Favorite things about the Witcher Series

[Blasko23]

Favorite things about the Witcher Series

Hi Everyone,

I've been lurking this forum on and off for a while now and think it's finally time that I join this community, especially since I finished reading Lady of the Lake last night. I have been a HUGE Witcher fan since I discovered the series back in 2009, both the games and books.

To be honest, I put off finishing the books for so long because I didn't want them to end! Anyway, finally finishing the series last night got me thinking, "What is it about this series (both books and games) that draws me in and affects me so deeply?" If I had to pick the main reasons, it would be the following:

- Grittiness of the world/Moral ambiguity: This is probably my favorite thing about the Witcher. The world that the characters inhabit is like a fantasy version of our own, complete with wars, politics, strife, racism, religious zealotry, disease, and various other problems that either unite people or cause them to fight one another. In addition, nearly all the characters are morally "grey", only doing what they see is right amidst a harsh and chaotic world. All of this creates a world that seems tangible and believable, even with the fantasy elements. I absolutely love the world that Sapkowski has created and am continually amazed at how well CD Projekt represents it in the games.

-TheCharacters: To me, the characters in the Witcher seem totally unique and complex, especially Geralt. I love that he is not a typical "chosen one to save the world" type of hero, and that he is flawed. He is special, yes, but he is also a hated, feared, and mistrusted outcast, and mostly someone who is only following his own goals, whether those are protecting his loved ones or simply hunting monsters and earning a living.

-Twisiting of Familiar Fantasy archetypes: I love how traditional fantasy tropes are turned on their head in the Witcher. Elves and Dwarves are oppressed minorities, Wizards aren't all-powerful (they are still affected by politics), and not all monsters are truly evil (Regis, Vincent) or are just misunderstood (Nivellen, Troll in Witcher 2).

-Slavic Folklore: Being of Slovak and Polish descent , I really enjoy how the Witcher incorporates Slavic folklore into its world, especially the mythological creatures. I live in the U.S., and there few, if any pieces of media that feature Slavic lore like the Witcher does.

So those are my reasons why I love the Witcher so much (Yes, I know I'm gushing). I'm curious to see what other members of the community say as to why they also love it. Like the rest of you, I am eagerly anticipating Witcher 3, which I see as not just a game but a continuation of my favorite fantasy series.

 

[HellKnightX88]

The main attraction for me is character, story (and their style of telling it) and lore. Not much to say about characters, they're good and I've grown to like them throughout the books and games.

As for story and storytelling : everything's grey, there's no light side and dark side. The game treats the player as a mature person for the most part, not forcefeeding you all the details. Instead it encourages you to make the connections and make a decision based on how much information you've gathered. It doesn't tip toe around things for the sake of not being branded a certain way by some uninformed idiots, it does it's own thing and portrays a gritty, unfair and unforgiving world.

And the lore behind all of it is quite rich and interesting with a lot of interconnecting stories, characters and other factors.

 

[volsung]

Books: very good modern fantasy, actually worth reading. A little heavy on the intertext, even if it is largely satirical. I like the humor and the excellent characterization. The translation I'm reading is a true literary pleasure, unlike the awkward English translations which honestly make the series look bad.

Games: same reasons? Excellent plot, consistent and coherent world and characters, demands a bit of work from the player. These are games made with dedication that also require dedication to understand. They bring back elements of classic computer games and throw in exciting action and combat and bleeding edge graphics. They are DRM free and, recently, multi OS.

 

[xemerson]

The books are amazing, with every aspect of the story well done. for me its the characters and their interactions.

 

[Tjerra]

It's pretty much everything I like about the Witcher series.

First, of course, the story. The telling and the feeling of it. Although it isn't new all the time, it feels like it, and that's fascinating. And then there are all these complexe characters, understandable and unique.
I like the way Sapkowski brought real-life problems into a fantasy world where fairytales are just nice fairytales never to happen, and although the story is a rather dark one, humour isn't to be missed.
The twists. The way Sapkowski treats traditional fantasy tropes. The slavic mythology. And, not to forget, the language that nearly made me cry because I read it in Polish as a non-native speaker with like 2 years language experience.
I also have a personal reason for liking the series, it helps me remember.

