An Impromptu Witcher Lets Play - now with the Witcher 2!

[loc978]

I'm a little confused about the sex card thing myself. So far I haven't been terribly far into the Witcher (I really dislike the controls, it seems like they couldn't decide if the game was meant to be controlled as a third-person action game or a top-down RPG... from the looks of things, the second game settled on third-person action, to its benefit)... but I've yet to see Geralt do anything horribly lecherous or objectifying, he seems pretty respectful and only playfully aggressive with any of the women he winds up with.

So yeah, it's like they meant the player to be a peeping Tom living vicariously through Geralt's healthy sex life... which is a little creepy, actually.

 

[Theminimanx]

One irritating thing about the game, though, is that you have the quit in order to change your settings. Or you did when I played it, at least.

All the way out, or to the main menu?

It's a moot point until it goes on sale, but it's nice to know that I might be able to play it on my current system.

You have the change the graphics in the launcher, which is even more annoying. Seriously, all games need to show the new graphics settings as you're changing them. This was a godsend in Bioshock: Infinite, when I was trying to figure out what was keeping my framerate below 60.

 

[Weaver]

I just couldn't make it through the first witcher. The card's and sex didn't bother me at all. I thought the card "collection" thing was hilariously ridiculous in its stupidity, but I feel like I have European sensibilities when it comes to sex.

However, the game I think just has a stupidly long gestation period. It was slow. Everything was slow. I'm a patient person, but most of the game was just me walking to somewhere, then walking back. I put over 10 hours in, and I heard it picks up, but my god, I just stopped caring.

 

[Bara_no_Hime]

I'm a little confused about the sex card thing myself. ... but I've yet to see Geralt do anything horribly lecherous or objectifying, he seems pretty respectful and only playfully aggressive with any of the women he winds up with.

Yeah, that's the impression I'm getting too.

Although, it sounds like he might have been more "James Bond-esque" before his amnesia. Since then... I mentioned how he reminds me of Swords and Sorcery Mr. Bean, haven't I?

And yeah, the cards just come off as creepy. They clash with the overall tone of the game.

The card's and sex didn't bother me at all. I thought the card "collection" thing was hilariously ridiculous, but I feel like I have European sensibilities when it comes to sex.

Like I said, it wasn't the naked breasts that bother me. It's the attitude that the game seems to have towards it player - that the player is some sort of perv playing with one hand and jacking it with the other.

While searching for good avatar pics (for my threat above to make a Witcher avatar for myself) I came across several interesting pictures (I had Safe Search off) and seems to confirm that the Witcher 2 has no problems with full on graphic sex scenes. Didn't bother me one bit. Actually, I was pleased that Triss seems to have realized that her outfit in the first game looks idiotic and changed into something more practical.

However, the game I think just has a stupidly long gestation period. It was slow. Everything was slow. I'm a patient person, but most of the game was just me walking to somewhere, then walking back. I put over 10 hours in, and I heard it picks up, but my god, I just stopped caring.

See, I love long RPGs. I don't feel like I've gotten my money's worth out of an RPG if I don't spend 100 hours on the first play through at least.

 

[Weaver]

The card's and sex didn't bother me at all. I thought the card "collection" thing was hilariously ridiculous, but I feel like I have European sensibilities when it comes to sex.

Like I said, it wasn't the naked breasts that bother me. It's the attitude that the game seems to have towards it player - that the player is some sort of perv playing with one hand and jacking it with the other.

I agree, I just don't think I worded it very well. It was certainly a facepalm "we're REALLY doing this, guys?" moment for me. But it was just so... absurdly to stereotype, and at the same time an incredibly odd thing to happen, I was surprised and I guess I just couldn't help but laugh at it. It was just one of those "Did that just really happen?" moments. I dunno, I'm bad at explaining myself.

While searching for good avatar pics (for my threat above to make a Witcher avatar for myself) I came across several interesting pictures (I had Safe Search off) and seems to confirm that the Witcher 2 has no problems with full on graphic sex scenes. Didn't bother me one bit. Actually, I was pleased that Triss seems to have realized that her outfit in the first game looks idiotic and changed into something more practical.

I haven't played 2 yet, but I'm glad they seemed to have gained some sense.

See, I love long RPGs. I don't feel like I've gotten my money's worth out of an RPG if I don't spend 100 hours on the first play through at least.

I agree with feelings of getting your money out of a game, but some games go about length the wrong way (by what feels like padding). I felt the witcher was just very slow for my tastes. Mainly because I wasn't getting into the story. I put 120 hours into Dragon Age (the first one) and I loved it, a s comparison.

Thus it's not that I wanted the game to be shorter, I just wanted it to be more interesting. Not saying you can't or shouldn't find it such if you do.

 

[The White Hunter]

**snip**

**snip**

I had the same problem with Age of Empires 2 back in the day. A friend loaned me the game. I sat down one Friday to play it and, after many "one more turns" it was Sunday. I literally have a Saturday that I don't remember because I was playing Age of Empires so long I didn't notice it.

