The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

[SPBHM]

if you don't want to play the entire series I would also skip 2, 3 is a far better game anyway.

combat in witcher 2 is also pretty bad, I remember rolling non stop and just using some quen... also the game feels like it's finished before it should, the last chapter feels so rushed...
and looking back now I think it's not visually pleasing with all the weird, exaggerated lighting

witcher 1 was a lot more interesting for me, yes combat is very different and not very good, but playing on the easiest difficulty should help, and in terms of the world, exploration, quests, story I think it's more enjoyable than witcher 2... keep in mind it's also an outdated looking game even for 2007.

 

[norseamd]

No, it was a clear allusion to the then current political situation in the country. The English version had something bland instead.

Oh dear god, I just can not imagine what jokes they would be putting in a Witcher game releasing right now then.

 

[Grooveriding]

Expansion is out!

 

[HybridSquirrel]

I didn't play the first 2, can I pick this game up without knowing any back story?

 

[Igo69]

I didn't play the first 2, can I pick this game up without knowing any back story?

yes of course

 

[sze5003]

Now I just need to wait for a deal with all the extended content and buy it again.

 

[cmdrdredd]

Expansion is out!

Blood and wine is released?

 

[zinfamous]

Blood and wine is released?

aye

 

[Rhezuss]

What a game, what a freaking masterpiece of a game. Every damn session i'm in awe at the details in this game. Every damn thing as some kind of meaning, every quests have it's history, every character it's personality.

Never played something like it before.

 

[Artorias]

Its time to dive right back into it with both expansions out, best way to finish off a great series.

 

[zinfamous]

What a game, what a freaking masterpiece of a game. Every damn session i'm in awe at the details in this game. Every damn thing as some kind of meaning, every quests have it's history, every character it's personality.

Never played something like it before.

It truly is. I started a new game+ last week after this damn thread popped up again, and bought the exp pack after saying I would not until it went on sale. :'(

...but it's an awesome game and I'm still surprised how great it looks and plays. As much as I wanted to get into the new stuff, I really wanted to get back into how to play it...now I'm worried about grinding myself into another 200hours before I can get to the two expansions.

But at least I am somewhat following up on not doing everything the same:

Spoiler

I told Keira that I didn't believe her BS and ended up killing her...I didn't realize that option would make her aggressive and while I was annoyed that--considering how helpful she can be at Kaer Morhan--I decided to stick with it and live with my decision. ....also couldn't prevent the Baron to hang himself, though I forgot the string of decisions which apparently trigger that. However, I'm not sure if that is preventable

I've held off on some POIs because I wanted this final expansion to inject the new loot; hopefully it's not a big old mess.

 

[cmdrdredd]

It truly is. I started a new game+ last week after this damn thread popped up again, and bought the exp pack after saying I would not until it went on sale. :'(

...but it's an awesome game and I'm still surprised how great it looks and plays. As much as I wanted to get into the new stuff, I really wanted to get back into how to play it...now I'm worried about grinding myself into another 200hours before I can get to the two expansions.

But at least I am somewhat following up on not doing everything the same:

Spoiler

I told Keira that I didn't believe her BS and ended up killing her...I didn't realize that option would make her aggressive and while I was annoyed that--considering how helpful she can be at Kaer Morhan--I decided to stick with it and live with my decision. ....also couldn't prevent the Baron to hang himself, though I forgot the string of decisions which apparently trigger that. However, I'm not sure if that is preventable

I've held off on some POIs because I wanted this final expansion to inject the new loot; hopefully it's not a big old mess.

In your spoiler part you

Spoiler

Destroy the tree corrupting the forest. If you let the tree escape it will release the children under Anna's care and the Crones curse her. If you attempt to lift the curse she will die. If you lift the curse incorrectly she turns into a water hag. So after killing the tree the baron will take a group of men to the bog to rescue Anna. You will meet with his daughter. The children are gone, presumably eaten by the crones who send monsters to attack your group. Anna is now mentally ill and the Baron will take her to a healer he knows of. That's the best outcome I ever saw for that storyline.

 

[zinfamous]

In your spoiler part you

Spoiler

Destroy the tree corrupting the forest. If you let the tree escape it will release the children under Anna's care and the Crones curse her. If you attempt to lift the curse she will die. If you lift the curse incorrectly she turns into a water hag. So after killing the tree the baron will take a group of men to the bog to rescue Anna. You will meet with his daughter. The children are gone, presumably eaten by the crones who send monsters to attack your group. Anna is now mentally ill and the Baron will take her to a healer he knows of. That's the best outcome I ever saw for that storyline.

Ah right, and I just did that part again.

