The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings Reviews

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Written by WorstUsernameEver on May 24th, 2011

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If you played the original Witcher, then forget what you learned from its combat mechanics. The Witcher 2 abandons that rhythmic system for a more traditional and challenging one. You still switch between silver and steel swords, depending on whether you are facing monsters or humans, but regardless of the weapon you equip, be prepared for the occasional beatdown. You initiate standard attacks with your mouse, and you block and cast signs (Geralt's magic spells) with the keyboard. (You may also use a gamepad.) Your first encounter during the prologue/tutorial makes for a punishing introduction: Expect to die a few times as you learn just what the game expects of you. The extreme difficulty right off the bat, paired with tutorial hints that don't pop up long enough or soon enough to be much help, don't make for the friendliest introduction. But you learn an important lesson: You must tread carefully. Eventually you grasp the rhythm, which is similar to that of the PlayStation 3 game Demon's Souls. You must position yourself well and pay close attention to your supply of vigor, which is required to block, as well as cast signs; get in a few choice hits; and then block or tumble into a safer position. You may also want to soften the enemy or control the crowd by throwing bombs (blind them!) or laying traps (turn enemies on each other!), particularly during the first act, when you feel most vulnerable.

Even after you grow accustomed to The Witcher 2's combat, there are a few scenarios that are more than just difficult: They are cruel. A couple of boss fights are frustrating, as is a quest in a dark cramped mine that has multiple dwarves crowding you, all while you are hounded by fiendish foes that explode upon death. It's too easy to inadvertently tumble toward an enemy behind the one you meant to attack and find yourself in the center of a deadly mob. Yet, the action is largely satisfying and enjoyable. There's a great sense of weight in every swing. Geralt might somersault toward his victim and slash him with a steel sword or use a flaming staff pilfered from a succubus to land slower, heavier blows. As you level up and spend skill points in four different skill paths (witcher training, swordsmanship, magic, alchemy), combat becomes more manageable, and you begin to feel more powerful. And yet, the action never becomes a cakewalk, and it always retains a sense of urgency.

While we have the underlying storyline of murder, intrigue, and (more stupidly) amnesia to which The Witcher 2 continually returns, the minutiae is wholly malleable. The allies Geralt makes on his journey and the enemies he combats shift with your mood swings; larger decision points alter the landscape of the world dramatically, but even minor events can cause repercussions much later in the game -- and how the whole thing ends is entirely your choice. Reading after-action reports from fellow players is like a game unto itself. Nobody seems to experience quite the same scenarios.

Not all is well in the Pontar Valley, however. Combat, for instance, is a serious problem made even worse by a poorly implemented, obscenely difficult and unhelpful opening segment. Plow into battle unprepared, and you might as well expect the worst: Even on moderate difficulty levels, this is not a game in which potential sources of aid can be ignored. Traps, bombs, magic, daggers, pre-battle potions... every tool in Geralt's arsenal is an absolute necessity.

Unlike many RPGs, The Witcher 2 is a game where you must use your resources, not merely hoard them. Brew and drink potions especially those that alter the rate at which your Vigor replenishes or give you combat bonuses before going into a new area or anywhere you expect to find a tough fight. You find plenty of crafting components to brew potions, so you don't need to feel like every last one is precious. Drink 'em like you're on a bender in Vegas.

This may sound intimidating, but honestly, it's a lot of fun. The combat is far from mindless, challenging you to devise tactics for your encounters. Fights get easier, too, as you add more abilities. I concentrated my skill points on the swordsman skills, which give you bonuses for combat, allow you to engage more foes at once, and increase the chances for your blows to land critical effects setting an enemy on fire, for example. In fact, this extra edge of difficulty is what makes the The Witcher 2 so rewarding, but be warned, there is little or no hand-holding here.

The crafting mechanics and menu systems are detailed and take time to learn and master.

Combat itself is hard and requires planning and forethought. (Especially on the higher difficulty settings.)

And you actually have to absorb information, think, research (No I'm not kidding, you actually need to buy books in the game to research monsters if you want the upper hand fighting them.) and figure some things out for yourself.

Basically the game isn't laid out for you to simply traipse over with no strain.

It's a true hardcore gamers' game designed by a very talented group of people who might have just crafted a strong contender for game of the year.

Put simply, I loved the Witcher 2.

If you are 17 years of age or older, you owe it to yourself to pickup The Witcher 2 right away. This is EXACTLY the kind of gameplay experience that shows off what the PC platform is capable of and it is just a shame that more companies are not willing to take the risks that CD Projekt RED has with this title. Despite its flaws, The Witcher 2 is easily one of the best games of 2011 on any platform and I hope it spurs some console gamers to put down their gamepads for a moment and pickup a mouse and keyboard for once to see what it's like.

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