And the games? Well, pretty much the same. But, over all, I like the atmosphere and everything which is connected to that. That's why I can't wait to listen to more soundtrack of Witcher 3

 

[Veleda.980]

The music and art are so fantastic.

 

[MassEffectReaper]

Murky Waters was my all time favourite part of the witcher series

 

[goopit]

witcher version?

 

[Kinley]

The Witcher games are a concoction of things I adore. But out of all the things, I love it the most for the fact that it has a strong slavic theme, a thing you almost never see in games and I wish it would be present more often. It definitely plays my slavic heart string quite well and it is the first thing that caught my eye when seeing it in a gaming magazine back in the chilly December of 2007.

As an addendum, I still have that magazine to this day, and I hope that sometime in the future I'll be able to get it signed by the original members of the team.

Spoiler

 

[Cs__sz__r]

You've had that magazine for seven years? You're a good keeper of things.


The things I love? I'm a lore whore so lore in games and other media is important to me. It's not a real deep lore but rich nonetheless.

Setting. Take away the the few low fantasy elements(magic and monsters basically) and it's a damned believable world like that of Mediaeval Europe. They put just the right amount of fantasy in, games and books.


Characters. In both the games and books I've yet to meet or read about a character I truly hate(Granny doesn't count). Just as the storytelling characters have always been well written with great personalities to suit them.

 

[Kinley]

You've had that magazine for seven years? You're a good keeper of things.

I kept the issues that really helped me find great games. Couldn't wait for these to come out every month, back in the day when they were relevant.

 

[Mefris]

Probably my most favorite thing about the Witcher is the slavic folklore you find with in it which is a rare sight when it comes to video games.Other then that every reason why I love everything that has to do with the Witcher has already been stated by the OP.

The Witcher games are a concoction of things I adore. But out of all the things, I love it the most for the fact that it has a strong slavic theme, a thing you almost never see in games and I wish it would be present more often. It definitely plays my slavic heart string quite well and it is the first thing that caught my eye when seeing it in a gaming magazine back in the chilly December of 2007.

As an addendum, I still have that magazine to this day, and I hope that sometime in the future I'll be able to get it signed by the original members of the team.

That was the first time I ever heard of "the Witcher" as well.IIRC Mitza,the editor-in-chief at the time,wrote the review and after seeing his genuine enthusiasm with the game I was sold.

You've had that magazine for seven years? You're a good keeper of things.

Ehem...I don't mean to brag...

...but I still have issues of that magazine from '01.In pristine condition I will have you know.

I kept the issues that really helped me find great games. Couldn't wait for these to come out every month, back in the day when they were relevant.

The same goes for me Every month at the time I knew they would bring the magazines I would be in front of our local news stand pestering the lady working there untill they arrived.The news stands got a very limited amount of magazines every month so if you wanted it you would have to make sure you got one before they ran out.
I still have all of them neatly stacked in one of my closets.

Except the Age of Conan issue I used for a mouse pad for 2 years.Not so pristine that one.

 

[HellKnightX88]

Except the Age of Conan issue I used for a mouse pad for 2 years.Not so pristine that one.

My sides! XD

Man, that game... a bunch of bugs held together with shit.

 

[Kinley]

That was the first time I ever heard of "the Witcher" as well.IIRC Mitza,the editor-in-chief at the time,wrote the review and after seeing his genuine enthusiasm with the game I was sold.

cioLAN did the review for this one. Mitza wasn't around anymore back then, think he left to work for some mobile game company.

 

[Seboist]

Siegfried of Denesle is best thing about Witcher.

 

[Mefris]

Siegfried of Denesle is best thing about Witcher.

He was one of my favorite characters from the games...which is sad because I always went with the non human approach.

cioLAN did the review for this one. Mitza wasn't around anymore back then, think he left to work for some mobile game company.

Ahh you're right,he moved to Bucharest to work for EA mobile.I was sad when I heard he left because I always enjoyed his articles.

