The Witcher 2's game world feels very rich and fascinating, I'm finding it very easy to get side tracked by things and wonder at their conception. The simplest of actions feel enjoyable, in a almost Zen-like Shenmue way. I won't dare rushing through this game when there's so much to discover, and trigger, by your interactions with NPC's and the environment.

The dialogue between characters is great, I'm really loving it. The voice acting here is far superior than the original game, which isn't hard to achieve at all in truth, but it still stands out as being special in my ears, It's making me chuckle for all the right reasons. It has a distinctly British flavour which I'm confident will amuse many. 

The games Mo- cap is superb, particularly when depicting battle. Animation overall is certainly impressive. The visual style and character of objects really gives a great feeling of substance to this game, the world feels well conceived down to the finest of details, and I find myself wanting to explore it more as a direct result.

I'm really enjoying the combat, I'm finding it challenging and very satisfying. I'm also liking the clearly laid out route for upgrading your abilities. This game is a lot clearer in my head, and I'm really appreciating it after the original games overbearing complexity in certain areas. Put simply, the combat here is fun and as interesting as you want it to be. Advance settings is the only way to play this game in the fashion it deserves though.

More from the wonderful world of Witcher 2, later!

Four Launch Trailers (It deserves as many)

1. http://www.gametrailers.com/video/exclusive-hope-the-witcher/713860
2. http://www.ign.com/videos/2011/05/13/the-witcher-2-launch-trailer?objectid=14345201
3. http://www.g4tv.com/videos/52929/the-witcher-2-how-to-kill-a-witcher-trailer/?quality=hd
4. http://www.gamespot.com/pc/rpg/thewitcher2/video/6313852#toggle_video   

Awesome! Could you give a bit more detail about the technical hiccups you had? Also, fuck dice poker.

those.. pictures... are so.......

Just want to say that the stuff in the collectors edition looks wonderful :o

Man thats going to take up a bunch of space. Kind of happy that my GOG purchase came with all that stuff digitized. Did you also get the making off, bonus videos and the soundtrack with this edition?

Also, fuck dice poker.

I'm kinda regretting not getting the collectors edition. That head statue looks like it's pretty high quality. I'm loving the game so far, the combat system was a little disorienting to begin with but I've gotten used to it now. When  I saw all the houses in the first village you enter, I didn't expect to be able to enter them, but not only can you enter them, they all feel unique and I've even found some secret passages leading to some goodies, it's great! I'm definitely gonna take my time with this one and try to explore everything. I haven't had any performance issues and it looks amazing, it pretty much puts every other RPG to shame (looking at you Dragon Age). First impressions are very good indeed.

Looks like there are still companies who know how to make a collectors edition.

@borodin said:

Also, fuck dice poker.

Amen

@borodin said: 

Also, fuck dice poker.

Amen

Sounds great, I'm downloading it through Steam right now, 3 more hours to go. Once I bought it I was pleasantly surprised by the fact that it has 50 Steam achievements, so I already like this game.

Oh man, don't do this to me. I can't afford this right now.

That is so nice :D

There is apparently a day one patch that fixes a lot of problems.

You know. I'm glad they packed that stuff into a Retail copy, but god damn do I know what do download a lot of that stuff off of steam. I'll never use any of it like how I never used any of the special features in the 1st one. Oh well. Hope your enjoying it.

There is apparently a day one patch that fixes a lot of problems.

the only thing I hate is how hard it is to pick up items from fallen enemies. but game owns otherwise :P

I am getting slaughtered by Nekkers right now. Once you are surrounded, you are dead. Despite me getting angry at cheap deaths, I felt immense satisfaction when I managed to kill all of them and loot their bodies. Anything like that happened to you? By the way, the game kept me playing till 7 in the morning. So good.

I am getting slaughtered by Nekkers right now. Once you are surrounded, you are dead. Despite me getting angry at cheap deaths, I felt immense satisfaction when I managed to kill all of them and loot their bodies. Anything like that happened to you? By the way, the game kept me playing till 7 in the morning. So good.

