Hi. So, after about 8-9 hours of downloading, I'm leaving it for tonight after 1 hour of play. Holy hell, this game is a lot harder than the first. I'll say that it's extremely pretty and good looking. As promised! Now, I don't actually think the game is bad, I think it's good so far, but I just got completely deflated by a few points. First off, someone need to show CD Projekt Red how to make tutorials! It seems you simply get a hint here and there, and while you're actually doing what the hint is explaining. And generally, things are not explained enough at all. I tried out the arm-wrestling, and only got instructions when the game actually started, so I'm kind of focused on the mini-game itself, and don't have time to read the instructions. Also, the combat really needs explaining. It's almost nothing like the first game. I quit after dieing 8 times on the ballista in the very beginning. Blocking doesn't always work, there's no indication of when and how to chain attacks, and you seem to really need to use your signs alot, which wasn't necessary in the previous game. 

...you can block?

It does feel like they messed up the tutorial aspect of this completely. Especially the introductory segment where you can select dialogue choices that actually fire up flashbacks. I selected "What happened to the dragon?" first, thinking that it was the least likely to progress the narrative since I was asking about information and not giving it. Instead, I get dumped into the 4th tutorial segment with tutorial cards flashing up wildly because of everything that's happening and the fact I hadn't encountered any of that yet. Lovely.

(also, stupid question, but is there a point picking things up in the flashback? I'm walking over every square inch of grass I can find trying to get herbs but it would suck something fierce if I just lost it all after the tutorial segments.)

Good thing I got a PDF manual, looks like I'm going to need it.

Also, this looks INCREDIBLY console friendly, especially with the in-game graphics options limited to correcting brightness and gamma, and the spells placed on a wheel lifted straight out of Dragon Age. A console port hasn't been announced yet, right?

...you can block?

It does feel like they messed up the tutorial aspect of this completely. Especially the introductory segment where you can select dialogue choices that actually fire up flashbacks. I selected "What happened to the dragon?" first, thinking that it was the least likely to progress the narrative since I was asking about information and not giving it. Instead, I get dumped into the 4th tutorial segment with tutorial cards flashing up wildly because of everything that's happening and the fact I hadn't encountered any of that yet. Lovely.

 

(also, stupid question, but is there a point picking things up in the flashback? I'm walking over every square inch of grass I can find trying to get herbs but it would suck something fierce if I just lost it all after the tutorial segments.)

 

 

Good thing I got a PDF manual, looks like I'm going to need it.

 

 

Also, this looks INCREDIBLY console friendly, especially with the in-game graphics options limited to correcting brightness and gamma, and the spells placed on a wheel lifted straight out of Dragon Age. A console port hasn't been announced yet, right?

They said they wanted to do a port a few months ago tbf.

"if" ?

Not much of a tutorial if I have to read the manual. It is what it is, I suppose.

I really loved the first Witcher.  Everything in this game seems great, except that combat.  Which seems awful.  I'm really regretting my purchase right now.  I'll keep at it though, maybe I'm just not understanding the new system yet.

I hate the inventory interface (even using a mouse) and the combat radial menu. There are 4 directions, for the signs you have to go left then up/down to get what you want with the controller. Why not just a circle! it works, no need to be original.