Thank's for the kind words, and the welcome. I recently read the first book in the series and I enjoyed it a lot, will get around to reading the rest. I was impressed in how well they captured the tone of the book in the game, as well in how well they captured the character of Geralt in the game as well. Really well done.
Can't believe though that I forget to mention the phenomenal soundtrack in my other post though, lol. It is so good, one of the best I have seen since Final Fantasy 6.
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A worthy game to hold that place for any gamer.
Five flaws of this game (spoilers)
For all the praise this game gets it sure suffers from some glaring flaws...
1. Main story is just an overlong and contrived wild goose chase
Sorry Geralt, but princess Ciri is on another castle. I can tell you which one but I won't until you help me solve this mundane task. That is basically what most of the main quest boils down to, never mind that Geralt has and uses a sign that makes people tell him what he wants to know and do what he wants them to do. He has no problem using it for any simple task but when it comes to something as important as finding Ciri, he seems to forget about it.
2. Underdeveloped villains
The Wild Hunt is this big force that is painted as a huge threat but you never feel any sense of urgency when doing the main story, hardly see them have an impact on anything. The leaders of the Wild Hunt, Eredin in particular, have next to no exposition let alone character development and feel very one dimensional and generic as a result. The Crones were more interesting and even them are left hanging on this regard as they basically disappear after the Bloody Baron quest and don't appear until very late in the game and just say a couple of random lines before you kill them.
3. No end game state/content
When you finish the main quest, you are dropped at Kaer Morhen and none of the main characters (Triss, Yennefer, Ciri, etc) are to be found. You are left in a world that seems to be in a state of limbo instead of the state you worked towards to by making all those choices while you played the game (and a state which the ending of the game shows) for absolutely no reason at all. This is a very immersion breaking thing to do in an open world game.
There is also no end game content to obtain or do, once you get around level 35 (which is rather easy to do and not a grind at all), you are basically overpowered for any monster you encounter and all the "?" signs on the map give you nothing but underwhelming items that you have no use for. It really kills the motivation to keep exploring the world.
4. Clunky controls
Controlling Geralt and making him interact with things be it opening a door, climbing a ladder, talking to people or picking items feels very clunky due to how small the action area seems to be. It doesn't helps that his movement speed is wonky and he is rather slippery when moving. The horse riding is equally clunky with how imprecise it is to ride and control Roach and with how many obstacles get in the way and stop you while you are trying to ride fast.
During combat Geralt kind of gains a will of his own (as does the camera) and he just becomes unresponsive, remaining locked to enemies even if you haven't manually locked on them and just refusing to disengage from combat when you tell him to put down the sword. It ends up constraining your movement and taking control away from the player for no reason. Very tedious and frustrating.
5. Terrible UI/Menus
They are really a mess, poor item organization, hard to navigate and slow to load. They could have really done a much better job with this.
For all the praise this game gets it sure suffers from some glaring flaws...
1. Main story is just an overlong and contrived wild goose chase
Sorry Geralt, but princess Ciri is on another castle. I can tell you which one but I won't until you help me solve this mundane task. That is basically what most of the main quest boils down to, never mind that Geralt has and uses a sign that makes people tell him what he wants to know and do what he wants them to do. He has no problem using it for any simple task but when it comes to something as important as finding Ciri, he seems to forget about it.
2. Underdeveloped villains
The Wild Hunt is this big force that is painted as a huge threat but you never feel any sense of urgency when doing the main story, hardly see them have an impact on anything. The leaders of the Wild Hunt, Eredin in particular, have next to no exposition let alone character development and feel very one dimensional and generic as a result. The Crones were more interesting and even them are left hanging on this regard as they basically disappear after the Bloody Baron quest and don't appear until very late in the game and just say a couple of random lines before you kill them.
3. No end game state/content
When you finish the main quest, you are dropped at Kaer Morhen and none of the main characters (Triss, Yennefer, Ciri, etc) are to be found. You are left in a world that seems to be in a state of limbo instead of the state you worked towards to by making all those choices while you played the game (and a state which the ending of the game shows) for absolutely no reason at all. This is a very immersion breaking thing to do in an open world game.
