The Witcher

 PC
User Score
8.6

Generally favorable reviews- based on 1615 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1,366 out of 1615
  2. Mixed: 145 out of 1615
  3. Negative: 104 out of 1615
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  1. JoesbkS.
    Dec 17, 2007
    9
    The atmosphere thoughout the entire game is chillingly life-like and cinematic at every turn. despite the extremely long and frequent load times, the witcher is so gripping that you'll willingly stare at the very frequently encountered load screens with a certain sense of inquisitive anticpation and constant hunger for more. the kinematics within geralt fight scenes are The atmosphere thoughout the entire game is chillingly life-like and cinematic at every turn. despite the extremely long and frequent load times, the witcher is so gripping that you'll willingly stare at the very frequently encountered load screens with a certain sense of inquisitive anticpation and constant hunger for more. the kinematics within geralt fight scenes are mind-blowingly spectacular in a way that is cool rather that downright unbelievable. (yup, no flying here) all in all, the witcher is one of the definite must have for all you medieval junkies out there =).… Expand
  2. JC
    Dec 2, 2007
    9
    An excellent CRPG without any of the usual fluff. Geralt is a likeable, intelligent hero forced to make some tough calls which affect the game world and the way people react to him. The only drawbacks are the load times between sections of the game and some dodgy feedback in fights.
  3. JasonJ.
    Dec 23, 2007
    8
    Good so far, but the game has some problems. If those problems were fixed before release, Witcher would have been in serious contention for GOTY. As it stands, it's nominations are clearly just a well-deserved nod. Witcher is a game driven by story-- and since it is, the translation to English needed to have been more thorough. Dialog vital to plot and character development is Good so far, but the game has some problems. If those problems were fixed before release, Witcher would have been in serious contention for GOTY. As it stands, it's nominations are clearly just a well-deserved nod. Witcher is a game driven by story-- and since it is, the translation to English needed to have been more thorough. Dialog vital to plot and character development is sometimes very poorly translated, or often it's just elided, which can make things downright confusing. There are also questionable word choices; it is jarring to hear modern slang used in a setting that is so successful at being visually medieval and other-worldly. The graphics are stellar, notwithstanding that they are built with a heavily modded version of a 6+ year old engine; and although it runs about twice as good, CDProjekt's version of Aurora still contains some of the flaws that hurt NWN2: Archaic character movement, general camera wonkiness, and irremediable texture tearing-- just to name a few. Some reviewers love the new 'click to chain' attack system, but I am not thrilled by it, even if it seems like it is the best that the devs could do with Aurora's native 'one click to defeat enemy' mechanics. The motion-captured medieval fighting styles, which is a truly awesome thing that other games should copy as soon as possible, don't get the treatment they deserve during combat, but they look fantastic during the many, NWN2/KOTOR-styled cutscenes. (The way the PC holds up his arms when entering 'strong stance' looks so bad, it causes some serious cognitive dissonance, while matted against such beautiful environments and non-mobile NPCs.) I started with patch 1.2 and have a high-end single GPU PC with 4 gigs of RAM; the loading is intrusive but not as horrible as it sounds like it might have been (or is) with earlier builds or for midrange or worse machines. Again, the combat itself is not very impressive, and is for me, so far, the major drawback of the game; I really wish it were better. The visuals generally, and the overall aesthetic, however, are in my opinion exactly what a fantasy-RPG should have. Leather looks like leather, steel like steel; the 'medieval' world is gritty and realistic. No one looks like a superhero made of plastic wrap. You don't get a +7 bastard sword of awesomeness. The horse carts are shabby and have wheels that wobble. The music is decent but not great, the Foley sounds are good, but the voice acting is hit and miss; most of the time it's nice stuff from someone you've never heard before; often it's downright cringeworthy, from someone you hope you never have to hear again. (One of the main NPCs, who is beautifully rendered, and has the best hair I think I've ever seen in any game ever, clearly doesn't 'get' the nuances of voice acting for games, where dialog needs to always be spoken with a hint of ambiguity so that the dialog trees don't turn out confusing or contrary-- not just however she feels like shading it at that moment.) The sexual conquest mechanic that earned the game a censored version for U.S. distribution, with it's post-coital dirty playing card mementos, is titillating and superfluous, but at least someone went there and set a precedent for adult-themed content. Short and sweet: Witcher falls somewhere between NWN2 and Oblivion, probably more on the NWN2 side. With some vigorous post-production for the English version, it could have possibly earned GOTY and an easy 9+. As it is, I've given it a very solid 8.… Expand
  4. MikeC.
    Oct 26, 2007
    9
    Brilliant immersive RPG based on a modified Bopware Aurora engine. Strides above NWN2 and MOTB, brilliant storyline, impressive graphics and just after a few hours play, you're totally engrossed.
  5. DavidO.
    Oct 27, 2007
    10
    Amazing game, i am not sure why this game is so unknown, its amazingly fun, i put about 20 hours into it in the last 2 days. Loving every moment of it from the attack system to the story to the cutscenes.
  6. RobE.
    Oct 28, 2007
    9
    This is a great game in the vein of Neverwinter Nights, but with an original storyline. The prologue is a poor example of this games normally very high production value. 20 hours into it, I am still impressed by the high quality of visuals, and 100% spoken dialog. The only thing that keeps this from being a 10 is long load times, even on a modern PC.
