5 Things I Love About The Witcher 3

5.) The Combat System

Although the combat system of The Witcher 3 is deemed more complex when likened to other RPG’s standards, it is relatively easy to get used to due to the help of a useful tutorial area at the beginning of the game. It is also a huge improvement when compared to the video game’s counterparts, specifically The Witcher 2 – I recall having to continually remember whether I should be using either my steel or silver sword in combat, before then choosing it and continuing with the fight at hand. In The Witcher 3 however, this is done for you automatically when you encounter and enemy.

Apart from the typical fighting mechanisms of this game (attack, block, parry, dodge and roll), you can also use potions, decoctions and bombs to aid you in battle. These can all help the battle turn in your favour, with potions and decoctions helping with abilities such as regenerating vitality and enhancing attack power, whilst bombs can either stun, damage or render your enemies’ armour useless. Enemies are also weak to specific potions and bombs, making them especially useful. 

You can also fight from your mare, Roach, doing one-hit-kills with your sword if you hit the enemy in the right place. All of these aspects make the battle system fun and in-depth, meaning that you will never get bored of running into fights, whether they are easy or challenging.

4.) The Attention to Detail

Have you ever just decided to take a break from the missions to explore, look around and take in this breath-taking game? The graphics for this game are fantastic, especially when it comes to the environments. Apart from the time constantly changing so that you are either playing in the morning, afternoon, evening or at midnight, the weather also changes, allowing you to see how much time CD Projekt Red have put into The Witcher 3. Whether the wind is blowing ferociously so that the trees move in rhythm with it, or whether you’re running through the snow and leaving deep indented footprints, you as the player feel in control and even more enthralled by the experience.

If you ever have the time, just stop to look and hear – the birds chirping in the distance, every crisp footstep Geralt takes – and you will fall more in love with this game than you had before.

P.S: Another interesting little quirk when considering attention to detail is the fact that Geralt’s beard grows after you go to the barber’s and when time lapses. As I have never experienced this with any other game before, I found this to be quite a fancy element which makes the game even more satisfying (even though it doesn’t have any real meaning apart from making Geralt look cool).

3.) The Plot and Its Rabbit Holes (no spoilers, I promise!)

A game with such amazing graphics also needs an even better story – and The Witcher 3 pulls it off entirely. Without even needing to play the first two Witcher games, you can fully understand the story and get to grips with it from the off-set. Apart from sinking its claws in and hooking you immediately, the game also allows you to make choices which have dire consequences – either way, you won’t know until you’ve done it or if you’ve bought a guide. Thinking about helping somebody out? If it’s getting suspicious, think again – you may do more harm than good. This adds to the elements, meaning that your playthrough will most likely be different to somebody else’s, and with 36 different endings – well, that’s a lot of variety. 

If you ever get bored with completing the main story, you are also given a handful of side quests, as well as contracts to kill monsters which you can pick up from notice boards. What I particularly enjoyed about The Witcher 3 is the fact that you will complete a main mission, which then urges you to complete three more sub-main missions, as well as then adding about half a dozen side quests on top. You are given a wide choice from the beginning, meaning that you are less likely to get bored and more likely to get stuck in. 

2.) GWENT!?

Other than going up to random strangers and shouting GWENT!? at any given moment, the game itself is quite fun. I have seen mixed reviews on this card game, where people either love it or loathe it. Personally, I love it. If you love it too, prepare yourself, as you will spend many an hour playing it.

 
Gwent itself is a card game that simulates battle between two opposing armies, where you toss a coin to go first and draw 10 cards randomly. Units are put down (either in close combat, siege or long range) and ultimately, the player with the most points wins. Of course, the game is slightly more complex than that, especially when you go against more experienced players. 

After getting into the game, you are given a quest – to collect all of the cards in the base game. Now, that’s 199 cards which you receive by buying them from merchants (so that you can help make your deck stronger) and challenging other players so that they give up one of their cards – which may also be unique.

You may find yourself in my position – where you spend more time playing Gwent than the actual game you have paid for - leading The Witcher 3 to be known as the mini-game to Gwent amongst my friends. 

1.) DLC

Although this isn’t part of the base game (naturally), I believe that it deserves to have a mention. Apart from CD Projekt Red creating a fantastic game packed with up to 200 hours of gameplay, they have also given us free DLC – or at least, for the most part. As soon as The Witcher 3 was released, they decided to give players two packs of free DLC each week for eight weeks – so 16 free pieces of DLC – who’s going to complain about that? I know I’m not going to. These packs include side missions, contracts, armour sets, costumes for different characters and much more (as well as an add-on for Gwent – amazing, right?). This is a breath of fresh air for most gamers, who are usually given the option of DLC, so long as they pay for it. Other games companies should be taking notes, slapping themselves for not doing this before.

Moving swiftly on to DLC that isn’t free, The Witcher 3 offers a season pass for £19.99 / $24.99 / €24.99, which includes two all-new adventures, these being “Hearts of Stone” and “Blood and Wine”. 

“Hearts of Stone” will be 10 hours long, whilst “Blood and Wine” will be 20 hours long, meaning that you’re getting a great amount of content for the price. These missions will also include new content, gear and foes, as well as featuring characters old and new.

Will you be buying the new DLC? I know I will.

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