Just finished the game. Feeling kind of empty + impressions and remarks (spoilers)
Last night I finished The Witcher 2 on hard, fighting with my Dancer and Deithwen swords, wearing that great Vran armor + Elder Blood Trousers, gauntlets and boots. Needless to say I feel kind of empty right now. Excited by the endings I got but kind of empty (first I saved Triss and then played again and helped Roche. Helping him with Anais and then making a covenant with Radovid and John Natalis is my official personal ending).
I started playing The Witcher 1 in the end of September so I've been in Geralt's world for almost 5 months now.
The Witcher 1 is all about atmosphere. I loved that game. So peaceful at times, it was just a pleasure just walking around Vizima's outskirts or Murky Water and 'enjoy' the landspcapes while listening to some good music. The impact of the day and night in that game is very noticeably, with creatures appearing only at night, others during the day, etc, with people in their homes at night or working during the day. Not to mention how beautiful it was during dusk or dawn. The combat system was not that bad. It was fun and the game felt more like a traditional RPG I think. So many funny and beautiful moments there, like Geralt's reaction to Adam's poem, that old lady at Shani's house or when Geralt meet the Lady of The Lake. And the cards didn't bother me at all by the way. Kind of juvenile but really harmless, made me laugh at times.
The Witcher 2 is just awsome. The game is even more beautiful than The Witcher 1 (I thought that wouldn't be possible but it was). Really, I could make some paintings out of those imponent frozen mountains or beautiful forests. Those guys in CDPR are really talented and perfectionist.
The music had some really good moments. The combat system is really engaging, satisfying and realistic if you learn it well (my Geralt was mainly a swordsman/alchemist and, of course, a fan of Quen). Anyway, I loved to parry and block my enemie's blows just to listen the swords striking, it was so cool and addictive. The story in The Witcher 2 is in another level. Really good story and I can say the final chapter, with all the political intrigue, was one the best things I ever played. At times I felt like in one of those old swashbuckler films, like El Cid or Ivanhoe. And some of the characters are really captivating, like Roche, John Natalis and even Letho (that final conversation is so ultimately cool). The voice actors are all great, all suited to their roles. I couldn't imagine anyone in Doug Cockle's place, because for me Geralt is not exactly a histrionic guy.
One of the few things I could criticize in this game are the females characters. Ok, I have to say I didn't follow Iorveth path, so I don't know about Saskia or Philippa. But based on what I played, I'd like to point out some things about the ladies. First: their faces (with some exceptions) all look the same with some variations (eye and hair colour, clothes). Men are so different and full of personality – some remind me Rembrandt's characters, seriously. But women apparently were not given the proper attention. Besides, I know The Witcher Series depicts a misogynist world, but it doesn't mean all women have to be so... meh. Síla is not a good antagonist, apparently she and other sorceressess started it all, but ultimatly she's a fool. Triss literaly disappears in the The Witcher 2 and Ves, enlisted in the Blue Stripes Unit, is found crying after Henselt raped her. I'm not saying rape isn't awfull and crying and feeling humiliated like Ves felt isn't the common reaction, because it is. But Ves is not a common lady, is she? I didn't find it believable. She sees all her friends being killed and she is raped by the King without any reaction. Ok, it's the King but still makes no sense. She's a brute, she knew how to use a sword, she was raised in a brutal world, since the beggining of the game it's said she's a tough lady and reacting and maybe killing the King would make her have a real role in this story – for the better or the worst. But then she reacts like a damsel. Nothing against damsels, but isn't she an exception? I didn't get it. This is not a feminist rant, ok? But even in mysoginist societies there were a few great women (Queen Elizabeth, Catherine The Great, Marie Curie – the only human being that gained two Nobels in two different areas - Mary Shelley and so many others... and nowadays all the ladies fighting in modern armies, police force, etc.). Please, CDPR, don't be afraid to show us some interesting / clever or strong women – it is not that “unrealistic”. Of course it is a mysoginist world that is being presented in these games, I get it. Also, men are physically superior, of course. But still women can have more talents than beautiful bodies and I really wished they had a more significant presence. Nothing against beautiful bodies by the way.
I wish too there were more interactions with your friends overall. Roche for example is a great character but you have only few interactions with him, especially in chapter two.
But that said, I have to emphasize that I find The Witcher Saga one of the best I've ever played. Chapter 3 in TW2 is just perfection. And when I finish something good like The Witcher 2 I feel kind of sad as if I just lost a good friend or at least a good companion. Cant wait for The Witcher 3.