  7. GuyM.
    Jan 26, 2008
    9
    Hi just wanted to say I have been playing NWN2 for the best part of 2007 and find The Witcher as being a ray of light,the graphics are second to none the game play very good and look forward to more like this a big thumbs up for all involved in the production of this groundbreaking game.
  8. AZawada
    Feb 25, 2008
    10
    Very good and captivating game, a few bugs and slightly long loading times slightly annoying but other than that you can get entirely engrossed in the world that the 'Witcher' lives in
  9. JimM.
    Mar 12, 2008
    9
    Just what the doctor ordered for us hard line RPG fans, who don't want to play on line.
  10. JasonC.
    Nov 15, 2007
    10
    While not perfect, this is by far one of the greatest rpgs made. Though before you play I recommend reading the Last Wish Novel which you can order off of amazon's uk site. The game still has crashing bugs and the load times are somewhat excessive at times, but this is the first RPG since Baldur's gate 2 that has held my attention throughout the whole game. I am now replaying on While not perfect, this is by far one of the greatest rpgs made. Though before you play I recommend reading the Last Wish Novel which you can order off of amazon's uk site. The game still has crashing bugs and the load times are somewhat excessive at times, but this is the first RPG since Baldur's gate 2 that has held my attention throughout the whole game. I am now replaying on hard. A MUST BUY for any fan of RPG games. Great job CD Projekt.… Expand
  11. AdamC.
    Nov 19, 2007
    10
    Ok the good, the bad and the beautiful, good: the game is a dark deep immersive and unmissable experience it combines an excellent combat system with lots of imaginative and interesting npcs the story line is sublime and the game addresses many adult themes. where the game shines is in the decisions you will make throughout its course that you may think insignificant at the time but will Ok the good, the bad and the beautiful, good: the game is a dark deep immersive and unmissable experience it combines an excellent combat system with lots of imaginative and interesting npcs the story line is sublime and the game addresses many adult themes. where the game shines is in the decisions you will make throughout its course that you may think insignificant at the time but will have effects on the later stages of the game it runs surprisingly well on a variety of machines new and old bad: loading times are horrendously long up in the 30 second bracket depending on your machine it goes up to 5 minutes which will occur everytime you enter a house or new area beautiful: ever played neverwinter nights 2 if so get a picture of that games graphics in your mind and now look at the witcher which is using th same aurora engine (modified obv.)… Expand
  12. meestyk
    Nov 21, 2007
    10
    A list bar none as is. Throw in a couple cool drinks, and you're taking that fine lady out. This guy is pure enjoyment. Total freedom in the gameplay. For once, you got all the goods in the right places. Support this guy, you can't go wrong if you're into this type of game. Kudos.
  13. Colby
    Nov 24, 2007
    9
    This game is great. Simply put. Bioware did a great job with The Witcher. Wonderful non-linear storyline and it really lives up to that title. Splinter Cell Double Agent was supposed to be non-linear, but it wasn't. In the Witcher, your choices really do affect in-game events and the development of who your character really is. The combat system and skill tree was beautifully done, This game is great. Simply put. Bioware did a great job with The Witcher. Wonderful non-linear storyline and it really lives up to that title. Splinter Cell Double Agent was supposed to be non-linear, but it wasn't. In the Witcher, your choices really do affect in-game events and the development of who your character really is. The combat system and skill tree was beautifully done, and I liked that you could switch between OTS and Bird's Eye views of the combat. My only complaint is the long loading times. I would definitely recommend this game.… Expand
  14. ThomasR.
    Dec 16, 2007
    10
    Love it! Great Story, Visuals and atmosphere - addictive!
  15. AnthonyL.
    Dec 26, 2007
    10
    This blows every recent RPG out of the water. Its funny comparing it to NWN2, which was made with a version of the same engine. Its like night and day. NWN2 plays like a poorly made mod, where as thw Witcher feels like a professionally made game.
  16. Adanedhil
    Jan 5, 2012
    9
    One of the most interesting role-playing games that I played. Non-trivial plot, lot of skills, charismatic characters, non-linear quests, moral choices and perfect soundtrack. Well done, CD Projekt.
  17. MetaBart
    May 24, 2011
    9
    The best game I have been played.Why innovating fighting system, beautiful world , amusing music, intelligent story, clever dialogues. Many hours spend in very special world.
  18. fhouse
    Nov 30, 2012
    7
    I'm in 7 hours into this game so far and I'm not into fantasy settings. The story did not really unfold yet, but the quests are interesting enough to push on. Alchemy is fun once you get the hang of it, and I found myself buying books from a traveler just to know more of the world and be better in alchemy. The fight system needs a little getting used to, but works well, alchemy makes yourI'm in 7 hours into this game so far and I'm not into fantasy settings. The story did not really unfold yet, but the quests are interesting enough to push on. Alchemy is fun once you get the hang of it, and I found myself buying books from a traveler just to know more of the world and be better in alchemy. The fight system needs a little getting used to, but works well, alchemy makes your life 100 times easier. I like the multiple types of control schemes also, you can control with one mouse if you like, or go with the kb+mouse over the shoulder camera setup.… Expand
  19. Lead
    Sep 11, 2012
    10
    The Witcher Has A Great Atmosphere.