 

[Aes Sídhe]

@Blasko23; Excellent post, really sums up my feelings too - and everyone else it seems - about the games. I haven't yet read the books choosing instead to let the RED's finish their run first, so not to pollute my "timeline" as it were. Plus that means I've got them if ever TW3 gets old, its the right decision for me.

It was the Aurora engine logo on TW1 box that got my attention, and once in the game it was the sheer difference to its "parent" & peers that struck me first, that feeling of old skool elements & depth of gameplay that trusted me to be able to figure it all out, or leave me mystified. Then the realisation that intrinsic quality extended to the low exposition narrative, again expecting me to step up, is what finally won me over to the series. I'm not Slavic, but I was quickly enamoured by the intense & encompassing flavour, the unfamiliarity of which only increased its effect.

So I played my first Geralt oblivious to what it was all about, you could even say like an amnesiac, it was near perfect. TW2 however was perfect for me, I can't praise that game enough. Finally heres the game the gaming industry PR had told me I had bought countless times already, but I really hadn't, the book-game hybrid. This was pure story, and Geralt became a dear friend who I identified with more than any other avatar, and the other characters my benchmark for future rpgs.

I'd also become aware of the RED's by then, and to be honest, their metastory is part of the appeal of the series for me too, I can't think of another relationship between developer and IP that seems so, well... intimate. It seems quite remarkable to me, I mean, this is clearly not just a product, its much more than that to them, and they have much to be proud of, imho. But then I can't help but admire those who beat the odds & stand on their own. I'll stop now before we're all gushing

 

[Blasko23]

@Blasko23;
I'd also become aware of the RED's by then, and to be honest, their metastory is part of the appeal of the series for me too, I can't think of another relationship between developer and IP that seems so, well... intimate. It seems quite remarkable to me, I mean, this is clearly not just a product, its much more than that to them, and they have much to be proud of, imho. But then I can't help but admire those who beat the odds & stand on their own. I'll stop now before we're all gushing

I think its this intimacy that you described that has allowed CD Projekt to take this series to the next level. They're fans of the source material just like us, and they want to do it justice.

To me, Witcher 3 isn't "just a game". It's a continuation of my favorite fantasy series of all time. I don't think I've ever been more excited for a game. I remember being extremely hyped up for Skyrim before it released, but that doesn't even come close to how excited I am for Witcher 3. It's the characters and the source material that make all the difference.

I understand your decision to play the games first in order to keep the timeline consistent and what not, but I seriously suggest reading the books before Witcher 3. You'll understand so much more and your first play through will undoubtedly be a richer experience. Witcher 3 is introducing a lot of key characters from the books (Yen, Ciri, Emhyr), so it's likely that there'll also be tons of spoilers for the book series.

 

[Garrison72]

My favorite thing? It's been unique for us foreigners. I always want it to feel like I'm playing a foreign game.

 

[Aes Sídhe]

I understand your decision to play the games first in order to keep the timeline consistent and what not, but I seriously suggest reading the books before Witcher 3. You'll understand so much more and your first play through will undoubtedly be a richer experience. Witcher 3 is introducing a lot of key characters from the books (Yen, Ciri, Emhyr), so it's likely that there'll also be tons of spoilers for the book series.

I understand your point, but allow me to disagree, as I have given this quite a lot of thought. Like I explained I first met Geralt as an amnesiac, I have since played both games numerous times, I know everything the RED's have said about him & his world. I also know quite a bit beyond that as an unavoidable consequence of reading & engaging here in the forums. I feel I know more than enough to approach TW3 and see how the RED's deliver these new characters that are so important to Geralt, yet have hardly been referenced in the game, a difficult task.

If they manage to introduce us (those with no prior knowledge of the characters you mention from the books) with the same skill that they introduced Geralt & friends to us before it will be an incredible accomplishment, and one I wish to experience with my slate as blank as possible. Only then will I be able to truly say what an epic game trilogy The Witcher is. And maybe that's the simplest point I can make to you, I wish it to remain a game trilogy for me until it is complete, not a book -> game translation.