The way I see it is, this is basically my first review. Mainly because, looking back Brink wasn't really a game. So it's only natural it's review shouldn't be valid.
This game was insane. Incredible highs and somewhat low lows. The Witcher 2 has the ability to beat the hell out of you. Unlike many games of the last couple years. This one does not hold your hand. You are told to get the quest done. You aren't even really given the right tools to get it done. You have to find them. This is Witcher 2.
Now I didn't play The Witcher, but I read into the story just to grasp some character motives.You play as Geralt of Rivia, also known as The Witcher, or as The White Wolf. You're a man of many names. The only problem is you can hardly remember any of them. Or anything for that matter. Geralt is suffering from Amnesia, his memory is hidden from him. Over the course of the game parts of his past begin to unfold to him through some very cool looking cutscenes.
The game starts with Geralt in prison. He's been arrested for murdering the King. Vernon Roche, the leader of an elite Temerian kill squad is tasked with questioning you. It's here where the prologue is explained and you play out what happened leading up to your arrest. Now I should mention while Geralt has amnesia over the first game he remembers some people and some things, so it's not like he's walking around asking who he is or where is he. He seems to have a good idea what's going on.
At the end of the prologue, you see a giant man kill the king. Vernon believes you, but knows he can't just release you. Geralt promises Roche, that if freed he will track down the true Kingslayer. You do manage to escape and leave on a boat heading towards Flotsom, this games city of Thieves. This would be a good time to introduce Triss Merigold. A sorceress who served as adviser to the King. Triss is also (if you want her to be) Geralt's lover. She's eager to figure out what really happened as well.
This is where the game really starts in my opinion. You're thrown in to this mess of a city and you have to juggle a wilderness full of angry elves, and monsters. As well as a city of corrupt lawmen, and traitors. When you arrive you meet Iorveth, an elf infamous for his slaughtering of humans. The elves in this game, aren't the friendly sort. Their kind is oppressed and aren't allowed the freedoms you and I so often have. So there is a reason, Iorveth is the person he is. He doesn't just kill for fun.
Iorveth is working with the actual kingslayer, in some plot to remove as many royal powers as possible. Just for the sake of doing it, or is that so? You'll find out. You finally arrive in town, to find two of Geralt's close friends about to be hung. You have to find a way to save them. This is where you meet Loredo, one of the many corrupt lawmen I was alluding to before. In order to save your friends, he propositions you to hunt down and kill Iorveth for the "safety" of his town. You accept the quest and go on with your business. This is one of the many things you have a choice involved with. I can't go into detail, but almost every large decision is made by you.
It's important I talk about gameplay and more directly combat. The combat in this game is unrelenting. To begin the game you just don't feel like you're given an actual chance. You're constantly up against groups of enemies when nothing about your character at this point is designed to fight multiple targets. So for awhile you must scrap and dodge to get through every fight but later on a switch is flipped and you will finally be able to fight with an unbelivable level of grace. So just stick with it guys.
As you fight humans and monsters, you'll have to switch between your Steel and your Silver swords, one more suited at fighting one group over the other. You also have five magic abilities that work in-sync with your swordsmanship. Yet, as intricate as the combat can be. It's left click for light, and right click for heavy attack.
I'd have to say that the story is one of the coolest I've experienced in a while for a game. Nothing felt out of place or unnecessary, I was never forced into making a decision that made no sense as to what was currently going on. Also not trying to give away too much, but when's the last time you played a game and at the game you could choose to fight the "epic" last boss or just let him walk away.
So as you've probably gathered, I loved this game. Difficult, Aggravating, and Amazing are all words that come to mind when thinking about the Witcher 2, but I honestly mean these words in the best way. The Witcher 2 is out now for the PC, and it's coming to Xbox 360 this fall. Please play this.
Thumbs up.
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