Witcher 3 Review

The developers chose to put a new spin on great elements in the Witcher 3: The Wild Hunt. Building on the deep RPG system and complex story of Geralt’s past, an epic fantasy adventure has come to life. You can enjoy this game well after 100 hours of gameplay; nothing quite makes a statement like that. This 3rd iteration really is about the gameplay as well, with the story coming in at a passable rating. Although it doesn’t stand out, fans of the franchise will likely still find intrigue in hunting down Yennifer and her daughter Ciri. The voice acting and cinematic set pieces are top-notch and will bring some true emotion out of franchise fans, even amidst the seemingly endless errand running in the main quest.

It would be easy to say the best gameplay and story elements can be found amongst the side quests, but I hesitate to call them side-quests at all. They feel like the real meat and potatoes of the game with conspiracies, love, loss and betrayal baked right in. It’s unfortunate that there wasn’t a way to work some of these into the main story. The good thing is that they do offer a compelling reason to stray off the beaten path. Additionally, based on your decisions in the Witcher 2 (if you played it) the circumstances of certain side-quests will be different. I won’t spoil more than that. If you didn’t play the previous game, The Witcher 3 allows some choice decision making through a short sequence at startup.

Gameplay has seen plenty of improvement for the better and on the PS4 you’ll find it running at a steady 30 frames per second (most of the time). There will be some glitches and pop in at times, but it doesn’t really detract from the experience. The manner in which potions are used and restocked has been altered and this allows Geralt to more easily traverse the open world.

The signs have also seen a bit of an overhaul, with different casting modes and a broader variety of advancements becoming available. This helps fights feel fresh and the signs feel incredibly meaningful. You’ll need to choose upgrades carefully, as there are limits to how many points you’ll have to improve each sign. This adds a layer of depth as the game allows you to focus on a couple of signs and max them out, or to level up many and have a broader array of magic at your command. This gives the player a lot of choice and control while adding replay value.

The Wticher 3 continues to feature awesome characters who are impeccably written and acted. Their set pieces and conversations shine brightly in between the savage combat that Geralt wages against enemies. And although the main quest may disappoint in some areas, this game is rife with substantive side quests and exploration. It will be difficult to put down and you will get sucked into this war torn world. And lastly, you will like it.

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