The adventure became a whole lot grander…
Some key points that this game offers:
- Every DLC and game improvement is included in the Enhanced Edition.
- Dark Mode.
- Official Soundtrack.
- Game World Map.
- Quest Handbook.
- Digital Comic Book.
Gameplay & Controls:
For the PC players the game has partial controller support, enough to make use of a controller and to actually enjoy the use of a controller, but for the masters of the old ways the keyboard path is there as well, fully accessible and a wide range of keys for you to make use of.
Under the hood are numerous other settings that can be customized for your experience, such as the QTE difficulties for example.
If you recall The Witcher 1, it experimented with a new combat mechanic, which at first required getting used to, but we soon master that way of the sword. The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings Enhanced Edition’s combat mechanics have been changed again, this time to a more hack and slash variant, once your weapon is drawn of course.
The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings Enhanced Edition is a massive step up from the original with a much larger world and tons more to see and do. We still have a Fantasy RPG at heart here and this time around there are even more choices to make as you progress through the game.
Our inventory has also received a major update, giving us the ability to collect much more items, weapons and gear to sell or make use of, a feature we did not have in the original. We no longer need to use flint or a fire to start the waiting or meditating progress, making things much easier to do on the go.
A lot has been updated and changed with The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings Enhanced Edition, and all in the right ways. CD PROJEKT RED did an outstanding job with The Witcher one, but they went and surpassed that standard tenfold with the release of this amazing sequel.
Graphics:
Beyond beautiful! The REDengine at its best here, providing a fully living and breathing world that comes across as so realistic that one can’t help but find the entire experience believable.
Every location was given a great deal of effort to ensure that they were created with as much realism as was needed to sell this beautiful work of art. Whether you are running down the streets of a small town, or through the woods the experience is memorable.
The architecture behind the cities and villages are so accurately done that the medieval theme is brilliantly presented with pin point accuracy, fully creating the atmosphere for you to explore and do your business in.
The forest and wood areas have received the same amount of gorgeous detail. Woods never looked more alive as they do now. The tree branches dancing in the wind, the rain lighting up the skies as you hunt down beasties, the experience is beyond realistic and so memorable, one easily forgets the cause and simply pause to witness and enjoy the magical visuals that the game presents us with.
And that is far from it all, character design is just as stunning, facial features that change as the conversations mood changes, adds to the already realistic atmosphere that the game offers. That combined with the beautiful character designs makes for one unforgettable experience. This includes not only Important and Key NPC’s, but also general NPC characters, in their own ways they were all uniquely and beautifully created.
We have numerous settings to fully customize how this amazing game runs.
Sounds:
Making matters that much more is the stunning background and sound effects that have been added to the game world. Whether it is the falling rain, or the screeching of a monster in the distance, the sounds are there bringing your game to life in a whole new perspective.
Character voice overs were done brilliantly, on par with the high standard that the game has set for itself. The soundtrack is another winning choice here that enhances the overall experience of the game, whether you are out shopping or tracking down some monster, the music will never fail you.
Replayability:
This game has so many choices for you to make that you have to replay it several times to fully experience all that the game has to offer. There is a total of 16 different endings for you to experience.
MGR Gaming’s Conclusions:
Spoilers Ahead:
The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings Enhanced Edition is through and through a marvel of a game. CD Project Red took everything that was good from the original and used that as building blocks to ensure an even greater sequel.
Let’s face it not every sequel is always better than the original, it is just the way the cookie crumbles, however The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings is the exceptional exception here. This game has breached new levels of beauty, and realism, and that coming from and RPG Fantasy says a lot.
The story line with its numerous choices constantly changes how you play the game; you can make each playthrough unique and exhilarating if you make the right decisions and in return the game will provide you with different outcomes as you play through each act. You’ve never had this much freedom to a main quest line as you have now and it is one stunning experience.
The story itself has been beautifully written and the way it plays and pans out in the game is marvelous and dangerous, every decision has a consequence and more often than not it is that we were not prepared for it and that is what makes all of this so amazing. The game has numerous side quests to add to this already beautiful world and they share the same sense of choices that you will experience with the main quest line.
A new fun past time quest has been introduced into the game, Arm wrestling, granting Geralt another method to prove that he truly is the best.
The levelling system for The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings is a step up again from the original, a welcome and rather easy to get into system and grants you the means to fully customize how your Geralt will turn out and specialize in being a Witcher.
The change in combat mechanics is a welcome sight to any sequel, it might be completely different from what it used to be, but it fits in perfectly with what the sequel offers. The new inventory system is another welcomed sight which adds to the RPG look and feel. As long as we can carry it, we never have to leave good gear behind again.
There is so much more to mention and highlight on, but spoiling all the fun is no fun, experience it for yourself rather.
Additional Info:
Platforms: PC: Mac: Xbox 360: Linux
Genre: RPG: Fantasy: Dark Fantasy: Choices Matter: Masterpiece
Censor Rating: Mature: Nudity: Sexual Content
Age Rating: 18
Developer: CD PROJEKT RED
Publisher: CD PROJEKT RED: 1C-SoftClub
Release Date: 17 May 2011
MGR Gaming Steam Curator:
https://store.steampowered.com/curator/32364038/