There is also no end game content to obtain or do, once you get around level 35 (which is rather easy to do and not a grind at all), you are basically overpowered for any monster you encounter and all the "?" signs on the map give you nothing but underwhelming items that you have no use for. It really kills the motivation to keep exploring the world.
4. Clunky controls
Controlling Geralt and making him interact with things be it opening a door, climbing a ladder, talking to people or picking items feels very clunky due to how small the action area seems to be. It doesn't helps that his movement speed is wonky and he is rather slippery when moving. The horse riding is equally clunky with how imprecise it is to ride and control Roach and with how many obstacles get in the way and stop you while you are trying to ride fast.
During combat Geralt kind of gains a will of his own (as does the camera) and he just becomes unresponsive, remaining locked to enemies even if you haven't manually locked on them and just refusing to disengage from combat when you tell him to put down the sword. It ends up constraining your movement and taking control away from the player for no reason. Very tedious and frustrating.
5. Terrible UI/Menus
They are really a mess, poor item organization, hard to navigate and slow to load. They could have really done a much better job with this.
@Noxi777 there are sweetfx/reshade to make the game/nights darker, and mods to increase time, so the day-night cycle runs slower 
@ReptilePZ Thank you for realy good feedback. But not a single word about Ciri? I've been waiting so long...
I did mention her off-hand:
To go into more detail, just for you, Master Blacha:
She's still a whiny brat in some places, but I actually got to scold her as Geralt, which made me immensely happy I did not find a way to make her jump to her death, however, which was disappointing. But that could just be me not being inventive/observant enough.
Honestly, I think it's just a weak character, along with the Wild Hunt, so, in terms of actual feedback, I can't say much more than that you guys did about as well as you could have with her and the story surrounding her. I'm happy the focus was more on the father-daughter relationship Geralt has with her, rather than her abilities, since that's the strong side of the character. The fact that the epilogue largely revolves around how you handle that relationship was a very well-thought out idea, I found (I got the 'Ciri becomes a witcher' ending, in case anyone is curious). Overall, I have to say, great job.
I did not find a way to make her jump to her death, however, which was disappointing. But that could just be me not being inventive/observant enough.Honestly, I think it's just a weak character, along with the Wild Hunt, so, in terms of actual feedback, I can't say much more than that you guys did about as well as you could have with her and the story surrounding her. I'm happy the focus was more on the father-daughter relationship Geralt has with her, rather than her abilities, since that's the strong side of the character. The fact that the epilogue largely revolves around how you handle that relationship was a very well-thought out idea, I found (I got the 'Ciri becomes a witcher' ending, in case anyone is curious). Overall, I have to say, great job.
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Ciri is the best character in the game (no fanboyism, no book lore) as a newcomer to the series yes Ciri is simply the best character in the game.
Everything about her, appearance, character, personality is perfect.
Only thing I don't like is the White Frost thing because after the lab mission didn't she say she doesn't trust Avallac'h no more?
Everything about her, appearance, character, personality is perfect.
Only thing I don't like is the White Frost thing because after the lab mission didn't she say she doesn't trust Avallac'h no more?
@theta77 I love this game to death, but I must admit there are scars on your masterpiece.
1. The bitching about clunky controls would propably stop if you just set alternative movement system to be the default. Most people play the game and they don't even know there is an option to make movement more responsive. My personal experience is: After trying out new (alternative) movement system, there is absolutely no way I will come back to the first one.
2. I agree about Wild Hunt generals being underdeveloped. I understand they supposed to be mysterious deadly force, but in the end they feel kinda empty and shallow. They look nice but have almost nothing to say. Please at least reconsider adding more dialog to them. Some side quests would also be nice.
3. Conversations with Emhyr also need more dialog IMO. He is a brilliant character, but he is just under used. We meet him 3 maybe 4 times during whole 100 h game for 1 minute conversations. He needs to be more prominent and needs more time in the story.
