Intro:
Every time I have tried to write a review for this game, I end up blowing out any hope of staying within Steam’s character limit. So, let me say this: DRG is a genuine masterpiece of co-operative video gaming. In over 25 years of gaming, very few games caught and held my attention as well as DRG.

Now, let’s see what has survived the cut.


Visual:
It’s bloody beautiful. Although the actual assets are not ground-breaking in their own right, they are incredibly functional and combine with the lighting to repeatedly leave you speechless. I often catch myself and other dwarves slowly scanning large rooms, utterly captivated by the geometry and the scenery.

Models are very clearly defined and filled with plenty of smaller details. Even in poor lighting you are able to clearly identify what each silhouette belongs to – nothing is quite as scary as seeing a pack of slashers crest a ridge only to disappear into the darkness leading to you…all while spamming the flare button while on recharge.


Audio:
The soundtrack is amazing and be warned – you probably will end up buying it. This is one of the extremely rare games where I have not replaced the in game soundtrack with my own playlists.

The sound design in this game is phenomenal and incredibly important to general gameplay. Each enemy has a very distinct call with the deadlier foes being able to pierce any amount of din during an onslaught. Directional audio is also vitally important and done well – I know exactly what is coming from which direction. Weapons also sound great to fire, mining oddly never sounds repetitive and the constant chatter amongst the dwarves ensures that you always have an idea of what your teammates are up to.


Gameplay:
The core gameplay loop is incredibly enjoyable. In all of my hours, I have never felt bored – at most, I have felt fatigued and taken a break only to come back a few months later and dump more hours in. This game is fun, it’s as simple as that.

You use a mission selection terminal to choose a mission type, biome and difficulty from a variety of options – these shuffle every half an hour or so. There are currently seven mission types across ten biomes. Each mission will have a length and a complexity – how long the tunnels go and how complex they are. This allows you to choose according to your comfort and available time.

There are four classes to choose from, each playing a key role in the team. Despite this, each class is capable to standalone play – you are never handicapped for lacking a class in the team (or having less than four players). The Gunner brings the dakka and has a zip line that allows the team to cross large gaps. The Driller is a horde killer who can create tunnels limited only by his imagination. The Engineer offers solid firepower and a turret that helps control space, while also being able to create platforms anywhere he can see. The Scout offers the least damage, but is incredibly mobile and vital to maintaining good lighting. Everyone I have played with will settle on one, promote them and then find themselves playing the other classes. You will have your favourite, but all are a joy to play.

Your foes are numerous and varied. The majority of your targets will be grunts, but there are regular special spawns which will always keep you on your toes. You will become intimately familiar with their sounds, speed, angles or approach, attacks and weaknesses. No foe ever feels boring to kill – even the simple grunt requires precision to slay without wasting ammo.

Speaking of, there are five difficulties. Hazard 1-3 are great for getting used to the game, 4 is how the game ‘feels’ like it was intended to be played at and 5 is for those who have found 4 too comfortable. Most experienced players will bounce between hazards 4-5. Don’t be afraid to try them – going from 3 to 4 feels like leaping into the ocean, but just like the ocean you soon get used to the temperature.

The real game begins once you reach level 25 with a class and promote it. You now have access to Deep Dives (three missions chained together) and overlocks (significant weapon upgrades). This is when the sense of progression truly grips you – the whole sandpit has been opened to you. You will want overclocks, cosmetics and weapons for each class. You can specialise, but there is joy in playing all of the classes.

Also, the central hub is very well designed. Not only is everything you need close by, there are also ample distractions to make even the longest AFKs feel like mere minutes.


The Community:
This is one of the few games where I have no issues with pubbing. The community is incredibly friendly and mainly interested in having a good time. I have only experienced griefing a single time which was solved by simply leaving and joining a different lobby. There is almost no BM and mics are optional. The in-game communication options work excellently.

The developers are also incredibly active. Not only are there regular patches and free content updates, but they are also active in receiving and implementing community feedback. Don’t expect them to roll over though – they have their vision and plan to stick to it. I cannot see developer support drying up for this game anywhere in the foreseeable future.

A little caution: be aware that USB mics can have audio issues. No matter your settings, if you have a USB mic there is a chance that your transmitting volume will be far too quiet. I’ve tried this with two headsets so far and met others with the same issue – all with a USB headset.


Achievements/Completion:
For the cheivo hunters out there, be warned that this is not an easy 100%. Many achievements will unlock with natural progression or minimal manufacturing. Then there are the late-game progression ones which can take close to a thousand hours to complete – rushing might get you there in several hundred.


Final Thoughts:
Whether solo, with friends of with randoms, I have thoroughly enjoyed my time with DRG and will enjoy many more hours into the future. This is an incredibly fun game that can be picked up and played at will. You will find yourself coming back to it time and time again – all the while your hours continue racking up.

