There’s a wealth of great gaming to be had this year, if respectable publications are to be believed – but there’s one game above all that I’m aching for this year, and it’s CD Projekt Red’s The Witcher 3. There’s a rather extensive interview with the developers over at IGN that contains a bunch of new information that has me even more excited.
Firstly, those who haven’t played previous games featuring the most badass Geralt of Rivia needn’t worry – they’ll be able to jump right in and enjoy the game without getting completely lost in the narrative.
“People do not need to play The Witcher 1 or 2 before they jump into Wild Hunt; it’s perfectly fine. The game has a great introduction that will make them feel right at home, and we’re working really hard to communicate this fact,” CD Projekt co-founder Marcin Iwinski told IGN.
There are many – myself included – who’re worried that the game’s new open-world focus will dilute the story, or that the quests will devolve in to mindless fetch-quests. They’re doing all they can to stop that from happening. You’ll spend 50 hours, they say, on just the main story, and an additional 70 hours on side missions – so they’d better not be dull.
“In The Witcher 3,” Iwiniski asserts, “you won’t have generic Fed Ex-like quests where you have to go here, fetch something, and then deliver it to someone else. Of course, you will have orders or side-quests to kill beasts, but we’re trying to put a unique spin on every single quest. We want to make the story meaningful, but at the same time, if you wish you explore the game world at your own pace, it will be possible to do so.”
And for those who felt the Witcher 2’s more cerebral combat let the game down, there has been a change to the combat, which has – like many games – been inspired in part by Arkham’s rhythmic pugilism.
“We’re definitely looking at a more fluid combat system with Wild Hunt, where attacking an enemy feels more natural and smooth, unlike older games where you had to lock onto enemies constantly. What we saw in Batman: Arkham Asylum is a very cool system, and I don’t want to draw any comparisons, but that’s definitely part of the motivation for us”
That doesn’t mean that combat is getting dumbed down though, as Geralt will still need different swords and other amenities to tackle different evil beasties, plus all the alchemy and crafting you can point a stick at.
In the same interview, Iwiniski said they’re close to maxing out the PS4 and Xbox One on the knowledge they have now (new tricks and techniques always pop up, allowing developers to do more) but there’s one bit thrown in for PC gamers. When asked what sort of system would be needed to run the game at max, Inwinski replied:
“We’ll be releasing that information soon, but you can already start saving up for an upgrade.”
The Witcher 2, when it first released on PC used Ubersampling that brought most systems to their knees. I suspect The Witcher 3 will do the same. And I can’t wait.
Read the whole 3 page interview on IGN, here.
Last Updated: January 23, 2014
UltimateNinjaPandaDudeGuy
January 23, 2014 at 13:33
This game is very ominous for me, because when it comes out it means I need to upgrade my graphics card =/ I WANT ALL THE GRAPHICS!
I can’t wait for this! VERY excited!
Also anyone out there that just NEEDS more Cyberpunk 2077 news? Seriously… My soul needs it!
Exalted Overlord Geoffrey Tim
January 23, 2014 at 14:02
Check page 3 of the IGN interview
oVg
January 23, 2014 at 14:10
IGN cough cough cough cough IGN? cough…
RinceThis2014
January 23, 2014 at 14:25
Shame boet, bit of a cold there?
Alien Emperor Trevor
January 23, 2014 at 14:24
I don’t want it THAT badly :/
Alien Emperor Trevor
January 23, 2014 at 14:06
Yes, I want more Cyberpunk 2077 info too.
RinceThis2014
January 23, 2014 at 13:38
Man I am so excited about this! Currently playing Witcher 2 and I have loved every part of it (and like the combat, not love :P) Want to see what they are going to throw at us!
TiMsTeR1033
January 23, 2014 at 13:46
Why only like the combat?
RinceThis2014
January 23, 2014 at 14:24
It is a little clunky, camera often gets stuck in trees etc.
Alien Emperor Trevor
January 23, 2014 at 14:58
The realistic combat mod makes quite a big difference, feels more fluid & responsive.
RinceThis2014
January 23, 2014 at 15:12
Do you have the name of the mod for Will?
Alien Emperor Trevor
January 23, 2014 at 15:35
I’ll do you one better
http://redkit.cdprojektred.com/index.php?c=mod&m=show&p=77
RinceThis2014
January 23, 2014 at 15:36
cool man, will send to him
Alien Emperor Trevor
January 23, 2014 at 14:26
Because it’s not cricket!