1. The bitching about clunky controls would propably stop if you just set alternative movement system to be the default. Most people play the game and they don't even know there is an option to make movement more responsive. My personal experience is: After trying out new (alternative) movement system, there is absolutely no way I will come back to the first one.
2. I agree about Wild Hunt generals being underdeveloped. I understand they supposed to be mysterious deadly force, but in the end they feel kinda empty and shallow. They look nice but have almost nothing to say. Please at least reconsider adding more dialog to them. Some side quests would also be nice.
3. Conversations with Emhyr also need more dialog IMO. He is a brilliant character, but he is just under used. We meet him 3 maybe 4 times during whole 100 h game for 1 minute conversations. He needs to be more prominent and needs more time in the story.
There are a lot of small issues with the game but even added up they don't reduce the enjoyment I had with it.
Unfortunately the same can't be said about the portrayal of the Wild Hunt(and the White Frost), which was a huge letdown. They were so underdeveloped that I would go so far to call them secondary characters, which is a shame considering the game should have been about them (and about the Geralt/Ciri relationship, which is pretty good and saves the game's story).
I always saw them as the overarching villains of the whole trilogy, which makes it even worse how they were handled. It's not only the little screentime they got, but also important aspects from the books and previous games like Geralt's time as a Rider of the Hunt, the Hunt abducting human children or the dynamics between the Aen Elle and Aen Seidhe Elves were completely or almost completely non-existent in the game. With a focus on this topics it would have been possible to make a more "grounded" story, instead of a "chosen hero saves the world" power fantasy cliche, that almost every fantasy game does. Never thought a Witcher game would go in that direction and it was completely unnecessary imo. I really hope CDP considers to make an enhanced edition with focus on the Wild Hunt to make the masterpiece out of this game it deserves to be. Currently it's one of the best rpg's I have ever played but the issues with the story (which was the huge strenght of Witcher 2) prevents me to call it a true masterpiece.
Unfortunately the same can't be said about the portrayal of the Wild Hunt(and the White Frost), which was a huge letdown. They were so underdeveloped that I would go so far to call them secondary characters, which is a shame considering the game should have been about them (and about the Geralt/Ciri relationship, which is pretty good and saves the game's story).
I always saw them as the overarching villains of the whole trilogy, which makes it even worse how they were handled. It's not only the little screentime they got, but also important aspects from the books and previous games like Geralt's time as a Rider of the Hunt, the Hunt abducting human children or the dynamics between the Aen Elle and Aen Seidhe Elves were completely or almost completely non-existent in the game. With a focus on this topics it would have been possible to make a more "grounded" story, instead of a "chosen hero saves the world" power fantasy cliche, that almost every fantasy game does. Never thought a Witcher game would go in that direction and it was completely unnecessary imo. I really hope CDP considers to make an enhanced edition with focus on the Wild Hunt to make the masterpiece out of this game it deserves to be. Currently it's one of the best rpg's I have ever played but the issues with the story (which was the huge strenght of Witcher 2) prevents me to call it a true masterpiece.
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I can be bitchy and whiny for the game's many plot and character missteps... but I also have to say:
Thank you for making the best game I played in 8 years. I mean it. I love the game (hence why I am so bitchy I guess).
It is masterpiece of remediation and the gaming art form.
Thank you for making the best game I played in 8 years. I mean it. I love the game (hence why I am so bitchy I guess).
It is masterpiece of remediation and the gaming art form.
Thanks for this post. Except that I think it already is a true masterpiece. Best game Ive ever played. And that is pretty amazing considering the crappy main villain. I think I myself liked the look and idea of Eredin and the Wild hunt so much that I fleshed him out in my imagination a little bit.( what?)
Immlerith fight and cutscene helped alot in making wild hunt badass in my mind.
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I dont know if you already knew this but there is a alchemy skill that slows down time when enemies counter attack. I like that skill alot and sounds like you would to. Its only counter attacks and you have to have some toxicity but thats ok. Feels witchery to have lightning reflexes.
