The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt (2015)

What more can be said about The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt? I did not play the first two installments and only entered the series with the third. I experienced it together with my girlfriend, and from the very first moments, the atmosphere of this world pulls you in completely.

The literary foundation created by Andrzej Sapkowski is extraordinary. What CD Projekt achieved in translating that world into an interactive form is equally remarkable. The tone, the writing, the characters, and the moral ambiguity create a narrative depth that is difficult to match. I struggle to name another game that reaches the same level of storytelling quality.

The only title that genuinely surprised me in a comparable way was Kingdom Come: Deliverance II. In terms of atmosphere, narrative delivery, and systemic depth, that is the only series I would place in a similar category.

As an RPG, The Witcher 3 feels close to flawless.

...about this game. One of the few games I bought on release in 2015 on the PS4. Completed the base game and Heart of Stone 4 or 5 times and got all the achievements. Got a PC and played it 3 times fully modded...but never played Blood & Wine expansion. Started a new playthrough and corrected that oversight in 2021. Blood and Wine was a fantastic expansion and a great farewell to the game and Sir Geralt of Rivia. 100% complete, all achievements done, can shelve it now....

...Until the remaster comes out...May have to sink another 100 hours into this one!

I have spent way too many hours on this game. I LOVE the Witcher 3. It is the first game I ever got for my PS4 and I LOVE it. The combat mechanic is awesome, it's challenging but not impossible. I have beaten all the DLCs and I recently wanted to go back and just explore, but realized I had almost completely lost my ability to fight. I found it really difficult to pick up again, I think because the combat controls are very unique to the game. You're not just pressing the RT the entire time like Assasin's Creed. I would love to get back into this game because I adore it so much.

spoiler

Also the fact that you can make Siri into women is THE BEST.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. The game that everyone is talking about. Easily one those overrated titles that comes every once in a while. I will begin by reviewing every arc of the story with just one sentence:

Prologue: OK? Kinda interesting.

In Ciri's Footsteps - Velen (or Bloody Baron's arc): My favorite arc of the game. Interesting story and plot.

In Ciri's Footsteps - Novigrad (or Whoreson's arc): This is where it feels like an anime filler. Characters are dull, mainly Whoreson. Boring story. Boring gameplay.

In Ciri's Footsteps - Skellige: Yet another boring arc.

Uma's Curse: Meh good. Gathering those allies is a waste of time.

Wild Hunt: This is where if feels like a game. Truly incredible.

The story should have been cut in half. Remember kids "Quality over quantity". The combat system is dull and boring. Side-quests are repetitive and boring. Broken movement. Beautiful open world. That is the overrated game called "The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt".

[EDIT] You know what? I changed my mind. I give it 4 stars instead of 3 '_'

This is a game that I knew nothing about before buying. I bought it on impulse because I wanted a fantasy title for my PS4. I'll admit it took me a while to get going with it, as early on I began to play other online games with my friends, leaving this one behind for a few months. But I am extremely glad that I came back to continue this title. Not only is it a gaming masterpiece but it is quite possibly my favourite game of all time. The world is gritty and brilliant, the characters are intriguing and memorable, and the relationship between protagonists Geralt and Ciri at the heart of it is arguably my favourite relationship in all of video games (I'm a sucker for father-daughter relationships). I have never cared so much about a character before as I have with Ciri.

Overall this game is masterfully crafted, full to the brim with backstory and things to do. A must-buy for anyone who's even slightly into the fantasy genror RPG gaming.