in Review |

A Bewitching Game

The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings

I was a little nervous going into The Witcher 2. The first game didn’t seem as fun to me as everyone else seemed to think it was and I never got that far into it. Like the Elder Scrolls and Fallout franchises, I just didn’t see what they saw in the game. But I could tell that it wasn’t bad and The Witcher 2 came out right when I graduated from college, so I took a leap of faith. I’m glad I did, because I can say, unequivocally, that this is the best game that is a sequel to a game I didn’t play that much of and is also based on a popular series of books I never read. And that’s something.

Geralt of Rivia, the witcher you heard so much about, begins Assassins of Kings locked in the dungeons. This isn’t uncommon for him, since witchers are humans that mutated themselves to become monster hunters. There is a lot of racial tension in this world, with plenty of humans taking a strong anti-elf and dwarf stance. Since Geralt isn’t quite human, he’s an outsider. But more importantly, he’s been accused to killing the king. The game catches you up a little bit and then Geralt is off on a quest to clear his name, one way or another.

The structure of The Witcher 2 is simple enough, each chapter you have a hub town where you can accept quests and explore. There’s plenty to do in this game, especially if you choose to replay it. At a certain point you’re forced to choose between two paths, and the entire game is different from that point. What I liked about that choice, and many of the choices Geralt makes, is that it wasn’t a clear good or evil decision. In this world, everyone’s a jerk and you can never be sure exactly who you should side with, since they might betray you as soon as they’re done using you. It makes the story a lot more engaging than I expected, especially since I came in with practically no lore knowledge.

This is a game that embraces newcomers, while dropping in enough to give returning fans a kick. When Geralt meets up with characters I assume were in the last game or the books, conversations never get too referential, just enough that even I can understand their relationship. I get that Triss is a love interest and Dandlion is a wannabe loverboy without having to have them explained to me. It’s good writing and that’s something I can appreciate.

Assassins of Kings takes a bit of time to learn to play, which isn’t helped by the game’s general lack of tutorials. The first sequence you’ll play through is somewhat demanding for new players, and the game doesn’t help you out. I found the controls a little floatier than I would have desired and lacking in basic functionality and customizability. I ended up playing most of the game with an Xbox controller, which seemed better in some aspects, such as the inclusion of a “loot all” button, something keyboard controls are missing.

This can be quite a difficult game, if you let it. To do well in battle, you’ll have to carefully plan ahead, setting traps and drinking potions to increase your combat ability. Swordplay is simplified to just heavy and quick attacks, forgoing the styles and timing mechanics from the last game. Leveling is a bit more straightforward too, and I made myself quite a beast, making most battles fairly simple by the end of the game. Then again, I played on normal. Maybe I should have adjusted the difficulty when things got too easy.

But I was never not enjoying The Witcher 2. This a great RPG that does everything you could ask of the genre. It engages you with the story, puts a premium on player choice and gives plenty of motivation to explore and quest. That’s about everything I’m looking for. In fact, I better start a new campaign pretty soon, I want to see more of the alternate path.

Published

102 Comments

  1. Good post and straight to the point. I don’t know if this is truly the best place to ask but do you folks have any thoughts on where to employ some professional writers? Thanks in advance 🙂

  2. Hello There. I discovered your blog the usage of msn. That is a really neatly written article. I will make sure to bookmark it and come back to read more of your helpful information. Thank you for the post. I’ll certainly return.

  3. I enjoy you because of your entire labor on this website. My daughter loves setting aside time for investigations and it is simple to grasp why. I hear all relating to the lively medium you offer informative tricks on the web site and therefore inspire contribution from website visitors on that area of interest plus my daughter is always becoming educated a whole lot. Take pleasure in the rest of the year. You’re doing a splendid job.

  6. I happen to be commenting to let you understand what a perfect discovery my cousin’s daughter undergone reading through your web page. She figured out numerous things, which included what it’s like to possess an incredible helping character to get other folks really easily completely grasp specific grueling matters. You truly did more than readers’ desires. I appreciate you for showing such important, trustworthy, explanatory and even unique tips about this topic to Janet.

  8. magnificent issues altogether, you just won a emblem new reader. What would you suggest about your put up that you made a few days in the past? Any positive?

  11. Regards for all your efforts that you have put in this. Very interesting info. “If you can’t accept losing, you can’t win.” by Vince Lombardi.

  12. Good – I should definitely pronounce, impressed with your website. I had no trouble navigating through all the tabs and related information ended up being truly simple to do to access. I recently found what I hoped for before you know it at all. Reasonably unusual. Is likely to appreciate it for those who add forums or anything, site theme . a tones way for your customer to communicate. Excellent task.