Spoiler

I guess I keep falling into the same WWID? type of situations...I always want to free that tree because it sounds like it would piss off the old crones. Plus, the idea of a vengeful evil spirit in the form of a horse running amok and terrorizing everyone in the swamp sounds pretty cool--especially if I'm the one responsible.

 

[norseamd]

Spoiler

Ah right, and I just did that part again. I guess I keep falling into the same WWID? type of situations...I always want to free that tree because it sounds like it would piss off the old crones. Plus, the idea of a vengeful evil spirit in the form of a horse running amok and terrorizing everyone in the swamp sounds pretty cool--especially if I'm the one responsible.

Spoiler

You did the best possible outcome there is. The other one results in what cmdrdredd said above in spoilers. Best to leave the troubled husband and wife to live in the afterlife, compared to the alternative.

 

[pcslookout]

Is this game worth buying for someone who likes games like Left 4 Dead 2 ?

Is The Witcher 3 like Game of Thrones in some ways or better ?

 

[zinfamous]

Is this game worth buying for someone who likes games like Left 4 Dead 2 ?

Well, it's absolutely nothing like LFD series: not an FPS, no multiplayer, no zombies, and actual story.

Think of it like an open world, open ended fantasy world with adult themes (like, seriously mature content such as grief, depression, love triangles, dead children and yes: lots of boobies and sexing--that last part isn't really adult, but people often confuse it as that)

Kinda like the Grand Theft Auto series but with swords and monsters and serving wenches and a much much much better story.

Is The Witcher 3 like Game of Thrones in some ways or better ?

Like the TV show or the telltales game series? IT does have tons of political bollocks like the GOT series and succession and all of that (Tywin Lanister is the voice of one of the prominent NPCs), but it is nothing like the telltale type if games if that is what you are asking.

 

[Igo69]

I've started playing W3 again from the start two days ago when I finish it i will get these expansions. Using highest graphical settings possible and I am still blown away how beautiful this game is after a year.

 

[norseamd]

Like the TV show or the telltales game series? IT does have tons of political bollocks like the GOT series and succession and all of that (Tywin Lanister is the voice of one of the prominent NPCs), but it is nothing like the telltale type if games if that is what you are asking.

Setting wise, there are a lot of similarities between The Game of Thrones and The Witcher universe. Dont know much about the Telltale games, although I do have the Game of Thrones RPG, but there is nothing in particular similar between that RPG and The Witcher 3 that I can think of off the top of my head, other than the fact that both of them are RPGs, and are based in a dark medieval setting.

 

[norseamd]

I've started playing W3 again from the start two days ago when I finish it i will get these expansions. Using highest graphical settings possible and I am still blown away how beautiful this game is after a year.

The graphics of The Witcher 3 are good, but not absolutely amazing. The game actually looks better if you turn off a few settings.

 

[Igo69]

The graphics of The Witcher 3 are good, but not absolutely amazing. The game actually looks better if you turn off a few settings.

Which settings are those?

 

[ImpulsE69]

Were there any graphical enhancements/updates with the latest expansion?

 

[pandemonium]

Primarily QoL improvements:

