I have read through this thread, and It is very strange and disappointing that very few posts actually talked about Geralt and Vesemir's interaction. All we seem to care about these days are graphics, but as old fans we forget that graphics were not why Witcher 1 was great nor will it be why WItcher 3 would be great or disappointing. I want to take this time to tell the new fans that the Witcher is not about graphics, but it is about a great story told within a rich lore with a unique and immersive atmosphere. It is about mature subjects and life like gray decisions that have consequences that might surprise you. It is about interesting and deep characters and their relationships. These are the things that are most important in the Witcher.
That being said I loved Geralt and Vesemir's interaction. We felt the father and son relationship, and its portrayal was so subtle and perfect. We see a father and son, that care about each other, trying to hide their emotions and act tough for each other. The expression on Vesemir's face when he asks about Geralt's nightmare, shows that he cares about Geralt. They argue about the rereading the letter like any father and son arguing about silly stuff. Vesemir then raises his voice on Geralt like a father, and Geralt daunts Vesemir with a smart comment like a rebellious kid. Although Geralt is a dick to Vesemir in the beginning, we see that he cares about his old man by the look on his face when Vesemir is injured by the Griffin. Vesemir then acts tough for Geralt by telling him that the beast barely grazed him.
I really liked the strong writing and delivery, which makes Geralt and Vesemir's interaction so smooth and believable.
Actually that's the thing that impressed me the most in the new footage.
Geralt has to go across the land ravaged by war to meet his lost love, and the place where she supposed to be waiting for him is gone. He's worried, he's impatient after all he's been through, not to mention he is tormented by nightmares. Vesemir sees it, tries to comfrot him, calm him down. The best part of it is that you don't have to "
invent" the backstory to make the whole thing meaningful, because it's simply there. And you can see it in the faces and gestures of the witchers, you can hear it in their voices and finally, wchich is most important, you can actually
feel it. I know this is just a microscopic part of the game but that right there is the proof for me, that the emotional weight of the game - the thing that, in my opinion ofcourse, TW2 lacked so much - will be just right this time.
CDP RED not only nailed that scene, but they captured the relationship between the two warriors perfectly in such a small amount of dialogue - I can't even begin imagine how it will be like to reunite with Yen, or Ciri.
After watching the mentioned scene - the fidelity of grass, cartoonish lighting and graphics overall were completely unimportant for me. The story is the spirit of this game.