  15. I together with my pals ended up taking note of the best hints from your web page while then came up with an awful suspicion I never expressed respect to the blog owner for those tips. Those men are already certainly stimulated to read through all of them and have in effect in reality been taking pleasure in them. Appreciation for getting considerably kind and also for selecting some nice subjects most people are really desperate to know about. Our honest apologies for not saying thanks to you sooner.

  16. What i don’t realize is in fact how you are not actually a lot more neatly-preferred than you might be right now. You’re so intelligent. You already know thus considerably in terms of this topic, produced me personally believe it from a lot of numerous angles. Its like men and women aren’t involved except it’s something to accomplish with Lady gaga! Your personal stuffs nice. All the time maintain it up!

  19. F*ckin’ awesome issues here. I am very satisfied to look your article. Thank you so much and i’m looking forward to touch you. Will you please drop me a e-mail?

  24. My spouse and i were so relieved John managed to deal with his survey using the ideas he discovered when using the web page. It is now and again perplexing just to choose to be giving for free instructions that many the rest could have been making money from. So we fully understand we have got you to be grateful to for this. The main illustrations you made, the straightforward site navigation, the friendships your site make it possible to foster – it’s got many astonishing, and it’s really facilitating our son and the family believe that the situation is satisfying, and that is extraordinarily mandatory. Thank you for everything!

  27. Definitely consider that that you stated. Your favourite justification seemed to be at the web the simplest factor to be aware of. I say to you, I definitely get irked at the same time as folks consider concerns that they plainly don’t recognise about. You controlled to hit the nail upon the highest and outlined out the entire thing without having side-effects , other people can take a signal. Will likely be back to get more. Thanks!

  31. Fantastic beat ! I wish to apprentice even as you amend your web site, how could i subscribe for a blog website? The account helped me a acceptable deal. I had been tiny bit familiar of this your broadcast provided vibrant transparent concept.

  33. Great article, I just given this onto a workfellow who was doing a little analysis on this. And he in fact bought me dinner because I discovered it for him.. smile.. So let me rephrase that: Thnx for the treat! But yeah Thank you for spending the time to talk about this, I feel strongly about it and love learning more on this topic. If possible, as you become expertise, would you mind updating your blog with more info? It is extremely helpful for me. Big thumb up for this article!

  37. Thnkx so much for this! I haven’t been this moved by a post for a long time! You’ve got it, whatever that means in blogging. Anyway, Youre certainly someone that has something to say that people should hear. Keep up the wonderful work. Keep on inspiring the people!

  38. Its like you read my thoughts! You appear to know so much about this, like you wrote the book in it or something. I feel that you simply could do with some p.c. to pressure the message house a little bit, however other than that, this is wonderful blog. A great read. I will certainly be back.

  42. I think that is one of the so much important info for me. And i am glad studying your article. But wanna remark on few normal issues, The web site taste is wonderful, the articles is actually nice :D. Excellent task, cheers.

  44. Thank you a lot for providing individuals with an exceptionally terrific opportunity to discover important secrets from here. It really is very lovely and also full of a great time for me and my office co-workers to visit the blog minimum thrice every week to see the newest guides you have. And of course, I’m so usually astounded with the splendid points you give. Some 2 facts on this page are indeed the most impressive I have ever had.

  46. You can definitely see your enthusiasm within the work you write. The world hopes for even more passionate writers like you who are not afraid to say how they believe. All the time go after your heart. “In America, through pressure of conformity, there is freedom of choice, but nothing to choose from.” by Peter Ustinov.

  47. Some really wondrous work on behalf of the owner of this internet site , perfectly great content material .

  49. I like this weblog very much, Its a real nice situation to read and obtain info . “Words are like leaves and where they most abound, Much fruit of sense beneath is rarely found.” by Alexander Pope.

  51. hey there and thank you for your information – I’ve definitely picked up anything new from right here. I did however expertise a few technical points using this site, as I experienced to reload the website a lot of times previous to I could get it to load properly. I had been wondering if your hosting is OK? Not that I am complaining, but slow loading instances times will very frequently affect your placement in google and can damage your quality score if ads and marketing with Adwords. Well I am adding this RSS to my e-mail and could look out for a lot more of your respective fascinating content. Ensure that you update this again very soon..

  56. It was a pleasure finding your site the other day. I got here this day hoping to come across interesting things. I was not disappointed. Your ideas upon new strategies on this topic were useful and an excellent help to myself. Thank you for creating time to write out these things and then for sharing your opinions.

  57. Just want to say your article is as surprising. The clearness in your publish is just cool and that i could suppose you’re knowledgeable in this subject. Fine with your permission let me to clutch your feed to keep updated with drawing close post. Thanks 1,000,000 and please continue the gratifying work.

  59. Thank you so much for giving everyone such a remarkable chance to read critical reviews from this website. It is often very useful and as well , jam-packed with amusement for me and my office friends to visit your site at the very least thrice in a week to find out the new stuff you have got. Of course, I am actually motivated concerning the exceptional tips you serve. Some 3 ideas in this post are truly the most effective I’ve ever had.

