The Witcher IV – Official Cinematic Reveal Trailer Breakdown

[Spockprime]

I'd suspect mutations would affect the Elder Blood in some strange ways. Perhaps they rendered her previous powers even more unstable?

Personally, I would prefer that approach over the mutations causing her to lose the abilities entirely. She could try to teleport behind the monster, but she might accidentally destroy everything in the area by doing so. Who, and how much, is she willing to risk to take the easy way out? Would be an interesting theme to develop over the course of three games.

 

[Gwentlique]

Personally, I would prefer that approach over the mutations causing her to lose the abilities entirely. She could try to teleport behind the monster, but she might accidentally destroy everything in the area by doing so. Who, and how much, is she willing to risk to take the easy way out? Would be an interesting theme to develop over the course of three games.

I'm just guessing here, but maybe Ciri wanted to undergo the trials to get rid of her power. The power seems to be of great interest to all sorts of powerful beings on other worlds. Imagine if a world full of higher and elder vampires got hold of Ciri and used her as a bridge to get to a new feeding ground? The "how to keep human live-stock" books you find lying around in Blood and Wine would be very relevant again!

As long as Ciri has the power of the Elder Blood, she is both a danger to herself and to the world. I could see her wanting to get away from that type of destiny. It could also set up an interesting storyline about whether or not she succeeds, or is ultimately still destined to that role.

 

[Draconifors]

Finally got around to watching this breakdown video. Intriguing stuff. and details I hadn't noticed.

I particularly like the look of the chain, and being able to use it to send fire at enemies (makes sense from a science perspective, too).

 

[Spockprime]

Finally got around to watching this breakdown video. Intriguing stuff. and details I hadn't noticed.

I particularly like the look of the chain, and being able to use it to send fire at enemies (makes sense from a science perspective, too).

I'm looking forward to the mod that turns her head into a flaming skull when she uses the fire chain.

 

[CiriusBlack]

I particularly like the look of the chain, and being able to use it to send fire at enemies (makes sense from a science perspective, too).

So a proper chain reaction in that case?

I'm looking forward to the mod that turns her head into a flaming skull when she uses the fire chain.

Spoiler

But back on topic: This video made me remember a small random quest in Witcher 3, where I got the bad ending first. Then I did the quest again and got a different bad ending. I loved it and hated it at the same time.

 

[Domhnallaich]

Watching this breakdown makes me dislike this trailer even more and I am concerned for the future of this franchise. I feel more certain that this game will be complete nonsense.

Ciri should never be a Witcher. Even if the methods were not lost, Vesimir, Geralt and the rest never wanted this to be her fate.

I remember CDPR stating shortly after TW3 that they were pretty much done with this franchise and they slowly backtracked on it over the years. I was never against more Witcher games but always felt they should be about a completely different set of characters - set years before the events of the games where CDPR had a bit more creative freedom.

This is just lazy 'fan' service.

 

[LeKill3rFou]

Ciri should never be a Witcher. Even if the methods were not lost, Vesimir, Geralt and the rest never wanted this to be her fate.

Ah, and why Geralt offer a witcher sword to Ciri in one ending?
Beside, as far as I know, Ciri is no longer a child in the Witcher 3, so even if Geralt or anyone else disagree, she's free to do whatever she want.
Beside it's a bit implied several time during the game :

Spoiler

- When encountering the lodge.
- At Kaer Morhen after Vesimir death.
- Before jumping into the portal to stop the white frost.

So I'm confident that even during The Witcher 3 developement, CDPR already had in mind Ciri as main character and witcher for their next game/trilogy. And we know, they took the decision that Ciri will be the protagonist of the next witcher game right after the end of The Witcher 3 developement...

 

[Draconifors]

This is just lazy 'fan' service.

If it were, they wouldn't have been waiting for many years to be able to finally be able to unveil Ciri as the new protagonist.

Nothing about the trailer looks "lazy" to me, quite the opposite. Lots of small details and subtleties, as is usual with CDPR videos.

