The second installment in the RPG saga about the Witcher, Geralt of Rivia, features a thoroughly engrossing, mature storyline defining new standards for thought-provoking, non-linear game narration. In addition to an epic story, the game features an original, brutal combat system that uniquely combines tactical elements with dynamic action. A new, modern game engine, responsible for beautiful visuals and sophisticated game mechanics puts players in the most lively and believable world ever created in an RPG game. A captivating story, dynamic combat system, beautiful graphics, and everything else that made the original Witcher such a great game are now executed in a much more advanced and sophisticated way.
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GameShark A
Despite the constant worry of carrying too much loot around, and even with some small interface issues, The Witcher 2 Assassins of Kings Enhanced Edition is a marvelous game. It's more focused and has a vastly superior combat model than Skyrim, is more realized and contains better writing than Dragon Age, and treats sex like a mature theme and not a juvenile goal. It's not to be missed.
Game Informer 9.5/10
Its weighty combat, difficult choices with real consequences, and fascinating storylines are some of the best gaming has ever seen. I can no longer lord it over the console masses with this one, though, because this long-in-development Xbox 360 port is just as amazing as the original. It's actually better than it was at launch...
GameTrailers 9.3/10
The Xbox 360 version has some rough edges, but these annoyances aren't significant enough to sully the experience. The Witcher 2 is a beauty to behold with a rich, involving fiction framing strategic and challenging combat. Most of all, its mature implementation of morality, choice, and consequence is a step forward that more games would be wise to follow.
Official Xbox Magazine 8.5/10
Most crucially, the journey is worth every minute of effort: The Witcher 2's malleable final moments are remarkably satisfying no matter which choices you make.
RGX 4/5
The Witcher 2 is a game which received a great deal of press and hype with only elite PC players know anything about it's predecessor. The game is a basic RPG with a great deal of back and side story. Everyone agrees that a game with a big and detailed story is a good thing, but not when the player is thrown in right in the middle. It felt like being dropped into the middle of the second Lord of the Rings movie. The game introduces characters which are obviously supposed to be familiar to the player. The problem is if the player has not played the first Witcher like myself he or she will have any affinity towards them. The game also does not fill in any of their backstories. It was very easy to get lost in the story and who is affected by decisions. This game is also challenging because there are no health potions. What you do instead is drink potions before battle which will help with regenerating health, reduce damage, boost damage output, and other effects to help in battle.
The next answer is for the question of how is the hack and slashing of a hack and slash RPG. The answer is good and perfectly adequate, however it is in no danger of winning awards for its combat. The player can block and parry, but most fighting is run in and swing until everything is dead. The game even says "the best defense is a good offense." This also brings up another point but like me digress for a minute. This game is rated mature and not a barely mature but a shockingly mature M rating. With that fact I wondered why they didn't ramp up the gore. Why is there no blood or dismemberment. I just found that an odd choice.
My biggest problem with the game was the map or more specifically the objectives on the map. When the player receives a mission a objective marker is placed on the map in most games. Not Witcher, half the time there is no marker and the other half the marker leads the player on a wild goose chase. I had a mission marker on one side of the map only to discover that there is nothing there. I poke around the internet and find out a door on the complete other side of the map takes me to the objective. My question is why not put the maker on the door and not on top of the ground where the final objective is? This doesn't happen sometimes it happens 80% of the time.
Overall if the player can overcome the extra couple of hours of being lost they will enjoy the game. The story is deep and sometimes too deep. The combat does what it needs to. The challenge of the difficulty gives a great sense of accomplishment. The game is a must play for all RPG fans. The objective issues and confusing at times story dropped the score for me. 4/5
