defiler
Mad Hermit
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Posted - 2007.11.11 02:26:00 -
[1]
Ah, The Witcher. 
After returning from the Fanfest I went to the local games store (local is a relative term ofc, living in the arse end of nowhere) to get it. Walked out with the collectors edition. Didn't plan on that but I most definitely don't regret it. Apart from the standard "making of" dvd and soundtrack it also contained an artbook that, while I haven't read much of it yet, seems to rival The Art Of EVE (OZOM) in size and scope (MOZO). Not bad, not bad at all. Trying to avoid looking too closely until I've actually finished the game, but there seems to be a lot of good stuff in there.
As for the game, loving it so far. I like the references to our modern world and culture, and as I understand it they are quite deliberate even in the books the game is based on. I also like the "colourful" language people use, thank god I live in Europe so I could get the uncensored version. Nothing like hearing some rude words instead of hearing tame substitutes (which your brain instantly replace with the rude version anyway).
I guess some people prefer the more traditional fantasy stuff with wise and noble elves, dwarves living underground and human scholars and peasant folk alike that doth speaketh ye olde archaic English (incorrectly). I myself don't care for that crap.
And as the OP says, the shades of grey morality is nice. It can be hard to determine what the right thing to do is, and the right thing isn't always the "good" thing. I also like the delay between action and consequence - you can help someone and all seems well until one day you find you alienated the whole village because of it. Nice. (it seems that you can sometimes change side if you so desire, but a man gotta have principles you know).
Not all is well ofc. Some stuff isn't explained very well in the game, for instance I have yet to figure out how to brand runes into my silver sword (I figure you need a blacksmith for it but all I've met only work with the steel sword). Could look it up but I guess I'll figure it out eventually. There's also some odd slowdowns at different times in certain areas which doesn't seem to have anything to do with the graphics. And while I may have misunderstood the background of the game world, for a supposedly sterile and emotionless mutant loner Geralt certainly knows how to handle the ladies. Was a bit surprised by this early in the game, but by now I've gotten used to it. 
There's some other issues but that's to be expected I guess, and I'm certain the next patch will remove a few wrinkles. All in all I'm very impressed by this game. I first heard of it less than a month ago and I certainly didn't expect such a low profile game to be this good. Highly recommended.
Now to locate translations of the novels...
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