GB Feature: The Witcher Hands-on Preview

[GameBanshee News]

I've just finished uploading a three-page preview of The Witcher, based on a significant amount of time with a near final build of CD Projekt's now-gold RPG.

To keep you well-informed about the NPCs you've met, the monsters you've fought, the locations you've discovered, and many other gameplay aspects, the game sports one of the most impressive journal systems I've seen in a video game to date. It's also linked to the gameplay, in that missing journal entries may keep you from taking certain actions. For example, if you haven't previously read about, been told about, or otherwise researched Hellebore Petals (a type of alchemical ingredient), then you can't gather them from the plant that produces them. As another example, if you haven't learned anything about the Bloedzuiger monster, then you won't be able to accept any witcher contracts that deal with slaying such beasts. It's a great system that actually has you spending your hard-earned Orens on books and scrolls from vendors just so you can read up on certain topics and, as a result, add a new entry to your journal that may or may not unlock some additional options for Geralt.

To sweeten it up a bit, I've also uploaded fourty-eight high resolution 2560x1600 screenshots and eighteen of the game's fantastic loading screens. If you had any doubts about the game's art style, these should put them to rest.

[BuckGB]

If anyone has any questions about other areas of the game that I didn't mention in the preview, feel free to post them here and I'll try to address them. I tried covering most everything in the article, but the game really has a lot to offer so it's tough to talk about any one aspect at length.

[dragon wench]

Thanks Buck, very interesting preview.
Like a lot of people here I've been watching Witcher developments for a while, and it is one of the few new games that really looks exciting!

*puts it on wish list for when new computer comes along*

[Brother None]

Quote:

Every time he "scores" (for lack of a better term)

Gotta give a lol for that one.

Good write-up, Buck. Crackin' good job!

[Xandax]

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You have to put a considerable amount of thought into many of the choices you make in the game, so hopefully nobody out there is expecting a Diablo clone or something similar from The Witcher.

Guess you just convinced me to buy a game right there, @Buck

[Tricky]

Sorry, I'm a bit late but I do have one question. Is any kind of stealth gameplay included?

[BuckGB]

No, unless you consider ransacking people's homes for equipment as "stealth" gameplay .

[Tricky]

Can you at least get caught doing that?

[BuckGB]

Not that I've found. I've pretty much looted anything that isn't nailed down without anybody raising an eyebrow. Slaughtering some city guards did trigger a visit by a Bounty Hunter, though.