Reviewed On: Xbox 360
Available For: PC and Xbox 360
Publisher: Namco Bandai
Developer: Developer
Genre: Genre
Age: Age (PEGI)
Originally a PC game, nothing has been lost in translation. The Witcher 2 feels comfortable, cosy and perfectly at home on the Xbox 360. Not only does it feel as though it lives here, it also leaves virtually all other games on the doorstep.
A story, no matter how good it may be, is nothing if not told well, and The Witcher 2 is at the top of that game. With main protagonist Geralt of Rivia suffering from amnesia, the intro focuses on what little he does know and the latter parts explore him getting his memory back. It's a story of one man coming to terms with his past whilst facing an uncertain future in a fantasy world brimming with war and power-lust.
Whilst having a strong and tightly wound story, things are massively open. Being chapter based, there's no fast travel or exploration of the entire world at one time, but that never deflects from the feeling of complete freedom. It's a true masterpiece in respect of how it never feels shackled.
Missions pour in like water on an ill-fated ship - fast, furious and relentless. There's no set order to complete them in and many leave the player with a moral choice. These choices can effect whole villages and even races, so should never be taken lightly.
An RPGs combat can often be its downfall - a hideously blood curdling shrill in an otherwise flawless choir of gaming. But The Witcher 2 manages to hit the high notes perfectly, singing out a symphony with melodies of both tactical play and fast-paced action. With a variation of melee attacks, magic, and secondary weapons; fighting can be either a shallow hack-and-slash or an incredibly orchestrated experience.
The skill tree for upgrading Geralt is split into three main categories; mage, swordsman, and alchemist. Here our hero can be chiseled to suit playing styles. Each gamers experience can change greatly depending on both the skill tree and the choices made.
Every once in a while, the visual detail of a game is enough to turn heads, whilst going on to become an inspiration and a benchmark for all others who follow in its wake. The Witcher 2 is one of those. Dreamy detail, tantalising textures, and cool colours are mixed to form what looks like a picture from the gods. To say it looks okay is blasphemous, but to say it's beautiful is still a gross injustice.
There's just one problem with The Witcher 2 - there's no room left for improvement.
SCORE: 10 / 10
PROS: Despite having a rich and tightly wound story, The Witcher 2 still feels incredibly open.
CONS: If we had to be really picky, we'd say that both the quest and the items menus aren't as intuitive as they pehaps could be.
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