i think there's not so much difference in the difficulty settings but i have only played on normal one time through the game and on hard first chapter so i'm not really qualified to say 
but on insane you can't load game so if you die it's the end of geralt for good
but on insane you can't load game so if you die it's the end of geralt for good
I think in the higher difficulties, you need to use bombs, traps and stuff like that to a higher degree in order to survive, whereas in easy you probably won't be needing those kind of things very much?
But haven't played TW2 for very long, I'm running through TW1 first (I actually like the first game better so far)
But haven't played TW2 for very long, I'm running through TW1 first (I actually like the first game better so far)
On easy, you can stunlock most enemies to death (even some bosses and mini bosses), you can ignore signs, bombs, traps, throwing knifes, alchemy, mutagens and you can put talents into whatever you want, since your build does not matter. Play this if you only care for the story, or during a difficult encounter/boss battle.
Normal: Enemies and bosses require some strategy now. Signs, alchemy and bombs are very useful. You can safely ignore throwing knifes, traps and mutagens. A good build helps quite a lot, but you can get away with whatever. Its a balanced setting and you will die sometimes.
Hard: You need to use nearly everything at your disposal (perhaps except throwing knifes and traps, although they are very useful). You can still get away without mutagens, but bombs, alchemy and signs are essential. A good build is also very important.
Insane: If you die, you have to restart the game. Even more difficult than Hard in general.
Thats my opinion at least. Maybe a more seasoned player can give you a better description.
Normal: Enemies and bosses require some strategy now. Signs, alchemy and bombs are very useful. You can safely ignore throwing knifes, traps and mutagens. A good build helps quite a lot, but you can get away with whatever. Its a balanced setting and you will die sometimes.
Hard: You need to use nearly everything at your disposal (perhaps except throwing knifes and traps, although they are very useful). You can still get away without mutagens, but bombs, alchemy and signs are essential. A good build is also very important.
Insane: If you die, you have to restart the game. Even more difficult than Hard in general.
Thats my opinion at least. Maybe a more seasoned player can give you a better description.
Mechanically, it naturally alters damage and hit points, but the AI of the enemies is also enhanced, making the fights feel a bit more fair. At least I think so, and ever since I started feeling truly comfortable with the combat system, I dialled the difficulty up to Hard, and I've never looked back.
I played through normal and then hard. There's a noticeable difference in AI.
Other than that, I've found it mostly about being smarter with sign use and dodging. I still don't use any bombs, traps or throwing weapons. But I do use potions, oils, sign + sword and I haven't had any huge problems yet.
I think even on hard there is still room for variation of strategies. If you like traps and bombs and daggers, you can probably get away with not using signs too much, etc.
Other than that, I've found it mostly about being smarter with sign use and dodging. I still don't use any bombs, traps or throwing weapons. But I do use potions, oils, sign + sword and I haven't had any huge problems yet.
I think even on hard there is still room for variation of strategies. If you like traps and bombs and daggers, you can probably get away with not using signs too much, etc.