Witcher 3
Witcher 3
I understand better now. The game excels at offering choices that shift focus away from the main plot, often making you overlook the fact that you've completed unexpected tasks.
Played about a day and around 20 hours following the game's design. It’s clear I enjoy this title. This doesn’t mean it’s perfect—there are definitely bugs, many of them—and I’m not referring to endregas or beehives that can serve as traps. Issues like camera, textures, bug detection, and hit registration are common enough that someone who invests time will likely encounter them. They aren’t super rare, but they become noticeable after spending a lot of hours. The inventory system also bothers me; auto-sorting is always on, and the game resets it occasionally without clear feedback about what’s been processed. There’s insufficient sorting between item categories. Still, overall it remains a solid game, especially if you’ve played through the entire 2D version. I can confidently say others will love it too.
I understand completely. I've tackled numerous side missions in The Witcher 3, even participating in a Gwent Marathon with competitive Yu-gi-oh challenges. However, I don't believe the Elder Scrolls quests match up with Witcher's style. Witcher offers a more narrative-driven experience, often with unexpected twists. Nothing is straightforward—it's common for people to mislead you. Elder Scrolls feels more like a Power Fantasy, positioning you as the hero of the world. (Dragonborn) Witcher presents you as an outsider, a mutant, a freak, and a professional monster hunter. You won't receive the same respect as a monarch in Skyrim—kings only value your skills when they need you. Most people, however, see you as just another outsider. That said, you'll have allies and friends. If you're serious about playing Witcher, I recommend going hard mode. Expect losses, but you'll gain valuable experience and improve your combat readiness. Witchers thrive by anticipating battles, using potions and bombs. Easier levels don't demand this level of preparation, which I think diminishes the overall experience.
Fingering that these problems will get fixed or updated is a good hope. These games and MGS V seem like strong contenders for Game of the Year.
It's quite impressive overall, though it still has some issues with its system. Alchemy fell short for me because of the charge mechanism. During meditation, your potions and bombs refill automatically if you possess a certain low-cost item, though it seems to vanish in the process. It's simple to restock, which isn't always the case. This might not seem significant, but it feels overly unrealistic given the emphasis on preparation. On the other hand, alchemy merely involves brewing items based on diagrams without needing maintenance.
The writing is excellent, and the characters are diverse and engaging. Quests offer a fun and unpredictable experience. The monster designs are among the best I've encountered, constantly driving me to discover something new.
In TW2 I did all of the sidequests, including the mini games, I actually liked the mini games. Here though... Gwen is an impressive minigame, but I just don't like it, finding opponents is tedious, and the game itself requires me to get cards, set up a deck, think. TW2 didn't require that, it was so much easier... If only the dice game was here too...
I understand alchemy can seem odd, but I don't think it's that problematic. It saves me from sifting through endless lists and creating each item individually. I believe the ingredients for potions should be used during preparation, though that might complicate making new ones. Rare components would get mixed up unintentionally.
EDIT: TW2's system was still better back then. Potions didn't last even a second, and I couldn't just eat random ingredients like a dog's liver or peppers. I had to mix several potions and clean up afterward while fighting.
EDIT2: It seems oiling weapons in battle is simpler than cooking them, and I don't need to pause for minutes.
I'm not sure what kind of challenge you're tackling, but I go on Hard. I tend to use my resources very carefully even with plenty of gold, potions, and bombs. It adds more excitement to the game. I also think Quen's alternate form is really powerful when used with Wraiths and Heavy Impact attacks—it can cause it to end too soon.