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PURE VISUAL MAGIC!

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 129 / 136
Date: October 28, 2007
Author: Amazon User

This is the most awaited fantasy cRPG in the past 2 years. For most part, IT DELIVERS!
THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL cRPG GAMES I HAVE EVER PLAYED!

The environments are detailed, realistic, and can be experienced from up close. Grass, flowers and tree branches moved in both FABLE and TITAN QUEST as well; these, however, seem so true I caught myself reaching for my...antihistamines! Weather affects and day-night alterations (you have to see the elongating shadows to believe them!) are just gorgeous! More importantly, these are not just eye-candy: certain NPCs and monsters appear only when the correct combination of time-of-day and weather coincide...The horizon is far and the clouds move in endless variations. It reminded me of the sky of the original UNREAL, another visually ground-breaking game at its time. PURE VISUAL MAGIC!

The character (Geralt) can master both sword-fighting and magic spells (what is known as a Warlock). To some die-hard RPG fans this may seem like heresy, nevertheless, keep in mind that multi-classing is not unheard off. The movement repertoire for both practices are impressively designed. Especially the sword-fighting, it is at par to any console action game. And the spells (both offensive and defensive ones) are not less impressive.

Free roaming? Much more than FAR CRY or FABLE. Nevertheless, quests and side-quest still have to be completed and, yes, eventually a subtle, yet ever present, directionality is present.
Looting and bartering? Aaah...yes, sort of. You practically never change the sword you start off with (although you do get to improve its abilities), whereas good armor is only a little easier to come by compared to PLANESCAPE. On the upside, you get to gamble, have romantic relationships (FABLE was full of great ideas after all!) and bribe for information, so trinkets have other uses as well.
Detailed character modifiers? Nothing like the AD&D rules. You gain talents (gold, silver & bronze) which you can spend to improve your fighting or magical abilities. Pretty much like the DIABLO or the TITAN QUEST abilities systems.

So, apart for the slight action-cRPG handicap, I have only two other objections. First, the...camera placement. Once more (remember NWN2...) auto-placement can get to your nerves as it targets your character even if that is not the most logical option. Second, the controls. They need getting used to as the fighting combos are easily ruined by clicking out of sync. You do eventually get the hold of it, however it keeps glitching.

Whereas the BALDUR's GATES saga was story-heavy but (by today standards) visually lacking and the NEVERWINTER NIGHTS series was found, well, wanting in both aspects, THE WITCHER is the dream cRPG that BIOWARE was supposed to be capable of releasing all along. Finally it is here.

RECOMMENDED!

PS:
It has come up in the readers' comments, so I feel I should warn that this is the CENSORED version (the original version has some nudity and more...realistic language). Obviously, once more, ATARI believes America to be violence-insatiable yet sexually-immature.
I understand that these issues are important to many parents and they do have the right to raise their children as they see fit. Nevertheless, I would rather BOTH versions were available to chose from.
The uncensored version is available in Europe (you could try amazon.uk).

Without a doubt, the best RPG ever

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 12 / 19
Date: October 31, 2007
Author: Amazon User

I'm a long-time RPG player.
Gothic 1 & 2 were my favorite games until now.
The Witcher is the most open RPG I've ever played.
Every choice, every decision you make affects the game.

I never thought there would be a game this fantastic, this all-consuming.

Everything about this game was well done by ther developers.
The people that did Gothic 3 should have done this well, for that game (Gothic 3) was a total waste of money.

I didn't like Oblivion at all. It's way too repetitive. Seems like you're doing the same tired old crap over & over.

The Witcher is different, very different.
The story, the battles, this game sucks you into a wonderful fantastic world and keeps you there.

I've already finished this game and am currently playing it a 2nd time.
This game will remain at the top of my favorites list until they come out with "The Witcher II".

Yes, this is truly the best RPG ever.

I love this game.

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 8 / 12
Date: November 01, 2007
Author: Amazon User

I purchased this game just yesterday, and I can't put the ruddy thing down. The graphics are beautiful, the story is gripping, and the game play is irresistible. I've rather taken up a fondness for poker dice.

