The Witcher 3 - TTLG Forums

I regret purchasing The Witcher 3. I hate to say this game isn't for me, but I am truly, deeply puzzled why this game won so many accolades. Everyone sings such high praises for this game - what makes it great?

I've been told how great the side quests are, but so far they've been repetitive and predictably formulaic. Follow the icon on the mini-map, use Witcher sense, and/or fetch item / combat. For the record, I just finished talking to Yennifer in Vizima and I'm already feeling like this game doesn't have much more to offer from here.

That wouldn't be that much of an issue if leveling up unlocked new spells / abilities - but the progression mechanics seem to mainly exist to level-gate content until your numbers are high enough. There really doesn't seem like there are any real gameplay systems to explore.

Combat is servicable, but lacks depth and already feels repetitive / grindy.

I just don't get it. I've played a lot of rpgs over the last twenty years and I still don't get it.

Malf on 20/12/2016 at 16:11

You've just finished speaking to Yen in Vizima?
Yeah, you've just started, and you're what, probably level 7-8 at most? Once you get a few more levels behind you, the gameplay definitely opens up, although even as one of the game's biggest advocates, I won't pretend the combat is ever more than passable. And I have massive problems with how progression is balanced.

No, it's all about the situations you find yourself in, the places the story takes you and the characters you meet along the way. Give it some more time, see how you get on with it.

Sulphur on 20/12/2016 at 18:15

I have to say I've warmed up almost immediately to TW3, whereas TW2 got mired in fantasy politics too fast and too hard. The fact that you have Ciri as a through-line in TW3, and the way the prologue/tutorial sets up Geralt's relationship with her before moving on to the present day is extremely good storytelling -- not that TW2 didn't have good storytelling, but it was doled out in fits and starts; also, it's hard to care about people when 99% of them are amoral assholes.

More importantly, it's probably a good idea to temper expectations. TW3 has had so much hype, it's not possible for any game to live up to the agglomerated, lumbering idea of what the game is that all those reviews and random articles may have formed inside one's head. TW3 doesn't have the greatest combat or graphics ever (which game would?); but then, the game really isn't about any one individual element. It's the mix of gorgeous world design (sunsets! rain! unic... never mind), gameplay mechanisms, and storytelling that makes it this compelling, heady thing.

I'm just a little after where TannisRoot's at, having met the Bloody Baron, and I have to say while I wish I had the choice to just storm his castle and slay everyone to get on with the quest, the story went a few places in a fashion that was more nuanced than I was expecting. If the game's able to keep this level of detail and narrative throughout, I can see why people keep namedropping it as an RPG benchmark.

TannisRoot on 23/12/2016 at 13:39

I'll give the bloody baron quest a try before calling it quits. I think one of the main detriments to my enjoyment is lack of playtime or long sessions. At most I only get a couple hours of game time at a time, so it's probably not enough to get fully immersed.

Malleus on 23/12/2016 at 15:14

I played the entire game in 2-3 hour chunks, it's fine IMO. Do the bloody baron and the witches of the bog quests (Family Matters and Ladies of the Wood IIRC) in Velen before you call it quits. Also ignore most of the sidequests. I only did the main quests and the more important side quests (that were related to the main characters), and it still felt complete.

TannisRoot on 28/12/2016 at 20:56

Finished the Bloody Baron quest and...sorry, Witcher 3 just isn't for me. I don't think I'll ever be able to understand why this reviewed well. I really struggled to remain interested, but I find myself wanting to skip dialogue, which is basically the meat and potatoes of the game. Maybe the Witcher fantasy world just doesn't appeal to me like A Song of Ice and Fire or Malazan.