The Witcher: Enhanced Edition

 PC
User Score
8.3

Generally favorable reviews- based on 3308 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2,624 out of 3308
  2. Mixed: 466 out of 3308
  3. Negative: 218 out of 3308
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  1. Haon
    Aug 24, 2011
    6
    Ah, the Witcher. The game I would love to love. This is my third time picking it up in the past few years. The first two times I couldn't make it past the second chapter. I could rave on and on about the good stuff: yes, it's pretty. Yes it's nice to have a world where real people hate each other for real reasons. Yes, there is a LOT of character customization options. The flaws areAh, the Witcher. The game I would love to love. This is my third time picking it up in the past few years. The first two times I couldn't make it past the second chapter. I could rave on and on about the good stuff: yes, it's pretty. Yes it's nice to have a world where real people hate each other for real reasons. Yes, there is a LOT of character customization options. The flaws are there, however, and for me at least, they bog down the game to no end. 1) The fighting: As a few other reviews have said, the fighting is at first a breath of fresh air. The timed click events are unique to the RPG realm, as far as I know. The problem is the lack of fluidity. Want to cast a sign? Make sure that you're done with your swing. Want to switch styles? Make sure you're done with your swing. Want to ... You get the idea. Add this to the inevitable boredom that comes with all gameplay styles eventually, and I was craving an autoattack. 2) The voice acting: Normally, I would brush over this. But this stuff is BAAAAADDDDD. I respect the fact that it probably sounds great in Polish, but really... Youtube some cutscense if you don't believe me, then imagine those voices for 40+ hours. I have to listen to it in French so I don't punch Geralt. The problem is that if you don't read fast enough, you're toast for the rest of the conversation. Add this to the fact that there are a ton of cutscenes, and you've got a HUGE problem. 3) The storytelling: This is different than the story, which is actually quite good. You know when your grandpa used to tell that awesome story, then you try to tell it to your buddies and it just doesn't come out quite right? That's the Witcher. The tone is off, the writing style is off, there are words that are out of place for characters, there are words that are out of place for the world, it's just sad. No, really, I mean sad. The story really is relatively deep. But it is better told on the wikia site. 4) The girls: I've got no problem with a little hanky panky in my games, but this is nuts. It really takes away from the reality of the background. The problem isn't that girls throw themselves at you, it's that they throw themselves at you at oddball times and in oddball ways. It's mature, but in a sappy sense. Sure, you can ignore them, but you can't ignore that they threw themselves at you. 5) The supposed choice system: It's not that it's not there. It's that it's missing a key piece: neutrality. There was time and again where I wanted to say "Ya'll are idiots," and the only options are to pick a side. There might be a lack of a morality meter, but trust me, the morality is there. Again, this isn't a big deal expect for the backstory. You're a sellsword for god's sake! Act like one!


    I tried this game again so I would know what was going on when I gave the Witcher 2 a try. I plugged through it for that reason. It's palpatable for that reason. But for those of you looking for a fresh take on RPG's, look elsewhere. The pros where enough to garner a loyal following back in the day, but the cons will turn off those who weren't interested from the start. It's not a horrible game, but it's not one that ages well. Here's for hoping that #2 is better.    … Expand
  2. Zen-Zinxe
    Jun 19, 2015
    7
    A really nice game. The combat is dated and fairly easy to grasp. Despite being a sword wielding witcher, combat revolves around using the right potions/stance for the job and clicking every once in a while at the right time. This is true for the entirety of the game. While it is not very engaging in combat, the story is VERY engaging. From courting every talkative female you come acrossA really nice game. The combat is dated and fairly easy to grasp. Despite being a sword wielding witcher, combat revolves around using the right potions/stance for the job and clicking every once in a while at the right time. This is true for the entirety of the game. While it is not very engaging in combat, the story is VERY engaging. From courting every talkative female you come across to fistfighting drunks in every bar you enter, there is a world for you to conquer. The actions you take have a dramatic impact on the characters you come across, and you'll never quite be able to decide if someone is "good" or "evil", because nobody is a shallow stereotype in this world.