Yeah, I know about that skill, it's the type of skill I would have liked to see more of in the combat skilltree, instead of, for example, two columns dedicated to fast and strong attacks, when those could have been combined together. As it stands, Quen is the only reliable defence, other than having high stats. The defence skilltree was not at all useful, apart from the one skill that lets you avoid damage when dodging, even when hit.
The way I see things, the combat tree should have consisten of one column for fast/strong attacks, one for the crossbow (ew), one for the adrenaline point-based skills, and then a defence tree focusing on dodge/parry, which only benefits the player if they have Light armour on (penalties for Medium armour) and another tree focusing on passive stat boosts, which only benefits the player if they have Heavy armour (ew) on (penalties for Medium armour). Instead, we got a system that favours tanking in one form or another, which is not at all what witchers are about.
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Perhabs. But Its still a cool skill. Its lore approbiate. Thought you liked that kind of skills. Thats all. In my shitty opinion there are alot of skills that are more or less useless, More sword technics/combos are lacking bigtime. OK, quen is a tanking skill and can be easily overused. Its like Quen is a way to appeal to the casual mainstream gamer that like to win without skill. But I kind of like the idea of 1-2 hit deaths. Feels more like reality. If you want to live you have to be witchery aka speedy and dodgy.
Here is my feedback:
Graphics:
I like it so far but i can survive if you put less myst around... The game got downgraded this is a matter of fact sadly even if is still beautiful sometime the lod appear to be to disappear on the mist too much close...Maybe move away the mist and improve some lod texture would do the trick.
Gameplay:
Well i like the combat so far.. Even if it have some cam problems..There is a thing that i absolutely hate tough... Potions potrayed just as mere buff with no drinking anims either... Witcher 2 did this right... You had to drink the potion before you face the fight.. That is how a witcher is supposed to do... The mechanic that allow you to eat and drink in the middle of combat is just immersion breaking way more than the no driking animation for potion and utterly stupid.. One of the worst design decision taken.
Story and sidequest:
Just amazing... Amazing dialogues.. Amazing choice and consequence.. Amazing stories.. Nice voice acting and overall atmosphere..
Conclusion:
This game is a work of art..Sadly not at the full potential due to the downgrade and the overall dumbing down for the sake of "make the combat fluid even if you add things that utterly break the immersion and the lores of the setting because is cool"...
I loved the game.. but can be improved by much...Pleace cdprojekt before semplify things think twice... I am one of the people that ended here escaping from the RPG dumbing down mainstream don't follow this route because i went here because i know cd projekt is different... Keep quality and consistency... A franchise don't need to be dumbed down in order to like to people that dislike rpg or challenge... Please think about it...
With love.. Monica
Graphics:
I like it so far but i can survive if you put less myst around... The game got downgraded this is a matter of fact sadly even if is still beautiful sometime the lod appear to be to disappear on the mist too much close...Maybe move away the mist and improve some lod texture would do the trick.
Gameplay:
Well i like the combat so far.. Even if it have some cam problems..There is a thing that i absolutely hate tough... Potions potrayed just as mere buff with no drinking anims either... Witcher 2 did this right... You had to drink the potion before you face the fight.. That is how a witcher is supposed to do... The mechanic that allow you to eat and drink in the middle of combat is just immersion breaking way more than the no driking animation for potion and utterly stupid.. One of the worst design decision taken.
Story and sidequest:
Just amazing... Amazing dialogues.. Amazing choice and consequence.. Amazing stories.. Nice voice acting and overall atmosphere..
Conclusion:
This game is a work of art..Sadly not at the full potential due to the downgrade and the overall dumbing down for the sake of "make the combat fluid even if you add things that utterly break the immersion and the lores of the setting because is cool"...
I loved the game.. but can be improved by much...Pleace cdprojekt before semplify things think twice... I am one of the people that ended here escaping from the RPG dumbing down mainstream don't follow this route because i went here because i know cd projekt is different... Keep quality and consistency... A franchise don't need to be dumbed down in order to like to people that dislike rpg or challenge... Please think about it...
With love.. Monica
First was almost perfect. Second also was very, very good (too easy as for me, but it can be fixed with mods). Third.... heh, everything have its end, may be next time.