 

[Spockprime]

Ah, and why Geralt offer a witcher sword to Ciri in one ending?
Beside, as far as I know, Ciri is no longer a child in the Witcher 3, so even if Geralt or anyone else disagree, she's free to do whatever she want.
Beside it's a bit implied several time during the game :

Spoiler

- When encountering the lodge.
- At Kaer Morhen after Vesimir death.
- Before jumping into the portal to stop the white frost.

So I'm confident that even during The Witcher 3 developement, CDPR already had in mind Ciri as main character and witcher for their next game/trilogy. And we know, they took the decision that Ciri will be the protagonist of the next witcher game right after the end of The Witcher 3 developement...

Likewise for me. The way TW3 ended, it never occurred to me that there wouldn't be a TW4 featuring Ciri as the main character. Short of ending with a graphic that said, "We're planning on TW4, and Ciri will be the main character", I don't think they could have made it any more obvious. So, it's been a bit of a shock to me to see how many people thought otherwise.

 

[alceryes]

I'm just guessing here, but maybe Ciri wanted to undergo the trials to get rid of her power. The power seems to be of great interest to all sorts of powerful beings on other worlds. Imagine if a world full of higher and elder vampires got hold of Ciri and used her as a bridge to get to a new feeding ground? The "how to keep human live-stock" books you find lying around in Blood and Wine would be very relevant again!

As long as Ciri has the power of the Elder Blood, she is both a danger to herself and to the world. I could see her wanting to get away from that type of destiny. It could also set up an interesting storyline about whether or not she succeeds, or is ultimately still destined to that role.

I could see this.
Not only to get rid of her powers but also make herself sterile. Wasn't another reason for her being hunted is because of the prophesy that her child would become a world ruler (or world destroyer). She's just like, “Not-gonna-have-any-of-that.” At that point maybe she becomes a liability to some higher power(s).

There's also the idea that, maybe NOW she alone holds the secrets to the trial of the grasses. What otherworldly denizens wouldn't want to know how to create an army of Witchers!!

Just two of probably a half dozen plausible, simple scenarios for the primary story arc.

One of the first decisions that CDPR made (years ago, I'm sure), is whether Ciri will be the target/goal of the main antagonist or whether she is just a nuisance or stumbling block on the path of the primary antagonist's goal. Both would be fine but building a story crescendo where you actually play the primary target is much more difficult on the writers. Thoughts?

Of course, we now have the elephant in the room - diverging from the canon story. I have a feeling that CDPR still has an ace up their sleeve somewhere, though. Something that can at least appease those who memorized the books and are in complete despair that Ciri went through the trial. Some very logical step, that may even be hinted at in the books. Something to make those peeps go, "Oooooh!!!" I hope so, at least.

 

[Draconifors]

One of the first decisions that CDPR made (years ago, I'm sure), is whether Ciri will be the target/goal of the main antagonist or whether she is just a nuisance or stumbling block on the path of the primary antagonist's goal. Both would be fine but building a story crescendo where you actually play the primary target is much more difficult on the writers. Thoughts?

Plot twist: Ciri is both the protagonist and antagonist, because she manipulated time and space one time too many, creating an evil version of herself.

 

[alceryes]

Plot twist: Ciri is both the protagonist and antagonist, because she manipulated time and space one time too many, creating an evil version of herself.

I actually thought about this as I was writing out my post! Great minds...
I don't like that idea as much as something more unexpected. That twist has been played out before in games and stories.

 

[Draconifors]

I don't like that idea as much as something more unexpected. That twist has been played out before in games and stories.

Fair. It was just a silly idea that came to me.

I definitely wouldn't want it to be the reality.

 

[alceryes]

Fair. It was just a silly idea that came to me.

I definitely wouldn't want it to be the reality.

Yeah, the problem with the evil twin story is the shared knowledge. Even if the knowledge sharing stopped when the split happened, I think it would be trivial for an evil Ciri to trap the good Ciri if she knew everything the good Ciri knew (up to the split). They'd be dancing around that the whole game.
Unless, of course, the evil Ciri is trying to turn the good Ciri to become the combined ultimate power in the multiverse!! (yes, I just brought in Marvel AND Star Wars )

 

[AvarageEnjoyer]

Likewise for me. The way TW3 ended, it never occurred to me that there wouldn't be a TW4 featuring Ciri as the main character. Short of ending with a graphic that said, "We're planning on TW4, and Ciri will be the main character", I don't think they could have made it any more obvious. So, it's been a bit of a shock to me to see how many people thought otherwise.

