On May 19th, less than a month away now, Witcher 3: Wild Hunt will at last grace our consoles after many months of delays and painful anticipation. The developers, Projekt RED, wowed us all back at E3 with fantastic visuals, awesome landscapes and environments, and jaw dropping monsters - the likes of which we have not seen since the ones under our beds. And now at long last Geralt and his dashing silver locks is back, and we can't wait for what's in store.
Now, while Witcher may have a giant "3" plastered over it, yes, indicating that it is the third instalment in the series, Projekt RED have worked hard to ensure that this does not drive off gamers who are new to the series. It can be hard getting into a new franchise that has already established its world, story and characters, players can get left behind in it all. However Witcher 3 actively retells the major events and plots of the previous two games through dramatic flash backs and cleverly written character exchanges, so we are quick to understand the current state of the game's narrative and can easily jump straight into the chaos.
Witcher 3 not only allows players to understand their complex narrative, it also allows us to choose between two playable characters. So, if grisly, tough-man Geralt isn't really your style you can switch instead to Ciri, Geralt's ward. While she may look similar to the protagonist with her silvery hair and battle scars, she is not related to Geralt, but is being kept under his wing being taught the tricks of the trade. She may be learning, but she's by no means helpless.
Call me a damsel in distress one more time and we'll see just who's more distressed.
If a fantastic, in depth story and well developed characters were not enough for you, Witcher 3 has also revealed that its world is over 40 times bigger than that of the map seen in The Witcher 2 - and that was by no means a small map in the first place! Yes, Wild Hunt's open world is simply enormous, really, really gigantic; it would take even the most dedicated of players to search just half of it to completion.
The universe is split up into three main areas, the central city of Novigrad, a large swamp known as No-Man's Land and a tremendous mountainous zone swept in snow. All of these will be free for the player to explore from the very start of the game and are completely open without endless loading screens. I just hope I don't get too lost.
But, the question is of course, is the world lively enough? In many games with such an open world the environment can feel empty and boring simply because there is just too much for the game to fill - but Witcher 3 assures us that this will not be the case. The place will be packed full of incredible and amazing monsters for you to hunt down, for as a Witcher this is your profession. Kill monsters, earn gold, buy weapons and armour, or use materials taken from said dead monsters and use them to craft your own gear! Not to mention there will be so many side quests you'll probably be sick of them by the time you finish.
You mean I have to travel all the way over there? Where's the Taxi rank?
The real immersion of this game however lies within your ability to choose and decide the path in which the story will divert. A decision based game, the story will pose to you many difficult and painful choices that will effect the overall state of the world in which you play, maybe for the better but also for the worst - just as in real life, there is no easy decision. But in this lies the true power behind the game, in giving us, the player, complete freedom in story progression - even if it does make us cry sometimes.
Along the same lines, if you did play The Witcher 2, your choices made in the previous game can blend into that of the third. If you still have your original completed save game, you can transfer it over into Witcher 3 and it may well change the way in which the story begins, or who you are with and in what state of mind. I really hope you didn't get Geralt drunk!
Did - Did I choose to be nice or mean to that barkeep? I can't remember...
If Witcher 3's 200 + hours of game play was still not enough for you (when do you find the time to sleep?) Projekt RED have prepared for that too. The developers already have 2 DLC packs lined up and ready for us, that will add over 30 more hours of story and game play to the game. The first will release in October, giving you plenty of time to settle in, and is titled Hearts of Stone. The second one however will come to us when we begin to hunger again in 2016, Blood and Wine will add a completely new region for players to explore. Along with that Projekt RED have also confirmed 16 free DLC packs in the coming future. As if it wasn't big enough!
The Witcher 3 is set to release on PS4 and Xbox One on the 19th May. That's not far off now, it's almost time to say goodbye to your social life and dust off the TV - Witcher here we come!