    People who seem like sleazebags often turn out to be kind at heart, and others who seem like valuable allies force you to make decisions you don't want to, turning them into enemies.

    When I beat the game I was compelled to look back at all the people I interacted with and how their lives turned out. Despite doing my best I couldn't avoid killing people I had once been trying to protect, and in the end I felt like a pawn in a game that I didn't understand, yet somehow I had still come out the end a hero who had done all he could to keep peace and order.

    If you have the patience to deal with combat that isn't very engaging, and a lust for good storytelling, you should without a doubt play this especially if you have any interest in playing the other Witcher games.    … Expand
  3. SpunkyMonkey
    May 19, 2012
    6
    Haon's review on this game is very similar to how I feel about it. Whilst there is undoubtably bags of quality in there, as an overall package it just doesn't quite work as well as it should. My main gripe isn't that the combat is boring - personally I found it quite decent and pretty fun even after 30 or so hours - it's that the game itself is boring. There's a lack of any real excitementHaon's review on this game is very similar to how I feel about it. Whilst there is undoubtably bags of quality in there, as an overall package it just doesn't quite work as well as it should. My main gripe isn't that the combat is boring - personally I found it quite decent and pretty fun even after 30 or so hours - it's that the game itself is boring. There's a lack of any real excitement throughout the game and each quest is more work than fun. The game's got a lot of great aspects including a superbly downtrodden and realistic atmosphere, it's also got a very mature and practical feel to it (although it does go overboard with the amount of women you get to bang with such little effort), but throw in lots of micro management with the inventory and labourious quests that involve a lot of going back and forth and it just feels like to much work to play through.… Expand
  4. woodman445
    Apr 8, 2012
    7
    First time picking this game up, I didn't play it in 2007. It's a good looking game, and the combat is different than anything else I've played before. The story is good, and the settings are diverse enough to never get boring. I do have some problems, which to me, made finishing the game more a chore than anything else. The combat, while different, becomes repetitive quickly. It doesFirst time picking this game up, I didn't play it in 2007. It's a good looking game, and the combat is different than anything else I've played before. The story is good, and the settings are diverse enough to never get boring. I do have some problems, which to me, made finishing the game more a chore than anything else. The combat, while different, becomes repetitive quickly. It does require some thinking as you have different weapons for different scenarios, but it all plays out the same. Timed click until dead. The signs (magic) in the game cannot be woven into the combat fluidly. If you miss-time a click, you receive a beat down, especially on the hardest difficulty. As well, as mentioned before the story is good... but the delivery is bad. The English translation is probably not up to par with the original Polish dialect, but the conversations are broken and devoid of any emotion. Especially from Geralt, the protagonist. I found I read the subtitles faster, just to skip hearing people talk. It's worth a play for sure, especially if you are setting up the sequel, but I just didn't find the game as amazing as it sounded from reading other reviews.… Expand
  5. PrincessRose
    Aug 3, 2015
    7
    Like:
    + the story,it's very engaging and deep, got me hooked.
    + that you have choices which can affect things later on, making you often question if you should of made that decision. + Main characters are memorable. + the fist fighting and poker playing. + I think the graphics are quite good. Dislike: - Combat is terrible, click enemy wait for sword to glow, click again succeed    Like:
    + the story,it's very engaging and deep, got me hooked.
    + that you have choices which can affect things later on, making you often question if you should of made that decision.
    + Main characters are memorable.
    + the fist fighting and poker playing.
    + I think the graphics are quite good.

    Dislike:
    - Combat is terrible, click enemy wait for sword to glow, click again succeed and repeat or fail and start again.
    at first didn't like how the combat felt, but after getting used to it past the first boss, it doesn't seem too bad and is worth putting up with as the story is good. And once you start getting combo's into the 3's to 5's it's quite fun to watch Geralt do elaborate multiple swings and backflips.

    -Not fond of the easy, trashy women, every woman I come across in the game wants Geralt. None of them seem to have any morals or respect for themselves. And don't have old fashion values of courting, romance or being wooed properly.