Wild hunt copy same errors as dragon age 2 and dragon age 3: picture over story and usability.
The only brilliant story point is Crach's line. Even ending is not even close. Especially the one where Ciri become empress. Earlier she tell Geralt she don't need as much freedom as she have. Now she cry because she have some obligations but understand that can do many good thins. And almost cry because she won't be able to see Geralt again. Every one are alive, Ciri can teleport anywhere she want wtf? Writers needed "sad" (not bad bud sad) ending but didn't know how to do it?
Thx for game, but sorry you didn't manage to do it even close to first or second part. Won't advise to any of my friends.
Wild hunt copy same errors as dragon age 2 and dragon age 3: picture over story and usability.
The only brilliant story point is Crach's line. Even ending is not even close. Especially the one where Ciri become empress. Earlier she tell Geralt she don't need as much freedom as she have. Now she cry because she have some obligations but understand that can do many good thins. And almost cry because she won't be able to see Geralt again. Every one are alive, Ciri can teleport anywhere she want wtf? Writers needed "sad" (not bad bud sad) ending but didn't know how to do it?
Thx for game, but sorry you didn't manage to do it even close to first or second part. Won't advise to any of my friends.
Outstanding game but with some bugs!
Hi guys!
This is the first Witcher game I have played and I am loving it!! Playing it on a PS4.
So far my main gripe with the game are its movement and targeting, it is so bloody buggy.
Cheers and keep up the good work and hopefully the movement and targeting gets improved!
Hi guys!
This is the first Witcher game I have played and I am loving it!! Playing it on a PS4.
So far my main gripe with the game are its movement and targeting, it is so bloody buggy.
- Geralt\Roche gets stuck so easily within the environment
- Sometimes while swimming you are randomly unable to dive\submerge into the water
- Swimming direction mechanics could be tweaked
- Inability to jump out of water when you are right next to the shore, SO ANNOYING. It forces you to find a leveled path where you can walk out of the water onto the shore.
- At times there are candles\fire places near loot that you can ignite and it somehow always prioritises the 'ignite' action instead of 'loot'
- You will be on top of loot and sometimes are unable to loot it or the loot icon does not show up
- Roche's spawn points when calling him are so random, he will be up a hill, behind a fence, behind a house, just spawn near me damn it. Red Dead Redemption's horse spawning was not perfect but A LOT better than in Witcher 3
- When you try and dodge\roll while fighting or get thrown when hit - especially in caves, you will get stuck in between rocks and are unable to get out
- Camera problems while in combat
Cheers and keep up the good work and hopefully the movement and targeting gets improved!
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After 149 hours, my main gripe is after CDPR insisted that the game would look like the 35 minute demo/Sword of Destiny trailer, the actuality the opposite. We got a totally different product visually. After people started to become skeptical, CDPR continued to state that the final product would look like those trailers, as late into development as this year even. What we got does not hold a candle to what we were shown in 2014.
If the intent is to have a unified version across all systems graphically, at least give the option for visual styles. Bishock infinite did it, and you did it to a lesser extent with movement response. An official CDPR PC mod that restores as much as can be restored from 2014 graphically would be a dream come true.
PC has a VERY barebones graphics menu. From a company who has gone on record saying they want to push the graphical envelope, we should have things like separate sliders for foliage distance and foliage shadows, we should have FoV sliders, we should have anti aliasing options. It's 2015
Confirmation or at least acknowledgement of the question of enhancing TW3 with DX12 would be welcomed.
Smaller, in between patches should be utilized. There was no reason achievements should have been broken for THAT long.
The third act needs some fleshing out. There are some beautifully crafted forum posts describing actual flaws. The upcoming patch with additional Triss dialogue is a massive step in the right direction.
With the leveling system and the open world, it makes end game Geralt killing drowners in one slice on death march difficulty a little bit of a bummer. Would have liked for after a certain threshold low level enemies level up to continue to pose a tiny challenge.
I, as well as everyone else, know that these two expansions will be outstanding. We also understand how much work needs to be put into them, which limits available work on the actual vanilla game, and disheartens those playing eagerly awaiting the next patch to fix tiny bugs.