  20. Pr8Dator
    Mar 7, 2014
    9
    The Witcher is a game that feels dated by today's standard but strangely one game that despite its flaws, never fails to have me glued to it two to three hours a time, for me, thats a very long time to be playing games! The clicking style combat is boring for me and serves no purpose but its really the story that keeps me glued to the game for hours a time. The whole world is so alive withThe Witcher is a game that feels dated by today's standard but strangely one game that despite its flaws, never fails to have me glued to it two to three hours a time, for me, thats a very long time to be playing games! The clicking style combat is boring for me and serves no purpose but its really the story that keeps me glued to the game for hours a time. The whole world is so alive with everything and everyone living their own lives with or without you. There's so many ways to handle everything that you can really get creative... want to buy a kickass piece of gear? You can either gamble for it, fight for it, trade stuffs for it... etc... its just how much you want it. This is truly an amazing piece of RPG which doesn't really deliver on the action side but its RPG elements are what I have never seen before... much better than Baldur's Gate. If you want good action and awesome enemy design, this is not the game for you... every other action games out there ace this game in terms of these two areas but if you want a DEEP, and I mean DEEEEEP, RPG... this is for you!… Expand
  21. xXDrowXx
    Feb 14, 2015
    10
    10/10
    BEST GAME EVER!
    ...............................................................................................................................
  22. FBD123
    Aug 6, 2011
    3
    I was looking forward to this game's storyline, but found it unplayable. OK, that's an exaggeration, but it's not an enjoyable game to play. For frame of reference, I got huge enjoyment out of Dragon Age Origins, the storyline initially, but it's the gameplay that provides the lasting value. It's hard to pinpoint where the Witcher fails by comparison. I'll admit that, when I sit down toI was looking forward to this game's storyline, but found it unplayable. OK, that's an exaggeration, but it's not an enjoyable game to play. For frame of reference, I got huge enjoyment out of Dragon Age Origins, the storyline initially, but it's the gameplay that provides the lasting value. It's hard to pinpoint where the Witcher fails by comparison. I'll admit that, when I sit down to play, I have no tolerance for bugs and idiosyncrasies. This starts with the Load Game screen. The mouse cursor is missing and you have to search the net to find that holding the shift key brings it out of hiding. The screen designs that show your characters stats, selected weapon, maps, progress, inventory etc. are poor. Too colorful and too disorganised, with no sense of where the background graphics end and the useful information begins. The combat, as has been mentioned, is atrocious and simplistic compared to other RPGs. Other things seem, at times, needlessly complicated, taking too many mouse clicks or keystrokes to accomplish.

    This is a game with an adult storyline. If you are, like me, an adult who has a job and whose time is worth something, perhaps you'll feel the same way. There are better titles out there and you'll never play them all. Don't waste your time.    … Expand
  23. Hiei987
    Jul 3, 2011
    10
    A very underrated game, mostly because a large amount of people did not really try this game before Witcher 2 came out. While this game doesn't have the amazing visuals of its sequel, it still provides an excellent story and exciting combat. A great title for any RPG fan.
  24. DrBrogbo
    Oct 19, 2011
    4
    Truth be told, this wasn't a terrible game. Key word being "wasn't". I had a decently good time (I may have rated it 8/10) playing through it right up until the swamp level. The game was inherently easy up to that point, when it became literally impossible. There was this one vine enemy that was absolutely impossible to beat, and hordes of regular enemies that would not give me even aTruth be told, this wasn't a terrible game. Key word being "wasn't". I had a decently good time (I may have rated it 8/10) playing through it right up until the swamp level. The game was inherently easy up to that point, when it became literally impossible. There was this one vine enemy that was absolutely impossible to beat, and hordes of regular enemies that would not give me even a moment's reprieve. I would've had to fight a few of them, rest and recover, move 10 feet, fight more, rest and recover, etc etc. I can understand games getting difficult, but to get SO difficult SO suddenly is ludicrous. The game became so tedious that I quit, and after trying (and failing) a few more times at later dates, never ended up playing it again. When I looked up tips on how to beat the swamp level, they all said I had to be X level (I was higher), use X potions (I had been), and fire (also had been). Games should be fun, not tedious.… Expand
  25. Ziamboni
    Sep 19, 2011
    6
    I give it 3 points for trying, and another 3 for trying kinda nice. The Witcher sucked me for the first part. But after I got to Triss I just lost my interest. I couldn't stand Witcher as detective.
  26. Adam
    Nov 2, 2007
    5
    Nice try... but overall the product is mediocre. Cinematics are stunning, but gameplay is rough. Amateurish design haunts the interface. Well that eventually done, but not well done.
  27. OmbarKryshnak
    Feb 8, 2008
    3
    Just don't waste your time. The Witcher has very little to offer aside from a Konami-style "click-the-enemy-at-the-right-time-to-get-your-combo" combat system and the possibility of having sex with just about any non-linear woman NPC you meet to get rewarded by her sex card, which is basically as sexy as a bra magazine. Graphics are ok but in the end it's just so disapointing...
  28. EliasO.
    Jan 24, 2008
    3
    This game is a huge failure, I got bored after just a few hours into it, because I realised something, it's just a MMO but in offline mode! It's nothing when compared to the classic RPG's, Fallout, Arcanum, Planescape, & Icewind Dale.
