It's time to replay The Witcher 3

[Barry Admin]

It really is. Two years on, who wants to join me? I absolutely loved it first time round, to the extent I spent less time with my ex than I should have, but it was just so fucking compelling and amazing! I've been running around White Orchard all week, and am totally in love with it again, and just want to live in that world.

(Mild early game spoilers)
I was doing a mission last night, didn't realise where on the map I was. Finished the mission and then mooched around, saw this couple crying their hearts out... their home had been totally destroyed, absolutely smashed. Saw some kid on the ground nearby, kneeling by a bloke "get up Dad... please move, please!" Holy shit, an absolute wave of bleakness hit me as this boy continued to plead with his dead dad. Then I walked into some house looking for stuff to loot, and there's a woman and a girl just standing there crying... the kid screams "don't touch me!" when I click on her for dialogue. I wonder if these two are related to the man and his son on the road nearby.

While walking outside I admire the extraordinary graphical prowess of the engine, as it renders another stunning looking sunset, and then I notice the bodies of the dead soldiers hanging from a tree nearby.

Absolutely powerful stuff. I had of course wandered into the Ransacked Village, without knowing where I was going.

I've started a completely new playthrough, again on Death March. My biggest challenge this time is to try and keep my OCD under control. I normally HATE spoilers, to the extent that I won't even watch movie trailers, but with RPG games that have multiple outcomes, I'm fucking tormented by them. I always want to know the "best" way to complete a mission, which is a bit silly when The Witcher games specialise in shades of grey morality.

[Ignatius_S]

...but with RPG games that have multiple outcomes, I'm fucking tormented by them. I always want to know the "best" way to complete a mission, which is a bit silly when The Witcher games specialise in shades of grey morality.

Hee, I hear that! On an intellectual level, I love the idea of outcomes that are different shades of grey but emotionally, as I'm playing, it's a different story! 

Anyway, going back to playing the game – I started playing but then decided to put the game on hold and wait for all the DLC. A rather foolish idea as I haven't gone back to it but was thinking a couple of days that I need to go back or start again, so I'm taking this thread as a sign.

[Bhazor]

But why can't CD Projeckt ever get combat right? All this fantastic detail, artwork, dialog and story. Amazing production values immense ambition. Then they make combat hands down both the worst and most common part of the game.

[Mister Six]

I'm still playing it through for the first time. Vastly over-levelled for the main story because I keep doing side stuff. Been to a wake and shagged the black-haired pass on a stuffed unicorn.

What's with the amnesia talk? Was that in Witcher 1? I never played that.

Also when should I play the two big DLCs? After the main game?

[Barry Admin]

Witcher 1 sadly never came to Xbox (they got stiffed on a deal apparently), but Witcher 2 starts off with an amnesia-ridden Geralt. Best not say much more there I guess.

I don't really get the complaints about the combat that you see, it always seems fine to me.

I'm playing through Witcher 2 again, having previously only finished the first chapter after my second hand disc 2 broke. Very hard to juggle both, and the Gwent beta. Fucking huge and-or time-consuming games. Combat in the third game seems better as I can't just train the enemies around, the AI doesn't let you kite them, so it feels more like really being under seige.

It started pissing down last night in game, and I just stood for a bit marvelling at the drizzle sliding down the notice board.

I'll be banging that drippy ginger cunt this time round.

[Mister Six]

I played through Witcher 2 but completely forgot everything about the plot *as I was playing it*. Having an open world does wonders for making the sprawling events more cohesive.

I suppose I should bugger off out of this thread to avoid spoilers, shouldn't I?

Ooh one last thing - am I the only one who fancies the herbalist from that little town at the start of the game? She's got a lovely bum.

[brat-sampson]

What's with the amnesia talk?

Witcher 1 the Game began with Geralt having forgotten all of his past literary adventures, so they could adapt for an entirely new plot seeing as they never really got the approval of the original author. Triss and Yennifer (amongst others) both obviously know who he is from the off but it gave them some breathing room for adapting new players into an unfamiliar yet technically well established universe. Yes, it's a lazy cop-out, but it worked well enough.

[Mister Six]

Ah, so it's from the first game not the second? I thought I didn't recognise it.

