It’s been an age in coming, but the wait is nearly over. The Witcher 3 will be with us in February and, with the promise of a huge world and a gripping story, this is the next-gen RPG you’ve all been waiting for…
The spectacle of two titanic camps clashing for domination of their realm is nothing new in the world of role playing games. As well as serving as an appropriate backdrop for many a dramatic in-game battle, it also neatly summarises the struggle for supremacy of the very genre itself that has been raging between heavyweights Bethesda and BioWare in recent years.
Both are renowned for the very different approaches they take when plying their trade – one blending balanced, polished gameplay with complex characters and stories charged with genuine emotional depth, the other one delivering magnificent worlds of such scope and scale that exploring and adventuring is itself as much a joy as the story that ultimately drives you onward. But seldom is there much cause to take issue with the products these two
approaches yield.
But if there is a downside to the intensity of this rivalry, it’s that it’s left very little room for other action-RPG franchises to grow and evolve. But of the few that have, CD Projekt’s The Witcher is certainly the most successful. And now, with its first two games having sold more than five million units between them, the series is at long last poised to give the likes of The Elder Scrolls and Dragon Age a run for their money when The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt arrives in stores in February.
Based on Polish author Andrzej Sapkowski’s hugely popular line of fantasy novels, the videogame exploits of Geralt of Rivia have gradually migrated from the world of PC to the land of console, increasing in sophistication with each passing game. Wild Hunt picks up the tale at a pivotal time in the Witcher universe. Kicking off roughly six months after the events of The Witcher 2, the Empire of Nilfgaard’s conquest of the northern kingdoms is in full swing. But ominously an even greater menace, the titular Wild Hunt, is making its presence felt. Not much is known of this sinister otherworldly force, beyond its knack for leaving decimated villages and blood-soaked ground in its wake. But its arrival spells seriously bad news.
Geralt has regained his memory and is now tracking down those dearest to him while the world around him tears itself apart. At this point in time, CD Projekt is being understandably frugal with the finer points of the plot, offering only enough to make you hungry for more. But with Wild Hunt representing the final instalment of this trilogy of games, expect some serious fireworks along the way.
Nevertheless, newcomers shouldn’t be too concerned as the Polish studio has also confirmed – again, without being too specific – that steps have been taken to bring those unfamiliar with the series’ charms up to speed with its key events. But it’s the world as much as the story that promises to grab you the moment you first lay eyes on The Witcher 3, begging to be explored.
Although the scale of the world and the rich detail it offers are hugely impressive, it’s actually the styling that catches the eye more than anything else. Their ‘go anywhere, do anything’ nature has a tendency to work against open-world games, robbing them of the attention to detail that a more linear game would offer. But having seen The Witcher 3 in action, we’re pleased to report that from a stylistic point of view things look wonderfully rich and atmospheric.
Wander along the dirt roads of the countryside and you’ll be surrounded by fields of sunflowers and knee-high grass swaying gently in the breeze. Pass a farm and you’ll see farmers tilling the fields, goats and geese roaming around, and children chasing each other.
Upon entering a major urban area such as Novigrad harbour, between the imposing wooden and stone buildings and the busy docks, you’ll find bustling streets lined with traders’ stalls, fishing nets, boxes, barrels and taverns. While the lingering mists, derelict buildings and the thin foliage-deprived trees found in the swamps of No Man’s Land – an area designed to feel intimidating – heighten the sense of isolation and vulnerability.
Furthermore, CD Projekt promises that this world will function as its own “living, breathing ecosystem”. In essence, all the NPC inhabitants of settlements, from the most downtrodden of beggars to the highest of lords, have their own daily routines, covering both their work and their time off. Knowing where to go and who to speak to can also yield rewards, in the form of contraband weapons, armour and ingredients, and the choices you make can directly impact the avenues available to you further down the line.
Keeping an eye out while travelling, and learning to read the land and its wildlife, also has its benefits. Harpies, for instance, are known to have a penchant for valuables, so rummaging through their nests will often yield some useful loot. Likewise, you can use the elements to your advantage in battle, such as being able to set swamp fumes ablaze to flambé enemies. And then there are the hunts, which give you the chance to break off and hunt down and slay monsters. Using Geralt’s Witcher sense, you can identify the telltale signs that a beastie is in the area then track it down and slaughter it.
The combat system promises to deliver a familiar blend of magic and traditional weapons incorporated into a combination-based gameplay system. At least one new weapon will fi gure – Gabriel, a small crossbow with fully customisable ammunition and a slow-mo aiming mechanic – alongside Geralt’s other implements of death.
Geralt also has a selection of magic available to him, called Signs. Yrden has the ability to trap enemies, Quen offers a one-hit shield, Igni casts fire, Axii can stun enemies or, better still, persuade them to fi ght alongside you, while Aard serves as an air blast that pushes enemies back. Geralt also has a couple of new moves at his disposal that are useful when exploring, in the form of jumping and diving. These offer Geralt greater freedom to get around and select routes through the world.
That The Witcher 3 is shaping up very nicely has been apparent for well over a year now. But as the game enters the fi nal six months of its development cycle it’s now that we can truly begin to appreciate the boldness and scale of what CD Projekt Red is aiming for with its maiden next-gen release. And with both the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 still arguably waiting for that first magical ‘now this is next-gen’ adventure game, there’s every chance that Wild Hunt could be that watershed title that persuades those who have been holding out to finally take the plunge.
FORMAT: PS4, XOne, PC
PUBLISHER: CD Projekt / Bandai Namco
DEVELOPER: CD Projekt Red
RELEASED: 24 February 2015