  29. DavidD.
    Jan 4, 2008
    5
    I got this game because i have never seen such a high cumulative rating for a game from users in a long time. Oh, and also because of so many damn people mentioning it in the same breath as Baldur's Gate and Planescape. If i read one more person compare it to those games, i am going to shoot someone!! It is NOTHING like those games!! In fact, it's not even close. I'm sorry I got this game because i have never seen such a high cumulative rating for a game from users in a long time. Oh, and also because of so many damn people mentioning it in the same breath as Baldur's Gate and Planescape. If i read one more person compare it to those games, i am going to shoot someone!! It is NOTHING like those games!! In fact, it's not even close. I'm sorry but this game never engaged me in any way. Also, the game is a huge system hog. Lots of Ram is recommended. I don't know how people can get into a game that has that many loading sessions also. Way overhyped!!… Expand
  30. ThomasN.
    Jan 5, 2008
    6
    I must say, that i had high hopes of this game, when i heard of all the praise it has been given. when the game started, and i saw the intro movie, i was thrilled, and couldnt wait to start. but when the game started (after an awfully long loading time) all i saw was sloppy animation nad awful voices, sure the history might be good, but i still wants some graphics backing the story up. my I must say, that i had high hopes of this game, when i heard of all the praise it has been given. when the game started, and i saw the intro movie, i was thrilled, and couldnt wait to start. but when the game started (after an awfully long loading time) all i saw was sloppy animation nad awful voices, sure the history might be good, but i still wants some graphics backing the story up. my hopes had not dropped altogether yet though, i was still waiting to see how the fighting turned out. alas, another dissapointment, an uninspiring combat system and boring attacks, made me wish to just uninstall the game altogether. my hopes rose a bit again when i reached the first town, filled with live and ambience. this, though, was not enough to make me play on. i am utterly dissapointed.… Expand
  31. MarkW.
    Jan 29, 2008
    4
    90 sec. load times in and out of buildings....that's three minutes per. Nearly every simple task requires you to leave a building and come back to reset the quest cue. Be prepared to back and forth from the farthest reaches of the game over and over and over. Your choices really don't matter the game ends the same regardless. This is not a RPG !!! and there is nothing non-linear 90 sec. load times in and out of buildings....that's three minutes per. Nearly every simple task requires you to leave a building and come back to reset the quest cue. Be prepared to back and forth from the farthest reaches of the game over and over and over. Your choices really don't matter the game ends the same regardless. This is not a RPG !!! and there is nothing non-linear about it...in fact if you manage to do something out of order the characters will choke and reveal stupid things that don't make sense. The story can be riveting at times and the graphics are sweet when the game is not crashing, but the game play sucks. Have fun trying to find the right spot to stand in to open a container.… Expand
  32. MichaelB.
    Oct 26, 2007
    6
    Although visually stunning the games load times kill any of the fun for me. I have an extremely high end system 10,000 RPM in RAID, 8800 GTX Ultra and a QUAD CORE CPU with 2 Gigz of Kick as Dominator RAM.... I can leave the room, get something to drink and come back and maybe it will have loaded by then. I honestly spend more time loading this thing than playing it. It has my interest to Although visually stunning the games load times kill any of the fun for me. I have an extremely high end system 10,000 RPM in RAID, 8800 GTX Ultra and a QUAD CORE CPU with 2 Gigz of Kick as Dominator RAM.... I can leave the room, get something to drink and come back and maybe it will have loaded by then. I honestly spend more time loading this thing than playing it. It has my interest to be sure, but until I see a patch that fixes that issue I'm going to shelf it for the time being.… Expand
  33. iseeall
    Jul 29, 2013
    3
    The game art is done with style, sure, especially the starting cutscene. Unfortunately the combat system just sucks big time. I dropped the game after just a few fights in frustration.
  34. Lucky-Jinx
    Oct 10, 2013
    1
    Bad controls, substandard plot, no character customization and trying to push through praying that adolescent boys will ignore the horrible game-play for the chance to see sex. The main character is trying desperately to present himself as a mysterious tough guy, but completely falls short when he is emasculated by every woman he meets.
  35. AprilB
    Jul 3, 2008
    1
    This game has a lot of love put into it, but the fact remains that this game was basically released unfinished. The enhanced version will be out later and should offer what the original didn't.
  36. BobT
    Jul 7, 2009
    2
    Firstly I will say that the graphics in this game are good. Obviously the developers put a lot of time and passion into making this game. That being said, the graphics are the only good thing I saw in the short time I could stomach playing The Witcher Enhanced Edition for. The beginning story line was so dull that I had to force myself to continue on past the tutorial. The voice acting is Firstly I will say that the graphics in this game are good. Obviously the developers put a lot of time and passion into making this game. That being said, the graphics are the only good thing I saw in the short time I could stomach playing The Witcher Enhanced Edition for. The beginning story line was so dull that I had to force myself to continue on past the tutorial. The voice acting is completely unconvincing and the characters speak like robots (e.g. "I will find you later" as opposed to "Farewell"). The animations are horrid. The combat system is the worst implementation of a combat system I have ever seen. It's somewhere in between Oblivion and Fable/Jade Empire where you can freely move around in combat and you don't lock on a target until you click them and start doing some attack combo. You then can continue the combo by clicking at the right time. Exciting. Exciting just like the starting enemies: bandits and dogs. Dogs that are green and appear from nowhere.… Expand
  37. JoshuaM.
    Nov 17, 2007
    4
    I did not think much of the game at first because i did not really get the combat, but after a while i learned the basic princables and it just became plain boring, the abilities were also fairly boring and limited.
  38. ManricoT.
    Nov 3, 2007
    0
    Boring. Long load times. Out of date graphics. Klutzy interface. The much maligned Two Worlds is much better.