I was convinced that she won't be the main character due to:
1) her fate depending on Geralt's actions;
2) her not being a witcher.
The second one probably equally, if not more important than the first. Potions and elixirs are one of the three main branches of leveling, without them the game will lose flavor and depth - and she can't drink them, because she isn't a witcher.

The idea that they will actually mutate her have never crossed my mind, so I was mildly put it shocked after the face reveal. I love this studio sometimes.

 

[Spockprime]

Plot twist: Ciri is both the protagonist and antagonist, because she manipulated time and space one time too many, creating an evil version of herself.

Somebody's been watching too much Star Trek. If there's such a thing as too much Star Trek.

 

[Draconifors]

Somebody's been watching too much Star Trek. If there's such a thing as too much Star Trek.

I've never watched a single episode, actually.

I've seen the plot twist used elsewhere. It's a pretty easy, though lame, way to create an antagonist.

 

[Domhnallaich]

Ah, and why Geralt offer a witcher sword to Ciri in one ending?
Beside, as far as I know, Ciri is no longer a child in the Witcher 3, so even if Geralt or anyone else disagree, she's free to do whatever she want.
Beside it's a bit implied several time during the game :

Spoiler

- When encountering the lodge.
- At Kaer Morhen after Vesimir death.
- Before jumping into the portal to stop the white frost.

So I'm confident that even during The Witcher 3 developement, CDPR already had in mind Ciri as main character and witcher for their next game/trilogy. And we know, they took the decision that Ciri will be the protagonist of the next witcher game right after the end of The Witcher 3 developement...

Well for starters, a sword doesn't' make someone a Witcher - there is a lot more involved for that to happen. Ciri could very well be a monster hunter of sorts, trained by Witchers but not be an actual Witcher herself - she had her own gifts which help her in that score - this new version of Ciri has ruined the game character IMO. Secondly, there were multiple endings of TW3 and this in of itself is a problem. I'm not convinced the devs had Ciri in their minds as the next protagonist, this was one of the reasons there were so many endings because it was supposed to be the end - there was a finality in which ever ending the player chose.

Post automatically merged: Dec 16, 2024

If it were, they wouldn't have been waiting for many years to be able to finally be able to unveil Ciri as the new protagonist.

Nothing about the trailer looks "lazy" to me, quite the opposite. Lots of small details and subtleties, as is usual with CDPR videos.

I don't think they were waiting many years to be able to reveal Ciri - I believe this was a decision made to profit from a lot of people wanting Ciri to have more playtime in TW3. This trailer makes me feel that TW4 is a big retcon.

It's too long ago now but I remember reading an interview somewhere, prior to TW3 release that this was the last Witcher game - this is why TW3 multiple endings worked. I remember feeling quite excited by thew fact that CDPR would be a studio who would develop different IPs, rather than rehash the same ones over and over - this is one reason it feels lazy to me.

Another is that there were lots of little hooks to past Witcher games in a sense of nostalgia baiting - the trailer didn't make it feel like anything new is coming and a mutated Ciri just made it even more apparent and has only served to annoy me - this was the easy choice IMO.

I remember feeling really excited for TW3 when I saw the first trailers - just felt bored with this one,

 

[Draconifors]

It's too long ago now but I remember reading an interview somewhere, prior to TW3 release that this was the last Witcher game

In 2013, apparently.

However, here is a quote from April 2015 (so, just before the release of TW3):

Edit: And in 2013 they apparently amended the initial statement to only say it'd be Geralt's last game.

 

[Domhnallaich]

In 2013, apparently.

However, here is a quote from April 2015 (so, just before the release of TW3):
View attachment 11406670

Edit: And in 2013 they apparently amended the initial statement to only say it'd be Geralt's last game.

Thanks for quoting. Seems they began back tracking earlier than I remember - but the feeling was very much "this is the last Witcher game". We all knew it wasn't but it seemed there needed to be a VERY compelling reason for them to return to the franchise. Its okay for things to have an end - let them go out on a high and all that.