Post Witcher Blues
- Thread starter KasraF
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My usual answer is rinse and repeat, but make different choices. I loved the disparity between stories in TW1, because I always sided with The Order of the Flaming Rose until TW3 came out. In my refresher playthrough I sided with the Scoia'tael and enjoyed it thoroughly.
Maybe the Souls games/Bloodborne. Could also give The Elder Scrolls Online a shot, the writing and gameplay aren't on the same level as the witcher, obviously, but it's a lot better than people say and it's the right mix of fantasy world/enormous amount of content to act as a comedown for The Witcher.
if you're looking for more story driven rpg's that aren't bioware, I would recommend:
Bound by flame
Mars: war logs
they are both by the same AA developer (not AAA, but not indie either) and I think the games are both rough gems for anyone who likes more story driven action rpg's.
not the greatest games in the world, but definitely worth a playthrough.
Bound by flame
Mars: war logs
they are both by the same AA developer (not AAA, but not indie either) and I think the games are both rough gems for anyone who likes more story driven action rpg's.
not the greatest games in the world, but definitely worth a playthrough.
I'm kind of feeling the same depression. Finished the main quest on Thursday, finished my last contract today (got the achievement, so I know there aren't any more). Got no more side quest icons showing on the map. Been wandering around playing a bit of gwent with random merchants. There's an achievement for clearing all the monster nests which I'll probably go for just to squeeze the last drop of fun from the game.
After that I plan to play something completely different, probably a strategy game that doesn't have a story, because most games are going to feel underwhelming in comparison to TW3 for a few weeks/months.
After that I plan to play something completely different, probably a strategy game that doesn't have a story, because most games are going to feel underwhelming in comparison to TW3 for a few weeks/months.
Darksiders 2. Since you're not into Bioware and I can't recommend replaying Mass Effect 2 (it always cheers me up). Darksiders 2 seems to be one of the games that I come back to every once in a while. Great atmosphere, great music, surprisingly engaging story and characters and very good gameplay with some pretty neat puzzles, especially later in the game. I love it.
Corruption of Champions! Granted, it's a new experience, but whatever...
But seriously, why not just replay the Witcher game series again? Try out different ways of playing them and stuff, leading to different outcomes... Then, when you want to take a short break, give those other mentioned suggestions a chance, including Corruption of Champions if you're taking that answer seriously...
But seriously, why not just replay the Witcher game series again? Try out different ways of playing them and stuff, leading to different outcomes... Then, when you want to take a short break, give those other mentioned suggestions a chance, including Corruption of Champions if you're taking that answer seriously...
I recommend staying away from story driven RPGs/adventure games for a week or two. Find a strategy game or shooter or something you can dig into that is utterly unlike Witcher, until your palate is relatively clean and it's not occupying your mind as much.KasraF said:
Both the GF and I went through "Witcher withdrawl" as well upon finishing. I've been playing DOTA. She went the opposite direction...bought the "World of the Witcher" book and is now reading the novels.
As people are starting to finish the main quest, would be interesting to get an ending discussion going. Curious to know what people thought of it. It was pretty unusual as endings go. They took a risk.
As someone who's read some (But not all) of the books as well as the previous games I kinda saw the ending coming, although I do think for those whose only experience is with the Witcher 3 it could be a bit unexpected. And for what it's worth I liked the ending I got, found it thoroughly satisfying and left me with a good impression of the game. I also replayed the final parts in order to get a different ending and... wow.BloatedGuppy said:
So if you haven't seen it or didn't get it, look up the 'bad ending' for Witcher 3 because it is ridiculously dark, like G.R.R.Martin levels of dark even. The game has around 3 major 'end states' with various branching epilogue for specific characters and places, with one of those major endings being a brutal one. As is ever with the Witcher series none of the endings are all butterflies and rainbows, but that one ending was like something I'd have expected from the Walking Dead maybe.
Ciri most likely dies and blaming himself for it Geralt goes off on one last suicidal hunt, ending with a shot of him crouched over cradling Ciri's medallion as monsters begin to gather around him. Damn.
From all the foreshadowing about Avallac'h's love for Ciri's ancestor, I forget her name, and his interest in the bloodline plus the fact you were using a powerful artifact meant to re-unite lovers I was half expecting the final twist to be him betraying you to try and resurrect his lost love through Ciri somehow. That instead he turned out to be totally trustworthy and honest was probably my biggest surprise, which I guess says a lot about the Witcher series and maybe even myself.
The Madman said:
There are exactly three endings, I believe, minus all the branching world states. The "Happy" Ending, where Ciri becomes a Witcher under Geralt's tutelage, the "Bittersweet" ending, where she heads off to become Empress of Nilfgaard, and the "OMGWTFBBQ" ending, where she's presumed dead and Geralt possibly gets eaten by Drowners in a fit of existential despair.
What I liked so much about the ending was encapsulated in Ciri's statement to Geralt before she heads off to face the White Frost. "This is not your story". The reason the White Frost isn't front and center throughout your long campaign is because the White Frost wasn't your end game. Ciri was. Ciri is the "Chosen One", the one wrestling with world-ending powers and ancient prophecies. You are just trying to wrangle a surrogate daughter. To keep her safe, to support her, and to help her come into her own as a person. That they were willing to shunt the protagonist aside at the apex of events and basically say "your part in this story is over now" was incredibly ballsy. Gamers are used to being at the center of all things.
