The Witcher 2 Enhanced Edition Reviews

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Written by WorstUsernameEver on April 18th, 2012

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There are very few differences between playing this on 360 or a high-end PC. The graphical gap is noticeable but trivial, load times are short and infrequent on both, and the game plays equally well on mouse/keyboard and gamepad. Several complaints I had about the original horrid inventory management, punishing early difficulty, targeting problems have been patched away since launch, and those improvements are incorporated here (thus the slightly higher score). The few flaws I take issue with should in no way discourage anyone from playing this fantastic, unique RPG. So long as they're over 18, anyway, because this is the most deserving M rating I've ever personally played through.

Although not without faults, The Witcher 2 is by far one of the best RPGs we've seen in recent years. The gameplay transitions very well from PC and Xbox 360, and even on an aging system, the graphical quality barely falters. Above all else, Assassins of Kings excels in its storytelling, and never shies away from its own maturity. Instead, it embraces the adult themes no matter how gut-wrenching that most other RPGs simply ignore for fear of alienating their audience.

CD Projekt has woven a rich narrative built around player decisions and a central character that falls under your complete control. True, Geralt of Rivia isn't a character you create from scratch, but he is nonetheless effective as a conduit, an avatar of the player that somehow maintains enough personality to be considered his own man. Most importantly, Witcher 2 proves that even a melancholic tale of war and violence can be deeply satisfying, and wherever your decisions lead Geralt, the end is anything but a letdown.

Not having played The Witcher 2 on PC, I have no established standard with which to judge the relative quality of the 360 version. Regardless of the game's quality when put side-by-side with its PC incarnation, however, The Witcher 2 on the 360 is definitely an incredibly well crafted and polished game with a few flaws that only rarely hinder the overall experience and prevent it from achieving perfection. As the ending credits to The Witcher 2 finished rolling, continuance of Geralt's ongoing journey was promised, and personally, I can't wait for the next entry of the series.

The Witcher 2 is a wonderful game, one that is worthy of many replays in order to revel in the possibilities that the malleable story provides. Combined with a combat system that requires skill, and thought, but still retains style, The Witcher 2 bears all the hallmarks of a truly great RPG.

So yeah, you should probably pick this up. It's a fantastic game, even set aside from playing the original Witcher, so don't be put off by the fact that you might not have played the first game. For console only players that have heard PC gamers talk endlessly about the merits of this particular title, you'll finally get a chance to see what all the hype has been about. I don't think you'll come away disappointed in the slightest, as The Witcher 2 really delivers in every way imaginable.

The clumsy menus, which haven't been much improved from those found in the PC edition, won't do much to help mainstream gamers struggling to find footing. They're tricky to navigate (switching between sections involves a counter-intuitive series of trigger, shoulder button, and directional pad taps), and critical features often seem hidden. I can imagine casual players, frustrated because they can't figure out how to concoct and drink formulas or craft items, simply deciding to abandon the game before giving it a real chance, and that would be a shame.

I'm not trying to scare anyone away. I've had a great time with both editions, and consider The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings to be a terrific fantasy RPG comparable to yet significantly different from other popular entries in the genre, including The Elder Scrolls games, Dragon Age, and Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning. It is, arguably, the most grown-up game of its kind. Just bear in mind that it remains an entertainment not really intended for the mainstream and that it is still best played on a game-worthy computer.

Most of the time, ports from PC to console really fall short. But with The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings Enhanced Edition, WB Games and CD Projekt RED not only did their homework, but earned tons of extra credit. With days worth of content to go through, an extraordinary package that includes a mini-guide AND the game's soundtrack, an above-average presentation, and entertaining quest-worthy gameplay, it really does provide the kind of gaming that'll last you all summer long. If anything can stray you from Skyrim's mighty beasts, it's this game.

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