This game is outstanding, but it feels like certain aspects did get a little rushed to try not to delay release again. Games need to eventually be released.
If the intent is to have a unified version across all systems graphically, at least give the option for visual styles. Bishock infinite did it, and you did it to a lesser extent with movement response. An official CDPR PC mod that restores as much as can be restored from 2014 graphically would be a dream come true.
PC has a VERY barebones graphics menu. From a company who has gone on record saying they want to push the graphical envelope, we should have things like separate sliders for foliage distance and foliage shadows, we should have FoV sliders, we should have anti aliasing options. It's 2015
Confirmation or at least acknowledgement of the question of enhancing TW3 with DX12 would be welcomed.
Smaller, in between patches should be utilized. There was no reason achievements should have been broken for THAT long.
The third act needs some fleshing out. There are some beautifully crafted forum posts describing actual flaws. The upcoming patch with additional Triss dialogue is a massive step in the right direction.
With the leveling system and the open world, it makes end game Geralt killing drowners in one slice on death march difficulty a little bit of a bummer. Would have liked for after a certain threshold low level enemies level up to continue to pose a tiny challenge.
I, as well as everyone else, know that these two expansions will be outstanding. We also understand how much work needs to be put into them, which limits available work on the actual vanilla game, and disheartens those playing eagerly awaiting the next patch to fix tiny bugs.
This game is outstanding, but it feels like certain aspects did get a little rushed to try not to delay release again. Games need to eventually be released.
Critical feedback (suck it up)
Combat:
Outrageously bad enemy design, questionable balance and sword hits that make the enemies feel like butter overshadow the improvements (them being the responsiveness and the small dodge). Leveling system is weird, why is the last perk in Defense has to do with instant-kill? Why is Rend not nearly as good as Whirl and not even as good as a normal Strong Attack? What's the deal with Adrenaline Points, how can keep track of their generation? Why almost none of the alchemy perks have to do with upgrading the individual potions buffs and rather a random buff? It seems as if CDPR were eager to make more perks in the expense of more variety, relevance and balance.
Oh, and the hitboxes. They're horrible
Crafting and Loot:
Item crafting has vastly improved no doubt. The complex items and crafting components are great additions and feel like an important step forward. Alchemy however, took five steps backwards: Unlike TW1&2, potions, bombs and oils crafting in TW3 doesn't have to do with harvesting components, rather it became a tedious exercise in going to a store, pining the crafting formula and hoping the herbalist has the components. The amount of oils, potions and bombs was reduced as well.
Loot is just bad: you can't make an open world full of loot if the player is only uses two swords and armor. finding stuff isn't not as exciting as it was in the last games, much because the Witcher sets completely ruin the balance, no reason whatsoever to look for loot if you have a god Witcher set.
Area Design:
Not as good as the previous games. Can't think of an area as beautifully and carefully as Flotsam, Loc Muinne and Lakeside. It's a result of choosing to make the game an open world, but still, damn shame.
Story:
Complete disappointment. I was expecting something at least as good as the last two games (CDPR thought so it seems) but refused to believe the game was written by the same team. Plot holes, pacing issues (god, the Novigrad act) uninteresting characters everywhere, this Deus Ex Machina in the end, TW3 is guilty of all this charges and a terribly lot more. A side from the Family Matters quest there's not one plot arc even remotely in the quality of the previous games (and I do mean not one - the Whispering Hillock was the weirdest, out-of-the-blue moment in the game maybe).
Side Open World Activities:
Gwent's awesome.
Save Imports:
The absolute worst offender. The Witcher 3 often ignores the last games plot, sometimes apologizes for it and sometimes even straight out contradicts them. In TW2 you made kingdoms rise and fall, but if you ask The Witcher 3, they all fall. The choices you make in TW2 don't interest TW3, because it's so eager to tell its own story. This retroactively makes TW2 a bad RPG - your choices don't matter: Spared Stennis? Aedirn falls anyway. Spared Saskia? Don't mind it, Philipa lost control over her in any case. Neglected to help Roche rescue Anais so in the ending he went on an exile with her? Errmm.... No.
