The Witcher Enhanced
by Atari
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List Price: Category: Video Games See more product details |
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Video Game Reviews of The Witcher Enhanced
Customer Review: Can't play upgrade, watch you processor
Summary: 1 Stars
I've been playing computer rpgs since SSI's Azure Bonds on the C-64 and I got the original release of The Witcher back in June of this year (I've never been an early adopter by a long stretch) and was anxious to play, but I heard about the Enhanced Version and the free patch to those who bought the older version so I held off from playing it, figuring the upgrade probably not work with previous saves and I would hate to get half way through and have to restart.
So the big patch comes, I upgrade and the game crashes to the desktop after the intro movie. After several attempts, I check the patch notes and my processor (AMD Athalon 64 XP) is now "Out Of Range". The upgrade passed me by and I can't play it.
I decided to re-install and patch up to 1.3 and simply play the original; after all I've been waiting 3 months to play this. I haven't been able to make it out of the tutorial, I can't stand the controls or the camera. I've tried 3 times, with various settings and difficulty levels but I find trying to hit any bad guys a chore and it completely takes me out of the game.
I wanted to like this game, I wanted to play this game, but I just can't get behind the combat engine.
Also check to make sure your processor still works with the upgrade, several AMD no longer work and one Pentinum.
Customer Review: DRM has killed the PC Gaming market
Summary: 1 Stars
I have been an avid PC Gamer since Ultima and Wizardy first came out in the early 1980's. However, in the last couple of years the DRM on modern games has turned me completely off to PC gaming. The DRM on various games are atrocious. They have installed rootkits, failed to run due to authentication server failures, and failed to recognized the companies own disks as valid media. The Witcher Enhanced Edition falls into the last category. Despite having paid good money to support the game developers, the games DRM refuses to recognize the game DVD unless the computer has just been rebooted. Exit the game and try to run it again and it no longer recognizes it.
DRM does nothing to stop pirating. A hacked version of the game was already on bittorrent before I even bought mine. Now I am left with either having to return the game or being forced to hack my own legal version just to get the damn thing to run. This is the last PC Game I will every buy. It's a pity, because I was interested in buying Spore, too, but there is no way in hell I will now. Way to go Atari and EA!
Customer Review: Fabulous game
Summary: 5 Stars
I played the original Witcher and loved it. The few bugs it had didn't bother me although I did get tired of seeing the same character faces over and over again and the long load times were a bit much. Now that the enhanced version is out I am going to buy the new version. Yes, I can get it free but I want the additional storylines plus map and Music CD. I'll pass the original on to a friend and have that person download the new material. This game is meant to be shared. I have played many games from Morrowind (loved the original of that) and Neverwinter Nights through Knights of the Old Republic and Dungeon Siege and this game tops them all. It actually comes closest to a game called Syberia where beautiful backgrounds and intriguing storylines are concerned but has the action of Morrowind and NWN. I am lucky enough to have a computer that can run this game and handle the size of it but if there was ever a time to upgrade or buy a new computer then now is that time. If you can't play it then drive to Best buy and get a computer which can. It is as good an excuse as any...Customer Review: The RPG of the year if not the decade
Summary: 5 Stars
You are Geralt, the wife wolf, biologically enhanced with super reflexes and healing powers, magic, alchemy and the sword are at your disposal, and there are monsters everywhere, which is good for you, it's your to kill them.
The first "Witcher" released last year turned a lot of heads and turned a lot of gamers off as well. Sure the graphics are hyper-realistic, the fighting system dynamic blending RPG and Action together in a way similar but superior to "Diablo" or "Neverwinter Knights" and the story is epic, complex and ripe with side-quest, complex characters and decisions that really make a difference in how the game unfolds, but the glitches. The first Witcher was a mess of ultra long loading times, cloned NPG's, annoyingly repetitive and stifled dialogue that cloaked the brilliant game and sent some gamers back to the store for refunds.
The new "Witcher" is free to customers with the original disk, I opted however to buy it again. Why? Because the "Enhanced Edition" comes with a 112 pg guide (which is unfortunately small enough to fit in a DVD box) as well as a nice fold-out map. A game editor, new quest and two CD's of music from or inspired by plus a print book of a short story from which the game and characters arose. Again, all this is available in digital form for free to those who purchased the old version, but I wanted the print copies.
So, the pros? Well, the loading times are vastly cut, but the game takes up to a WHOPPING 13 GIGS of HD space and a minimum of 9. Most of the dialogue has been re-written and re-recorded to great effect, this is all good. The cut scenes are still boring to watch, though a little more movement has been added. Overall, the presentation and loading issues are all solved and extra quest are always good and welcome. If you're in the middle of the game you can update now and keep playing your old saved games, you don't have to start over. They also added and auto-sort system for you items and alchemy ingredients.
The Cons? The game takes up 13 gigs of space on a full install and still requires the disk to run. The game claims to be optimized for x64 and dual processors, but I have to make sure everything on my notebook is shut down to run the game with decent frame rates, version 1.3 ran at a better frame rate for me. This version seems to take more resources, I don't know why.
