The Witcher Enhanced Edition is out!!!

[Kaftan Barlast]

Does combat get any better? All I do is wait for the flaming sword icon to show up and then click and repeat until the enemy is dead.

[Morgoth]

Well you get more signs and items along the road, so you get potentially more combinations to use. For the most time, I just used the three fighting styles: Standard (for slower enemies), Fast paced (for ninja like enemie) and Multi (when surrounded my more enemies). There're also a triggers, an icon fires up and when you click timely while the icon is highlighted, you strike a powerful blow. There are also two different type of swords, Silver (better against monsters) and Steel (better against humans). Overall, I thought combat in Witcher was varied enough to keep me entertained.

Edited September 29, 2008 by Morgoth

[Kaftan Barlast]

I think it would have been better if they would have gone diablo and had "one click - one slash", that way you would atleast feel like youre actually doing something instead of just waiting for the right icon to show.

[Morgoth]

I think it would have been better if they would have gone diablo and had "one click - one slash", that way you would atleast feel like youre actually doing something instead of just waiting for the right icon to show.

No, you do slash with your sword, and you don't have to hit an extra icon. Just while you hack on the enemy, the cursor turns into a firy arrowhead, and when you exactly click LM within ~0,2 s, you will crush the enemie in a furious strike.

Edited September 29, 2008 by Morgoth

[Slowtrain]

There's also special attacks in each style (4th level) that are quite powerful but drain stamina.

 

 

Its not great, but I've played lots crpgs with far far worse combat. However, if The Witcher was a fighting game and not a crpg, then no, combat would not be good enough.

[Gorgon]

I'm spending all my skill points on combat moves to get it a level above boring, probably not a good build but otherwise it's just not interesting enough. Other than that it's not that bad, the voice acting isn't terrible, you semi care about some of the NPCs. The music and atmosphere are good, which counts for a lot.

 

Also, just got my first dirty postcard. All the women are various degrees of extremely well endowed in the chest region, it's a nice distraction when you don't care what they're talking about. lols.

 

The combat system is point and click, interspaced with force powers (signs) but at least you haven't got a whole party to manage like in KOTOR. For some reason that is really hard to comprehend attacking an opponent that is one foot taller than the guy standing next to him requires a whole new combat discipline. The 'styles' are just a poor attempt at disguising that there isn't that much going on or skill involved in the hack and slash.

 

The overall atmosphere makes up for it though.

Edited September 29, 2008 by Gorgon

[Slowtrain]

I'm spending all my skill points on combat moves to get it a level above boring, probably not a good build but otherwise it's just not interesting enough. Other than that it's not that bad, the voice acting isn't terrible, you semi care about some of the NPCs. The music and atmosphere are good, which counts for a lot.

 

Also, just got my first dirty postcard. All the women are various degrees of extremely well endowed in the chest region, it's a nice distraction when you don't care what they're talking about. lols.

 

 

Develop your aard and igni signs. They are pretty important and make combat more interesting as well. Also take herbalism and oil making.

 

Its not a fighting game; its a crpg.

[Slowtrain]

. The 'styles' are just a poor attempt at disguising that there isn't that much going on or skill involved in the hack and slash.

 

Not really. The styles have their pros and cons. I often use the fast styles against strong slow enemies. It can bve very effective if you understand what you are doing.

[Gorgon]

Well I haven't played it that much, I suppose it's possible that it can grow on you.

[Slowtrain]

Well I haven't played it that much, I suppose it's possible that it can grow on you.

 

 

Its an interesting combination of reflex/twitch combat and character development. Yes, there is some twitch gaming involved, but a lot of what your character does it combat has to do with how you've spent your talents and what options are open to you. It is far more a skill-based crpg than a twitch crpg. If you simply look at it as a twitch fighter, a) you probably won't enjoy it since it's twitch aspects aren't terribly complex b) you'll miss out on a lot of what the game has to offer.

 

I think.

[Pidesco]

Unless you play the game on hard, the combat is just pointless grinding. On the other hand, the combat being too easy, means you can pretty much ignore it, and keep your focus on the game's good bits.

[Kaftan Barlast]

Its not a fighting game; its a crpg.

 

But first chapter in the grand rulebook of gamedesign starts something along the line of "if combat is your main gameplay, then youd better make a game with great f'cking combat."

 

 

This rule is more or less always blatantly disregarded in CRPG's. I dont know why, some people might say its tradition, others say that its because most CRPG players are morons who'll settle for anything as long as they get to grind rats in basements and run back and forth in the same tiny area for thirty days because the developers had to fill out those 40h+ of gameplay they promised despite only having actual material for 10.

[Slowtrain]

Unless you play the game on hard, the combat is just pointless grinding. On the other hand, the combat being too easy, means you can pretty much ignore it, and keep your focus on the game's good bits.

 

 

I play on medium and I find the combat varies. Some encounters are quite difficult and some are quite easy. I've been totally wiped out several times.

 

 

 

When I choose to fight the elves in the basement of the bank, for instance, I was totally owned the first time. I don't think I killed a single enemy before they dropped me.