    -Monster hunting side quests a bit boring and repetitive.
    -some quests have a lot of back tracking with no quick way to travel.
    -inventory is so small with no way to expand it.
    -unimportant NPC's have many replica's such as old peasant women all look the same, the merchants all are fat richly robed etc.
    -A bit too linear, can't go back to previous areas.
    -A bit disapointed at the end to obviously what Alvin has become in the future.
    -even playing on normal mode, didn't need alchemy much, mostly just used swallow, Cat, white rafford's Decoction and the occasional oil coating. Didn't bother with bombs.
    -With the signs only used Aard for knockback and Igni for Incineration, didn't find the others that useful or necessary.

    Despite the things I didn't like, I definitely reccomend this game, especially for those who like RPG's and a good story. This game to me is a must play. Not quite worthy of an 8 as the combat is rather clunky and not very good.    … Expand
  6. Rudboy66
    Nov 22, 2010
    7
    I recently posted a "mixed" review on this game, and I now feel I must revise it a bit. I'm going to make it short and sweet. Right now I think this game is on line for being one of the best RPG's out there. There are just a few things and a few bugs that keep it from getting the highest of scores in my opinion. I'll break it down to things I like about it and things I don't like aboutI recently posted a "mixed" review on this game, and I now feel I must revise it a bit. I'm going to make it short and sweet. Right now I think this game is on line for being one of the best RPG's out there. There are just a few things and a few bugs that keep it from getting the highest of scores in my opinion. I'll break it down to things I like about it and things I don't like about it:

    Likes: Great graphics, Incredible storytelling, fun gameplay and combat (once you get used to it), wonderful music score, original story and content, nice interface, runs great on my system at max settings 1920x1200

    Dislikes: Can't jump or jump off anything, the Witcher is glued to the ground, many of the NPC's have the exact same faces (redundant), the Alchemy system is not very intuitive, SLi bug . . . there is a known bug where nVidia SLi users can see lights through the terrain. Like looking at a stone wall and you can still see torch light and window lights through the wall. This is a known bug with no fix, you can disable SLi and the problem goes away, but that is hardly a fix. Some of the cutscenes in the game are a bit long in the beginning and some of the voice acting good be better.

    Overall I'm really loving this game, I think you need to play the game for a few hours before you can really start to appreciate it. Some games hit like a truck right off the bat and you never look back. If you pick up The Witcher, take some time with it and get used to the combat system, in the end you'll probably really like the game.    … Expand
  7. bricky
    Jan 7, 2011
    7
    I dont know what it is about this game, the gameplay on paper seems like it should be boring, the story is all over the place and the controls are very annoying and clunky, but something about this game keeps drawing me into playing it and i am having alot of fun.
  8. level250geek
    Feb 14, 2011
    7
    The worst thing I can say about this game that it feels like work. The simplest tasks take endless resource grinding, the combat is repetitive, and you'll spend lots of time walking from one place to another to pick up this or that from this or that NPC. However, every so often, I find myself wanting to get back to this game. I never truly lose interest in the story or characters, I loveThe worst thing I can say about this game that it feels like work. The simplest tasks take endless resource grinding, the combat is repetitive, and you'll spend lots of time walking from one place to another to pick up this or that from this or that NPC. However, every so often, I find myself wanting to get back to this game. I never truly lose interest in the story or characters, I love the gritty feel of it, and yes--the mechanics of combat are dull, but it's presented in a very cool way that closely resembles what a fight in a real medieval setting would look like (though the game really does give you more weapons than you really need, at least at first). It's complex, but all good RPGs are, and for the most part the complexity doesn't feel unnecessary. Keeping in my that it was the developers first game, I'm excited in what direction they go from here; perhaps this game's sequel will be less tedious and more streamlined.â… Expand
  9. yoplate
    Mar 17, 2011
    7
    I got The Witcher: Enhanced Edition recently because a friend recommended it. It looked great, and the story was very interesting. Throughout the game you must make choices, all of which are important and help define your character. However, the combat is very boring. It is basically timed clicking, with the occasional spell (since you only have enough endurance for 1 or 2 until you reachI got The Witcher: Enhanced Edition recently because a friend recommended it. It looked great, and the story was very interesting. Throughout the game you must make choices, all of which are important and help define your character. However, the combat is very boring. It is basically timed clicking, with the occasional spell (since you only have enough endurance for 1 or 2 until you reach the higher levels). Despite the dull combat, I definitely enjoyed the Witcher. It was one of the few games which made me think deeply about the ending.… Expand
  10. Skipper
    Aug 22, 2013
    6
    See Haon's review. He said it better than I could.

