The Witcher 2 Has Gone Gold, Releases In 3 Weeks

[Demo24]

I finally got to Flotsam but the game still feels too linear, the forest around that town is SMALL you can walk the whole place in just minutes, kind of disappointing. I know it's not Oblivion but EG: DKS did a better job with the exploration.

Also compared to the combat systems in Shatter Dimension and Arkham Asylum, this one isn't as fluid or precise, kind of clunky and awkward at times, still fun though.

Oddly enough the most fun I've had was doing the bulletin board quests everything else is just OK.

As for performance my fps doesn't change much regardless of graphics settings, the good news is is that it's always 30-40fps which is quite playable for an RPG.

The witcher games tend to be rather linear. The first one was just as linear, perhaps with larger worlds though. I presume they do this because it's effectively like playing out a story in a book.

 

[Merad]

I'm stuck on the kayran fight at the moment. Gave up for now after about 15 tries. It's very disappointing. I'm as prepared as I possibly can be, with the trap and the mongoose potion... but none of that matters. The fight's just about doing it over and over until you figure out how to jump through the right hoops at the right moment, like your typical crap console or MMO.

So, in the sequel the game prevents me from drinking potions in combat. Sounds like not a bad idea at first, until it expects you to drink them before you engage in a serious, lengthly conversation and immediately after: Boss fight!

Didn't drink your potions? Oh shit, you can't do that now, you are expected to be a Jesus and predict this will happen! As an additional slap in the face, potion effects expends their duration during conversations.

To quote AVGN: "What we they thinking!"

I really dislike that change as well. Supposedly they did so that you have to think ahead before fights... well that's a great notion, except that they also made potions only last a couple of minutes. So you kind of get stuck either carrying massive amounts of potions and constantly drinking them to be ready, or going without potions then getting caught in a fight and having to reload to drink your potions... not a good design.

 

[TheUnk]

Hmm the potions I've used have all lasted 10mins. More than enough time for any fight and dialog.

Did you have the sorceress help you with Kayran? I beat it in about 4 tries and no traps. Was just a matter of stunning the tentacles and not standing still. Kinda too easy honestly... I'm on Normal difficulty.

 

[Merad]

Hmm the potions I've used have all lasted 10mins. More than enough time for any fight and dialog.

Many of them are only 5 minutes, and most of the blade oils just last about 3 minutes.

Did you have the sorceress help you with Kayran? I beat it in about 4 tries and no traps. Was just a matter of stunning the tentacles and not standing still. Kinda too easy honestly... I'm on Normal difficulty.

Yeah, she's helping. The first tentacle is easy (trap), after that it's hit and miss. I throw down the trap sign and try to get the tentacles to hit that spot, but even when they slap directly on it it almost never stuns them.

Spoiler

Once I did make it as far as the bridge collapsing on the Kayran, but as I was trying to approach it it tossed a chunk of rubble or something that was too large to dodge and one shotted me

 

[Demo24]

Spoiler

Once I did make it as far as the bridge collapsing on the Kayran, but as I was trying to approach it it tossed a chunk of rubble or something that was too large to dodge and one shotted me

Below is a spoiler on how to beat it, in reality it's actually fairly easy.

Spoiler

I found the easiest way was to run to the right side and trap those tentacles. First was the 'inner' one. It really doesn't matter where on the tentacle you trap it. Secondly the last right one. What I did was angle the camera down and run back in forth on an area, when the tentacle arcs up immediately try to roll away(already have the sign down), and this should trap it. After that you need to work your way over and get a 3rd tentacle, the farthest left is about impossible, but you don't need it. When you get the third an action sequence will occur allowing you to sort of ride the beast for a bit. After that the bridge falls on it, but a big chunk falls off to the side. You can stand behind it to regain health if you need to. After this you must run to the very top of the bridge (I basically dodged/rolled the whole way), and when you make it to the top an action sequence will occur and Geralt will finish off the beast. You do not have to fight it to the very end.

 

[Mem]

Many of them are only 5 minutes, and most of the blade oils just last about 3 minutes.



Yeah, she's helping. The first tentacle is easy (trap), after that it's hit and miss. I throw down the trap sign and try to get the tentacles to hit that spot, but even when they slap directly on it it almost never stuns them.

Spoiler

Once I did make it as far as the bridge collapsing on the Kayran, but as I was trying to approach it it tossed a chunk of rubble or something that was too large to dodge and one shotted me

Watch this on how to beat the Kayran (Spoiler warning) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GeiL168FAjQ

 

[mooncancook]

I found 3 bugs or questionable designs in chapter 1 while walking up to investigate the shipwreck.