Patch 1.20 - Changelog

- Improvements -
* Adds book titled 'A Miraculous Guide to Gwent' which displays number of gwent
cards missing from player's base-game collection and information on where to find
them, thus facilitating completion of achievement titled Collect 'Em All. Tome in
question can be obtained either from gwent playing scholar in Prologue or from
merchant near St. Gregory's Bridge in Gildorf district of Novigrad.
* Adds option to display herb names above available interactions.
* Adds option in Options/Gameplay to enable enemy level upscaling. If foes are too
easy to defeat due to level difference, upscaling will render them a challenge. Change
will not affect experience point gain, loot, or quest rewards. Option can be enabled
or disabled at any time, even during combat (however, Vitality/Essence of foes is
then fully restored).
* Adds option in Options/Gameplay to disable automatic drawing and sheathing of
sword.
* Increases incidence of, and thus chances of finding, several monster-based
ingredients required for crafting high level alchemy formulae.
* Improves Player Statistics panel, adding maneuverable Geralt model. Improves
visuals in panel for better readability.
* Adds new functionality to books and scrolls. When first collected, they can be read
immediately using single button without need of navigating to Inventory panel. All
found but not yet read books and scrolls are stored in Quest Items and Other
categories. Once read, books and scrolls can be sold as their content is saved in
Books section of Glossary.
* Improves overall visuals in Character Development panel.
* Improves Inventory whereby items are divided into additional subcategories within
their grids: weapons and armor; oils, potions and bombs; quest items and others;
food and equestrian gear; crafting and alchemy. Additionally, introduces redesign of
tooltips enabling their resizing with single button. Also, item comparison is easier
than ever given addition of summary of changes in stats.
* Improves Inventory navigation when using gamepad. Slots are divided into sections
and right stick can be used to jump between them.
* Improves Crafting panel in merchant shops. Adds option to purchase missing diagram
components directly from Crafting panel when talking to merchant, as well as clearer
descriptions and option to resize item descriptions.
* Introduces redesign of Repair panel in merchant shops. Adds single button enabling
players to repair all equipped items.
* Improves Remove Upgrade panel in merchant shops.
* Improves Quick Access Menu whereby it can be accessed in one of two modes, with
action either paused or slowed depending on button used.
* Adds functionality whereby crossbow bolts can be switched via Quick Access Menu
rather than being equipped from Inventory.
* Adds counter for bombs and crossbow bolts to Quick Access Menu.
* Improves region maps by adding pin filtering, more intuitive quest tracking, and a
region overview for faster navigation.
* Adds three new custom pins allowing players to mark areas for future reference.
* Improves Adrenaline Bar which better displays number of stored Adrenaline Points
and their status.
* Improves display and behavior of Buffs, displayed in more intuitive manner showing
time left, strength percentage, stacks, charges, or permanence where applicable. Buff
icons now blink for approx. 10 seconds before expiration. For improved visibility,
names and exact expiration times for all effects are only visible when Quick Access
menu is active.
* Changes icons for decoctions, rendering them recognizable at first glance.
* Changes icons for oils, rendering them recognizable at first glance.
* Changes gwent card icons in shops, rendering factions recognizable at first glance.
* Changes icons for mutagens.
* Adds feature whereby equipment exceeding player character level can be previewed
on character.
* Improves sorting in Journal whereby active quest tab is always open and tracked
quest is at top of quest list.
* Improves quest item visuals so that Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine quest items
are now tagged with blue and red exclamation points, respectively.

-Gwent-
* Quest titled Collect 'Em All is now marked as failed if player does not succeed in
collecting Milva, Vampire Bruxa and Dandelion gwent cards during gwent
tournament in quest titled A Matter of Life and Death.
-Visual-
* Fixes PC-specific issue whereby there was no change in appearance between Nvidia
Hairworks 3-day beard (stage 2) and full beard (stage 4).
* Fixes issue whereby Geralt's clothing was not properly restored after sex scenes.
* Fixes visual issue whereby guards holding torches would have inverse kinematics
when animated.
* Fixes PS4-specific visual issue whereby texture of water puddles would not fade
properly.

-Gameplay-
* Updates description of Superior Blizzard potion. Potion now slows time for a short
period whenever an enemy is slain. Additionally, during this period actions do not
deplete Stamina if 3 Adrenaline Points are available.
* Fixes issue whereby indicator for Oil charges would appear incorrectly in New Game
Plus mode.
* Fixes issue whereby Flood of Anger skill could endlessly increase Sign intensity.
* Fixes issue whereby Ciri could be missing her scabbard in certain situations.
* Fixes issues whereby damage from Northern Wind bombs could be calculated
incorrectly.
* Fixes issue whereby pool of experience points would invert to negative value when
player reached level 70 cap or used Potion of Clearance.
* Fixes PC platform-specific issue whereby only the 'E' key would open Stash chest
despite user manually changing relevant key binding.
-Hearts of Stone-
* Fixes issue whereby Rotation Runestone effect would not appear correctly in Hearts
of Stone expansion.
* Fixes rare issue whereby foliage in Velen and Novigrad would disappear upon
completion of Hearts of Stone expansion.
* Fixes rare issue whereby a chest in quest titled From Ofier's Distant Shores in the
Hearts of Stone expansion would not contain relevant diagrams.
* Modifies Vitality cost of Olgierd's Saber to 15% in Hearts of Stone expansion.
* Fixes issue whereby trap door in herbalist's hut in Hearts of Stone expansion could
not be opened.
* Fixes issue whereby bandit camp north of Zuetzer Castle in Hearts of Stone expansion
would not gray out correctly.
* Fixes issue whereby question mark would not disappear upon exploring Kilkerinn
Ruins in Hearts of Stone expansion.
* Fixes issue whereby treasure hunt titled Sword, Famine and Perfidy could not be
completed.
* Fixes rare issue whereby an infinite loading screen could occur after speaking with
Olgierd subsequent to completing all tasks requested by him in Hearts of Stone
expansion.
* Fixes visual issue involving reflection on river's surface in new location added for
Hearts of Stone expansion.