Be warned though: you WILL begin exclaiming “Rock and Stone!” You will find yourself trying to use flares in other games. You will find every game without a dedicated “Salute” button disappointing. Finally, you will always feel a pang of guilt every time you kill a loot bug, even if you no longer hesitate.

Be sure to always pat the poor thing as it is dying. A little kindness goes a long way: we’re not elves.

99 hours was my total playtime when a pop-up box informed me that the story of Geralt of Rivea had ended. In that time, I had enjoyed a rich story brimming with detailed characters, gorgeous scenes and enjoyable gameplay.

tl;dr – great game for those who love losing themselves in a good story and universe.

Visual:
The visual design in this game is fantastic. The world is gorgeous and only amplified by the different times of day and weather conditions. There is also an abundance of detail everywhere, from weapons to armour, structures to landscapes and especially between the different types of monsters. Facial animations are used well, with only some minor ticks when skipping dialogue.

On a side note: lighting is important in this game, not just a gimmick. Although you can see in the dark, you will often benefit from using a torch or drinking a Cat potion (enhanced low-light vision).

Audio:
In a word: great. The sound effects are well done and engaging – monster noises suit them, weapon impacts sound right and even a drunkard vomiting makes you feel sorry for the person behind the noise. There is some repetition of NPC dialogue in towns, but you soon drown it out. The voice acting is top-notch. The soundtrack is also amazing, conveying the appropriate emotions and atmospheres for what is happening on screen. Don’t be surprised if you end up adding the soundtrack to your library, even if this kind of music is not usually to your taste.

Gameplay:
The game offers several difficulty levels. The only time that I would recommend any setting below the highest is if the story if your only interest. I found that the highest setting would only punish consistently sloppy mistakes, even then allowing you time to guzzle a healing potion and refocus. Difficulty is scaled to your level and gear. If something is above your level range, then you will have to come back once you have a higher level or better gear. Level requirements for quests/contracts are clearly shown, so you have little reason to find yourself stuck.

Monsters and humans form the stable of enemies you will face. Humans are straight forward – they often fight in groups, are vulnerable to all of your signs and can be defeated with dodging and countering. Monsters vary based on what type they are – the bestiary will explain this to you, including what oils and signs they are weak to. Unlike humans, monsters vary and you will find Quen and dodging being your main tools of defence.

The combat system is easy to pick up and can be used successfully with a variety of play styles. It has a low skill floor and a moderate skill ceiling. It is fluid and responsive, with generous i-frames when dodging. The choice of build and armour class is yours and the game will not handicap you for it.

Controls:
I used an X360 controller throughout my time. I found that the UI was well optimised for controller usage and that inputs were responsive. I encountered some minor issues with the horse, Roach. Although she is the best option for travelling (besides fast travel), she struggles in rough terrain, often rearing on minor obstacles (or at times nothing at all). She will also regularly pick a road/turn that you do not want, so you will have to accept that your horse will need regular attention. Underwater movement also proved an issue at times, especially with horizontal movement. The game would struggle to let you make 180 degree turns at times, having you bob side-to-side. Some underwater chests were difficult to loot because of this (which can be stressful when short on air).

Gameplay:
It’s an open world game with quests and points of interest everywhere. The game rewards exploration, though keep in mind that some encounters may simply be beyond your current level. Inventory management is straight forward with a limited carry weight and multiple tabs – you quickly get used to the order. Thankfully, crafting/alchemy materials don’t weight anything.

Selling of loot is the standard RPG faire, with merchants having a limited pool of money that replenishes regularly. The repair mechanic is also a minor inconvenience, rarely (if ever) impacting on you if you keep your gear in good shape.

Story:
The plot is engaging and the characters are well crafted. While the dialogue choices may seem simple to some, they help give you agency over conversations. Thankfully, the options you choose don’t stray too far from what you will actually say, unlike other RPG titles of late. Every character has a story, with side quests helping to enrich the setting and allow you to explore the lore.

Scenes between major characters are lovingly created and the script is top notch. You will find yourself caring about the characters and the consequences of your actions. Over the course of the story, you will also mould Geralt into the character that you want – he can be caring, pragmatic, calm or quick to anger. It isn’t total freedom, but you feel free to influence who your character is and will become.

Gwent:
Finally, if you like CCGs, then you’ll spend plenty of time with this. I feel that the Northern Realms and Nilfgaard decks were the strongest, with Northern Realms taking the lead. Despite this potential imbalance, I enjoyed fleshing out my desk and tailoring it for certain synergies.

DLC:
While optional, the DLC are story-rich additions which help further expand on the Witcher universe. I’m thoroughly enjoying my time with them.

Final thoughts:
I strongly recommend Witcher 3 and I look forward to what CD Project Red do in the future.