Is W3 enjoyable to people who never read the books?

[plenilunius]

Is W3 enjoyable to people who never read the books?

W1 and W2 were utter disasters story-wise if you didn't read the books. It felt like I was only given pieces of information, missing a whole lot of background info. Basically if you're not Polish or Russian you were fucked storywise. I hope W3 at least tries to explain all this through dialogue or even lore books would do.

 

[DimitrisM]

Um no they weren't. I read the books after I played the games and I didn't have any problems. After all they couldn't spoil the books. Sapkowski would take their heads xD

 

[Toyen]

I only played witcher 2 and fell in love with it and can´t wait for this one. So I guess it is pretty enjoyable.

Even though I did not understand all the lore, what I did understand I really liked.
The amazing well written characters made up for my lack of knowledge of the books and the first game.
I also googled some stuff I was interested in knowing such as who is Yeneffer when they mentioned her in the game.

 

[TehJack]

It's been said that W3 will be the perfect chapter for newcomers to the series, so i think that they will give you enough information. (I still recommend that you read the books, good stuff!)

 

[Riven-Twain]

Ay. I came to the games without any knowledge of the books -- I took them up only after I'd played both titles several times.

 

[RedFire01]

I played the games without reading the books and i didn't have any trouble understanding stuff.

 

[Valvatti87]

Iwe only played t W2. It was pretty hard at first. but i managed somehow. After reading the story books and blood of the elwes, i did another playtrough.
It was more enjoyable after the books for me at least. W2 lacked codex like in mass effect. Codex that would give more infoemation on races and history and stuff. Not even sure how well that would work in witcher univers. But W3 i have a feeling it will be easier to get into.. Im sure u still get more out of it if uwe read the whole saga..

 

[hellcaretaker]

The only problem that I noticed, is that Yennefer and Ciri are not mentioned in the Journal despite the game introducing them in retrospections.
Everything else was really well explained in the journal of The Witcher 2.

But the third game (most reviews seem to confirms this) does not require you to know previous games or books. Although you will certainly have a richer experience if you do.

 

[NoBlackThunder]

witcher 1 battle system never worked for me .. w2 worked very well but from what i have heard you dont need to know annything about the witcher in 3.. that means everything you need to know will be told in a nice and slow paste to you

 

[dragonbird]

I've done over 30 playthroughs of TW2, at least 10 of TW1, most of them without reading any of the books. I still haven't finished the books. Guess I must be a masochist

And nope, I'm neither Russian nor Polish.

Oh, I did watch the TV series though. (After around 20 playthroughs of the game)

 

[Tar-Aellin]

I played W1 and W2 without reading the books. I fell in love with the story, read whatever lore there were in-game and never felt disappointed. There were pieces of info to those who read the books but they were never major, just a mention in one-two dialogues.

Before W3, i read the ones translated, finished Baptism of Fire recently. So i can also confirm for you that games and the books are differing in many aspects. It is as the author Sapkowski says, the games are an adaptation of the books. You can have more info about the characters, some past events etc. but they may not even matter for these game series.

Thus, reading the books are solely for those who want to delve deeper into the witcher universe. You can have fun to the fullest in the games.

 

[RedFire01]

Oh, I did watch the TV series though.

Sweet Melitele, why would you do such a thing?

 

[dragonbird]

Sweet Melitele, why would you do such a thing?

If you forget everything you know about the Witcher, and accept that CGI/FX on TV series was ALWAYS crap in those days, regardless of country of origin, it's actually OK.

 

[LiarOnElmstreet]

Before W3, i read the ones translated, finished Baptism of Fire recently. So i can also confirm for you that games and the books are differing in many aspects. It is as the author Sapkowski says, the games are an adaptation of the books. You can have more info about the characters, some past events etc. but they may not even matter for these game series.

Although not needed, I absolutely recommend to you finishing the other books too before playing W3. Because from what I read about the Story of W3 it will spoil every important plot twist of the books and will totally take the edge out of one of the most disturbing and beautiful endings I have read ever.

 

[Goodmongo]

I'm not picking on the OP but this whole question is really kinda dumb.

Are movies enjoyable for those that never read the book? Is a TV series enjoyable for those that didn't read the book? Have other games been enjoyable for those that never read the book or comic.

In the vast majority of cases the answer was always yes. In fact sometimes reading the book made you not like the movie, tv show game etc. You start to compare it to the book and the book always has more in it.

I can guarantee that every single person has seen a movie, tv show, play or game where they never read the book and never will.

 

[Tar-Aellin]

Although not needed, I absolutely recommend to you finishing the other books too before playing W3. Because from what I read about the Story of W3 it will spoil every important plot twist of the books and will totally take the edge out of one of the most disturbing and beautiful endings I have read ever.

Sadly, i am not able to finish them, because "The Swallow's Tower" 's English translation will be finished in 2016, the last one in 2017.

So, I can only hope it wont be as you say (though i kind of believe it will be as you say but hoping is the only thing i can do). But if it is, i will try to cope with it while reading the books in the future, as playing the game is inevitable after all this time

 

[RedFire01]

Sadly, i am not able to finish them, because "The Swallow's Tower" 's English translation will be finished in 2016, the last one in 2017.

So, I can only hope it wont be as you say (though i kind of believe it will be as you say but hoping is the only thing i can do). But if it is, i will try to cope with it while reading the books in the future, as playing the game is inevitable after all this time

There are fan translations on this very forum here: http://forums.cdprojektred.com/threads/16494-Our-Community-Fan-Translations

I'm reading them right now and they're pretty decent.