My only gripe is that I've heard that it is censored in some ways within the US version, which I don't appreciate. However, it doesn't really hinder the game play, and it's a smashing adventure nevertheless. Highly Recommended!

specs

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 7 / 13
Date: November 04, 2007
Author: Amazon User

the game recommends an athlon 64 3000 or better 2gb of ram and a geforce 7800gtx or better im running it with an athlon 64x2 5600 2gb of ram and a 7950gt with 512 video memory and it runs flawless and looks great. after playing the game for a few hours i exited to check temperatures and cpu was in low 30s and the gpu was low 50s so it didnt push the hardware to hard and the graphics are all set to high i only disabled anti aliasing. the load times i read were long but ive not seen very long load times at all. pick this game up its worth it

The Dreadful Aurora Engine

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 17 / 27
Date: November 05, 2007
Author: Amazon User

***Revised since the initial review with the patch 1.2***

I reserved this game after the promising previews released by many medium. Once the installation is completed, I was in for a shock.

The game is quite linear, and many times you are confined to one small section of the worldmap until you complete enough essential quests to advance to the next level. The game is divided into several chapters. Within limit, you can do side quests any order you choose to or completely ignore them. To emphasize the strong narrative drive and more character-driven game, certain sacrifice of freedom is understandable. Not all RPGs should be TES (The Elder Scrolls) series. What cause the serious flaw of the game is the engine that was used to create the game.

The immersion is constantly broken and hindered by horrific engine called 'Aurora Engine'. What could have been an impressive game is seriously marred by the dreadful 'Aurora Engine' by Bioware. Although the Polish game developers 'CD Projekt' modified 'Aurora Engine', they inherited all the shortcoming of the engine such as long loading time, framerate issue, bad camera angle, etc.

The biggest problem caused by this God-awful engine is the loading time. You thought the loading time in 'NWN 2' was bad. The excessive loading times last from 30 seconds to upward of 2 minutes. It's bad enought that you do need to see the loading screen between indoor and outdoor environment, but God. I've never experienced such a long loading time since 'Gothic 3'. It breaks the immersion since you spend more time staring at your loading screen than traversing a tiny section of the game map at a time. Games like 'Oblivion' and 'Two Worlds' put the entire 'absolutely gigantic in-game map' on a single loading within 10 seconds, why does 'The Withcher' requires longer than 2 minutes to load small section of in-game map? Although 'Gothic 3' has arguably the worst loading time in the history of CRPG, once loading is done you don't have loading areas ever until you are dead. As often as you need to move back and forth into diffrent loading areas in 'The Witcher', this is quite a back-breaker.

***Revision Begins***
With the patch 1.2, the loading time is significantly reduced, however, the initial loading takes still longer than 1 min close to 2 sometimes. Loading into smaller area takes about 10 seconds, but coming out still takes 20 to 30 seconds. The loading time is now definitely bearable, but still too long with all that required frequent loadings.
***Revision Ends***

Almost equally problemetic is the camera angle. None of the three-available camera is good enough. Furthermore, it is really difficult to adjust the camera position within the already-confined range of the camera. At least in 'NWN2', the gamer had the ability to adjust the angle of the camera.

Then comes the awful 'floating in the air' feel issue just as in 'NWN2'. This issue will take tolls even on the most powerful computer rigs currently available, and lowering your video options will hardly improve the matter. This is non-specs specific symptom caused by lack of optimization rather than serious stuttering framerate drop caused by lack of computer horsepower. Once loading is completed, the framerate itself is very steady and the game runs very smooth without hiccup or tearing.

Besides all the inherited evils from 'Aurora Engine', the combat mechanics is broken. I give credit to the developers for trying to innovate RPG combat mechanics by combining turn-base / menu-driven combat and hack-and-slash click-fest combat. Although it works in theory, the gamer will be too preoccuppied to connect the combo attack, they miss out on combat animation altogether. The problem here is without constantly connecting chains of combo attack, you will not be able to carry out any attack, so you have to pay attention to on-screen signals to time your mouse-clicking. At least in clickfest combat, you can fix your eyes on the animation and enjoy.

It's a shame, because this game has some impressive plotline and depth of characters and conversation that hasn't been seen since 'Planescape: Torment'. Past the aforementioned flaws, there are plenty of good gaming to be had, but what flaws the gamers are asked to overcome.