On the way when I see the bandits, the games quickly loads the new area, when I engage the bandits I retreat and then advance and then retreat and so forth, there seems to be a "magical border" where as soon as I cross it the games will load the "new" area, it gets annoying because I was fighting right at the "magical border" so I keep getting loading screens.

The second issue is when the bandits fight me and I retreat, they'll stop following me as soon as I get to a certain distance from their original spot, even though they are literally only one step away from me. They'll turn back and walk slowly as if I was not there and I can follow right behind them and deal some damages. This is some poor AI.

Last issue I found was when I get to the open area near the shipwreck. I had a tough time dealing with the group of drowners. Then I found out if I stand inside the small bank area where you first descend from, the drowners will not walk up to attack you as if there is a magical barrier, instead they just surround the area and let me and Triss pick them off one by one with fire magic.

 

[Bootleg Betty]

My friend who worked at a game-selling company said that few months ago, he talked to both the developers and the management guys at the CD projekt. Now the managers said it'll be finished for summer, while the developers said "we'll be lucky to have it by christmas".

So that's probably where some of the stupid bugs (and retarded inventory) come from.

 

[Merad]

Below is a spoiler on how to beat it, in reality it's actually fairly easy.

Spoiler

I found the easiest way was to run to the right side and trap those tentacles. First was the 'inner' one. It really doesn't matter where on the tentacle you trap it. Secondly the last right one. What I did was angle the camera down and run back in forth on an area, when the tentacle arcs up immediately try to roll away(already have the sign down), and this should trap it. After that you need to work your way over and get a 3rd tentacle, the farthest left is about impossible, but you don't need it. When you get the third an action sequence will occur allowing you to sort of ride the beast for a bit. After that the bridge falls on it, but a big chunk falls off to the side. You can stand behind it to regain health if you need to. After this you must run to the very top of the bridge (I basically dodged/rolled the whole way), and when you make it to the top an action sequence will occur and Geralt will finish off the beast. You do not have to fight it to the very end.

I made another try after that post and was able to get it. What was tripping me up before was

Spoiler

apparently you can only trap/kill the two outer tentacles on each side. If you hang out too long trying to get the middle two, they do a side-to-side sweep attack that's apparently impossible to evade and does massive damage.

 

[Dankk]

So... what is the verdict on using Keyboard+Mouse vs. Xbox 360 controller? Does the game play nicer with a gamepad, or should I stick to the keyboard and mouse?

 

[ixelion]

The witcher games tend to be rather linear. The first one was just as linear, perhaps with larger worlds though. I presume they do this because it's effectively like playing out a story in a book.

Yeah the linearity isn't too bad though there's enough side quests to give you some freedom of choice.

I take everything back about the combat. A lot of my problems were because I didn't have any higher level skills like Whirl and Quen deflection. Combat is a lot more fun once you've leveled up, and I can go back to normal mode now.

 

[alcoholbob]

So... what is the verdict on using Keyboard+Mouse vs. Xbox 360 controller? Does the game play nicer with a gamepad, or should I stick to the keyboard and mouse?

I enjoyed it more on the controller.

I find turning the camera is smoother, combat in cut-scenes (IMO) is easier. The only thing I found harder was navigating the inventory screen.

 

[PUN]

how do I view the side quest?
I see the main quest on the map but not sure how i can view the other ones.

 

[Fenixgoon]

how do I view the side quest?
I see the main quest on the map but not sure how i can view the other ones.

use the journal and select which quest you want to track. the marker for that quest will show up on the map.

 

[coloumb]

- Inventory system is ok - but there needs to be a way to just drop multiple inventory items without having to drag them one by one to the "drop" icon. [I really miss having an unlimited inventory box as I'm a pack rat].
- Agree on combat and lack of being able to drink potions as being annoyingly stupid - this type of combat reminds me of the console "try, die, learn, and repeat until you win" combat. Am I expected to keep drinking potions/coating my sword all the time?
- When do the other 3 branches open up? I'm running around in the small town in Act 1 - Hard Landing, Level 6, and am limited to training sword combat so far.
- "nudity" seems to be easier to find this time around - almost blatantly put in for the "yep - see those nice boobies on that woman who's tied up in a dungeon!" - in W1 you had to coerce the ladies to sleep with you.
- sword combat is much easier when you pick up the 100% parry from all directions skill - however I'll still stick with EASY mode as I'm more interested in the story progressing.
- Not enough "auto save" points in my opinion - wish the game would auto save whenever you enter/exit a house or area [can't recall if W1 had this feature]

Definitely a fun game and worth the heavily discounted price from D2D Glad to see they aren't re-using the same "areas" or making you back track like DA2 does.