    I really wanted to like this game. I tried several times to play through it but only got through chapter 1 both times before quitting. My main problem with the game is that the menu/inventory system seems unnecessarily complicated and the dialogue is poorly written and acted. The storyline may be awesome but I'll never know because    See Haon's review. He said it better than I could.

    I really wanted to like this game. I tried several times to play through it but only got through chapter 1 both times before quitting. My main problem with the game is that the menu/inventory system seems unnecessarily complicated and the dialogue is poorly written and acted. The storyline may be awesome but I'll never know because I can't get over how strange the words are the come out of the characters mouths. Maybe it's just a poor translation into English. Good try though. 6/10 for effort.    … Expand
  11. jb3689
    Jan 8, 2012
    7
    Despite how many problems this game had, I did enjoy it in the end. What problems? Where do I begin? Glitchy alchemy, awkward combat, numerous crashes/freezes, bad voice-acting, confusing interfaces, VERY slow start, distorted difficulty curve, fights against cheesy mobs, awful AI, etc. It's not until the third chapter (~20 hours in for me) that the game started to even develop, and I hadDespite how many problems this game had, I did enjoy it in the end. What problems? Where do I begin? Glitchy alchemy, awkward combat, numerous crashes/freezes, bad voice-acting, confusing interfaces, VERY slow start, distorted difficulty curve, fights against cheesy mobs, awful AI, etc. It's not until the third chapter (~20 hours in for me) that the game started to even develop, and I had to wait until the fourth and fifth chapters until I felt like I was enjoying myself for more than five minutes at a time. Why a 7 then? Simply put, the pacing of the game once the fifth chapter hits is very good. It's action-packed with interesting quests based on the issues of the characters you've learned about. The best answers to your problems aren't clear and you have to simply make decisions based on gut instinct. You see the outcomes of your decisions unfold into an ending that made me scratch my head. It's the pacing of this last chapter that really shines. There's no more bs about getting some guys honeycombs from his friend 3 towns over; you are thrown into the middle of a substantial political conflict and the fate of who lives and who dies is up to decisions you make. In my opinion, it's enough to shine above all of the disgusting bugs I mentioned at first. I give it a B/B- overall, and an A- for the fifth chapter and the epilogue… Expand
  12. Underpants158
    Jan 3, 2013
    7
    Positives:
    -Adult themes -Artistic style is pleasing
    -Main character Geralt is a badass and really sarcastic -Your choices have a lasting effect but nothing big Negatives: -Fighting system is rather boring. Each fight is basically timing when the right time to strike is as dictated by a tiny icon. -Every quest is a fetchquest. -Other characters are cool but rather shallow. Overall    Positives:
    -Adult themes -Artistic style is pleasing
    -Main character Geralt is a badass and really sarcastic
    -Your choices have a lasting effect but nothing big

    Negatives:
    -Fighting system is rather boring. Each fight is basically timing when the right time to strike is as dictated by a tiny icon.
    -Every quest is a fetchquest.
    -Other characters are cool but rather shallow. Overall I didn't have very much in the way of fun. I have not finished the game and I may never because I don't really care to. With the boring fighting system, the boring quests, the eh characters, I didn't find enough motivation to keep on playing. However many people have. So, who knows.    … Expand
  13. lutteres
    Sep 6, 2013
    7
    The Witcher is one of those rare games that are created for real RPG fans by a Great developer that knows how to please their costumers without milking them in the processes, like Bioware, Blizzard, just to name two.
    I wont say it's a perfect game or that I would recommend it to everyone.
    Why? Because this game can only be truly appreciated by a real hardcore RPG fan, which I'm not. To    The Witcher is one of those rare games that are created for real RPG fans by a Great developer that knows how to please their costumers without milking them in the processes, like Bioware, Blizzard, just to name two.
    I wont say it's a perfect game or that I would recommend it to everyone.
    Why?
    Because this game can only be truly appreciated by a real hardcore RPG fan, which I'm not.
    To be honest I'm more of a linear RPG/ action adventure game fan like Bioware used to make.

