Bewitched: Top 10 Reasons to be Excited about The Witcher 2

In 2007, publisher and developer CD Projekt released The Witcher, a PC role-playing game based off of Andrezj Sapkowski's book series. Players took control of Geralt, one of the few remaining witchers – a group of powerful and enhanced monster hunters for fire – and explored a medieval fantasy world laced with prejudices, horrors and conspiracies. It was acclaimed for its difficult choices, rippling consequences, and lack of black and white morality, and soon sold over a million and a half copies. With the sequel soon to be released, I've compiled a list of what I consider to be the top ten reasons why you should be excited.

 

#10 The Best Looking RPG of 2011

While the original game was built on BioWare's aging Aurora engine, CD Projekt opted to create a brand new one, titled REDengine, for its sequel. The results are stunning. Textures are crisp and richly detailed, and animations fluid. Specular lighting casts beautiful rays of gold across the landscape. In addition to the advanced technical features, the world of The Witcher 2 is large and expansive, and the combination creates something truly wondrous to look at. When a developer isn't held back by console hardware limitations, this is the result, and it may very well be the most visually impressive role-playing game of the year.

 

#9 Hard Decisions, Real Consequences.

Players can once again expect a role-playing game with meaningful, difficult choices. Small, seemingly unimportant quests in the beginning could come back later with far-reaching effects, and the world and your decisions are colored with shades of grey. Clashing forces exist not as good nor evil, but as different ideals. You may find yourself pausing to think with careful consideration how your Geralt will respond to those around him. In fact, a political map will evolve as you play, your actions impacting the fate of nations.

 

#8 A Mature Setting and Storyline

The Witcher 2 is certainly not traditional fantasy. There is racism; relationships between dwarves, elves and humans are tenuous at best. There is torture. There is kidnapping and murder.  Kingdoms rain fire upon each other, and there are monsters that stalk through the sewers and streets, hills and crypts. As one of the few remaining witchers, your skills are sought by many, and you may find yourself fighting more than that which goes bump in the night.

 

#7 Companions Are People Too?

In many other games, companions exist as malleable entities, there to be shaped and serve at your will. But the developers at CD Projekt are attempting to give their characters a greater force of personality and weight to the storyline. They may fight amongst each other, interject dialogs and change the course of events, or allow you to resolve quests in different ways through their aid. 

 

#6 A Storm of Swords

Everyone loves collecting loot, and thankfully, there's plenty to hoard here. You can find, craft, or buy more than 70 different steel and silver swords, as well as armors, alchemical potions and traps. And if you don't wish to leave your growing stash of gear, plants and skinned hides behind, worry not. There is no weight limit in the game. You'll simply move slower and be unable to dodge.

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