The game never comes out and picks a side though. It's quite clear that there
are ultimately neutral, human and nonhuman paths, but the script constantly
stresses the ways in which Geralt can interpret each path as being the right
one. It's like Mass Effect's moral certainty (regardless of the path), but seen
through a less cosmic, more personal and racial lens. It's very interesting to
watch the story pan out, influenced as it is by Geralt's actions. You'll quickly
realize that some friends can be lost forever, just as you make new ones.
The list of updates in this new version are constantly thrown at reviewers
and press like weapons, so let's get them out of the way. The voice acting in
the game has been partially redone (entirely redone for the German version), and
some of the talking animations have been improved. Returning Witchers won't
notice, because the voice acting is still pretty good (except Geralt, who is
J.C. Denton's match for emotionless emoting), and the animations in-conversation
are still awful.
The game's enemies now feature varying colors and skins, so you won't see the
exact same villager five times in a row. It's not much, but it helps to
alleviate the previous monotony. The game also promises to decrease many load
times (I used to write paragraphs for essays while rooms loaded), and it does
so, to a degree. They're still long and annoying though.
The final add-on to this edition of The Witcher are two bonus levels, one set
in the main town of Vizima, the other just outside the Witcher stronghold.
They're both fun, and both provide a little extra Witching for those interested.
They feature stunted character development though, to stop you from porting your
overpowered regular character into the expansions. It's a nice bonus, but
nothing life-changing.
As it stands, anyone who already bought The Witcher gets this stuff for free
in downloadable form. Let me advise you: check it out. There's no reason not to
play one of the best of last year's games again, especially with the new bells
and whistles.
Everybody else, buy this game! It's the best, most serious, fun, beautiful
RPG I've played in a long time. Its only fault now is really its peculiar trophy
approach to sex, a product of a slightly different culture than our own
puritanical one. I don't have a problem with lots of sex, just with collecting
cards depicting your partners nearly nude. It's bizarre.
My adulation for this game has only been increased with these enhancements,
but to be honest, I didn't need them. Everyone with a PC should play this game;
it's worth ten of most games out there today.
In The End, This Game Hath Been Rated:
90%.
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