 

[Slowtrain]

This rule is more or less always blatantly disregarded in CRPG's. I dont know why, some people might say its tradition, others say that its because most CRPG players are morons who'll settle for anything as long as they get to grind rats in basements and run back and forth in the same tiny area for thirty days because the developers had to fill out those 40h+ of gameplay they promised despite only having actual material for 10.

 

I pretty much agree with you there. But I have to give The Witcher its due: In a world filled with Oblivions and Fallouts, the combat is pretty OK for a crpg.

 

I mean, compare it to the huge-selling, highly praised Oblivion. Not only is the Witcher a far more story and dialogue driven crpg; its combat is like 10 jillion times better as well.

[newc0253]

i really don't get all the complaints about Witcher's combat: although it has a timing aspect, it's relatively easy to master; has plenty of strategic elements; and the animations themselves are the best i've seen in a CRPG - certainly better than NWN's or Oblivions.

 

(before folk start moaning, no, the strategic aspect of combat doesn't come from swordplay but from knowledge of monsters + potions + magic).

 

i guess a legitimate complaint might be lack of variety: Geralt's a swordsman, so maybe there's lots of folk bitterly disappointed that they can't play Geralt as an archer or a dual-wielding halbred specialist. but is that really such a major failing?

 

btw, i said earlier that the hardest combat in the game was the barghest fight. i lied: fighting the

wild hunt in that frakking meadow

is.

Edited September 29, 2008 by newc0253

[Starwars]

I normally dislike combat in action-RPGs, but I do find it passable in the Witcher. But it just suffers from what I feel most action-RPGs suffer from, and that is how repetetive it can get fighting. Certain areas are just a chore I feel because of the amount of fighting involved in them. I'd be happy if the amount of combat was like how it is in Vizima during chapter 2. The odd fight on the streets, the odd fight related to the story and you can go to the Sewers if you want more.

Thank god for the Drowner repellent I guess?

 

There are some good animations though for sure. Some are rather weird, but for the most part Geralt looks like a real badass when fighting.

[Slowtrain]

There are some good animations though for sure. Some are rather weird, but for the most part Geralt looks like a real badass when fighting.

 

 

I totally love the all fightfight animations. SOme of them are so goofy, but they are absolutely awesome.

[Calax]

I have a problem. If I ever try to load it without it being a fresh boot, my computer gives me a bluescreen of death.

 

I'm very confuzzled by this.

 

and now it doesn't recognize the disk as being in the drive...

 

 

AARGH!

Edited September 30, 2008 by Calax

[jaguars4ever]

The Jaguar Tip of the Day for those who suck at Witcher combat and really should be playing a girly game:

 

Use Force Push to knock down/stun your opponent, and then impale/decapitate right after. It's a one hit kill!

[Gorgon]

I'm really getting into this game, even though the combat is a little finicky it's a proper CRPG, been a long time since I played one of those. Don't have the early release to compare with but the skins and animations look just fine to me. Runs smooth too. Our hero's dialogue is a bit fan-fictionish but the voice actor got it right, at least he sounds 'ard.

 

I only play on 'Over the shoulder' camera mode, the rest are useless. Once again though you find myself thwarted by a one foot obstacle, this is a serious setback for immersion. Would have been nice to have proper jumping, but I guess this way you can apply more polish to whats there.

 

Imagine Assassin's creed movement and combat mechanics applied to this game for a minuite, drool.

Edited September 30, 2008 by Gorgon

[Meshugger]

The combat in The Witcher succeeds in what it is trying to do, but by itself, it is nothing outstanding. What i do like about it, is:

 

- C&C, it usually not between good and evil, but more amoral. You do one thing, and it leads to the next. Being so mundane, it also shows it's greatest strength.

- The atmosphere, very medieval. Castles have walls that are painted according to the worlds culture, the racism between the dwarves, elves, and humans, there's no pure evil, nor pure altruism, love it. Playing it with polish language pack even makes it more apparent on what sapkowski and the devs envisioned. This is a work with passion with a capital P, and it succeeded.

 

//EDIT: People, play with the polish language pack + subtitles. The others might be from 'ok' to 'good', but you miss the essence of what the Witcher should be by hinder yourself to another language.

Edited September 30, 2008 by Meshugger

[Gorgon]

Polish doesn't sound cool enough, sorry. I wouldn't want Danish voice packs even if they existed.

Edited September 30, 2008 by Gorgon

[Kaftan Barlast]

Playing Heavenly Sword with swedish voiceovers was hillarious.... retarded, but hillarious. Probably cost Sony a small fortune to record :D

 

 

 

edit: The polish voiceovers are not as good as the english ones, IMO. I dont know polish but they dont sound like theyre giving it much effort, and the recording is not as good either.

Edited September 30, 2008 by Kaftan Barlast

[Gorgon]

Omg there's naked nymphs. I thought the full monty was in user mods.

[Morgoth]

In German, Geralt sounds like a 14 year old. I still stick with english, even though it doesn't really approach the excellent VO quality of Bioware or Obsidian titles.