  64. randi Itt minden lényeges információt megtalálhatsz a randizással és az ismerkedéssel kapcsolatban.

  65. I do consider all the ideas you have introduced on your post. They are very convincing and can definitely work. Nonetheless, the posts are very brief for newbies. May you please lengthen them a little from next time? Thank you for the post… Jogar Jogos Online

  70. I couldn’t have asked for a much better blog. You are always available to provide excellent assistance, going straight to the point for straightforward understanding of your readership. You’re really a terrific specialist in this area. Thanks a lot for always being there for people like me.

  71. Hi there, just became alert to your blog Mildly Pleased | A Bewitching Game through Google, and found that it’s really informative. I am going to watch out for brussels. I will appreciate if you continue this in future. Lots of people will be benefited from your writing. Cheers!

  74. Keep up the excellent piece of work, I read few posts on this web site and I conceive that your site is very interesting and contains lots of great info.

  79. csajozás Itt minden lényeges információt na meg persze a csajozás megtalálhatsz a randizással és az ismerkedéssel társkereső kapcsolatban.

  81. csábítás Itt minden lényeges információt na meg persze a siker és a tudás csábítás ismerkedés és persze csajozás a legnagyobb szinteken a személyiség fejlesztéssel kapcsolatban

  82. We highly appreciate your blog post. You will discover lots of methods we could put it to good use by using minimal effort in time and money. Thank you so much for helping make the post answer many problems we have experienced before now.

  83. Very nice post. I just stumbled upon your blog and wanted to say that I’ve really enjoyed browsing your blog posts. In any case I’ll be subscribing to your rss feed and I hope you write again soon!

  84. I’ve read some just right stuff here. Certainly price bookmarking for revisiting. I wonder how a lot effort you set to create such a great informative web site.

  87. I wanted to inform you how much my partner and i appreciate all you’ve provided to help enhance the lives of an individual in this subject material. Through the articles, I have gone from just a newcomer to an expert in the area. It is truly a gratitude to your efforts. Thanks

  88. Simply to follow up on the up-date of this theme on your website and would wish to let you know simply how much I liked the time you took to produce this useful post. Inside the post, you spoke regarding how to seriously handle this challenge with all ease. It would be my personal pleasure to collect some more suggestions from your web page and come up to offer other people what I have benefited from you. Thank you for your usual great effort.

  89. Thanks a ton for your energy to have put these things together on this blog site. Jack and that i very much liked your insight through the articles about certain things. I am aware that you have quite a few demands in your schedule so the fact that you actually took as much time just like you did to steer people like us via this article is also highly loved.

  90. Nice post. I used to be checking continuously this blog and I’m impressed! Extremely useful information specially the remaining part 🙂 I maintain such info much. I was seeking this certain information for a very lengthy time. Thank you and best of luck.

  92. Most I can state is, I’m not sure what to comment! Except of course, for the fantastic tips which are shared using this blog. I’ll think of a million fun strategies to read the articles on this site. I do think I will at last take action utilizing your tips on those things I could never have been able to manage alone. You are so clever to allow me to be one of those to learn from your helpful information. Please realize how great I am thankful.

  93. I wanted to inform you about how much we appreciate almost everything you’ve provided to help increase the value of the lives of an individual in this subject material. Through your own articles, we have gone out of just an inexperienced to an expert in the area. It is truly a gratitude to your endeavours. Thanks

  95. I like what you guys are up also. Such clever work and reporting! Keep up the excellent works guys I’ve incorporated you guys to my blogroll. I think it’ll improve the value of my website :).

  96. I got what you mean , appreciate it for putting up.Woh I am glad to find this website through google. “Don’t be afraid of opposition. Remember, a kite rises against not with the wind.” by Hamilton Mabie.

  99. We extremely appreciate your website post. There are dozens of tactics we could put it to decent use by means of little or no effort with time and resources. Thank you really for helping have the post answer many issues we have come across before now.

  100. I won’t be able to thank you adequately for the posts on your site. I know you set a lot of time and effort into them and really hope you know how deeply I enjoy it. I hope I’ll do exactly the same for someone else one of these days.

  101. All I can express is, I don’t know what to comment! Except needless to say, for the superb tips which are shared with this blog. I’ll think of a thousand fun approaches to read the articles on this site. I think I will at last make a move employing your tips on that matter I could never have been able to touch alone. You were so thoughtful to permit me to be one of those to learn from your helpful information. Please realize how a great deal I enjoy the whole thing.

  102. What would many of us do devoid of the marvellous strategies you talk about on this web site? Who else has the tolerance to deal with critical topics in the interests of common readers like me? My partner and i and my friends are very blessed to have your website among the kinds we typically visit. It is hoped you know how significantly we enjoy your efforts! Best wishes from us all.

Comments are closed.