Maybe some prefers isometric, bird's eye view camera angle deep into the 21st century. Many people claims to be a hard-core RPG gamers, and are proud to enjoy the limited camera angle, uninvolving combat, and clumsy menu interfaces. They wear them as if it were the badge of honor. I still have the original copies of every single 'Ultima', 'Baldur's Gate', 'Fallout', 'Diablo' series along with 'Planescape: Torment'. I enjoyed them in the past, and I'll cherish the awesome memories of them in the back of my mind, but I've moved on. In the 20th century, they were more than acceptible because of the limitation of the technology. I am forever ruined by non-linear, open-ended, free-form RPG such as TES, Two Worlds, and Gothic series. Heck, even some 2D isometric CRPGs like 'Divine Divinity' and 'Sacred Gold' offer huge non-linear, open-ended, free-form game world that require no loading. As much as I enjoy many games made by 'Bioware' engines, I really hate the fact that their games always give me this confined, limited feel due to the modular nature of the game world. If I have to give up nonlinear gameplay, then I'll have the grandeur of Final Fantasy series anytime of the day. If I have to give up more up close and personal combat over 'point and click with mouse', then I might as well just give up RPG altogether and enjoy the ever-terrific 'Total War' series.

For those who can overcome the flaws of the game, character design is delicate and well-drawn, the environment is beautiful, dialogues are well-written, combat animation is exciting and various, and most of all, the story is distinctively different from the typical RPG elements. Choices are plentiful during the conversations. Many will affect the outcome in the future. The game is a spiritual succesor of the RPG classic 'Planescape: Torment'. If you ever played the game, you have some idea of what to expect. The overall production value is exceptionally outstanding, and the game is nicely polished. It is truly a shame because this game could have been one of the best RPG game without in-game technical flaws, and these are flaws patches cannot fix.

OH Brave New World!

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 15 / 50
Date: November 05, 2007
Author: Amazon User

I am not reviewing the game per se which looks amazing!

I was actually about to buy it when I saw that the US version is censored.
Since we apparently live in communist China I will go and buy my game in the UK.

Phenomenal

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 6 / 8
Date: November 05, 2007
Author: Amazon User

An amazing an engrossing game. Easily the best RPG I've played in years no question. If you are an RPG fan, you owe it to yourself to pick up this masterpiece. Spread the word!

One of the best RPGs to date

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 5 / 7
Date: November 05, 2007
Author: Amazon User

One of the next generations of rpgs, the Witcher delivers all that it promises. Comparable to oblivion but much more story-driven and lacking a true sandbox enviroment.
This game is what happens when you turn a great story into a video game. The world is much more mature,rough, and realistic then any other i've played.
The story does have a guiding hand throughout it but it is so thoughtful and immersing that you feel like that's what you want or should be doing anyway. The trapping of old stagnant storied rpgs are not present in the Witcher. The game allows you to progress the story to your own tastes and the resolution can be reached in each chapter multiple ways.
If you have a decent computer and a fan of rpg/action games, The Witcher is a must buy.

Fantastic world, between Tolkien and Homer

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 5 / 7
Date: November 05, 2007
Author: Amazon User

I rather play the strategy and military games. I love Medal of Honour and Europa Universalis III. But this time I bought it because I've heard about book, which the game is based on. I am really stoned. I am a director of big company, but this day I stay at home, just to play.

Excellent Story, Excellent Visuals, Excellent Dialogue

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 65 / 85
Date: November 07, 2007
Author: Amazon User

As a fan of some European games such as the Gothic series, I got my hopes up pretty high when I heard this one was making it into the States. I was a bit disheartened to learn that the U.S. version is somewhat censored (self-censored by the publisher, not the government or ESRB), and owning the uncensored version I can tell you that the differences are mostly minor and do not detract overall from the story.

Being built on the NWN engine, you wouldn't know it. The entire rendering engine has been replaced, the control scheme is very different, and virtually the only thing I can say I recognized were some of the item highlights and inventory selection. Instead of tilesets, the developer designed each area in 3DSMax, and imported them into the engine.

The results are very fresh and unique areas, and each area has the 'look' that the developer envisioned.

I have not read the books by the Polish author who came up with the idea, and I do not believe they are yet available here in the U.S., but I do have to say that the story is very engaging, the characters are believable, the interaction and choices are real, and this is a very 'deep' RPG which forces you to make real choices that have no apparent right or wrong answer.

The world isn't black and white, and most RPGs are. Not this one - every choice is shades of gray, and you will find it difficult to make decisions, sometimes which bear down to the lesser of two evils.

If I had to compare it to other games, I'd say you had the story telling ability of Gothic, the feel of Knights of the Old Republic, and a bit of unique feel to the game.

I believe this is worth the purchase, and even though I think the title of the game might put some people off, you won't be disappointed.

There are no bugs to speak of, though a patch is available for download which fixes some minor annoyances.

In all, I think this is a gem that may be overlooked by some at first glance, but for those who pick it up it will be one of those games you fondly remember as among your favorites.

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