So, let's talk about the main story, since I couldn't leave it and played through it first, ignoring most sidequests.
I think it was amazing. If I would rank the storylines in Witcher 3, I would rank it the second best story after Hearts of Stone, and think it could have been better if worked on more and if it were longer.
I got the "worst" ending, where both sisters die, since I went to see the Unseen One. I did not read the books.
What I loved:
- Vampire theme: I think the vampire theme was spectacular, their history and lore extremely interesting. Loved the symbolism of the country of wine awash with blood, loved the attack on the city, their powers, all of it. Sapkowski wrote vampires very well, one of the best representation of vampires I've ever seen in modern fantasy.
- Regis: Probably the only character in the expansion that had been done justice. He's interesting, seems extremely intelligent but still likeable, has a great character arc with strong moral dilemmas. You really pity him for what he's gone through at the end. You really believe the friendship he and Geralt has.
- The dark parts of the story: While I liked some of the jokes and more easier scenes, the story really shines at its darkest, when it pits you before hard dilemmas and makes you really think about your decisions. I had that easier, since I got the "worst" ending, but from what I've heard about other endings, this one has probably the biggest emotional impact. It also creates a beautiful contrast between the idyllic Touissant and the horrors that lie within. Really kind of reminded me of Witcher 1 in some parts (the investigation, attack on the city).
- Meeting with Regis, Spoon wight, Tesham Mutna, Dining with vampires, Attack on the city, The Unseen One, Fight with Detlaff, Final drink with Regis: Nuff said. Amazing stuff, great writing. These will be the moments I'll look for while viewing Youtuber's playthroughs to see their reaction.
What I didn't love:
- The underdevelopment of some characters:
- Annarieta: It's true I didn't read the books, but I couldn't really feel invested in her, and I feel it's partly because of her "detachment" from Geralt, the fact that she almost (except the time with the nude painting) never lets down her guard and seems cold and unapproachable. Would be really interesting to see her as a romance, but I know that the more hardcore Witcher fans wouldn't like that, since she was with Dandelion. But just a fun conversation over a glass of wine would be great to give her more likeability.
- Detlaff: I think, that if we had actually been given the chance to properly know the guy, the end would have much higher emotional impact than it already had. He seemed like a generic villain with his only interesting quality being that Regis really likes him. Would like to see conversations with him written more into the story.
- Syanna: Basically same as with Detlaff, didn't have any time to actually get to know her and start to like her except for one conversation at the end. She seemed very black and white, very simplistic. I wasn't really sold on her being a big mastermind behind everything, partly because of very little foreshadowing. True, didn't play the Syanna branch, so I might be proven wrong, and I'd love to be.
- The whole "wine" part: I felt the wine investigation was just filler to prolong the story and broke the pacing a little bit for me. Partly because I couldn't get over the "magical" wine connosieur. Was just bored with that quest.
TLDR: I really loved the story for its haunting storyline, great ideas, mostly great writing and interesting lore. Still felt it was slightly short of its true potential, mostly just because it seemed rushed in some parts, not giving enough time to get to know most characters. But it still gets a second place in my ranking of Witcher stories, just behind Master Mirror. Amazing job CDPR, but wish you would take more time to polish it more into utter perfection.