When one hears the word ‘Witcher’ the mind naturally gravitates towards CD Projekt Red’s 2015 masterpiece and The Witcher 2. And rightly so. The game is a staggering achievement by most gaming measures. The third entry in The Witcher series brought to a satisfying close the adventures of Geralt. That ends with the final confrontation with The Wild Hunt. Much has been said about the game, and with countless accolades to go with it. However, for fans of role-playing games (RPG), the second game in the series The Witcher 2: The Assassins of Kings holds a special place. In this post, we shall see why.
The Witcher (2007) – A Game of its Time
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Around the time the hype surrounding The Witcher 3: The Wild Hunt was hitting a fever pitch around 2015 I decided to give the Witcher world a look. When it comes to gaming franchises I like to start at the beginning. To know where the story began, how the game developed, and how we got to the present state of things.
The Witcher, the first game in the series was released all the way back in 2007. A PC exclusive that came with notoriously clunky controls. Despite knowing this I decided to give the game a go, as a way of preparing myself for the eventual playthrough of the third installment. It didn’t work. I could barely find my way around the main menu. Not 5 minutes into the game I quit and uninstalled it.
In fairness, The Witcher 2007 is an old game. A game of its time and it is not for everybody. This is probably why CD Projekt Red is remaking the original game with a new engine. The Witcher 2 however is a different beast. And when I decided to give it a go, I wasn’t disappointed.
The Witcher 2 – A Leaner, Meaner Role-Playing Game
In the aftermath of the release of The Witcher 3, the second installment in the franchise will always remain in the shadow of its grander successor: a game that is still being improved on by modders. However, The Witcher 2 carries with it its own unique charm that should not be dismissed as it was a solid game when it was first released in 2011.
The gameplay is strong, with dual sword mechanics that players are used to now being refined. The use of alchemy is straightforward, and the skill tree provides a clear progression system where the character gets stronger with every unlocked upgrade.
It must be noted that The Witcher 2 despite its linearity is much tougher on higher difficulties. A notable challenge is presented to the player if he/she opts for Dark Mode. Under this difficulty setting virtually every foe in the game presents a significant challenge and boss fights, especially early can prove to be particularly arduous. This compels the player to use the right potions upgrade weapons and be an expert in timing the block and rolls.
Since The Witcher 2 is not an open-world game the story is more compact. The story progresses as the main quests are completed and with it the world the character inhabits. This might seem constricting for traditional RPG players who enjoy the freedom that free-roaming open worlds provide. And there is no fast travel. But this limitation also adds its own kind of magic to the gameplay.
The Witcher 2: The Assassins of Kings in 2024
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There are a lot of games out there today. And in the open-world genre, there is no shortage of solid games that can pique your interest. However, if the gamer in you is seeking a return to a narrative-driven high fantasy game with strong characters, good world-building, and difficult but rewarding combat on higher difficulties, then The Witcher 2 is a must. Whilst The Witcher 3 is still the king of fantasy RPGs, that has even found its way onto portable gaming devices like the Steam Deck, the Witcher 2 is still a solid option.
Also, if the reader happens to have played through all the major role-playing out there, including the dear The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, and wants something different but also quite familiar, and to run the game on newer hardware, then CD Projekt Red’s The Witcher 2: The Assassins of Kings might be the game for you. Whilst the developer has moved onto newer things, most notably Cyberpunk 2077 and future installments in the series. However, the Witcher 2 is definitely worth a try. And that the game now appears to be coming to the Apple ecosystem. Mac users using the M1 and M2 chips will be able to enjoy the game soon.
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