  39. AlexM.
    Feb 20, 2008
    0
    So buggy it is virtually unplayable and with one of the least inspiring storylines and gameplay ever seen.. games like this are wrecking RPGS.. as Elias O. said "It's nothing when compared to the classic RPG's, Fallout, Arcanum, Planescape, & Icewind Dale."
  40. Mykwon
    Dec 8, 2012
    1
    Ok, 20 minutes of cinematic and stupid dialogs before I could make a single move. And once it's up to you, character keeps jumping everywhere to the single key you press and you have no clue what you're doing. And then, it's back for 20 minutes of cinematic and stupid dialogs.
    Also, keeps lagging for no reason when there's nobody on the screen but runs smooth when there are 10 characters    Ok, 20 minutes of cinematic and stupid dialogs before I could make a single move. And once it's up to you, character keeps jumping everywhere to the single key you press and you have no clue what you're doing. And then, it's back for 20 minutes of cinematic and stupid dialogs.
    Also, keeps lagging for no reason when there's nobody on the screen but runs smooth when there are 10 characters battling. Not sure I'll have the courage to give it another chance. Too bad, you got your chance and wasted it.    … Expand
  41. dryerlint
    May 22, 2011
    0
    This game is awful. Mostly because of the controls. Instead of a control scheme that makes sense the devs have something which is completely counter intuitive where something as simple as spacebar which is used as the jump key for every single game ever created is twisted into a pause game key. The game doesn't tell you anything about how to actually play. The game animations are some ofThis game is awful. Mostly because of the controls. Instead of a control scheme that makes sense the devs have something which is completely counter intuitive where something as simple as spacebar which is used as the jump key for every single game ever created is twisted into a pause game key. The game doesn't tell you anything about how to actually play. The game animations are some of the worst I've ever seen. I have played porn games with better animation than this. Go look up Bonecraft on youtube, those are terrible animations but they're a lot better than the animations in this game! Don't be fooled by all the fanboys of the Witcher fantasy series who give this game a 10 out of fanboy loyalty. This game is unplayably bad.… Expand
  42. MrTusks
    May 13, 2012
    3
    This must be one of those games that stereotypical PC gamers love because it's "pretty," as if graphics power can make up for clickfest gameplay, incomprehensible menus and terrible voice acting. I had heard a lot about this game on the Internet, but it isn't even worth the $10 I paid for it on Steam.
  43. koval321
    Nov 27, 2014
    0
    For new player this game may be very unintuitive and therefore frustrating. You must actually spend many hours just to learn how play it.. really! Its in fact not even "game" but 100% interactive movie, even combat is made from animations of fight. Am actually don't believe this sword touch anything in surrounding, you just click different objects to play different animations and that isFor new player this game may be very unintuitive and therefore frustrating. You must actually spend many hours just to learn how play it.. really! Its in fact not even "game" but 100% interactive movie, even combat is made from animations of fight. Am actually don't believe this sword touch anything in surrounding, you just click different objects to play different animations and that is all "game" If you are not fan of movie, character and story they you may possibly bounce off from it like ball from wall. Don't expect anything whatsoever like Elder Scrolls, Gothic, Risen etc. it should have own category its that different.… Expand
  44. AndyB.
    Jan 10, 2008
    10
    Best, most intelligent Action RPG for ages. Love the situations you get thrown into, and the choices you have to make. The world feels incredibly real too, with people following schedules and acting to character. Oblivion in particular isn't worthy to lick this games' boots.
  45. ReiverM.
    Jan 15, 2008
    9
    A very impressive debut that shames the established big boys in its depth, scale and beauty. The first thing that you'll notice about the game is that it's aimed firmly at adults. There's swearing and boobies aplenty but that's not what makes it an "adult game". It's the way it treats you like a capable and competent human rather than some ADHD kid who needs his A very impressive debut that shames the established big boys in its depth, scale and beauty. The first thing that you'll notice about the game is that it's aimed firmly at adults. There's swearing and boobies aplenty but that's not what makes it an "adult game". It's the way it treats you like a capable and competent human rather than some ADHD kid who needs his hand held every step of the way and every puzzle signposted. It actually makes you think about decisions and for that alone it would stand out from the current crop of so called RPGs. It also looks beautiful. Maybe not Crysis pretty but its excellent animations and art work had me screenshoting every couple of minutes as I saw something new and breathtaking. Unfortunately the obvious amount of time spent on the enviroments wasn't mirrored in the time spent on character models. Although all NPCs look great from their patched clothing to their bulky armour to their voluptous cleavage and snub nosed cuteness there's not sufficient variety for a game of this size. It's forgiveable to re-use models for the extras like villagers who've nothing to say and go about their excellently scripted routines in the background but not for main dialogue NPCs. The old man, fat merchant and old hag models are especially overused. The story is strong throughout and although it appears to have lost a little of the nuances in translation it is engaging and interesting. Basing it on a series of books gives it a weighty backstory and enough lore to provide a solid base distinct from the usual tolkein cliches. The lack of variety in choosing the PC may be seen as a weakness by some but the way I see it is you're experiencing a story as Geralt and that has its advantages as well. One of which is that the creators didn't have to budget for the 101 choices that similar RPGs give you and always seem to come up short in catering for your particular skillset. You still get to make choices in the game and to implement your personality on the game but you do so as Geralt which, imo, keeps the game tighter and less jarring compared to eg. NWN2. Perhaps not for everyone and it does have a couple of bugs but, for me, this is the game of the year and the most enjoyable RPG i've played since Morrowind.… Expand