Now, what systems am I running on? I have two. The first is my notebook. I run a Turion x64 dual-core @1.8 X 2 ghz, 4 Gig 4-4-4-12 ram, 7200rpm sata 100gig hd, on a 1680 X 1050 hi-def monitor but I have the Witcher settings @ 1280 X 800. Runs 25 - 45 FPS as long as all other programs are shut down, including the side-bar and back-ground programs.
My other system is a custom desk-top I built myself. I have an ASUS MOBO with a Phenom Black x64 2.6ghz true quad-core, 4gig 5-5-5-15 ram and a Radeon HD3890 pci-e card with 512 DDR4 ram. Running at full graphics at 1440 X 900 resolution the game is smooth and frame rates are 60fps steady. Still, the video cut-scenes look jagged.
As for the gameplay? This looks a lot like a "Diablo" style game, but it's not. "The Witcher" is a game about story and characters, an old school RPG. The Witcher is what gamers who are tired of MMOG and FPS games are looking for. This is definitely a game for fans of "Final Fantasy" or even "Zelda". This game is an addiction, it sucks you right in and keeps you hooked. The game has three levels of difficulty and I highly suggest starting with "easy" so you can focus on the story and exploration and save the harder levels for you second time around. Why? Because the harder levels require more alchemy and fighting skills, it's longer and more frustrating and if you want to experience the narrative without being hindered by trying to become stronger and better stocked constantly, then easy is the way to go. I also prefer the OTS mode, I use an optical track-ball mouse that gives me great 360 degree movement.
Overall, excellent game, just exceptional, but a huge resource hog that needs a powerful PC to look really good and will translate well to a PS3 if they ever go that way. If you like RPG's then this is the must own this year, if not this decade.
Customer Review: GAMING AS IT SHOULD BE!
Summary: 5 Stars
Were I a member of the gaming Industry right now, I would be shamed to be taught what gaming should look and feel like and how it should be marketed by a small Eastern European company. Who of the multi-billion gaming "giants" ever went back to improve a released game? Yet, there you have it: thanks to CDPROJECT gaming as an art-form is still alive and kicking!
This was the most awaited fantasy cRPG in the past 3 years. Not only did the original deliver, but even more work has gone into truly improving it.
THIS WAS ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL cRPG GAMES I HAD EVER PLAYED - AND NOW IT IS GORGEOUS!
The environments are detailed, realistic, and can be experienced from up close. Grass, flowers and tree branches moved in both FABLE and TITAN QUEST as well; these, however, seem so true I caught myself reaching for my...antihistamines! Weather affects and day-night alterations (you have to see the elongating shadows to believe them!) are just gorgeous! More importantly, these are not just eye-candy: certain NPCs and monsters appear only when the correct combination of time-of-day and weather coincide...The horizon is far and the clouds move in endless variations. It reminded me of the sky of the original UNREAL, another visually ground-breaking game at its time. PURE VISUAL MAGIC!
The character (Geralt) can master both sword-fighting and magic spells (what is known as a Warlock). To some die-hard RPG fans this may seem like heresy, nevertheless, keep in mind that multi-classing is not unheard off. The movement repertoire for both practices are impressively designed. Especially the sword-fighting, it is at par to any console action game. And the spells (both offensive and defensive ones) are not less impressive.
Free roaming? Yes and no. One can decide which parts of the map he will visit but loading is still needed to travel even annoyingly short distances. And since quests and side-quest still have to be completed, yes, eventually a subtle, yet ever present, directionality is present.
Looting and bartering? Aaah...yes, sort of. You practically never change the sword you start off with (although you do get to improve its abilities), whereas good armor is only a little easier to come by compared to PLANESCAPE. On the upside, you get to gamble, have romantic relationships (FABLE was full of great ideas after all!) and bribe for information, so trinkets have other uses as well.
Detailed character modifiers? Nothing like the AD&D rules. You gain talents (gold, silver & bronze) which you can spend to improve your fighting or magical abilities. Pretty much like the DIABLO or the TITAN QUEST abilities systems.
So, apart for the slight action-cRPG handicap, I have only two other objections. First, the...camera placement. Once more the atrocious Aurora Engine (remember NWN2...?) will keep auto-placing it where it is bound to get on your nerves - as it targets your character even if that is not the most logical option. Yes, this has indeed improved compared to the original but one cannot teach an old dog new tricks.
Second, the controls. They need getting used to as the fighting combos are still easily ruined by clicking out of sync. You do eventually get the hold of it, however it keeps glitching.
Nevertheless, its shortcomings are not enough to diminish the breath of fresh air this release brings to the scene. The Enhanced edition not only is a truly reworked game but it also comes full with detailed Manuals, beautiful Maps and all the extras that games used to come with in the good old days...
Whereas the BALDUR's GATES saga was story-heavy but (by today standards) visually wanting and the NEVERWINTER NIGHTS series was found, well, wanting in all aspects, THE WITCHER is the dream cRPG that BIOWARE was supposed to be capable of releasing all along but never did - and its current EA bedfellows surely put a stop to such aspirations now. That game, however, is finally here - and not from whom you would expect.
A tip of my hat to CDPROJECT for keeping the ART-FORM of Gaming alive. Well done indeed!
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!