I uninstalled the game that Monday (after much sleep) and vowed never to play Age of Empires (or similar) again, because I couldn't trust myself to stop.

Hahaha I could never install something so fun as Civ 5!

I'm pretty good at stopping actually, considering you can save the game whenever it isn't a big deal to just stop playing and pick it up later. It's definately not something I wanna play in little bites though.

 

[The White Hunter]

You'd be surprised, you can get stable 30fps on intel integrated graphics ^_^ I'm running a Pentium Dual Core and HD 4770 and it runs smooth on low and mid.

Really? Huh. Okay, maybe I could run it. But, if possible, I prefer to play games on the PS3. I have a massive HDTV and I prefer the PS3 controller (yes, I could set it up for PC games, but it's a bother).

IT's really very good though, probably be in receipt of many a GOTY award given the critical reception it's had.

That's what I've been hearing. Like I said, that and Tomb Raider are probably going to be summer games for me, if only because I can buy Bioshock Infinite for my spouse and then play subsequently or co-currently. Well, that and it takes about three months after release for Amazon to start having awesome sales on new games. FarCry 3 (another game I'm keeping my eye on) is already only 40 bucks new on Amazon.

Ah I see, I generally pick people out by their avatar, I only mentioned because I saw your name quoted and didn't realise you were the OP!

I do the same thing, but I also check names a lot. I'm not the only person who likes to change avatars often. I try to follow whatever game I'm playing (often tabletop games, but sometimes video games).

Fair enough, thats a problem for me on PC, I do have a wired 360 controller but I dislike the thing, so mostly play things like FPS and RTS on the PC and then anything I'd prefer a controller for is a PS3 game for me.

Fair enough, try avoid spoilers for it like the plague, it's really annoying to have games with great stories ruined by asshats on the internet that don't understand spoiler tags. I'm gonna be picking up fary cry 3 when I build my new PC after my tax rebate.

Yeaeh I've noticed some people do and there are names I recognise but the avatar is the first thing I look at, I think I've been Jiraiya and Franky's crotch before and otherwise that may be all the avatars I've had. It could be worse, you could be Fappy and get chewed out whenever you change your avatar!

 

[Mycroft Holmes]

Only thing I can recommend for The Witcher is playing it on the easiest mode possible. I'm not one to shy away from a challenge but good god that combat system was atrocious.

 

[Bara_no_Hime]

Yeaeh I've noticed some people do and there are names I recognise but the avatar is the first thing I look at, I think I've been Jiraiya and Franky's crotch before and otherwise that may be all the avatars I've had. It could be worse, you could be Fappy and get chewed out whenever you change your avatar!

Ha, true.

Speaking of which....

Help me choose my Witcher Avatar. I've made four by Google Image searching and then cropping/resizing. Here are the results:

#1: Triss Sex Card #2 (face only)

#2: That girl I just met whose name I don't know.

#3: Female Geralt

#4: Female Geralt SD

There you go. You all have until I get home to vote on which one of these should be my new avatar. Just post your choice in a message (and to avoid low content, tell me why you prefer that one).

 

[The White Hunter]

#4: Female Geralt SD

There you go. You all have until I get home to vote on which one of these should be my new avatar. Just post your choice in a message.

Oh definately number 4, mostly because it's the only one that I'd consider more easily recognised than just a generic fantasy face to those uninitiated to The Witcher series like myself.

 

[Broderick]

Yeaeh I've noticed some people do and there are names I recognise but the avatar is the first thing I look at, I think I've been Jiraiya and Franky's crotch before and otherwise that may be all the avatars I've had. It could be worse, you could be Fappy and get chewed out whenever you change your avatar!

Ha, true.

Speaking of which....

Help me choose my Witcher Avatar. I've made four by Google Image searching and then cropping/resizing. Here are the results:


#4: Female Geralt SD

Im gonna go with number 4 as well, if only because it is a bit funny, and looks like it would be a good avatar. As for tips and stuff with the game? Well I played and beat the first one years ago, so excuse my memory. Make sure you buy books to research monsters whenever you can, as doing so gives you extra mob drops for potion making(i think). You can sometimes get information from townsfolk, so try and give some of them a gift or two to get some info without spending much money.

The game is VERY slow burning, but if you can trudge through it, then you will have a rewarding experience. Right now there isnt much going on in your game(from what you said), but later you will have to make some very grey choices that will effect the enemies you fight, your allies, and part of the games ending.

Later on you will have to do a "detective" quest and let me tell you that it is a pain in the ass to do it right without a guide. You can accuse the wrong person if you are not careful, so when you get to that quest, I suggest you explore EVERYWHERE, and pick up all the evidence you can get before making a decision.

As I said before, it is a very slow, but long game. If you can get through the slow parts, I am sure you will enjoy yourself. Pretty much all the sex card stuff is optional anyways. There are very few times when you cant just say "naw" when the option to have sex comes up. I hope you enjoy the game, and make sure you have potion buffs and upgrade your equipment!

