Is Witcher 2 more like Bioware or Bethesda?

[Kzach]

So, the Witcher 2 is coming to the Xbox next week and I'm considering buying it. I've heard good things about this conversion to console and a lot of good things about Witcher 2 itself.

One thing that puts me off buying is that I find I really can't stand Bethesda games. Fallout 3 left with the same distaste as New Vegas and Skyrim have and I regret buying them all. But I really love the Mass Effect series and how it plays out.

The thing that I find with Bethesda games is that I often find myself regretting choices made in character creation or progression. I often hit roadblocks where, if I haven't made the 'right' choices up until that point, I either fail at the task at hand or miss out on gaining something valuable or fun. I also find that I'll often have to reference a wiki or forum for solutions to quests that should be plainly obvious IN the game, but are just so poorly designed that there is no recourse other than to learn it OUT of the game.

Examples of things like this include missing out on cool or fun items. Missing out on cool or fun dialogue. Missing out on cool or fun relationships. Missing out on cool or fun quests. At the end of the day, I constantly find myself feeling as if I've quite simply 'missed out' on everything that is fun about the game, solely because I didn't choose, "X, Y or Z" option at "1, 2 or 3" junction in the game.

With Bioware games, however, I tend to find that even if I've made a particular decision that has particular consequences, regardless of which branch I go down, it's still fun. Even though I might not get a particular item, quest or option, I rarely feel as if I'm missing out on anything special. With Mass Effect as an example, sometimes NOT choosing the paragon/renegade interrupts results in a later paragon or renegade interrupt or dialogue option which is just as cool and interesting... so I didn't lose anything, I just got something DIFFERENT.

So... before I go out and spend $60 on The Witcher 2, I'm curious to know how people feel that the Witcher 2 plays; is it more like a Bethesda game or a Bioware game?

 

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

I think Witcher 2 is in that regard more like a Bioware game. You have different possible story outcomes depending on your choices, and I wouldn't say any particular one is worse or better.

 

[Hand of Evil]

Also lean to the Bioware -

 

[JohnRTroy]

If you are choosing between the two and have experience with it, it's a lot more Bioware and a lot less Bethesda. But really, it's its own thing.

I like to call it a combination between (from my own frame of reference), a combo between Assassin's Creed games and Deus Ex. The combat is a lot like AC with a lot more options, only a lot harder. But you have a gradual tree of abilities you can unlock, and can specialize in three paths, or choose a combination.

Story-wise, it takes a lot more from a Bioware game. Chapters are centered around hubs, with various main and side quests. Unlike Bioware games, this is a pretty fixed protagonist, more like Mass Effect than anything else, and there's no clear moral choice--don't expect a good or evil path.

One warning--Act II is widely different depending on a critical choice in Act I. Unlike a BW game, you won't experience most of the content unless you choose to play twice and choose the other option--and even then, there are a few branches in Act III that prevent the game from being the same. I have mixed feelings about this--I don't usually like to play the same game twice, so I'm not sure the branching method is the best way to handle things, but others love it.

IMO, the key failing of The Witcher 2 was a lack of a good tutorial as well as a lack of explaining the world for the novice--they should have done that a lot better--Bioware games are better at explaining the Dragon Age 2 universe--I had read the first Witcher short story collection so I can see how it can be hard to get into the game universe. But with the various post-launch releases, this shouldn't be a problem anymore.

 

[Kzach]

IMO, the key failing of The Witcher 2 was a lack of a good tutorial as well as a lack of explaining the world for the novice--they should have done that a lot better--Bioware games are better at explaining the Dragon Age 2 universe--I had read the first Witcher short story collection so I can see how it can be hard to get into the game universe. But with the various post-launch releases, this shouldn't be a problem anymore.

Apparently the Xbox version is some sort of 'enhanced' edition and one of the things they did was explain more of the setting at the start... or something like that.

 

[trancejeremy]

It's Bioware-ish.

Indeed, I believe the first Witcher was made using the same engine that Neverwinter Nights used...

 

[Mallus]

I think I'm gonna have to pick this one up. I was planning to take a break from RPGs after FF XIII-2 and ME3... but The Witcher sounds right up my alley, ie like G.R.R. Martin or Richard Morgan writing a game.

 

[JohnRTroy]

Apparently the Xbox version is some sort of 'enhanced' edition and one of the things they did was explain more of the setting at the start... or something like that.

They added a tutorial in "2.0"...they've been very generous with content updates. When you get the XBOX version--which will also be a free PC upgrade--you'll get all that. I hope they explain the world better. Apparently this has sold a lot better in Europe--Geralt (the Witcher) is a character known very well in Eastern Europe.

One thing to warn people about is that this is a very action oriented game despite the RPG moniker, as in you have to time your sword attacks right. This game will make you fear a knight with a big shield. There are "boss battles" that require action and timing strategy. When they talk about "deep tactical combat", they mean more or less (a) the fact that the player has to learn (via lore or "trial and error") strengths and weaknesses of each opponent, and (b) there's a lot of options like setting traps and using bombs and special techniques, not that you're dealing with any "pause and play" action--at best, choosing a power/item slows things down to a crawl but doesn't completely stop the action. I've heard its a lot like Dark Souls/Demon Souls (games I have no familiarity with).

 

[Kzach]

All of this just makes me want to play ME3 again and save my money for my home gym setup.

 

[Quickleaf]

I'm no hardcore video game player, but the Witcher 2 is easily the best modern RPG I've played. IMO it blows both away Bioware flagships - DA & ME - which are the most similar out of the water; the story is more adult (I had fewer eye rolls than DA for example) and really provides you with interesting choices, the plot is thoroughly engaging, and while it was a bit overwhelming at the beginning the enhanced edition fixed that.

I think it's hard to compare Witcher 2 to Skyrim, which is a different beast altogether.

Really Witcher 2 is it's own thing. On the plus side it's an amazing RPG and original work of art, on the downside it takes some getting used to master the controls. They're not clunky (on the contrary!) but their engine is unique.

There are no "bad" character build options, and there was never a moment where I regretted a decision (and there are many story-changing decisions) or thought about reloading from an old save. A caveat: mutations, once you unlock them are irreversible, so I recommend getting the "improve mutations by X%" talent before investing in mutations. But that's more an optimizing thing than a necessity.

I haven't enjoyed an RPG so much since Planescape: Torment, and I think Witcher 2 may very possibly have become my all time favorite. It's a close call.