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Juicy_Bellows

(2,427 posts)
Fri Jun 5, 2015, 10:29 PM Jun 2015

Anyone playing the Witcher 3?

I am absolutely enthralled with this installment. I played the first two on PC and then shifted to the PS4 (wanted to sit on my couch and play). It's fantastic!

It also has one of the best in game games ever with a card game called Gwent - surprisingly fun and deep for an inside game.

I am just curious if others are playing and what they think.

9 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Anyone playing the Witcher 3? (Original Post) Juicy_Bellows Jun 2015 OP
I'm about 10 hours in and I haven't even scratched the surface! Chisox08 Jun 2015 #1
Just bought it. romanic Jun 2015 #2
How does it stack up versus Skyrim? NuclearDem Jun 2015 #3
Sorry I am late with reply. Juicy_Bellows Jun 2015 #4
I saw an advert on a bus uriel1972 Jun 2015 #5
How does it stack up vs Dragon Age Inquisition?..anyone? hibbing Jun 2015 #6
If you liked Dragon Age I think you will like the Witcher 3 Juicy_Bellows Jun 2015 #7
wow hibbing Jun 2015 #8
You are most certainly welcome! Juicy_Bellows Jun 2015 #9

Chisox08

(1,898 posts)
1. I'm about 10 hours in and I haven't even scratched the surface!
Sat Jun 6, 2015, 12:24 AM
Jun 2015

Right now it is game of the year material.
It's beautifully crafted with a great story and solid gameplay. It has a lot to do and Gwent is a fun diversion from the monster slaying.

Juicy_Bellows

(2,427 posts)
4. Sorry I am late with reply.
Mon Jun 8, 2015, 04:48 AM
Jun 2015

It not only stacks up but surpasses it in every way. It is cinematic in every encounter, every mission, even what some would consider mundane fetch quests it continues to surprise. If you enjoyed Skyrim I think you will absolutely love the Witcher 3. It's engrossing beyond any other game I've played, and I've played a metric shit-ton (pardon the expression).

Skyrim is fantastic but the leaps and bounds that the Witcher 3 brings to the table will make your inner RPG fan giddy.

BTW, it is very mature and examines some dark material, if that is not your thing or if you are offended by strong language and dark themes you may want to avoid it.

I am new to DU but the game does utter the C word on occasion (that seems to be a common theme in the general discussion area) - the first time it is a woman on woman affair but I mention that as it may be a trigger to some folks.

Try it if you like RPGs you will be very pleased.

uriel1972

(4,261 posts)
5. I saw an advert on a bus
Wed Jun 10, 2015, 09:34 AM
Jun 2015

In Adelaide, South Australia for it. The Witcher sure has come a long way from it's Neverwinter Nights gameplay original.
That's all I had to say.

hibbing

(10,401 posts)
6. How does it stack up vs Dragon Age Inquisition?..anyone?
Thu Jun 11, 2015, 12:44 PM
Jun 2015

I'm still playing Dragon Age, I have enjoyed it, but getting a bit questy now, I still have some of the main paths to finish. Sucks when life interferes with my gaming, I can only play about an hour or so a night.

Peace

Juicy_Bellows

(2,427 posts)
7. If you liked Dragon Age I think you will like the Witcher 3
Fri Jun 12, 2015, 02:02 PM
Jun 2015

Having completed all three Dragon Age games and just about all three Witcher games (still chewing on Witcher 3) I think the differences in their third installments are quite large.

I really enjoyed Inquisition - I enjoyed the large scope of the world and many things to do. I really didn't care for the combat to be honest. I felt it was quite one dimensional especially while playing as a mage. The latter combat quickly became button mash, heal, back to button mash until the monster(s) die. I felt the strongest part of Inquisition was the character interaction and overall story.

The Witcher 3's world is at least as big, if not bigger, than Inquisition. It also is more populated - there are dozens of towns and inns and distractions along the way. Every piece of dialog is voiced, and exceptionally well with a few exceptions. An interaction with a character in the middle of nowhere can turn into a 10 minute fully in-game cinematic interaction with decisions to be made and usually some sort of twist and or moral ambiguity to it. The game is chalk full of this kind of thing, witch (hehe) I really love. The combat is crisp and has a lot of variety to it. You have a quick attack and a strong attack, a block and a parry. You also can hit the left bumper and bring up your 5 Witcher spells that you can toggle through (you can also toggle while holding the block button and using the D-pad to quickly switch between them). They are basically a protective ring that slows enemies and bothers the supernatural, a shield that absorbs some damage when hit, a fire ball spray that melts armor, a mind control spell (also effective in certain dialog trees) and finally a force push type spell that pushes enemies and blows out fire etc. All five of these can be upgraded and eventually can evolve into some pretty powerful tools. You also have two swords, one for men and beasts and one for monsters. There are literally dozens of different swords of each type that you can buy, find or craft.

If you've played a Witcher game before you will be familiar with what I just mentioned. If you have not, another great thing about the game is the depth of lore. The bestiary is really fantastic. Every monster gets added to your bestiary and the explanations of how these monsters work and how they come to be is really interesting stuff. This can be attributed to the fact that the Witcher is based on a series of books. There is no shortage of well thought out stuff here.

The graphics are an improvement over Inquisition (played both on PS4). The game does suffer from some mild texture pop at times though. Your eyes will likely be pleased by the character models and interactions - again this is where both games shine but I feel the Witcher does it much better.

It also has one of the best in game games in all of video gaming. Gwent is a card game, made up of unique cards that can be bought, found or won by besting certain players of Gwent throughout the world. There are character cards that fall into front line combat, archer or siege combat. Then there are weather effect cards that nerf said front line, archer and siege. Powerful special hero cards that are unaffected by weather and certain special cards that buff your cards or destroy enemy cards or allow you to draw more cards etc. It is really deep and fun and rounds of Gwent don't take very long.

I think I've covered just about everything but if you have any more questions I'll be happy to answer.

Bottom line (or if you prefer your internet lingo TL R = get the Witcher 3, you'll be very happy)

The ONLY caveat is if you have trouble with the use of the C word F Bombs and mature subject matter like Rape and infant mortality (just to name a few) you may want to pass on the game.





hibbing

(10,401 posts)
8. wow
Fri Jun 12, 2015, 02:19 PM
Jun 2015

Thank you so much for such a comprehensive explanation and comparison. I agree with you about the button mash for fighting in Dragon Age. I'm going to try to drive forward into Dragon Age and finish it sometime soon. Then I will go for my first Witcher game.

Peace

Juicy_Bellows

(2,427 posts)
9. You are most certainly welcome!
Fri Jun 12, 2015, 02:24 PM
Jun 2015

Oh and if you have any interest in the first two they are on sale today on Steam (summer sale is going on right now) for incredibly low prices ($1.49 for the first and $2.99 for the second).

You needn't have played the first two to enjoy the third but the main characters are present in the previous installments and it makes the whole experience all the better for it.

Cheers!

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