The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings Review
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Well, we basically decided not to send out early code because the team was working on it right to the last minute. So it was "send out unfinished code early" and then get rushed reviews or just send out final code now.Unusual but I find the lack of rushed reviews refreshing. Game Informer notes their review is delayed as they don't feel they've spent enough time with the game. Similarly, IGN posts a review in progress.
From what's been said about the game so far, The Witcher 2 is enormous. The official word is 40 hours long, though it's unclear how much that may vary if you decide to take part in all the side quests and minigames. Like in the first game, your actions while playing affect what happens later. In the sequel, this may mean you'll miss entire towns (as well as the associated storylines and side quests) on your first playthrough. According to the game's official site there'll be four different beginnings and 16 possible endings. CD Projekt RED is using an entirely new engine for the sequel, which basically means The Witcher 2 looks significantly prettier than the original, which utilized a modified version of BioWare's Aurora Engine.Games Radar feels they did have enough time with the game for a review, providing it a perfect 10.
Leveling Geralt has become a simpler process due to a much more narrow selection of areas for advancement. Each level will reward you with one ability point that can be spent in Signs, Alchemy or Swordplay. Don't worry, though. These three specializations are so chock full of unlockable abilities that it's literally impossible to max out more than one branch in a single playthrough. For instance, the Swordplay branch contains abilities such as parries, ripostes and stun attacks. Specializing in Signs will grant you greater range and area of effect properties, while sinking points into Alchemy will increase both the potency and amount of potions you can drink. There are no specific builds that can be considered better than others; instead, players are encouraged to invest in specializations that supplement their preferred playstyle whether it's a sword-swinging badass or an introverted geek who just loves to play with his chemistry set. Why more games aren't made like this is beyond me.
Another welcome addition to this sequel is the inclusion of stat-boosting customizable loot such as armor pieces, monster trophies, weapon runes and special diagrams detailing recipes for particularly powerful gear that you can have crafted for you. The sheer amount of content that this game throws at you is almost on par with open-world games like Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion... almost. While the main quest can run you a good 20-25 hours if you're trying to hit some sort of speed record, the overly abundant side quests can easily tack on another 20-30 hours. Other distractions include minigames like betting money on dice (a fun take on poker), arm wrestling with the local guardsmen and bare-knuckle boxing with tavern drunks.
The most rewarding hobby in The Witcher 2 is the execution of a successful monster hunt. For every village, soldier encampment and castle you visit, there is witchering that needs doing and in order to successfully complete these monster contracts, you'll need to do your homework. The game tracks your knowledge of various monster breeds, which governs how effective you are in combat against them. Expanding your knowledge involves either digging up tomes detailing your target's weaknesses or actually doing battle with the monster in question, although the latter is much slower and more dangerous.