 

[DarksideFlame]

So warned. Still, I'm committed to giving it a chance. And, so far, it's been mildly amusing. Better than replaying Temple of Elemental Evil for the third time in as many months.

I really wanted to like it too, I don't think I would have been able to play it for that long if I didn't but I just could not enjoy the game and The Witcher 1 is probably going to be the one game I couldn't bring myself to finish, maybe I'll give it a second chance someday

Witcher 2 was a step in the right direction though I wouldn't call it a great game it was more above average but I haven't played the other path yet so that might improve my thoughts about W2

 

[Tanis]

If I made a thread every time this happened to me...
I'd get an infraction for spamming.
XD

GOG is so lovely.

 

[Bara_no_Hime]

And I'm home. And the only two votes go to... #4! So that one wins. ^^

If I made a thread every time this happened to me...
I'd get an infraction for spamming.
XD
GOG is so lovely.

Oh, I only made it because I was specifically against playing this game previously. I also bought Duke Nukem 3D and Railroad Tycoon when they were on sale, but I have nostalgic love for both of those games, so no need to damn GOG - thank them maybe. ^^

 

[Bara_no_Hime]

As I said before, it is a very slow, but long game. If you can get through the slow parts, I am sure you will enjoy yourself. Pretty much all the sex card stuff is optional anyways. There are very few times when you cant just say "naw" when the option to have sex comes up.

Someone said this before - that I can avoid the cards by avoiding the sex.

Here's the thing - I don't WANT to avoid the sex. The cards are detracting from my enjoyment of my character being allowed to sleep around, which makes me sad, because I enjoy sex in my games (it's rare enough). What I don't enjoy is sex being treated like a collectable mini-quest.

I've been told (and seen some screen shots of, thanks to Google Image search) that the Witcher 2 improves on this by getting rid of the cards and having R rated sex scenes. And of that, I approve wholeheartedly.

 

[Bara_no_Hime]

Read them in order. There are actually two - Yennefer and Ciri are introduced in the short stories and once the saga starts, they are full-fledged co-protagonists.

Here's the problem with that - the first short story collection (the Last Wish) is the one that costs money. I wanted to read some of the free stuff first and decide if I wanted to buy the book or not. The free short story (that I just downloaded from GOG) will give me a preview, so that might do it, but if it doesn't, I wanted suggestions on which of the fan-translated stories to read.

Perhaps it would be easier to ask which of the fan translated ones are the least spoilerific for earlier stories?

 

[maninahat]

Be aware that the fucking dice game is broken. Apparently it's even worse in the sequel, but here, it's just plain unfair. Your opponent always goes last, which gives them a massive advantage. Also, they magically get better dice roles, just by virtue of being "more skilled" at the game.

 

[AD-Stu]

This seems as good a place as any to throw this question out: so far, have you found any of the characters that you actually like?

I ground through about 30 hours of the game and it felt like really hard work. It took that long for it to dawn on me why that was though - it was because I hated EVERY SINGLE ONE of the characters, especially Gerald, and I couldn't care less if he and his silver-haired buddies got their magic potions back or not. It was as though I was playing KOTOR and all of the NPCs were as annoying as Carth Onassi.

I disliked the interface, the pacing and the voice acting as well. But when I realised that it was actually the story that was putting me off, and that was supposed to be the game's strong point... n'yeah, that was the last I played of the game.

 

[EvilRoy]

I'm in an oddly extremely similar situation. When I heard they were giving duke nukem 3d away a month or two ago I ended up getting an account and buying a few cheapies, witcher 1 and 2 being a couple of em.

Last weekend I finally started it despite not really caring about it (because I spent money on it, so now I HAVE to play it or else admit I wasted a least one coffee run per Witcher), and got around as far as you did. I never actually found an inn, I just started walking directly to where the next quest dot it to talk to the reverend, hopefully he answers his door in the middle of the night for me.

I can't say I'm loving the combat so far, seems kinda dull with just the whole click attack once, then time it to get a combo, then do that again until they die thing. I'm hoping with a bit more time it gets better once I get some new weaps and a spell or two more.

Curious to know what you make of the entirely appalling collectible cards the first time you encounter them.

I enjoyed elements of The Witcher, and saw what they were going for, but I found the bad voice acting, writing and mechanics kept pulling me out of the experience. This is one of those series where the sequel improved on the original in almost every conceivable way.

I remember having heard about it, but it completely slipped my mind until I actually saw the card. I actually just had to stop for a while because I was giggling like a schoolgirl. The sex caught me off guard completely, I actually thought to myself "how did that conversation lead to sex?" and then laughed out loud at the little trading card I got. Her version of pillow talk "A pleasure as always" plus the fact that she apparently thought she would screw his memories back in got a chuckle out of me too.

 

[ninjaRiv]

Why all the hate for the first Witcher? I loved it... I love the second one, too.

But GOG has some fantastic deals. I bought the Gabrielle Knights games and I... Didn't even want them