    So what did a liked in this Game:

    The story which as some really unforgettable moments
    The amazing soundtrack
    The art work, which is beautiful and detailed.
    The game world that felt alive and vibrant, with day and night cycles, dynamic weather, NPCs doing their daily work during the day and returning home at dusk.
    The strategic element through the use of potions and magic.
    The choices you make have significant consequences to the way the story unfolds and to the ones around you.

    What I didn't Like

    The pacing of the story which begins at a very dull tone and slooooooooowly starts to gain momentum.
    The difficulty spikes
    The boring combat mechanics that made me quit this game more than twice.
    The excruciating booooooooooooooooring fetch quests
    The dull sound effects
    The hit or miss voice acting
    The immature and borderline distasteful approach to sex in this game.
    The anticlimactic and boring boss fight with Azar Javed.
    The fact that everything in this game is too expensive which forced me to side track from the story to look for loot, that in 70% of the times is food and booze.
    The lack of customization, armors, interesting weapons (the steel sword you start with is actually better than 90% of the weapons in this game).
    The fact that after a cut scenes, that precedes a fight, I would immediately be surrounded by enemy's and attacked before I could respond.
    The lack of interesting puzzles

    In conclusion
    Considering this is the first game from CD Projectk Red, and the low budget they had, i'm very impressed with the final product despite it's multiple faults.

    I rate this game a 7 out of 10. But be warned this game is not for every one.    … Expand
  14. Defianc4
    Jul 16, 2012
    7
    If there's one thing that can be said about The Witcher, it's that it is a very unique game.

    1) No other game uses timed combat in such an interesting fashion, and manages to make it feel fresh the entire way through. 2) No other game uses potions in such an interesting and complex manner. 3) No one places quite the same emphasis on player choice in quite the same way, with    If there's one thing that can be said about The Witcher, it's that it is a very unique game.

    1) No other game uses timed combat in such an interesting fashion, and manages to make it feel fresh the entire way through.
    2) No other game uses potions in such an interesting and complex manner.
    3) No one places quite the same emphasis on player choice in quite the same way, with frightening murals displaying the consequences of each choice.
    4) No other game has created a world and environments in quite the same way that the Witcher has.
    5) No other game has quite the same main plot that the Witcher has
    6) No other game grants you quite the same quests that the Witcher does

    No one has made a game quite like this one before, and if only for that reason, this game is worth checking out. However, there is an annoyance coupled with every great thing that this game brings to the table.

    1) Some combats can be overcome simply by outrunning/ exploiting the AI, which is way too easy to do, especially at what are supposed to be great moments in the game.
    2) Potions can only be brewed at Fireplaces, which requires a lot of dead travel time.
    3) Ever so rarely, the game isn't quite clear about what the choice you're actually making IS. I don't mean the consequences, I mean the choice.
    4) The world suffers from a drab low fantasy coat of grime, with too many people eager to slut themselves around to the point where character motivations become muddled and uninteresting.
    5) The Witcher suffers from Explaining Syndrome, where it doesn't always narrate along the way; it sometime just explains the plot to you afterwards.
    6) The Witcher manages to make fetch quests not feel so much like fetch quests, with good item placement, and also by weaving your identity as a Monster Slayer into the fabric of the game. However, some quests are still unbearably miserable messenger boy runs, and the sex cards are pretty lame and spontaneous.

    There were a lot of things that I liked about the Witcher; it's a title that you only get in the PC genre, and really expounded upon that strength. However, its flaws truly dragged it down from something brilliant to something very inconsistent.