And why are the characters so different then in TW2? Letho apparently was stupid to believe Emyhr will honor they're deal, Radovid is now a complete lunatic asshole, Triss has lost any and all remnants of sexiness and edge. What were you thinking CDPR?
Quests:
No variety, no challenge other than killing monster and almost no interesting story. This Detective Mode ripoff has cleaned the quest designers of all inspiration apparently. Simply press the Witcher Sense button and follow the footsteps/scent/blood/whatever. Where's the unguided exploration of the Rotfiends Contract (or any contract really)? Where's the puzzles of the Secrets of Loc Muinne? Where's the re-activity of Death Symbolized?
Conclusion:
Quite disappointing...
Combat:
Outrageously bad enemy design, questionable balance and sword hits that make the enemies feel like butter overshadow the improvements (them being the responsiveness and the small dodge). Leveling system is weird, why is the last perk in Defense has to do with instant-kill? Why is Rend not nearly as good as Whirl and not even as good as a normal Strong Attack? What's the deal with Adrenaline Points, how can keep track of their generation? Why almost none of the alchemy perks have to do with upgrading the individual potions buffs and rather a random buff? It seems as if CDPR were eager to make more perks in the expense of more variety, relevance and balance.
Oh, and the hitboxes. They're horrible
Crafting and Loot:
Item crafting has vastly improved no doubt. The complex items and crafting components are great additions and feel like an important step forward. Alchemy however, took five steps backwards: Unlike TW1&2, potions, bombs and oils crafting in TW3 doesn't have to do with harvesting components, rather it became a tedious exercise in going to a store, pining the crafting formula and hoping the herbalist has the components. The amount of oils, potions and bombs was reduced as well.
Loot is just bad: you can't make an open world full of loot if the player is only uses two swords and armor. finding stuff isn't not as exciting as it was in the last games, much because the Witcher sets completely ruin the balance, no reason whatsoever to look for loot if you have a god Witcher set.
Area Design:
Not as good as the previous games. Can't think of an area as beautifully and carefully as Flotsam, Loc Muinne and Lakeside. It's a result of choosing to make the game an open world, but still, damn shame.
Story:
Complete disappointment. I was expecting something at least as good as the last two games (CDPR thought so it seems) but refused to believe the game was written by the same team. Plot holes, pacing issues (god, the Novigrad act) uninteresting characters everywhere, this Deus Ex Machina in the end, TW3 is guilty of all this charges and a terribly lot more. A side from the Family Matters quest there's not one plot arc even remotely in the quality of the previous games (and I do mean not one - the Whispering Hillock was the weirdest, out-of-the-blue moment in the game maybe).
Side Open World Activities:
Gwent's awesome.
Save Imports:
The absolute worst offender. The Witcher 3 often ignores the last games plot, sometimes apologizes for it and sometimes even straight out contradicts them. In TW2 you made kingdoms rise and fall, but if you ask The Witcher 3, they all fall. The choices you make in TW2 don't interest TW3, because it's so eager to tell its own story. This retroactively makes TW2 a bad RPG - your choices don't matter: Spared Stennis? Aedirn falls anyway. Spared Saskia? Don't mind it, Philipa lost control over her in any case. Neglected to help Roche rescue Anais so in the ending he went on an exile with her? Errmm.... No.
And why are the characters so different then in TW2? Letho apparently was stupid to believe Emyhr will honor they're deal, Radovid is now a complete lunatic asshole, Triss has lost any and all remnants of sexiness and edge. What were you thinking CDPR?
Quests:
No variety, no challenge other than killing monster and almost no interesting story. This Detective Mode ripoff has cleaned the quest designers of all inspiration apparently. Simply press the Witcher Sense button and follow the footsteps/scent/blood/whatever. Where's the unguided exploration of the Rotfiends Contract (or any contract really)? Where's the puzzles of the Secrets of Loc Muinne? Where's the re-activity of Death Symbolized?
Conclusion:
Quite disappointing...
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