Oh my gawd, why does this take so long too install on my PC? Wanna play it (luckily I can max the settings all out, it´s gonna be a blast with my last RPG being Dragon Age 2).

I've never bought a collector's edition, but damn, that looks pretty sweet.

@Claude: 

It is one of the best I've seen for a PC game. What are you plans for this, are you going to wait for a console version, or really upset the wife by upgrading your PC?

What I really need to know is: Did they use Speedtree?

Is this 2011's Crysis? Or is it 2011's Metro 2033?

What I really need to know is: Did they use Speedtree?

So jealous.

my initial impression is

Is this 2011's Crysis? Or is it 2011's Metro 2033?

E: I actually dislike that I used those games as a way to see if it is the next step in tech or if it is just badly optimized; especially as I prefer the way Metro 2033 looks to Crysis.

Im loving the game so far, but man is it hard to deal with a group of enemies... Gotta be real smart in the way you prepare and approach a battle.

Im loving the game so far, but man is it hard to deal with a group of enemies... Gotta be real smart in the way you prepare and approach a battle.

@Patman99 said:

Im loving the game so far, but man is it hard to deal with a group of enemies... Gotta be real smart in the way you prepare and approach a battle.

Yea. You also get abilities later on in the game that make dealing with packs much easier. 

I think many people including myself assumed the combat was going to be simple after looking at videos, how wrong were we. I'm not complaining though.

@Contro said:

@Patman99 said:

Im loving the game so far, but man is it hard to deal with a group of enemies... Gotta be real smart in the way you prepare and approach a battle.

Yea. You also get abilities later on in the game that make dealing with packs much easier. 

I think many people including myself assumed the combat was going to be simple after looking at videos, how wrong were we. I'm not complaining though.

Lots of people are complaining though.. seems most people just want more mindless button mashers. :(

@djaoni said:

@Contro said:

@Patman99 said:

Im loving the game so far, but man is it hard to deal with a group of enemies... Gotta be real smart in the way you prepare and approach a battle.

Yea. You also get abilities later on in the game that make dealing with packs much easier. 

I think many people including myself assumed the combat was going to be simple after looking at videos, how wrong were we. I'm not complaining though.

Lots of people are complaining though.. seems most people just want more mindless button mashers. :(

Such people are most likely console gamers in disguise. Genuine PC gamers will appreciate the difficulty and the importance of good strategy in battles.

Just started chapter 2.
And already can say that this is the best RPG I have played since BG2, without hesitation.
The story, the choices, the visuals, the leveling, the combat, are fucking phenomenal.
It's my new standard for RPG's, period.

Just started chapter 2.And already can say that this is the best RPG I have played since BG2, without hesitation.The story, the choices, the visuals, the leveling, the combat, are fucking phenomenal.It's my new standard for RPG's, period.

@Tennmuerti said:

Just started chapter 2.And already can say that this is the best RPG I have played since BG2, without hesitation.The story, the choices, the visuals, the leveling, the combat, are fucking phenomenal.It's my new standard for RPG's, period.

Wholeheartedly Agree.
I bought LA Noire alongside this... it's not going to get played for quite some time, there just way too much in this game I need to discover before embarking with any other game.

The prologue was one of the best i ever played.  After it was done and then the Chapter 1 title appeared i was like "wow the game is only just starting now?!"  It was a pretty epic one.

In regards to the combat:
I like how it is complex and you have to think about dudes with shields and attack them differently.  I do miss the flow and timing based combat of the 1st though.  I just liked the how that felt and worked.  I am not to far though, does it change?

In regards to the combat:I like how it is complex and you have to think about dudes with shields and attack them differently.  I do miss the flow and timing based combat of the 1st though.  I just liked the how that felt and worked.  I am not to far though, does it change?

So how's the DRM on the copy you're playing on, if any?

I'm really liking it too so far, I find the combat to be pretty hard though I've died quite a bit and I'm only in the beginning still :(.

Yes of course, you don't get all that loot on the first page by buying a digitally distributed version.

Those pictures are great. Funds are a tad tight lately, so sadly I was only able to get it on Steam, though that has some nice bonus goodies as well.