Review
Played on: PlayStation 4, Xbox One & Xbox Series X/S
Released: 2015
Ashamed to say, I've never sat down and written my thoughts on The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, the Polish RPG that's surpassed 50 million sales. My first encounter with this epic title was back visiting Microsoft's offices here in Norway for an open Xbox One evening. I was incredibly impressed by how amazing it looked. I'd later play it on the PS4, then again on the Xbox One X and more recently, with the same save, on the updated Xbox Series X version.
Changes and updates aside, for current generation of consoles you get a neat choice between a 60fps performance mode and a high-fidelity 4K mode with a 30fps target. My preferred choice is the performance mode and in combination with the updated character movement it's the best gameplay experience. Moving Geralt and turning the camera feels so responsive and smooth on my Xbox Series X, a big upgrade from the old PS4 and XB1 versions!
Although I had no experience with the series, I enjoyed the story and world immensely. You don’t really need prior knowledge before playing the third game. The story is based closely to the books of Polish author Andrzej Sapkowski, while the games are developed by CD Project Red and have gained more fame than the books themselves. There’s even a live action TV series, with many seasons, by now.
There are also two massive DLC stories released since launch, with unique locations in both, almost small Witcher titles of their own. I’ve only played Blood and Wine but it’s an incredible experience with a unique environmental design not seen in the main game. For newcomers Witcher 3 is available in a game of the year edition with all the DLCs included. I won't delve into the DLCs here, but they're incredible additions.
To cram Witcher 3’s main story into a few sentences is tricky. Simply put, the main character, Geralt, is a Witcher who’s extensively trained both mentally and physically to tackle monsters, magic, the occult and swordsmanship alike. Geralt is called upon and accompanied Yennefer, a powerful sorceress, as they receive an order to find the emperors daughter, named Ciri. She's the last heir in a line of an ancient Elven bloodline, stalked by the Wild Hunt. This army of undead skeletal knights and horses is hoping to capture and use Ciri in their course to serve the Alder Folk.
In short, Geralt needs to traverse the various regions of the kingdom to seek information, locate, protect and bring Ciri back. A trail that will take Geralt through a vast number of acquaintances, enemies and territories. What’s more, is that the player can engage as Ciri at key points in the story, enjoying a different kind of set of skills and battle style compared to Geralt.
Although we're familiar to fantasy settings and stories western RPGs deliver, the unique thing about Witcher 3 lies in its unconventional plot twists and story progression, clearly a heritage of its Polish origin. There’s more depth and dimensions to characters than simply good or evil seen in a lot of major movies and games.
Outside of finding Ciri, Geralt is focused on his tasks as a Witcher, with little interest in direct politics or what side he shall stand on. Sure, the game allows you to choose his personality and what side he stands on through actions and dialogue, but he has no main goal of becmoing a saviour of sorts. A sort of anti-hero, which seeks truth and interests as a Witcher, rather than wanting to be in the limelight of it all.
Ashamed to say, I've never sat down and written my thoughts on The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, the Polish RPG that's surpassed 50 million sales. My first encounter with this epic title was back visiting Microsoft's offices here in Norway for an open Xbox One evening. I was incredibly impressed by how amazing it looked. I'd later play it on the PS4, then again on the Xbox One X and more recently, with the same save, on the updated Xbox Series X version.
Changes and updates aside, for current generation of consoles you get a neat choice between a 60fps performance mode and a high-fidelity 4K mode with a 30fps target. My preferred choice is the performance mode and in combination with the updated character movement it's the best gameplay experience. Moving Geralt and turning the camera feels so responsive and smooth on my Xbox Series X, a big upgrade from the old PS4 and XB1 versions!
Although I had no experience with the series, I enjoyed the story and world immensely. You don’t really need prior knowledge before playing the third game. The story is based closely to the books of Polish author Andrzej Sapkowski, while the games are developed by CD Project Red and have gained more fame than the books themselves. There’s even a live action TV series, with many seasons, by now.
There are also two massive DLC stories released since launch, with unique locations in both, almost small Witcher titles of their own. I’ve only played Blood and Wine but it’s an incredible experience with a unique environmental design not seen in the main game. For newcomers Witcher 3 is available in a game of the year edition with all the DLCs included. I won't delve into the DLCs here, but they're incredible additions.
To cram Witcher 3’s main story into a few sentences is tricky. Simply put, the main character, Geralt, is a Witcher who’s extensively trained both mentally and physically to tackle monsters, magic, the occult and swordsmanship alike. Geralt is called upon and accompanied Yennefer, a powerful sorceress, as they receive an order to find the emperors daughter, named Ciri. She's the last heir in a line of an ancient Elven bloodline, stalked by the Wild Hunt. This army of undead skeletal knights and horses is hoping to capture and use Ciri in their course to serve the Alder Folk.
In short, Geralt needs to traverse the various regions of the kingdom to seek information, locate, protect and bring Ciri back. A trail that will take Geralt through a vast number of acquaintances, enemies and territories. What’s more, is that the player can engage as Ciri at key points in the story, enjoying a different kind of set of skills and battle style compared to Geralt.
Although we're familiar to fantasy settings and stories western RPGs deliver, the unique thing about Witcher 3 lies in its unconventional plot twists and story progression, clearly a heritage of its Polish origin. There’s more depth and dimensions to characters than simply good or evil seen in a lot of major movies and games.
Outside of finding Ciri, Geralt is focused on his tasks as a Witcher, with little interest in direct politics or what side he shall stand on. Sure, the game allows you to choose his personality and what side he stands on through actions and dialogue, but he has no main goal of becmoing a saviour of sorts. A sort of anti-hero, which seeks truth and interests as a Witcher, rather than wanting to be in the limelight of it all.