I had anticipated a Ciri death from quite early on, and was surprised when it didn't happen and that there was no huge emotional blowout at the end of the game. I got the Empress ending, and it was sad, but more in the "all things come to an end/life goes on" sense than an "epic tragedy" sense. It all played out on a very simple, human scale, and brought the story back to the relationship between Ciri and Geralt.
Man gamers really have a thing for Father/Daughter stories lately, don't they? Walking Dead, Bioshock Infinite, The Last of Us...it goes on and on. Lots of young men in the industry growing up and becoming Dads I guess.
Best/most powerful moment of the entire game...
What I liked so much about the ending was encapsulated in Ciri's statement to Geralt before she heads off to face the White Frost. "This is not your story". The reason the White Frost isn't front and center throughout your long campaign is because the White Frost wasn't your end game. Ciri was. Ciri is the "Chosen One", the one wrestling with world-ending powers and ancient prophecies. You are just trying to wrangle a surrogate daughter. To keep her safe, to support her, and to help her come into her own as a person. That they were willing to shunt the protagonist aside at the apex of events and basically say "your part in this story is over now" was incredibly ballsy. Gamers are used to being at the center of all things.
I had anticipated a Ciri death from quite early on, and was surprised when it didn't happen and that there was no huge emotional blowout at the end of the game. I got the Empress ending, and it was sad, but more in the "all things come to an end/life goes on" sense than an "epic tragedy" sense. It all played out on a very simple, human scale, and brought the story back to the relationship between Ciri and Geralt.
Man gamers really have a thing for Father/Daughter stories lately, don't they? Walking Dead, Bioshock Infinite, The Last of Us...it goes on and on. Lots of young men in the industry growing up and becoming Dads I guess.
Best/most powerful moment of the entire game...
I agree with you entirely, although again I can see how someone who has only played Witcher 3 might be confused by that final 'twist' if that's what what it can be called. I think it makes sense, especially seeing as CD Projekt have said this is intended as possibly their last Witcher game and definitely the last following Geralt, but again for someone who isn't as familiar with the setting I can see it being confusing. The game does highlight said purposely vague element I'm talking about a few times, but usually in a sort of passing way that can make its sudden prominence seem out of nowhere if someone isn't already aware of its importance.BloatedGuppy said:
In any case I also agree on that clip being my favourite moment of the game. I love that its done wordlessly, conveying emotion through the characters actions alone with the help of some masterfully done music. Excellent scene.
I got the Witcher ending myself since I never trusted the emperor and so never visited him but did get involved in Radovids assassination because fuck that guy, then replayed and got the bad ending. I was equally impressed with both although for different reasons. Next playthrough I'll have to go for the Empress ending, and that I'm already planning another playthrough is telling in of itself how much I enjoyed the game.
I liked how the ending was based on decisions you've made during the game, some of which didn't even seem to be all that major at the time, rather than a "choose your ending button" in the last room (like for example Mass Effect 3, Deus Ex Human Revolution, Pillars of Eternity).
I have to admit towards the end, I had a feeling something was going on with those Geralt/Ciri scenes. I could see all these different factions wanted her, and I thought the way I treated her was going to influence who she chose to join. I didn't trust Avallac'h but I did anticipate the ending would involve Ithline's prophecy. Ciri mentioned a tower to Geralt and I found a note from Alvin in a bookshop in Novigrad.
I got the Witcher ending (broke Dijkstra's leg so I didn't get the last Radovid quest) and I was really happy with it. I later read on IGN that the so called "best" ending has Ciri on the throne of Nilfgaard and I don't actually like the thought of that. I've only read the first book (probably will read more) but it was a long time ago so really my knowledge of Ciri comes from TW3. And what I saw was a powerful young woman who has the skill and desire to protect innocent people, maybe a little wreckless, who also wants to have fun, and enjoys killing monsters. She would be bored in a life of politics.
Geralt also got the Witcher ending, because I romanced both Triss and Yennefer. Honestly I was expecting one more romance quest where I was forced to choose, and it would have been Triss. Yen is a bit too dangerous, honestly some of the stuff she did, if it wasn't to save Ciri, my Geralt would have stopped her. But nevermind. I kind of like the tragedy of the "he loved them both and couldn't choose, ended up with neither" arc.
And besides, although it wasn't stated in game, with both Geralt and Ciri on the Witcher path, in my head they would hunt monsters together from time to time. I think my favourite moments in the game were those two together - especially the snowball fight, and wrecking Avallac'h's hideout
I got the Witcher ending (broke Dijkstra's leg so I didn't get the last Radovid quest) and I was really happy with it. I later read on IGN that the so called "best" ending has Ciri on the throne of Nilfgaard and I don't actually like the thought of that. I've only read the first book (probably will read more) but it was a long time ago so really my knowledge of Ciri comes from TW3. And what I saw was a powerful young woman who has the skill and desire to protect innocent people, maybe a little wreckless, who also wants to have fun, and enjoys killing monsters. She would be bored in a life of politics.
Geralt also got the Witcher ending, because I romanced both Triss and Yennefer. Honestly I was expecting one more romance quest where I was forced to choose, and it would have been Triss. Yen is a bit too dangerous, honestly some of the stuff she did, if it wasn't to save Ciri, my Geralt would have stopped her. But nevermind. I kind of like the tragedy of the "he loved them both and couldn't choose, ended up with neither" arc.
And besides, although it wasn't stated in game, with both Geralt and Ciri on the Witcher path, in my head they would hunt monsters together from time to time. I think my favourite moments in the game were those two together - especially the snowball fight, and wrecking Avallac'h's hideout
