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.

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. [b]Visual:[/b] 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). [b]Audio:[/b] 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. [b]Gameplay:[/b] 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. [b]Controls:[/b] 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). [b]Gameplay:[/b] 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. [b]Story:[/b] 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. [b]Gwent:[/b] 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. [b]DLC:[/b] While optional, the DLC are story-rich additions which help further expand on the Witcher universe. I’m thoroughly enjoying my time with them. [b]Final thoughts:[/b] I strongly recommend Witcher 3 and I look forward to what CD Project Red do in the future.