  46. LouisK.
    Feb 9, 2008
    9
    I Have to say that I'm loving this game. The graphics are great if you excuse the over used NPC models. The story is engaging and the gameplay is refreshing for an RPG. I love the potion mixing system which a lot of reviews didn't like and I love the experience system as you don't have to wait ages to make advances, you can spend experience coins as you go, but the higher I Have to say that I'm loving this game. The graphics are great if you excuse the over used NPC models. The story is engaging and the gameplay is refreshing for an RPG. I love the potion mixing system which a lot of reviews didn't like and I love the experience system as you don't have to wait ages to make advances, you can spend experience coins as you go, but the higher levels still take work to achieve. the fact that you cant create a character isnt a bad thing as it allows the makers to tell a story about your character without worrying about loads of character versions, besides i like the main character :) a lot of the negatives I have read seemed to have been addressed with the 1.2 patch so make sure you get it. I don't have a hyper pc by far and I have not had the same huge load time problems people have described. About th e same load times as oblivion had at any rate so I can only assume that the patch addressed this issue. Try this game before you buy as its a little like Marmite you either love it or hate it.… Expand
  47. ShaunH.
    Apr 20, 2008
    10
    I can't understand why this game got such low critic reviews? I am a RPG veteran and I found this game fresh and interesting. The 'infamous' load times were unnoticable on my 2GB RAM comp. The combat was innovative and the coup de graces were great to watch. The dialogue and voice acting is some what uninspired at times, but it is not bad enough to tarnish the great I can't understand why this game got such low critic reviews? I am a RPG veteran and I found this game fresh and interesting. The 'infamous' load times were unnoticable on my 2GB RAM comp. The combat was innovative and the coup de graces were great to watch. The dialogue and voice acting is some what uninspired at times, but it is not bad enough to tarnish the great gameplay and engulfing story.… Expand
  48. ChristianR.
    Sep 17, 2008
    10
    Firstly let me just say that I actually disliked this game when I first played it, I had the slowest computer on the planet (well not exactly...XP) and stopped playing it because of the 10 minute load times. After a month, i realized i could fix the graphic settings... and when i did, the game played brilliantly! I i was glued to the screen for 5 hours just on the first chapter and Firstly let me just say that I actually disliked this game when I first played it, I had the slowest computer on the planet (well not exactly...XP) and stopped playing it because of the 10 minute load times. After a month, i realized i could fix the graphic settings... and when i did, the game played brilliantly! I i was glued to the screen for 5 hours just on the first chapter and i've never had so much fun in a game before. Oblivion doesn't even compare in terms of RPG material. Geralt is probably one of the most amazing characters in any game. Period. Too point out the flaws...maybe the load times and the slight language problems. However, if you can look past all this... then this is the best RPG on the market, Graphically & Entertainingly.… Expand
  49. JackM
    Sep 21, 2008
    10
    Great and innovative RPG game, extended edition patch makes it what it was supposed to be, which is nothing short of extraordinary.
  50. PeterM.
    Sep 7, 2008
    10
    Awesome storyline, beautiful graphics and alluring music mixed together to create an outstanding cRPG game. Something that can only be compared with Wizardry 8th and Baldurs Gate 2.
  51. Alex
    Jan 13, 2008
    4
    Over-usage of vulgarities dramatically pars down much of the characterisation(people can be crude and direct via other means than just through speech), plus... it would've been better to be able to control the character development instead of playing some "cool-ass" character. One thing: if Geralt was so damn cool, lots of characters would've likely tried to kill him and he Over-usage of vulgarities dramatically pars down much of the characterisation(people can be crude and direct via other means than just through speech), plus... it would've been better to be able to control the character development instead of playing some "cool-ass" character. One thing: if Geralt was so damn cool, lots of characters would've likely tried to kill him and he wouldn't even have survived in such a setting as it's damn likely many of his enemies would've formed a mob or even an army to take him down. This is yet another game where the producers made the main character more cool than the rest of the npcs, in order to justify the need for sex scenes and so that he can be called a "hero". Even if this game was a faithful adaption from the books, it didn't mean they'd to stick to everything. Some things are just better left alone.… Expand
  52. Edi
    Dec 23, 2007
    10
    Fantastic game! Great story, very nonlinear, three endings based on decisions made during entire game, not just the end, decisions not black and white. Dethroned longtime winner Deus Ex for me.
  53. MadTreXx
    Dec 31, 2007
    10
    In my opinion it is th best RPG of the year. It has great dark climat and fantastic storyline. If foregn gaming criticts would read original Sapkowski books about The Witcher they would give minimum 85 points or 9/10. Best wishes for CDProjekt, good job guys I'm proud to be polish in this moment. ;)
  54. SteliosK.
    Dec 31, 2007
    10
    A breath of fresh air in the rpg genre, ironically because it takes us back to the fundamentals of what an rpg is supposed to be all about. Not perfect, but close enough!
  55. JessicaC
    Nov 18, 2008
    10
    The Witcher is the best game I've played in years. True to what it's touting. Download it from Steam. Now.
  56. StevieP
    Oct 14, 2008
    10
    This is a rare game: gripping story where your actions have an actual result, brilliant characters, etc. Amazing!
