The Witcher 3: Geralt’s Past, Present, and Future

The team at Red Bull has treated us to something of a history lesson on both The Witcher franchise and the protagonist Geralt himself, covering CD Projekt RED’s core trilogy ,the primary themes that each game employs, the cancellation of Rise of the White Wolf and a much earlier Witcher game, and more. An excerpt:

Geralt’s video game adventures were originally due to happen much earlier than CD Projekt RED’s 2007 debut release. During the 1990s fellow Polish studio Metropolis worked on a PC title loosely based on the books, but this was cancelled before release. Around a decade later, CD Projekt RED released its own interpretation of Sapkowski’s work, crafting a game which boasted a deep moral storyline and delivered serious consequences many of which would not become apparent until much later in the game, forcing you to seriously consider the potential outcome of your actions.

Built using a modified version of BioWare’s Aurora game engine, The Witcher showcased a detailed and convincing world where the art of alchemy played a pivotal role potions could be created which had positive or negative effects when consumed, while other mixtures could be used to fashion explosive projectiles. Factor in Geralt’s skill with his twin blades, which could be brandished in three different fighting styles, and it’s clear to see why so many gamers found it such a deep and involving experience.

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The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is set to represent an even bigger technological leap than the second game did over the first. Combat is a totally different proposition this time around, with Geralt able to leap over environmental hazards and even fight when riding a horse. When you’re not going toe-to-toe with the many enemies and monsters which populate the game you can indulge in a spot of Assassin’s Creed-style climbing, or even leap into the nearest body of water for a quick underwater swim.

The scope of the game has expanded, and not just in terms of what Geralt is capable of. The world of Wild Hunt is said to be 30 times larger than the one in Assassin of Kings, making it necessary to use a horse or boat to explore it fully. As the title suggests, you’ll be taking down your fair share of hostile beasts the developers have taken a leaf out of the book of Capcom’s million-selling Monster Hunter franchise, and that’s certainly no bad thing.