    Still, a great freshman effort from CD Projekt.    … Expand
  15. Necrotaur
    Mar 25, 2013
    7
    The original Witcher is a good RPG with some rough edges. The story is great, and the amoral, non black and white morality is something that needs to be seen in more games. That being said, the combat is awkward and non-immersive, the voice acting & translation is strange at times, and there are still, in 2013, a metric ton of bugs.
  16. Ztride
    Jan 20, 2012
    7
    The game features a very interesting main storyline and an immersive world, though it can hardly be compared to the mighty sequel. Dull combat, generic sidequests, massive difficulty gaps between areas ruins the experience though. It is worth playing through it if you are interested in the much better Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings.
  17. Budget_Security
    Aug 3, 2013
    7
    Surprisingly good, though a bit rough around the edges. Basically Mass Effect with a medieval fantasy setting (and even more promiscuous sex). Atmospheric, some funny dialogue, and a good story. I liked the watercolor paintings used for loading screens and cut scenes. However... gameplay is sometimes tedious, the interface and mechanics could be better, some quests and dialogue choices areSurprisingly good, though a bit rough around the edges. Basically Mass Effect with a medieval fantasy setting (and even more promiscuous sex). Atmospheric, some funny dialogue, and a good story. I liked the watercolor paintings used for loading screens and cut scenes. However... gameplay is sometimes tedious, the interface and mechanics could be better, some quests and dialogue choices are confusing, some animations are bad and I had some CTDs and glitches. But the strong points more than make up for the flaws, in my opinion.… Expand
  18. Ne42
    Jan 8, 2014
    7
    The game is still enjoyable in 2014, but suffers mostly (IMO) from terrible load times between every location. The over minuses are already mentioned poor combat implementation. The quite complex system the every hit should count suffers from uncontrollable character: so I clicked or not? why he is not attacking? oh, now it shows "too fast"!. You adapt, but it's not enjoyable at all.
  19. aborle
    May 3, 2013
    7
    The witcher is recommended for fans of wrpg games but might not be suitable for others.
    Here's whats good in it :
    - Superb and unique setting based on slavic culture (rarely seen in rpgs) - Mature and engrossing storyline -Time delayed choices (ie the decision u make may not affect u instantaneously but will reward or bite your ass later) -The soundtrack (i still hum it from time to    The witcher is recommended for fans of wrpg games but might not be suitable for others.
    Here's whats good in it :
    - Superb and unique setting based on slavic culture (rarely seen in rpgs)
    - Mature and engrossing storyline
    -Time delayed choices (ie the decision u make may not affect u instantaneously but will reward or bite your ass later)
    -The soundtrack (i still hum it from time to time!), though its not TES quality, it still is memorable.
    Here's what's bad in it :
    - backtracking, tons and tons of it.
    -the combat, though unique doesn't feel satisfactory
    -no fast travel
    -You will feel tired by the end of the third chapter. the fourth chapter is slow but will ultimarely pick up pace later on.

    So if u can forgive "the bad". You can enjoy the game. A 7/10 from me.    … Expand
  20. Sirik_Matak
    Sep 15, 2014
    7
    It's a really good game gameplay wise. The Aurora engine was brought to its limits with this title I think. The monotonous, but yet easy to control combat system works as intended, character development has a point being there (even if most magic signs are just gimmicks and I never use them).
    The game shines at dialogues, lore and setting, even if the main plot is average at best (you    It's a really good game gameplay wise. The Aurora engine was brought to its limits with this title I think. The monotonous, but yet easy to control combat system works as intended, character development has a point being there (even if most magic signs are just gimmicks and I never use them).
    The game shines at dialogues, lore and setting, even if the main plot is average at best (you couldn't care less about it). But the loads of sideplots, bonus quests and characters is magnificent and keeps you playing just because you really want to see how a certain substory ends, not because "I need to finish this game for the sake of it". But talk about disappointment and uninspired ending, oh God.    … Expand
  21. VidyaBum
    Feb 7, 2016
    7
    Feels like a book series was made into a videogame by people that didn't really know how to make a videogame.

    Probably because that was their exact case. The Witcher 1 is ok to look at(terrible glitches on hair physics that make a lot of characters look extra stupid though) and has some nice musics, but the distance between its world and storyline quality and its gameplay is    Feels like a book series was made into a videogame by people that didn't really know how to make a videogame.

    Probably because that was their exact case.