 

[firegreen]

nice

 

[ixelion]

- Inventory system is ok - but there needs to be a way to just drop multiple inventory items without having to drag them one by one to the "drop" icon. [I really miss having an unlimited inventory box as I'm a pack rat].
- Agree on combat and lack of being able to drink potions as being annoyingly stupid - this type of combat reminds me of the console "try, die, learn, and repeat until you win" combat. Am I expected to keep drinking potions/coating my sword all the time?
- When do the other 3 branches open up? I'm running around in the small town in Act 1 - Hard Landing, Level 6, and am limited to training sword combat so far.
- "nudity" seems to be easier to find this time around - almost blatantly put in for the "yep - see those nice boobies on that woman who's tied up in a dungeon!" - in W1 you had to coerce the ladies to sleep with you.
- sword combat is much easier when you pick up the 100% parry from all directions skill - however I'll still stick with EASY mode as I'm more interested in the story progressing.
- Not enough "auto save" points in my opinion - wish the game would auto save whenever you enter/exit a house or area [can't recall if W1 had this feature]

Definitely a fun game and worth the heavily discounted price from D2D Glad to see they aren't re-using the same "areas" or making you back track like DA2 does.

Inventory interface is a little wonky, with a controller you can instantly drop any item in your inventory with the Y button. Combat will get better when you level, Quen is key, parrying becomes useless. At higher levels you can play on normal even hard.

I think you need 7 points the other trees will open up, after that I was leveling up really fast. Blatant nudity and sex scenes are a little forced, I'm all up for adult content but don't hit me upside the head with it. On the other hand it's no worse than Hollywood.

I agree the auto save is bad, and more than once I lost a lot of progress, not as bad as Dragon Knight Saga though. F5 often.

 

[AFurryReptile]

So... what is the verdict on using Keyboard+Mouse vs. Xbox 360 controller? Does the game play nicer with a gamepad, or should I stick to the keyboard and mouse?

I tried it on both, but I prefer kb+mouse. I play on hard though; at that level, I don't think a control is precise enough to keep people from stabbing me in the back, controlling my dodges, etc.

The game is excellent. Very engaging story, the best visuals I've yet seen on the PC(yet optimized! I run full Ultra settings on my 470 GTX), and an interesting combat system that relies more on alchemy and spells than just beating things with a stick.

 

[vshah]

i'm almost a fully upgraded swordmaster now, and battling groups of enemies is great fun with whirl skill and the group finisher

finding better weapons is tough though.

 

[sigurros81]

Minor Spoiler ahead







I just made it to Flotsam (chapter 1) and currently trying to knock out all the side quests, I have a question regarding the Nekker contract. Is the game that hardcore that it does not give you tracking info on your map as to where the caves are, or is there something I'm not seeing. I'm ok with finding all the caves out on my own, but I want to make sure that there isn't some sort of quest tracker that I'm not seeing. Thanks.

 

[CrystalBay]

Steam is updating 3800MB's nice dlc , heh..oops it is the bonus videos

 

[terry107]

Minor Spoiler ahead

Spoiler

I just made it to Flotsam (chapter 1) and currently trying to knock out all the side quests, I have a question regarding the Nekker contract. Is the game that hardcore that it does not give you tracking info on your map as to where the caves are, or is there something I'm not seeing. I'm ok with finding all the caves out on my own, but I want to make sure that there isn't some sort of quest tracker that I'm not seeing. Thanks.

Spoiler

No, there is no quest tracking information; however, the nests are easy to spot. Make sure you have the proper equipment for the nests and have read the journal prior to trying to destroy them.

 

[Demo24]

Minor Spoiler ahead







I just made it to Flotsam (chapter 1) and currently trying to knock out all the side quests, I have a question regarding the Nekker contract. Is the game that hardcore that it does not give you tracking info on your map as to where the caves are, or is there something I'm not seeing. I'm ok with finding all the caves out on my own, but I want to make sure that there isn't some sort of quest tracker that I'm not seeing. Thanks.

side quests like that aren't usually marked, although some parts of it will be. However you aren't looking for caves.

Hint:

Spoiler

Go find the book dealer dwarf and buy the nekker book. Might as well keep it as it weighs nothing, and it tells you how to finish off that contract.

 

[Demo24]

Steam is updating to v1.1 , 3800MB's nice large patch , heh..

Only downloading more additional bonus content for me. I'm hoping the patch arrives later today as I'm waiting on that to fix the DLc before I move on.

 

[CrystalBay]

Yeah your right, its the videos. I couldn't wait , I'm (plowing) through this first run.