[wooders1978]

I'm up for it - trying to toil through dishonoured 2 and whilst it looks great I am finding it a massive chore
I've still got a half played blood and wine dlc knocking about so starting from scratch sounds good

[madhair60]

Yeah alright. I got bought this in the Summer Steam sale and I'm yet to put in much time at all - only up to the first village.

[surreal]

I should really give this a go, was given it for free, left it for ages without installing it, finally did install it but couldn't be arsed playing it.

I've been in Fallout 4 for so long (level 89 now, second play through, still not finished it) that it probably is time. 

But then again, Behold The Kickmen is out tonight, so....

[mobias]

It really is. Two years on, who wants to join me? I absolutely loved it first time round, to the extent I spent less time with my ex than I should have, but it was just so fucking compelling and amazing! I've been running around White Orchard all week, and am totally in love with it again, and just want to live in that world.

I recently halted my third play through at about the quarter way mark. I halted it because they announced the enhanced 4K patch for the PS4 Pro (and the upcoming Xbone X) so I thought if I was going to have yet another play through it might as well be with the game looking at its best. I'm guessing the patch will be released in November time so I'll wait until then to commence with my game.

The game is amazing even on a third playthrough. There's just so much you pick up on. On my second game I basically just ploughed on with the story, some of the side quests are repetitive and bog things down. Its just such an amazingly realised world. I really can't think of another game where I just want to crawl into the TV and live in that world. There's a lot wrong with the actual game play mechanics but the whole experience is definitely a sum of the many things it does right. It just oozes atmosphere. The art direction, stylisation, music and attention to detail all come together beautifully. And thats on top of it being for the most part incredibly well written.

Its simply a staggeringly well made game. Even more impressive when you consider around a 100 people apparently worked on it. Compare that to the fact that almost 1000 worked on GTAV at various stages in its development. 

   

[Viero_Berlotti]

I stopped at about halfway through my first playthrough. I really enjoyed it, but just got a bit fatigued I guess and started playing other games for a bit. So I will try and jump back into it. I've not got a clue where I'm up to with the story, but I recall they're pretty good at outlining the story in the quest descriptions. Both DLCs to get through as well, so I've still got a fair chunk of game to get through.

[mobias]

There was a good thread over on Neogaf recently about having multiple playthroughs of it and getting the most out of the story. The general consensus seems to be there are two points in the game were the actual missions seem to get in the way of the main thrust of the narrative. This is particularly evident on multiple playtthoughs. The first point where people tend to give up is the dungeon quest with Kiera Metz. This goes on far too long and has at least one boss battle too many in it.  The second area where things slow up is where Geralt has to spend time in Novigrad prior to getting the boat to Skellige. Personally I didn't mind the latter too much as I just really enjoyed the whole atmosphere in Novigrad and hanging out there. There's so many nooks and corners of the city to explore. You never feel like you've seen it all.

[Wentworth Smith]

I just purchased a PS4 and this game was the first thing I bought (after playing the first game years ago and enjoying it but now not remembering a thing about it). I haven't played anything on a console for about 18 months and after a first go at it yesterday I found the controls a bit fiddly but that's probably just me. I met some bloke in a pub and the rules for some card game were explained to me but it may as well have been in Dutch.

I'll give it a longer pass this weekend but my initial thoughts are that the combat might get on my wick but once I have got a little better at it I'm looking forward to moving from the hand holding tutorial stage and into the wider world... although it suffers from the flaw of many games which try and be 'adult' with it's needless try-to-hard arses and swearing.

[mobias]

I'll give it a longer pass this weekend but my initial thoughts are that the combat might get on my wick but once I have got a little better at it I'm looking forward to moving from the hand holding tutorial stage and into the wider world...

Stick with it. There's a lot to take on board early on with it but the rewards are absolutely worth it. I don't think there's many people who didn't have issues early on with the game and its clunky fight mechanics. You just need to get out of White Orchard and into the main game area, Velan, and things soon take off. 

[Bhazor]

Anyone tried any mods for it? The only one I used last time I played was a "health regeneration out of combat" mod because the hundred different foods clogging up my inventory got right on my tits.