-Other-
* Fixes issue whereby Vivaldi could fail to appear in Novigrad.
* Fixes issue whereby interaction could be missing from chests containing loot in quest
titled Scavenger Hunt: Wolf School Gear.
* Fixes rare issue whereby Triss could be rendered immobile in quest titled Now or
Never.
* Fixes issue whereby treasure hunt titled Shortcut could not be completed.
* Fixes issue whereby treasure hunt titled Freya Be Praised! could not be completed.
* Fixes issue whereby treasure hunt titled Unlucky's Treasure could not be completed.
* Fixes issue whereby treasure hunt titled 'The Things Men Do For Coin... could not be
completed.
* Fixes issue whereby treasure hunt titled Temerian Valuables could not be completed.
* Fixes issue whereby quest givers for contract quests titled Deadly Delights, Jenny o'
the Woods, and Phantom of the Trade Route could occasionally fail to appear.
* Fixes issue whereby players could not speak with an NPC in quest titled Novigrad,
Closed City.
* Fixes issue whereby an ifrit in quest titled Redania's Most Wanted could not be
reached.
* Fixes issue whereby quest titled Hey, You Wanna Look at My Stuff? could not be
completed through interaction with relevant merchant.
* Fixes rare issue whereby interaction was inactive on treasure chest in quest titled
Take What You Want.
* Fixes rare issue whereby, under certain conditions, the Francesca Findabair the
Beautiful gwent leader card was not awarded as intended.
* Fixes issue whereby a witch hunter in quest titled Novigrad, Closed City could prove
immortal.
* Fixes issue whereby certain bandits appearing in quest titled Get Junior would have
empty health bars.
* Fixes rare issue whereby, under certain circumstances, objective titled Gather Allies
would fail incorrectly in quest titled The Isle of Mists.
* Fixes issue whereby players could not start a New Game Plus despite having
completed the game.
* Fixes rare issue whereby services provided by master armorers were not unlocked
properly.
* Fixes issue whereby Sukrus would fail to appear by van Hoorn's warehouse in quest
titled Of Swords and Dumplings.
* Fixes issue whereby players could not talk with Fergus and complete quest titled
Master Armorers.
* Fixes issue whereby door to bathhouse could be locked during quest titled Get
Junior.
* Fixes rare issue whereby forktail in quest titled To Bait a Forktail... could prove
immortal.
* Fixes issue preventing completion of minor quests titled The Soldier Statuette and
The Nobleman Statuette.
* Fixes issue whereby two Zoltan gwent cards would appear beneath the Hanged
Man's Tree.
* Fixes issue whereby players could not complete quest titled Contract: The Griffin
from the Highlands if attempted to do so after completing quest titled Master
Armorers.
* Fixes issue whereby interaction with Roche was impossible in quest titled An Eye for
an Eye.
* Fixes issue whereby Sigismund Dijkstra gwent card could not be acquired from the
Bloody Baron under certain conditions.
* Fixes rare issue whereby werewolf could disappear during quest titled Wild At Heart.
* Fixes rare issue whereby infinite loading screen could occur during quest titled King's
Gambit.
* Fixes issue whereby quest giver would fail to appear in quest titled Contract: The
Creature from the Oxenfurt Forest.
* Fixes issue whereby Kurisu would fail to appear in Freya's Temple during quest titled
Taken as a Lass.
* Fixes issue whereby interactions were blocked during exploration upon completion of
quest titled Disturbance.
* Fixes issue whereby cockatrice would appear underground in quest titled Contract:
Shrieker.
* Fixes rare issue whereby an infinite loading screen cold occur after talking to
Avallac'h in quest titled On Thin Ice.
* Fixes issue whereby Sven would respawn despite having been killed in quest titled In
the Heart of the Woods.

 

[norseamd]

Which settings are those?

AA, blurring, sharpening, etc.

 

[zinfamous]

...turn off AA for better visuals?

performance maybe, but not turn off. reduce from max.

 

[Fire&Blood]

Holy view distance in Toussaint!

I had not touched the required quest on my last play through, spent an hour doing so. Seeing that moment again

Spoiler

when Zoltan asks Dudu to shift into Ciri's shape since he hasn't seen her in so long

got me motivated for the expansion.

The quest that opened Toussaint has a prelude in the "old world" and the closing pan seems to make a point about leaving a area crippled by war, poverty and crime.

I am barely a few hours into the expansion but so far it's shaping up to close the Witcher story on a high note.

I happened to take a look at this screenshot before uploading it, doesn't do the game justice. The environment looks sharper, the lighting has been improved and the view distance got a significant bump. The detail increase while closing in on an object is more subtle and more details on far objects are drawn to begin with. The lighting stood out as well,both combined bring Toussaint's IQ to the level of that infamous E3 demo.

CDPR said they worked to improve the appearance of grass, to me the vegetation looks much better now. A lot of objects are redesigned, different takes on items where the devs could have taken the easy way with copy&paste.