Last night I finished The Witcher 2 on hard, fighting with my Dancer and Deithwen swords, wearing that great Vran armor + Elder Blood Trousers, gauntlets and boots. Needless to say I feel kind of empty right now. Excited by the endings I got but kind of empty (first I saved Triss and then played again and helped Roche. Helping him with Anais and then making a covenant with Radovid and John Natalis is my official personal ending).
I started playing The Witcher 1 in the end of September so I've been in Geralt's world for almost 5 months now.
The Witcher 1 is all about atmosphere. I loved that game. So peaceful at times, it was just a pleasure just walking around Vizima's outskirts or Murky Water and 'enjoy' the landspcapes while listening to some good music. The impact of the day and night in that game is very noticeably, with creatures appearing only at night, others during the day, etc, with people in their homes at night or working during the day. Not to mention how beautiful it was during dusk or dawn. The combat system was not that bad. It was fun and the game felt more like a traditional RPG I think. So many funny and beautiful moments there, like Geralt's reaction to Adam's poem, that old lady at Shani's house or when Geralt meet the Lady of The Lake. And the cards didn't bother me at all by the way. Kind of juvenile but really harmless, made me laugh at times.
The Witcher 2 is just awsome. The game is even more beautiful than The Witcher 1 (I thought that wouldn't be possible but it was). Really, I could make some paintings out of those imponent frozen mountains or beautiful forests. Those guys in CDPR are really talented and perfectionist.
The music had some really good moments. The combat system is really engaging, satisfying and realistic if you learn it well (my Geralt was mainly a swordsman/alchemist and, of course, a fan of Quen). Anyway, I loved to parry and block my enemie's blows just to listen the swords striking, it was so cool and addictive. The story in The Witcher 2 is in another level. Really good story and I can say the final chapter, with all the political intrigue, was one the best things I ever played. At times I felt like in one of those old swashbuckler films, like El Cid or Ivanhoe. And some of the characters are really captivating, like Roche, John Natalis and even Letho (that final conversation is so ultimately cool). The voice actors are all great, all suited to their roles. I couldn't imagine anyone in Doug Cockle's place, because for me Geralt is not exactly a histrionic guy.
One of the few things I could criticize in this game are the females characters. Ok, I have to say I didn't follow Iorveth path, so I don't know about Saskia or Philippa. But based on what I played, I'd like to point out some things about the ladies. First: their faces (with some exceptions) all look the same with some variations (eye and hair colour, clothes). Men are so different and full of personality – some remind me Rembrandt's characters, seriously. But women apparently were not given the proper attention. Besides, I know The Witcher Series depicts a misogynist world, but it doesn't mean all women have to be so... meh. Síla is not a good antagonist, apparently she and other sorceressess started it all, but ultimatly she's a fool. Triss literaly disappears in the The Witcher 2 and Ves, enlisted in the Blue Stripes Unit, is found crying after Henselt raped her. I'm not saying rape isn't awfull and crying and feeling humiliated like Ves felt isn't the common reaction, because it is. But Ves is not a common lady, is she? I didn't find it believable. She sees all her friends being killed and she is raped by the King without any reaction. Ok, it's the King but still makes no sense. She's a brute, she knew how to use a sword, she was raised in a brutal world, since the beggining of the game it's said she's a tough lady and reacting and maybe killing the King would make her have a real role in this story – for the better or the worst. But then she reacts like a damsel. Nothing against damsels, but isn't she an exception? I didn't get it. This is not a feminist rant, ok? But even in mysoginist societies there were a few great women (Queen Elizabeth, Catherine The Great, Marie Curie – the only human being that gained two Nobels in two different areas - Mary Shelley and so many others... and nowadays all the ladies fighting in modern armies, police force, etc.). Please, CDPR, don't be afraid to show us some interesting / clever or strong women – it is not that “unrealistic”. Of course it is a mysoginist world that is being presented in these games, I get it. Also, men are physically superior, of course. But still women can have more talents than beautiful bodies and I really wished they had a more significant presence. Nothing against beautiful bodies by the way.
I wish too there were more interactions with your friends overall. Roche for example is a great character but you have only few interactions with him, especially in chapter two.
But that said, I have to emphasize that I find The Witcher Saga one of the best I've ever played. Chapter 3 in TW2 is just perfection. And when I finish something good like The Witcher 2 I feel kind of sad as if I just lost a good friend or at least a good companion. Cant wait for The Witcher 3.
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