[brat-sampson]

The Kiera Metz dungeons definitely stood out as noticeably awkward. Too long, too early in the game to rely on the player having access to repair kits (which at that stage are still pretty expensive, and with the length of the dungeon you can just end up screwed or having to swap to crapper weapons) and then when you're finally out you're just dumped in the middle of nowhere near some asshole monsters and no obvious waypoint signs.

Luckily the entire rest of the game was incredible so I can forgive it that rough hour or two out of over 100.

[falafel]

Oh yeah, that. With her poncing around going 'Gavella Glan' all the time. Bit of a low.

[kittens]

i wish i could get into this game. tried like three times now. furthest i got was fat baron  bloke with his zombie baby. the problem must be with me i guess. frustrating

[stranger]

I've recently finished the main story on my second playthrough and loved it even more than the first time. Didn't bother with Gwent the first time but got well into it this time. Also used a few mods this time which were good fun. It really is an epic experience although the controls are very clunky at times. The number of times I've ignited / extinguished  some candles when looting crates, sacks or bookcases is just ridiculous. The graphics, story and the depth of the characters easily outweigh these minor annoyances though. I've started reading the books too which has increased my appreciation of the whole Witcher universe.

[minor spoilers] Pissed Geralt is hilarious. The Oxenfurt Drunk contract springs to mind, where he's staggering around the streets of Oxenfurt singing drunken songs to himself. There's also the one where he and the other Witchers get tanked up and dress up in Yennefer's clothes.

Looking forward to replaying Hearts of Stone and especially Blood and Wine, which could easily be a standalone game.

[Golden E. Pump]

I just completed the drinking scene in Kaer Morhen. One of the best scenes in any video game ever. Genuinely funny.

Spoilers: When they get drunk and decide to drunk dial the sorceress, I laughed out loud. Especially when deducing that they needed to steal Yen's clothes to appear more authentic.

[LanceUppercut]

Yea I'm up for this, I bought the GOTY edition for £15 but it just didn't click when I started, looks like I'll have to start over again because I can't remember anything about it.

[mobias]

I just completed the drinking scene in Kaer Morhen. One of the best scenes in any video game ever. Genuinely funny.

And thats nothing compared to the wedding quest in the Hearts of Stone DLC. Genuniely the most funny, charming and memorable pieces of video game story telling I've ever played.

[wooders1978]

After much "I really must get around to it" I finally started my new game this week and holy shit this going to consume my life - I am enjoying it more then my first run when it first came out - question, did they reskin the whole game after the blood and wine dlc? Sure the main game is more pretty than last time?

[mobias]

After much "I really must get around to it" I finally started my new game this week and holy shit this going to consume my life - I am enjoying it more then my first run when it first came out - question, did they reskin the whole game after the blood and wine dlc? Sure the main game is more pretty than last time?

Yeah the game is even better on its second play through. You're not so over come with the enormity of things so you can take it in a bit better. Not sure if it actually looks any better other than its possibly been optimised through various patches since you last played it.

[wooders1978]

Trying to be more witchery by using the bestiary and potions oils and what have you but finding it a bit of a faff to be honest - might drop the difficulty and go hacky slashy again - got the viper swords made now so may as well

[Bhazor]

The combat really isn't worth focusing on. Its all just numbers based with levels counting far more than any skills. Effects of oils, tonics, secret herbs and spices are nothing compared to an extra level or 10 points on your sword. I was having a lot more fun after I cranked the difficulty down and just focused on quests, story and collecting cards.

Its why I really really hope CD Projekt are not overthinking combat in Cyberpunk. Just do a shooter mate. Keep leveling and character development for dialog and exploration.

[wooders1978]

Just kicked Jenny o the woods stupid fucking face in
Having complained about it just now the bestiary is alright for harder ones it turns out

[wooders1978]

Well I have got approx half of the blood and wine dlc left to do and I am out
What an utterly brilliant game this is - I am not sure how I am going to fill the void in my gaming life that it will leave
Went for the good endings (didn't realise you could get different endings before)  - ciri is a witcher,
married Yen etc etc - all very nice but I actually wanted to end up with triss but got it wrong somehow after freeing the elves in novagrad - did manage to shag kiera and the hearts of stone girl so that was nice