Overview: Fight as Geralt of Rivia and defeat monsters.
20140422: 00:06 ET to 01:52 ET
I really enjoyed the game's opening sequence.
While this game has a great story, the combat system was clunky and uninteresting.
Compared to Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time (PC) (2003) or Mark of the Ninja (PC) (2012), two games whose combat system both feels and looks great, the combat system in The Witcher felt and looked horribly unpolished. Then again, perhaps the combat system just had a very high learning curve, because it requires carefully timed inputs.
Since I rarely play fighting games with timed inputs, using the combat system was difficult. As an example, I managed to get the player character Geralt to jump up onto an enemy and pull off a fancy-looking execution once out of many tries.
In contrast, the combat in Batman: Arkham Asylum (PC) (2009) allows the player to button mash, but further rewards the player who correctly times his/her inputs. However, in contrast to The Witcher, both button mashing and correctly timed inputs look and feel great.
Of course, one of the game's selling point is its attractive women; all the women in the game are attractive.
[20140422 Assumed Post Date][20190630 Edit][20191228 Edit]
20191228 Comment:
As a result of the recent release of the Netflix series The Witcher, the game and its sequels, The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings (2011) and The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt (2015), are trending games (ranking 1, 2, and 4 on steamdb, respectively). Perhaps I'll give the game another try soon.
Steam Game Time: 103 minutes
20191228:
While waiting for another game to download I decided to play The Witcher. I started from the beginning.
Setup: Medium. Keyboard+Mouse (can be changed during the game).
Gameplay Log:
Watched the intro cutscene.
Attack by hovering over an enemy and clicking. Initially I didn't know I had to hover over enemies. I thought it was sufficient to face in their general direction and click.
Chain attacks. Click again when the cursor changes into a flaming sword. Enemies will take more damage from chain attacks (and thus will be defeated more quickly).
Left-click a stunned opponent to finish him off.
Change to 'Fast Style' by pressing 'X' (against agile opponents)
Change to 'Strong Style' by pressing 'Z' (against larger, armored opponents)
Tip: I noticed that enemies have a circle beneath them which indicates their hitpoints.
Press Alt to highlight usable objects.
Open the inventory by pressing 'I' or clicking on the satchel icon.
Steam Game Time: 0.6 hours (session game time) / 2.3 hours (total game time)
Thoughts:
Pros:
+ Good story.
+ Decent graphics.
Neutral:
~ Option for casual play via mouse only controls.
Cons:
- I'm not a fan of the fight mechanics
- Peeling away from a fight can feel clunky; for example, when the fight ends, the character should resume an out-of-combat stance and view, instead Geralt will stay fixated on the unconscious/dead body.
[20191228]
Summary:
None at this time.
The Witcher: Enhanced Edition (PC) (2008)*
*The Witcher (PC) (2007)
Relevant Links:
The Witcher (video game) (Wikipedia.org)
The Witcher (Wikipedia.org)
The Witcher Wiki (witcher.wikia.com)
The Witcher: Enhanced Edition (PC) (Metacritic.com)
The Witcher: Enhanced Edition Director's Cut (Steam Store Page)
 |
| Geralt (right) and Shani (left) |
20140422: 00:06 ET to 01:52 ET
I really enjoyed the game's opening sequence.
While this game has a great story, the combat system was clunky and uninteresting.
Compared to Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time (PC) (2003) or Mark of the Ninja (PC) (2012), two games whose combat system both feels and looks great, the combat system in The Witcher felt and looked horribly unpolished. Then again, perhaps the combat system just had a very high learning curve, because it requires carefully timed inputs.
Since I rarely play fighting games with timed inputs, using the combat system was difficult. As an example, I managed to get the player character Geralt to jump up onto an enemy and pull off a fancy-looking execution once out of many tries.
 |
| Triss Merigold and Geralt |
In contrast, the combat in Batman: Arkham Asylum (PC) (2009) allows the player to button mash, but further rewards the player who correctly times his/her inputs. However, in contrast to The Witcher, both button mashing and correctly timed inputs look and feel great.
Of course, one of the game's selling point is its attractive women; all the women in the game are attractive.
[20140422 Assumed Post Date][20190630 Edit][20191228 Edit]
20191228 Comment:
As a result of the recent release of the Netflix series The Witcher, the game and its sequels, The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings (2011) and The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt (2015), are trending games (ranking 1, 2, and 4 on steamdb, respectively). Perhaps I'll give the game another try soon.
Steam Game Time: 103 minutes
20191228:
While waiting for another game to download I decided to play The Witcher. I started from the beginning.
Setup: Medium. Keyboard+Mouse (can be changed during the game).
Gameplay Log:
Watched the intro cutscene.
 |
| Triss Merigold |
Attack by hovering over an enemy and clicking. Initially I didn't know I had to hover over enemies. I thought it was sufficient to face in their general direction and click.
Chain attacks. Click again when the cursor changes into a flaming sword. Enemies will take more damage from chain attacks (and thus will be defeated more quickly).
Left-click a stunned opponent to finish him off.
Change to 'Fast Style' by pressing 'X' (against agile opponents)
Change to 'Strong Style' by pressing 'Z' (against larger, armored opponents)
Tip: I noticed that enemies have a circle beneath them which indicates their hitpoints.
Press Alt to highlight usable objects.
Open the inventory by pressing 'I' or clicking on the satchel icon.
 |
| Geralt narrowly escapes his death as he jumps to safety after stairs crumble beneath him. |
Steam Game Time: 0.6 hours (session game time) / 2.3 hours (total game time)
Thoughts:
Pros:
+ Good story.
+ Decent graphics.
Neutral:
~ Option for casual play via mouse only controls.
Cons:
- I'm not a fan of the fight mechanics
- Peeling away from a fight can feel clunky; for example, when the fight ends, the character should resume an out-of-combat stance and view, instead Geralt will stay fixated on the unconscious/dead body.
 |
| Inventory screen. |
[20191228]
Summary:
None at this time.
The Witcher: Enhanced Edition (PC) (2008)*
*The Witcher (PC) (2007)
Relevant Links:
The Witcher (video game) (Wikipedia.org)
The Witcher (Wikipedia.org)
The Witcher Wiki (witcher.wikia.com)
The Witcher: Enhanced Edition (PC) (Metacritic.com)
The Witcher: Enhanced Edition Director's Cut (Steam Store Page)
Date/Time
Monday, April 21, 2014
@
21:00
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