    The Witcher 1 is ok to look at(terrible glitches on hair physics that make a lot of characters look extra stupid though) and has some nice musics, but the distance between its world and storyline quality and its gameplay is appalling.

    The former deserve high praise, although few characters are all that good, they all decidedly give you the same vibe of a powerful, living breathing world, which is the star of this game. The storyline is exciting and you do root for Geralt's quest and success as he braves constant adversity with seemingly neither fear nor anger. He is a great hero.

    But for all the praise here, the terrible downer that is the gameplay gets stronger with every quality in the story.
    It's bad.
    Poorly designed, stock and uninventive, no not even uninventive, because the very concept of invention is utterly absent here. Literally every single last quest, except the main storyline one, is a fetch quest. EVERY SINGLE QUEST.

    Meet character x. x needs item a. Go find characters y, w, and z, to find a.
    The line I just wrote defines almost every single quest of the game.

    More than that, combat is very very weak and uninteresting, locations and level design is very nice but the backtracking is weighing on the game horrendously, and in general the strong feeling of being part of an interactive book absolutely does not leave me throughout the whole game.

    A more modern game with this much plot and this little gameplay might've ended up a VN rather than an RPG. That's how little good gameplay there is in this.    … Expand
  22. Paulystan
    Jun 3, 2014
    7
    It is a good, mostly fun and playable RPG. It has one or two glitches and the fighting mechanics could be a bit better but a good game all round. Some good humour here and there too.
  23. Meta-reviewer
    Aug 1, 2015
    7
    This game has a very slow start where it very slowly teaches you how to play. Once you get over this part, you'll find yourself absolutely hooked!

    Pros: Fascinating story. It's like reading a book, once you start it's hard to put down. The gameplay is very in depth, aside from sword fighting there are also spells that allow players to make more choices in a fight. Alchemy is fun in    This game has a very slow start where it very slowly teaches you how to play. Once you get over this part, you'll find yourself absolutely hooked!

    Pros:
    Fascinating story. It's like reading a book, once you start it's hard to put down.
    The gameplay is very in depth, aside from sword fighting there are also spells that allow players to make more choices in a fight.
    Alchemy is fun in ways that you could explore and make your very own potions. This allow the player to explore and discover their own way of playing the game which I really like.

    Cons:
    The major reason why this game is just good and not great is to do with the movement and animation.
    1) Too much running around. Yes I know this is the consequence of having a large map but this game needs more fast travels. In a 60 minute gameplay you'll find yourself spending at least 20 minutes running around with your middle finger on the w key.
    2) Fight mechanism isn't as engaging as it could be. All you do is just click at certain times. They should at least allow you to crouch, jump & block etc. The fighting mechanisms are sometimes quite glitchy. For example, if you and the enemy attack at the same time, you may only see your enemy receiving your attack and flinch after getting hit. However, the truth is his attack that happened at the same time will also be registered, if your hero doesn't parry he will take damage.

    Overall these are just minor problems and are easily outweighed by all the good components of the game. I strongly recommend this game to anyone who are willing to try a new genre and are willing to learn. Trust me it's worth it.    … Expand
  24. arostislavna
    Sep 8, 2022
    7
    If you're a modern gamer, then this game may feel dated to you, but to get the most out of the Witcher story you should still play it.
  25. compot8
    Oct 18, 2016
    7
    The Story is amazing but sadly the gameplay is lacking. The timing becomes so intuitive after awhile that it poses 0 challenge and alchemy isn't enough on it's own(playing on hardest difficulty). Still better than so many other games but could be better(like it's younger brothers).
  26. Jackthegamer
    Sep 13, 2022
    6
    Played this game after finishing Witcher 3 and although it's not as good, it was still fun
  27. draemato
    Sep 10, 2022
    7
    I absolutely love the setting of this game. Also, simple graphics giving it even more those "dark vibes". However, i didn't finished the game. I tried. Three times. And eventually i gave up, because i just can't. The combat system and clunky walking system sometimes pissed me off for a little bit. And some quests are way too boring...
    So... you should give it a try if you're a fan of    I absolutely love the setting of this game. Also, simple graphics giving it even more those "dark vibes". However, i didn't finished the game. I tried. Three times. And eventually i gave up, because i just can't. The combat system and clunky walking system sometimes pissed me off for a little bit. And some quests are way too boring...
    So... you should give it a try if you're a fan of old-school RPG's.    … Expand
  28. fedak
    Nov 23, 2012
    6
    I had picked up the Witcher when it was originally released and tried playing it twice- getting bored both times before completing it.