  57. HagathaA.
    Jan 19, 2008
    8
    This is a game that begs for a sequel to perfect it's flaws. A different and mature game, I enjoyed the change of pace but the combat wasn't what it could of been. It's like a BMW 3 series car...sporty and fun, but you know somewhere there's a better version that will truly blow you away.
  58. ColinR
    Apr 21, 2008
    9
    Absolutely Brilliant! One of the best games I've ever played. Gripping story, line refreshing combat and character development.
  59. BobP.
    Dec 25, 2007
    10
    Absolutely incredible RPG. Simply the best one I have seen since Darklands. The story is unparalleled, and the freedom is also pretty great. It does have its downsides, such as crashes every few hours and bugs related to the immense freedom you have (unfinishable quests if you do them in certain orders). With a game this complex and ambitious, you can expect that sort of stuff though. Absolutely incredible RPG. Simply the best one I have seen since Darklands. The story is unparalleled, and the freedom is also pretty great. It does have its downsides, such as crashes every few hours and bugs related to the immense freedom you have (unfinishable quests if you do them in certain orders). With a game this complex and ambitious, you can expect that sort of stuff though. Loading times were completely fixed with the newest patch (1.2). The brilliant story and gameplay makes me ignore the bugs and crashes though. Definitely worth it.… Expand
  60. K.G.
    Dec 27, 2007
    10
    I generally am not a fan of RPGs. I dislike the entire fantasy genre. Why then, am I completely entranced by this game? It could be because of the above-average graphics, the absolutely amazing score, maybe it's the badass main character, or the storyline that present real moral choices with real consequences for the branching storyline. In any event, this is real quality, the kind I generally am not a fan of RPGs. I dislike the entire fantasy genre. Why then, am I completely entranced by this game? It could be because of the above-average graphics, the absolutely amazing score, maybe it's the badass main character, or the storyline that present real moral choices with real consequences for the branching storyline. In any event, this is real quality, the kind of quality that you get when developers pore their heart and souls into a project.… Expand
  61. Kwiat_W
    Mar 17, 2011
    9
    Excellent RPG and best storytelling since Planescape:T. It has interesting concept of blurring the lines between good and evil, there is no truly "good" or truly "evil" choice. The combat gameplay is its only flaw.
    And this game is the only one that has alchemy system that I actually wanted to use and had a lot of fun doing so.
  62. DantheMan
    Mar 18, 2011
    9
    The best true RPG to arrive on the scene since Baldur's Gate II. Not RPG +Action. Not RPG+Strategy. Not RPG + anything else. Just pure RPG. Yes, I concur that the load times are annoying. But if that's the worst you can say about a game take your marbles and go home. In every other respect The Witcher delivers. How good is this game. Let me explain. I play the World of Warcraft. I playThe best true RPG to arrive on the scene since Baldur's Gate II. Not RPG +Action. Not RPG+Strategy. Not RPG + anything else. Just pure RPG. Yes, I concur that the load times are annoying. But if that's the worst you can say about a game take your marbles and go home. In every other respect The Witcher delivers. How good is this game. Let me explain. I play the World of Warcraft. I play it a lot. You could say I'm addicted to it, if you like. The Witcher is the only game that I stopped playing WoW for. Stopped cold. If the industry would come up with more games like this maybe I would come back to playing single player RPGs entirely. If you don't like this game then it's simply the case the RPG are not your style of game.… Expand
  63. brisbanesimon
    May 18, 2011
    10
    wow where to start I absolutely loved this game from start to finish,sucked me in and wouldent let me go,awsome graphics memorable story,This is how rpg's for pc should be done.Quiete a long game,I put about 50 hours into it because there are just so many sidequests
  64. EgonBondy
    May 19, 2011
    9
    The Witcher is simply one of the best games I have ever played. I was waiting for the game like this for a really long time. It has some cons and not everyone will fell comfortable with it's game play (I like adventure games), but that game put me out from social life for a whole week and it was definitely worth it. 9.0
  65. obrion
    May 20, 2011
    10
    awsome game great graphics great fighting system and an amazingly good musical score it has black and white morality definatly worth buying you can pick this babay up at gog.com right now for 5 dollars so what are you waiting for go out and get it! you wont regret it
  66. Zuboklevv
    Jun 15, 2011
    10
    Since I passed Witcher I beginning behaves to the videogames as to art. Great nonlinear adventure story in framing of wonderful music of Adam Skorupa.I remember it and till today.
  67. ZawiszaTheBlack
    Mar 12, 2012
    10
    2nd best polish game. One of the best RPGs ever, one of the best fantasy universes ever. : )
    I recommend this game and The Witcher Saga too! :D
    Dark and deep world with sclavinian style.
  68. Zoso
    Jun 15, 2012
    6
    A game well woth playing, to be sure, but far too immature to be the dark roleplaying experience it set out to be. Plus, in an attempt to compensate for the "no matter which course you choose, all is well"-attitude of other games, here you're not rewarded for your actions, but rather punished. Action have consequences, and they're not mainly positive with some negative side-effects (asA game well woth playing, to be sure, but far too immature to be the dark roleplaying experience it set out to be. Plus, in an attempt to compensate for the "no matter which course you choose, all is well"-attitude of other games, here you're not rewarded for your actions, but rather punished. Action have consequences, and they're not mainly positive with some negative side-effects (as might have been the intention), but always dire, and the negative sides by far outweigh the positive sides, which makes this game pretty tiring at times.… Expand
  69. Ashard
    Oct 29, 2012
    2
    the game has good voice acting and good music but that's it, the story is dull, the combat is boring, the quests are just uninteresting and the controls are very clunky. by far one of the worst RPG's i have ever played.
