox shape and hurried it to shelves, it wouldn't be a surprise. That it's instead opted to completely rebuild the game for console players, with additional content and a lavish collector's edition, proves that there's a mature market beyond the usual dice-rolling hobbyists for this kind of long-term in-depth gaming experience.

  

  Then in May we'll get Risen 2: Dark Waters, another sequel but one that trades the generic swords and sorcery realms of its predecessor for a saltier tale of pirate folk. Developed by Piranha Bytes, the studio behind hit RPG series Gothic, it promises to be more than a cult hit.

  

  We've just learned that May will also be the month that we'll finally get our hands on Diablo 3 from World of Warcraft developer Blizzard. A mere twelve years in the making, this top-down loot-dropping hack and slash RPG dungeon crawl is arguably the most eagerly anticipated PC game of the year.

  So what has caused this surge in role-playing fever? Are gamers simply burned out on militaristic first-person shooters and hungry for change? Or is it just that with their lengthy playing times and flexible character progression, RPGs offer more value for money and greater opportunities to define your own gaming experience?

  Whatever the reason, role-playing is firmly entrenched as the games industry's next big thing. These may be the games that have made it cool to roll the dice, but they certainly won't be the last.

  Published: 15/03/2012

• The Witcher 2 - Review

  
  

  

  Town Called Malice

  An RPG's first town can almost always tell you everything you need to know about the game. That's certainly true here- the first quest hub of The Witcher 2, the sordid, secretive swamp town of Flotsam, is a showcase of everything you should play this game for.

  First of all, it's a deeply ominous place. The Pontar river, which traps the village on one side, is the home of a monster that’s bigger than most final bosses. On the other side of Flotsam a forest of poison undergrowth and monumental trees is the home to colonies of imps (“Nekkers”), entire families of Smart car-sized spiders and, worst of all, the Scoia'tael- a guerrilla army of elves who want to live in peace, yes, but they'd also like to tear Flotsam apart. These are all great enemies.

  Secondly, it's an interesting setting. The only reason the elves can't have their way is because Flotsam's cruel commander keeps a sizeable, unwieldy militia of grubby thugs. They keep Flotsam safe, but at what cost? “Good” and “evil” aren't words in The Witcher 2's vocabulary, and while the moral grey area the game keeps the player in leads to some tough decisions, these are endlessly refreshing moments.

  

  Ugly Beautiful

  Thirdly, I know I'm making Flotsam out to be the Hull or Slough of Fantasy RPGs, but it's actually a breathtakingly pretty place. Sure, it's a rotting, boozy pit full of racism, fear and injustice, but it also might be the most believable settlement a fantasy RPG has ever produced. This goes beyond the game's astonishing graphics - The Witcher 2's themes might often be ugly, but the backdrop behind them, the architecture of this world, its scenery, its quests and deeply nuanced characters, all of it showcases a level of artistry that drowns out the darkness. The game's world might be a miserable place, but you'll still want to live there.

  Likewise, the character you control, Geralt of Rivia, might be as sad, damaged and haunted as a funfair ghost train, but you'll still want to be him. Geralt is a Witcher, which sounds effeminate but actually makes him one of the manliest beings around. Witchers are professional monster hunters that make their living going toe-to-talon with creatures that even the land's warriors might think of as forces of nature. Witchers are also mutants, making them stronger and faster than humans, but also infertile.

  

  New World

  The “sex cards” that the original Witcher let you collect (you don't want to know) are gone for the sequel. You can still seduce plenty of characters, but there's less sex in general, in part because this game is only some 30 hours long, making it around half the size of the original, but also because it's just keener to make this game about Geralt.

  While The Witcher 2 excels itself constantly in its world and character design, combat's a bit more hit and miss (pun not intended). The system is both sluggish, yet frantic as you control Geralt from a 3rd person perspective. Blows are delivered using one of his two-handed swords along with mouse-clicks for whichever spellcasting opportunities present themselves.

  Balancing Act

  When this combat system works, it’s exhilarating. There’s an enormous amount of satisfaction to be gained from just barely surviving an onslaught through nothing more than your quick-thinking and foresight. But the balancing lets the game down. The first 10 hours of the game are amongst the most challenging, and the game becomes somewhat easy towards the end – a shame.

  Any die-hard RPG fan should not be put off by this though. No other game comes close to the storytelling and characterisation of The Witcher 2 – rather than pandering to you as a player, the game treats you like an adult. If the likes of Oblivion or Dragon Age set your heart fluttering, The Witcher 2 will surely fight for attention on your game of the year list.