Geralts Witcher senses are dedicated to a button on the controller. Activating this ability will make the camera fish-eyed and objects of interest light up. Furthermore, it's essential to investigating quests, a sort of detective mode. The Witcher sense allows Geralt spot footprints, blood drops or objects you need to track down people and enemies. It's cool feature and makes you understand how Witchers have a special gift compared to normal people.
Another difference from a lot of WRPGs is that you can’t custom build your own character. You're stuck with Geralt, whether you like him or not, there’s no choice of being elven, dwarf, human and so on. Even what type of character you're trained as in battle, Geralt knows both excellent swordsmanship as well as magic.
This adds a lot of diversity to his skillset and forces the player to delve into learning to best utilise the five magic signs Geralt can cast. There's a deep upgrade system to enhance these signs, even changing how each one works, albeit in what I found to be a confusing layout. I'd like a clearer upgrade path, explaining more direct what the end result will do.
Another difference from a lot of WRPGs is that you can’t custom build your own character. You're stuck with Geralt, whether you like him or not, there’s no choice of being elven, dwarf, human and so on. Even what type of character you're trained as in battle, Geralt knows both excellent swordsmanship as well as magic.
This adds a lot of diversity to his skillset and forces the player to delve into learning to best utilise the five magic signs Geralt can cast. There's a deep upgrade system to enhance these signs, even changing how each one works, albeit in what I found to be a confusing layout. I'd like a clearer upgrade path, explaining more direct what the end result will do.
More typical though, for these types of RPGs, there's plenty of weapons, clothing and equipment to upgrade, repair, craft or buy. Potions will grant your temporary ability statuses that can help you fight the enemies more successfully, reducing damage from special attacks. Some special monsters might even require a certain potion to be able to beat.
Enemies are divided in two main categories, humans, where the main attack method are steel swords, and a ton of nasty creatures of which Geralt's job as a Witcher is to get rid of. Be it multiple smaller creatures inhabiting the world or smaller mini bosses in caves and water, or massive ones that have a hefty money prize to defeat. Monsters require silver swords to slay and heavy usage of Geralt's five magic signs. In addition, there’s the usage of potions ganting temporary statuses.
Witcher 3 can switch from typical medieval sword battles to nasty fights against nightmarish creatures. Making each battle interesting and diverse. The trick to success is fully mastering Geralt signs and utilising them well, as combat can quickly turn deadly when encountering more powerful enemies. Geralt is vulnerable and you need to keep a sharp eye on his life, buffing him against various attack forms when needed.
Enemies are divided in two main categories, humans, where the main attack method are steel swords, and a ton of nasty creatures of which Geralt's job as a Witcher is to get rid of. Be it multiple smaller creatures inhabiting the world or smaller mini bosses in caves and water, or massive ones that have a hefty money prize to defeat. Monsters require silver swords to slay and heavy usage of Geralt's five magic signs. In addition, there’s the usage of potions ganting temporary statuses.
Witcher 3 can switch from typical medieval sword battles to nasty fights against nightmarish creatures. Making each battle interesting and diverse. The trick to success is fully mastering Geralt signs and utilising them well, as combat can quickly turn deadly when encountering more powerful enemies. Geralt is vulnerable and you need to keep a sharp eye on his life, buffing him against various attack forms when needed.
Mostly I found the combat satisfying, albeit some typical downsides like Geralt auto-locking to an enemy, while being hit by another you'd rather be locked on. In general, I find lock-on systems weak when multiple anemies go at you, as such the dodge and roll buttons are your friend to avoid attacks.
I found using the magic signs easiest when choosing from an option wheel, although there's since been added a more direct button mapping of each one. Overall, the key to successful battles is to ease up on aggression and learn to retreat, heal and buff.
Even though Witcher 3 is getting close to nine years since release, it’s a visually stunning title. The world looks so organic and natural. Trees sway in the wind, grass covers fields and there’s tons of bushes, plants and flowers filling up dense looking forests along the many gravel roads. Water and beaches look great too, while night and day cycles combined with weather make the world come to life through variation and lighting.
I found myself just standing in fields, covered in an orange sunset and soak in how lifelike it depicts nature, even years after release it looks better than many other titles. The consistency in visuals is incredibly well done.
Cleverly Witcher 3 is dived into regions rather than one massive open world. The opening region, White Orchard, is small. It allows the player to get acquainted to the freedom of the open world within a bite-sized segment. Moving on to Velen opens the players to a massive open world. Here you traverse typical medieval villages, farming fields, castles, woodlands and coastal beaches, even featuring the densely populated and massive city, Novigrad.
Later you arrive at Skellige islands, again divided to a seperate map, which shifts from the continental style medieval city to Viking themed life on snow clad islands. This massive change in diversity for the environments is not only beautiful but also helps change the whole atmosphere. Skellige is a colder and more hostile world, but at the same time interesting in its own natural way.
Sure, Witcher 3 has a lot of padding in its 100+ hour playthrough, a never-ending quest to find the bard Dandelion comes to mind, but there are consistently interesting quests, encounters with people or creatures and distinct enviromental changes along the journey. The plot and personalities take unexpected turns and the ending is massive and memorable. The friendships along the way feel strong and pleasant, with so much personality and depth.
Witcher 3 is one of my favourite RPGs of all time, there’s so much to experience and explore, as well as a captivating story and character personalities. If you've never dived into this masterpiece, then do so and immersive yourself in a truly unique and beautiful experience.
