I'll do it, if the coin is good.
After 95 hours, I've concluded the main quest line of the game. I still have around 20 quests in my journal. Granted mostly involving Gwent(the collectable trading card game). However there are still a number of contracts left unfulfilled. As well as points of interest unexplored scattered about the map.
At some point in the story I came to the conclusion that most of the game was almost entirely scripted into one general narrative. I was wrong. The choices you make are so subtle and dynamic that the story completely and entirely changes the world. This was eluded to by speaking with people at similar points in the narrative who had COMPLETELY different outcomes for specific events. Additionally, its not like Witcher 2 where there were say around 4 or 5 decisions that would turn the tide. Witcher 3 has more like 50 that are interwoven to a degree that upon completing the game and reading a guide I still do not know all the outcomes nor how to achieve them.
Now, this game had a little rough patch at launch. People complaining about character movement speed. A sort of dead zone of zero reaction to immediate sprinting. Character interaction where Geralt would find putting out candles more interesting than opening a chest full of hot loot. I didn't find those issues that much of an annoyance. However, riding Roach (the horse) became at least for me, a sort of nightmare. Roach had trouble starting into a sprint and even more trouble going near things that were not flat ground. Dead stop running next to rocks. Yeah, next to rocks. I soon gave up on trying to get what I'd call medium distances on horseback. I'd use the cantor as the the slower speed allowed for more control. Especially because even though Roach does not lose stamina on roads, he'd also run almost every time when approaching a fork the wrong way and then dead stop next to a rock. But I digress. Those issues are not that big of a deal.
The only other glitches I've saw were that of which you'd expect to see in any other open world game.
Reading this back to myself, it seems mildly negative. It is not my intention. I just felt those issues needed to be addressed.
As far as barrier of entry, this is by far the easiest to get into of the Witcher series. Potions can be crafted at any time and drank during battle. Which is a huge departure from previous iterations. Which, in my opinion is nice but it also takes away from the difficulty. Looking back I wish I had played on a higher difficulty. I went with Normal(Story and Sword) as my previous experience with the series suggested to my feeble mind. Additionally, using alcohest or a strong alcohol to remake every single potion and bomb seemed so trivial. Previously each potion required all ingredients and when it was gone, it was gone. But again, Making it easier usually brings more people in and from a business aspect I completely understand. So it goes.
Overall, the way the narrative progression feels so organic that it seems scripted as if you had no choice begin with even though you actually have all the choice. Combined with the dozens of hours of side quests that feel like almost entirely separate plot threads. Rather enjoyable combat that doesn't get tired until well past your interest in the story has subsided. With at times needing to actually read the Bestiary in order to gain the upper hand on a contract. With great voice acting that makes you actually want to listen to the NPC's rather than skip all the dialogue and just ask where the next waypoint is; Makes for such a complete package that it makes me feel emotionally attached. Easily one of the best games I've ever played.
