The Witcher 2 Xbox 360 Preview

A+E Interactive is offering yet another preview for the Xbox 360 “adaptation” of CD Projekt RED’s The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings. If you’ve played the PC version already I’m not seeing much that should be news for you, but it should be a nice reminder for Xbox 360 players of why it’s a title worth keeping an eye on. Here’s a sampling:

MULTIPLE WAYS TO HANDLE A MISSION: When it comes to level and mission design, each area has several paths that can change how Geralt handles an obstacle. For instance, I had to escort a woman through a forest full of mercenaries that wanted her dead. Players can normally take the main path and run headlong into an ambush. But I stumbled across an alternate route that led to a nest of insect-like Endrega. If Geralt destroys enough of the eggs, it will draw out the queen and she will take out anything in her path like some enemies lying in wait. It caused absolute chaos among the mercenaries and I had an easier time taking them out.

Lastly, as in all RPGs, players can design Geralt to fit their play style via a skill tree. If they want to focus on melee, they can improve the swordplay and raise the vigor bar, which limits parries and other moves. If they want, they can improve spells and other abilities. Most of the time though, players must use a mix of the two in combat. There’s no pure mage or warrior archetype.

A CHALLENGING NARRATIVE: But the core gameplay is only half the game, the other more intriguing part of The Witcher 2 is its story, which is told in a fragmented nonlinear way. It’s more complex than the straight-forward tales that players are used to. They’ll have to tease out the threads of the plot. As for the universe itself, it’s more mature than the usual fare. Szczesnik says, (For sure, we’re closer to Game of Thrones than Lord of the Rings. There’s a lot of real life problems in the game like racism. Elves and dwarves and nonhumans are descriminated against.)

From his perspective, the problem with contemporary RPGs is developers’ storytelling. (You always have to defeat the huge demon who wants to destroy the world,) he says. (Dungeons and Dragons are cool but it’s abused nowadays. It’s always about fighting the greater evil. In Witcher 2, all the conflict is human. You’re not a superhuman. It’s not like you have godlike power. My favorite thing is that sometimes allies don’t care about you. They want to use you.)