    The combat system in the Witcher seems confusing and cumbersome during the first few acts- but once you level up a few times and get used to the quirks to it this ceases to be an issue. The middle levels are quite enjoyable- the gameworld is well    I had picked up the Witcher when it was originally released and tried playing it twice- getting bored both times before completing it.

    The combat system in the Witcher seems confusing and cumbersome during the first few acts- but once you level up a few times and get used to the quirks to it this ceases to be an issue. The middle levels are quite enjoyable- the gameworld is well developed and reasonably original. The RPG combat and character development is well done and the artwork holds up a half decade after its original release.

    Unfortunately the questing is largely fetch quest based. In the latter portions you end up doing a *lot* of back and forth over familiar terrain either grinding monsters or fetching quest items. This was a showstopper for me on the original version- but the enhanced edition vastly decreases the load times and makes this somewhat less tedious.

    Not my favorite RPG of recent years- but probably worth the price of a movie ticket if you are a fan of the genre.    … Expand
  29. kane148
    Dec 13, 2012
    7
    After looking at reviews on this site and elsewhere I figured that this game was sure to be a great choice. I was wrong. It might be a good game, but I couldn't keep with it long enough to find out because after several hours of frustrating quests, overly complicated menus, boring combat, and totally forgettable characters and story I gave up on it. The most fun I had was looking for womenAfter looking at reviews on this site and elsewhere I figured that this game was sure to be a great choice. I was wrong. It might be a good game, but I couldn't keep with it long enough to find out because after several hours of frustrating quests, overly complicated menus, boring combat, and totally forgettable characters and story I gave up on it. The most fun I had was looking for women to seduce, but that got dull quickly. One thing I did appreciate was the lack of a gimmicky morality or alignment system, so I felt free to make whatever choices seemed best, but this was like a cherry on top of a tasteless cake. By the end of the first act I found that I had no real sense of what I was supposed to be doing or why and didn't care about any of the characters, including the protagonist. Not a good sign for a RPG...… Expand
  30. Ed95PkFr
    Jul 10, 2018
    6
    Massive fan of the Witcher saga and CDPR's W2 and 3. Just finished this game. The story and characters are great, as per CDPR, and they created a very interesting continuation from Sapkowski's Lady of the Lake. The soundtrack is wonderfully medieval and the dark atmosphere the game catches really gives a sense of the dread that exists within the Witcher universe. That said, the combat isMassive fan of the Witcher saga and CDPR's W2 and 3. Just finished this game. The story and characters are great, as per CDPR, and they created a very interesting continuation from Sapkowski's Lady of the Lake. The soundtrack is wonderfully medieval and the dark atmosphere the game catches really gives a sense of the dread that exists within the Witcher universe. That said, the combat is horrible compared to 2 & 3, gameplay is slow and laggy and it can often make the game a chore to play through. Nevertheless, still worth playing for the story.… Expand
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Awards & Rankings

10
#10 Best PC Game of 2008
7
#7 Most Discussed PC Game of 2008
3
#3 Most Shared PC Game of 2008

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
86

Generally favorable reviews - based on 30 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 29 out of 30
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 30
  3. Negative: 0 out of 30
  1. 1UP
    75
    The main adventure still has serious pacing problems, combat's still too easy for the most part, and load times -- though reduced -- continue to get in the way of the action.
    Read full review
  2. Eurogamer
    80
    The new and improved package is increasingly attractive. There are still some rough edges, and moments of genuine drama are still undercut by how they're performed, but this is an agreeably driven RPG in an agreeably ornate package.
    Read full review
  3. PC Format
    88
    Finally, The Witcher fulfills its potential, and, best of all, it's available as a free update, just in case you bought it anyway. [Nov 2008, p.110]
See all critic reviews »