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| From: Atari
Category: Video Games
List Price: $39.99
Buy Used: $7.77
You Save: $32.22 (81%)
New (36) Used (23) from $7.77
Avg. Customer Rating:  90 reviews
Sales Rank: 2934
Platforms: Windows Xp, Windows Vista
ESRB: Mature
Media: DVD-ROM
Batteries Included: No
Age: 17 - 20 years
Operating System: Windows XP
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.8
Dimensions (in): 0.1 x 0.1 x 0
MPN: 27556
UPC: 742725275560
EAN: 0742725275560
ASIN: B000R2XJJK
Release Date: October 30, 2007
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: Expedited shipping available
Condition: Disc, manual, and case are in perfect condition and guaranteed. Ships usually within 1-2 business days. E-mail Confirmation.
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| Customer Reviews:
Solid RPG with an excellent plot and some of the best character development around September 7, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
What puts the Witcher head and shoulders above most RPGs is the story. The central character, Geralt of Rivia, who originated in a series of short stories and novels, contrasts sharply with the "Nameless heroes" of the Gothic and Oblivion series. Whereas these characters are basically bank slates who run around killing monsters and foiling dastardly plots for the hell of it (there being no real motivation for their actions), Geralt is a fully fleshed out character with a more back story than can be explored in the game. One of the pleasures of the Witcher is the opportunity to make decisions and experience a genuine story arc in terms of his development.
The fact that the character is a famous "Witcher," or professional monster hunter, also does a great deal to explain what is a common flaw in RPGs -- the suspension of disbelief required to imagine that townsfolk would trust some stranger wandering in from the forest with their problems (hey I just met you, but you've got a sword so can you please retrieve my father's priceless heirloom from [insert dungeon name]).
While the Witcher has a few such moments, for the most part the quests are believable, the character interaction excellent, and the sense of consequences to your actions realistic. Both the story and the world are dark and unusually modern in terms of themes if not setting: involving racism, terrorism, and religious fanaticism. While you can choose from multiple sides in a brewing conflict, or strive to the path of Neutrality, you'll find there are no easy answers to the questions that beset you in the game.
Stepping away from the plot for a moment, the combat system is quite good and very innovative, which is important since there is a great deal of fighting in the game. The system manages to strike a pleasant balance between click-fest systems such as most Diablo clones and the simplistic click-once-and-forget systems such as WOW. The system is at once easy to use, and still requires tactics, which is a difficult trick to pull off. The balance between martial prowess, potions and limited spell-like effects is just about perfect. The inventory and skill systems, while more standard to the genre, are similarly intuitive and well thought out. The graphics on the other hand, while good, are based on the aging Neverwinter Nights engine and are unlikely to win any awards.
If there is a complaint about the game, its that its only semi open. The game is divided into chapters, in each of which you can roam free form. However, there is at no point the freedom and wonder of say Oblivion -- where after leaving the initial dungeon you are pretty much free to do what you want and wander an enormous and vibrant world. On the other hand this allows a much more intricate plot to be woven into the Witcher than Oblivion, so its a mixed complaint.
Continuing to take Oblivion as a point of reference, there is no question that the engine for Oblivion is far better, with no annoying load times, fewer crashes, and some of the most amazing grass and forest effects seen, which make riding a horse from one side of the kingdom to the other a pure pleasure. On the other hand the story and main character were a bit of a disappointment - whereas in the Witcher they are a pure joy. Combat too in the Witcher is far better. What's more the potions and limited spell effects you have access to just feels right. In Oblivion I could be a mind boggling super mage/fighter/thief/assassin/acrobat (provided I hit the jump key every 5 seconds). In the Witcher, I am just a mutated monster hunter -- nothing more, nothing less.
Played The Witcher four times September 7, 2008
I rarely replay games (I think Oblivion was the only other) but so enjoyed The Witcher that I've played it four times and plan on playing the enhanced version, too.
Really, my only complaints relate to inventory handling, which I hear is to be improved in the enhanced version. It is terribly hard to keep inventory organized and quickly becomes a mess. The capacity is also less than in many other games. I did appreciate the fact that quest items were in a separate slot, but I wish the game would allow you to drop duplicate quest items.
Again, I look forward to the enhanced version, and of course the sequel!
 combat kills this game August 31, 2008
2 out of 4 found this review helpful
I am interested in why most people are happy with this game. I can not stand the combat, it is for me a game killer. Combat is as follows: left click the mouse, wait 1.0 seconds, left click the mouse, wait 1.0 seconds left click the mouse, wait 1.0 seconds..left click the mouse, crap clicked too soon...left click mouse... oh lets cast a spell, right click the mouse..ect ect. It ruins whatever else maybe good about it. Its a RPG for Dummies, with half baked "moral" dilemas that everyone raves about, seen them, played them in much better packages, not exactly ground breaking. If you think Fable was a great game, this one will make you happy..If you prefer games like Planescape Torment, I would avoid it.
A very good game marred by minor bugs August 30, 2008
Although it's a very fun game, it's marred by many small bugs. The game just needed to be polished more before it was shipped. The thing that annoyed me the most is the sliding of the character (as though he's on skating on ice) as he walks/runs around. If you can get over this (and other more minor flaws) this is a great RPG. The plot is extremely interesting and the game never feels repetitive.
I highly recommended it.
 AWESOME! August 28, 2008
This game is great! I was a big fan of Gothic 2 and with Gothic 3 being such a disappointment; I was totally blown away with this game. Great graphics and a great story line providing everything from humor to "delicate" moments. I would definitely recommend this game to anyone that loves a complete rpg.
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