  GAME's Verdict:

  
  The Good

  • Rich, dark world
    
  • Fantastic characters
    
  • Unparalleled visuals

  The Bad
  

  • Imbalanced combat
    
  • Confusing plot
    
  • Demanding on a PC

  Published: 26/05/2012

• The Witcher 3 confirmed for 2014

  CDProjekt's acclaimed RPG saga, The Witcher, will get a third entry next year, the developer/publisher has confirmed. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt will be available for PC and "all high end platforms".

  The announcement brings with it a whole host of exciting details. For one, the game will take place in a completely open world, similar to Skyrim. This means there will be no levels, chapters or similar barriers to your progress - demon-hunting warrior Geralt will be free to roam at will, undertaking whatever jobs take his fancy.

  Hunting the supernatural creatures that roam the world won't be as simple as finding them and battering them with sharp pointy metal things though. You'll need to investigate them and learn their habits and weaknesses by reading books and talking to locals if you want to be a truly efficient slayer. Some monsters may be stronger at certain times of day, or they may be vulnerable to specific attacks in specific places. You won't know unless you do some digging. Combat, magic and the inventory system will all receive an overhaul as well, with a new emphasis on crafting to beef up Geralt's armour and weaponry with resources found on your quests.

  The game follows on from the hugely popular Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings which wowed PC and Xbox 360 players. The Xbox version was notable for adding huge chunks of additional gameplay, and lots more cinematics, to the already generous PC game.

  Perhaps most exciting of all is that promise that the sequel will be coming to "high end platforms" rather than the expected consoles. What else is that but confirmation that you'll be playing it on the new Xbox or PlayStation?
  

  Published: 05/02/2013

• The Witcher 3: More details emerge

  Mouths are already watering at the prospect of The Witcher 3, the latest entry in the hugely popular adult fantasy RPG saga, but now more detailed gameplay features are starting to be revealed to the press.

  German website World of Players recently spent a big chunk of time playing a preview build of the game and, thanks to translation from Eurogamer Germany, we can see what the fuss is about. Among the morsels of fact tucked inside the feature are confirmation that the game will be fully open world, with no restrictions on travel at the start of the game. There will be three major areas of the world, and monster-slaying anti-hero Geralt will be free to roam them. With so much more ground to cover, he'll now be able to ride horses and also use boats to get around, as well as a fast travel option.

  Geralt will also be more nimble on foot, able to jump and climb, while combat will feature a slow motion precision mode in which you can accurately target your attacks to vulnerable spots on enemies. There'll be hunting in the game, and you'll be able to craft new items and weapons from the fur and claws you gather. You can use these yourself, or sell them for gold.

  Interestingly, it seems that you'll no longer earn XP simply for killing enemies and creatures but only for completing quests and other tasks. The story mode is said to last at least 50 hours, and you can double that if you plan on doing all the side quests. Your actions can lead to 36 different outcomes for the world you inhabit, while the story will have three playable epilogues, depending on your decisions, each lasting an hour.

  It's shaping up to be a massive game, and one that should kick the next hardware generation off in style. The Witcher 3 is in development for PC and PlayStation 4. We'll know more about its future on Xbox once Microsoft lifts the lid on its new console.

  Published: 01/03/2013

• The Witcher 3 will be the 'most mature' yet

  CD Projekt's Witcher games have always thrown themselves into more adult storylines than their more traditional RPG peers, tackling subjects such as racism and persecution, and featuring a bloody, grimy, earthy game world where sex and violence are simply a fact of life.

  For the upcoming third game, which will feature a persistent open world not unlike Skyrim, the Polish developer is aiming to tell an even more adult story.

  "Geralt has regained his memory, and he's also more mature now," lead quest designer Mateusz Tomaszkiewicz has told VG247. "He knows what he wants from life, and he's determined to get it. In my opinion, plot of The Witcher 3 is the most mature plot in The Witcher trilogy."

  "Witcher 3 is extremely ambitious in terms of the number of characters and plots that we're introducing," added Tomaszkiewicz, "but also in terms of how we want to present them. We want to tell a truly immersive and emotional story in an epic environment. The overarching plot will have a huge impact on the state of world as a whole, but we're not aiming at making Geralt savior of universe - this would be out of his character. As always, Geralt will get dragged into big events that he would otherwise stay out of, and influence them in his own way."

  The Witcher 3 will apparently feature multiple endings, as well as over 30 different ways to impact and shape the game world through your actions by the time the credits roll.

  The Witcher 3 is confirmed for PC and PlayStation 4 in 2014. Other "next generation" formats are promised.
  

  Published: 20/03/2013

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