Hammersteyn
January 23, 2014 at 13:44
Saw this video the other day, Witcher reminded me…
oVg
January 23, 2014 at 14:05
Is that METRO?
Hammersteyn
January 23, 2014 at 14:23
Yup, you pay bullets for a lap dance
oVg
January 23, 2014 at 14:07
I RAISE YOU
Hammersteyn
January 23, 2014 at 14:28
Epic LOOOOOOOOOOOOL
RinceThis2014
January 23, 2014 at 14:40
BWAHAHAHA
Kensei Seraph Moe Ninja
January 23, 2014 at 15:00
Well that was pretty interesting.
That Tall Ork Norm
January 23, 2014 at 15:53
Bwahahaha
Willem Swanepoel
January 23, 2014 at 13:50
I am so ready for this game…I have enough canned food and plenty of clean undies stacked in my cave. 120 hours of gameplay and I always take longer to finish games because of the difficulty level.
I might need to get more canned food, going be hidden for a long time ….
geelslang
January 23, 2014 at 16:26
Freez dried food and energy bars are also an option, fresh fruit & vegtables are for people with weak stomachs. Clothes is optional, just cover kinect.
Umar Break Dancing Cyborg
January 23, 2014 at 13:52
Am I the only one here that thought Witcher 3 was pretty Okay, NOT Amazing
Willem Swanepoel
January 23, 2014 at 13:54
yes, you are the only one ;-)~
Alien Emperor Trevor
January 23, 2014 at 14:04
Yes. Because if you’ve played Witcher 3 you downloaded the wrong torrent 😉
RinceThis2014
January 23, 2014 at 14:38
But it SAID GTAV!
Mossel: A Tale of One Mollusk
January 23, 2014 at 14:11
Witcher 3? Surely you mean 2…
oVg
January 23, 2014 at 14:12
Cyborgs do time travel.
Umar Break Dancing Cyborg
January 23, 2014 at 14:13
I’l bee baaahck!
Mossel: A Tale of One Mollusk
January 23, 2014 at 14:12
Also it was awesome, but not the “BEST GAME EVAAAR.”
Johan du Preez
January 23, 2014 at 14:28
Wicher 3 isnt released yet. ..
Umar Break Dancing Cyborg
January 23, 2014 at 14:29
T T T typo…oops
RinceThis2014
January 23, 2014 at 14:38
Yes, because your future self is probably suffering the effects of time travel 😛
Umar Break Dancing Cyborg
January 23, 2014 at 14:40
God dammit I made a typo
*Turns into Phil Fish*
Voetsek almal! …. weg is ek!!!
RinceThis2014
January 23, 2014 at 14:48
Good! And stay out the internet! 😉
Kromas
January 23, 2014 at 14:40
The gameplay was crap but the story was a beast only Bioware can compete against.
Umar Break Dancing Cyborg
January 23, 2014 at 14:41
Thank you , finally someone said the gameplay sucked lol Story was really great
Brenz
January 23, 2014 at 14:57
I have similar feels.
It was a great game, good fun, I enjoyed it, but I would not put it in the amazing column.
oVg
January 23, 2014 at 14:03
SKYRIM KILLER
Alien Emperor Trevor
January 23, 2014 at 14:07
I haven’t been so excited for a new game in ages. Witcher 3, baby!
Rock789
January 23, 2014 at 14:29
**drool***
I am, to the n’th degree, so damn excited for this game!!!! Pre-order set a long time ago – just waiting for the awesomeness to arrive. 🙂
CypherGate
January 23, 2014 at 14:42
This is the game that will get me to buy a next gen console!
That Tall Ork Norm
January 23, 2014 at 15:31
Will this be coming to the 360?
Alien Emperor Trevor
January 23, 2014 at 15:35
Nope. PC, Xbone & PS4.
That Tall Ork Norm
January 23, 2014 at 15:50
Thanks @disqus_DoEH3TsffU:disqus & @timster1033:disqus
TiMsTeR1033
January 23, 2014 at 15:43
The 360 would die a fast and fatal death trying to make W3 work…
Acornbread
January 28, 2014 at 17:33
They must stop teasing everyone and just take our money. That is all.