(There shouldn't be any spoilers below for anyone who is either currently playing the game or will be doing shortly. I hope that BD, Ava and myself aren't the only ones who have been playing this so far as this really is an unmissable game. (Anny aside who will be doing when he finishes the first). - If you haven't completed TW1 either get to it already as you're missing out! 
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I was one of the people who, to a degree, defended BioWare and Dragon Age II when it released earlier this year. I'd still consider them one of my favourite game developers and I won't go back on my words and say I didn't enjoy DA2 at all because I did, but after seeing what an incredible job the guys at CD Projekt RED have done here it puts that game to shame. I knew TW2 would be better but quite frankly DA2 is an embarrassment for BioWare now. They better pull their socks up for DA3. Anyway....
The Witcher 1 had its faults but remains a classic which was just as good as Origins if not better. When it comes to the sequel they didn't rush it out, dumb shit down, re-use enviroments or go backwards with features. You can tell they care about their fans and have put their hearts and souls into making this game. From memory I think there may have been more sidequests in TW1 but other than that I'd say they've improved on the first in every way possible.
Looking at what they offer with the game too I find impressive and in need of mentioning. They're not trying to rip people off, sell content which should have been with the game to begin with or anything like that. For no more than the price of most other PC titles in the UK (25 quid) they include a printed copy of the world map, a Bonus DVD with soundtrack etc, a pamphlet & coin from the game, some papercraft and a game guide all in a nicely designed solid box. That's the standard edition and is already a few quid cheaper than Starcraft II which has been out almost a year. They also offer a 100% DRM free version from gog.com and not just that but all DLC for the game will be completely free. Now
this is a developer worth supporting.
Combat mechanics are much better this time around. Not that they were terrible in the first game or anything (I liked em) but they've done a marvelous job this time around, it really is fantastic. It's like Assassins Creed meets Arkham but with magic, alchemy, traps and bombs in the mix too. Early on in the game especially you have to use techniques like stun/roll/trap etc against certain enemies (like guards with shields for-instance) to be able to hit them as you can't just keep mashing your left mouse. Some battles you'll benefit from drinking potions before hand as they can be quite challenging even on normal. This isn't a negative though, I happen to love it and the keyboard/mouse controls are perfect. That being said combat does get easier as you skill up.
Graphics are breathtakingly stunning as I'm sure I don't need to point out. Not that graphics are everything but when the rest of the game is first rate too they just enhance the experience. As a PC gamer with a decent rig it's nice to have another game like this as up until now Crysis/Warhead and Metro 2033 were the only real benchmarkers. Optimization is spot on too as it runs amazingly well. If it runs bad for anyone then it must be their system and not the game.
The gameworld feels completely seamless and I can't stress enough how impressive this is. You can walk around huge open areas, in and out of rooms and buildings etc without ever breaking that impression. In a lot of other games you'd be sat looking at a loading screen for several seconds every time you did this. Exit a building = loading screen. Exit the town = loading screen. Not here!. - Because of this and coupled with the beautiful graphics the game is extremely immersive and a joy to explore.
There's a day and night cycle like TW1 and NPCs go about their day to day business. If it's midnight they're not going to be out like during the day but instead have gone to bed as you'd expect. If it's evening people may get together in the Inn or gather around a campfire... Now when I think back to DA2's City of Kirkwall all I can do is cringe. It was dead and lifeless and the fast travel connections between the different districts of the city only made it feel smaller. Sure this isn't anything new for RPGs but they've still done a great job at making the world feel lived in and NPCs having a life of their own. Just one building in Flotsam has more life than the entire City of Kirkwall did.
Questing is also joy. I love how the journal fills up with the story (as written by Dandelion) for each quest you're on and updates as you progress through them. Need to quickly jog your memory? Have a read through your journal.
Sometimes your quest will have a directive but no map marker. Destroying nekker nests as one little example. How would you know exactly where they were anyway?. No hand holding and big glowing marker, get out there and explore.
Another example is when you're trying to find a certain character. Again, no marker. You literally have to track this persons trail through the forest with dead ends too. I thought this was a nice touch.
In some other games if you're given markers all the time and you constantly fill your quest log up with missions they can be a bit of a chore. Like a shopping list that you'll mindlessly go from A to B doing several at a time and sometimes without even caring. Never like that with TW2, never a dull moment and all the quests feel significant enough. Whilst I'm on the subject of traveling there's no fast travel either thankfully. Why anyone would want such a system when they can walk through TW2's lush environments and take in their surroundings I don't know but I'm glad there isn't.
Story choices... One of TW1's strongest aspects were the moral choices. Certainly the best RPG I have played where they are concerned. Lots of grey and wasn't always sure what the consequences would be. You could find yourself having to choose between what you consider the lesser of two evils and you may not find out the outcome of some of those until it was too late to go about them differently. In the end especially if it was your first time playing the game you may not have your "perfect" playthrough.
TW2 has again been very impressive. Take DA2 again for example, you may have had choices but ultimately they changed very little and even then not until the very end. TW2 is a different story. Depending how things go down for you in chapter 1 you may end up in entirely different locations with new quests and npcs for chapter 2. This is pretty great if you ask me.
I haven't commented on the voice acting, soundtrack or crafting but all are excellent too. Infact I really have no complaints about the game what so ever. Sure I've had a couple of niggles but they're honestly not worth mentioning tbh. This is as close to perfection as you get imo.
Ever since The Witcher 2 was announced I knew it would be fantastic after playing the first game but it's not only both RPG and game of the year but one of the best games I have ever played. They have really surprised me I must say and it's even better than I had hoped for. As for the a few people commenting on the ending being "lackluster" well that is just bollocks if you ask me. None of the story was.
If you're a PC gamer and you like mature, well written, non-linear and deeply engaging RPGs then The Witcher 2 is a must buy. Anyone claiming the game to be anything less than amazing is either trolling or just doesn't know what they're talking about.
CDPR truely delivered with this sequel. TW2 is a real gem of a game and (at least for the time being) is
the RPG to beat.
http://www.gametrailers.com/video/revie ... her/714184
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oO
