Scattered
So my gaming-ADD kicked in this weekend and as a result I passed on playing Oblivion in favor of The Witcher 2. Strange things happen to me with single-player games, I can’t even begin to understand it. I can only think of one game in recent memory which I started and completed before attempting to take on another game – that was King’s Bounty: Armored Princess. Dragon Age: Origins, Fallout 3, The Witcher, Dragon Age II, Fallout: New Vegas – with all of those I started, stopped, played something different, then came back or started over entirely. So it isn’t greatly surprising that I’ve “paused” Oblivion to tackle The Witcher 2 – a game which I had tremendously high hopes for and failed miserably at launch for me.
Why did it fail at launch?
Fortunately I own a game controller, because the game was unplayable for me with a mouse and keyboard, even on the lowest graphical setting. For whatever reason, the keyboard/mouse response was just dreadful. That problem solved, the inventory system was a train wreck. I enjoyed the challenging combat – but I just had other stuff going on at the time, too, and I tossed in the towel early.
So why now?
The Witcher 2 has undergone multiple patches since release and ironically enough the most recent patch went into place under a week ago, I believe. I had absolutely no idea. So while I’d like to say that it’s because CD Projekt got their act together, that totally wasn’t it. I just wanted to play a game with an engaging plot, action-combat, and where I wouldn’t have to write down skill level ups. (Yes, I know it’s unnecessary in Oblivion, but I can’t get past doing it. Yes, I’m that peculiar.) Remembering what pissed me off most about TW2 the first time through, I installed a “zero weight patch”. Mercifully, I will not have to run back to town every 5 minutes to sell crap now. (Are we sensing a theme, here? I focused on my Oblivion character to have high-STR for carry weight. I am a packrat.) I am now officially “in love” with The Witcher 2 the way I was with The Witcher the second go-round.
The plot is SO good. The choices are so not black-and-white. The world is believable. The politics are slimy. It’s great. Great, great, great. And the tutorial added in the latest patch was also a nice touch.
Not so black-and–white? Dude! The choice between Iorveth and Roethe let’s you play two COMPLETELY different games, depending on who you sided with. It’s like 1.7 games in one!
Sorry, I should have been more clear.
The moral choices aren’t black-and-white. There are tough decisions all over the place – I love it! (And loved it in the original Witcher!)
The Witcher 2 is one of those “some day” games, even though I bought it at launch. (It’s a sickness.) For now I’m contenting myself with Magic DotP (which is great) and researching how WoW private servers work (which is resoundingly crazy).
As someone who played MtG profusely through college and a few years beyond, I should definitely check out Duel of the Planeswalkers based on what I’ve read (your blog, I think!). I just don’t have the time/friends around/ resources to play much any with the cards anymore, which is a shame, because that is a terrific game. The way Magic reinvents itself with every expansion block yet remains true to the basic tenets of the game is pretty impressive.