  70. FogCityRoller
    Apr 3, 2017
    9
    I have played this game extensively for five years but I was inspired to write a review based on some odd negative opinions about this first game. As someone who couldn't get into this game the first 3-4 times I tried to play it, I think I can offer some words of motivation.

    One of the most off-putting features of this game are the combat mechanics. They take some getting used to, and    I have played this game extensively for five years but I was inspired to write a review based on some odd negative opinions about this first game. As someone who couldn't get into this game the first 3-4 times I tried to play it, I think I can offer some words of motivation.

    One of the most off-putting features of this game are the combat mechanics. They take some getting used to, and you may have to force yourself, but eventually you get the hang of it and learn that this game is not about the combat so much as it is the story and character interactions. The combat in this game is definitely secondary, which can be a strange feeling for most gamers.

    The graphics can look dated now, but the Enhanced Edition with some texture mods will quickly get this game up to speed. The biggest issue is Geralt, as no amount of mods will fix his odd gelfling appearance. However it does a lot for other character models and the environs. The views from the Dike across the water are positively stunning at times and some areas like Lakeside are very quaint.

    The biggest flaw in this game (adjusted for inflation) are the side quests. I really think this game overdid it on the side quests--mostly meaningless fetch quests and inconsequential tedium--and CPR certainly acknowledged this as they wound back the quantity of them in the next game.

    The game doesn't really have a devoted crafting system. It's present, but it's fairly useless even on high difficulties. You can get by with sharpening tools that you can apply to your swords on your own.

    The weirdest thing about this game is the fact that the first boss you encounter is BY FAR the most difficult. The Beast for some reason was a force to be reckoned with on my first playthrough. Yet the bosses become more and more of a joke as the game progresses. I have mixed feelings about the ending. On one hand, I felt the ending did wonders for the story. Everything was wrapped up quite well. On the other hand all that tension was pissed all over by a very weak end encounter that didn't require me to be geared, skilled, or prepared. Protip: don't spec uber-Igni if you want ANY feeling of difficulty in this game. Igni is hax.    … Expand
  71. Zahrada
    Feb 24, 2014
    9
    The Witcher is one of the best RPGs I ever played. I liked the combat system, the character development, the graphics, the theme and all that. Above all, the story telling and the atmosphere. It is very rare to find so much immersion and depth in a game and this one has plenty of it. The music is beautifull too. The only downside I can think of is the technical side of it. Saving the gamesThe Witcher is one of the best RPGs I ever played. I liked the combat system, the character development, the graphics, the theme and all that. Above all, the story telling and the atmosphere. It is very rare to find so much immersion and depth in a game and this one has plenty of it. The music is beautifull too. The only downside I can think of is the technical side of it. Saving the games did not work very well as far as I remember and there were some other similar minor problems too. Somehow, The Witcher games do not seem to handle the technical side so well. Apart from that, this game is a genius.… Expand
  72. Skyrar
    Nov 11, 2014
    9
    Complex rpg with an amazing storyline. The grapics are decent for 2007, the animations not that good, Music is beautiful. Combat depends on you if you like it or not. At least it differs from all other games I have ever play. Chararcters are memorable and interesting. Considering that was the first game of CD Project RED, they did a amazing job with it.
  73. LimitedEdition
    Nov 6, 2015
    3
    If you want to play this game after the new titles (for me "Witcher 3"), you will have a very hard time enjoying this game. It is technically outdated, just uncomfortable to play and not sufficient for my modern claims. Yes, I am rating this game from a modern point of view - but I write this review today and if I should advice you to get this game then do not pay too much for! Overall youIf you want to play this game after the new titles (for me "Witcher 3"), you will have a very hard time enjoying this game. It is technically outdated, just uncomfortable to play and not sufficient for my modern claims. Yes, I am rating this game from a modern point of view - but I write this review today and if I should advice you to get this game then do not pay too much for! Overall you might enjoy it more if you are not used to the modern games this days.… Expand
  74. CenkAlp
    Jan 3, 2018
    5
    Hikaye = 9
    Oynanış = 5
    Grafikler = 6
    Sesler = 5
    Keyif = 5
    Atmosfer = 4
    Süre = 4
  75. jugadorhardcore
    Mar 7, 2018
    10
    the beggining of the best saga of this times. masterpieces like TW never get old. i played it in 2011 and it was amazing and unforgetable
  76. JoeyF.
    Jan 1, 2008
    10
    Do not load your save game from the demo when you buy the full game. The game will crash after you play through chapter one. Other than that, so far I say this is the best RPG I've played in years. Better than Oblivion. Seriously. Finally some mature story telling, thrilling combat,even babes to sack. When I play this game, I feel like I did when I started reading Conan novels when I Do not load your save game from the demo when you buy the full game. The game will crash after you play through chapter one. Other than that, so far I say this is the best RPG I've played in years. Better than Oblivion. Seriously. Finally some mature story telling, thrilling combat,even babes to sack. When I play this game, I feel like I did when I started reading Conan novels when I was 13. Making the choice to go rated R with this game made for a much more believable experience. The story is interesting, the voice acting compelling. I could go on and on. If you love RPG's or even if you have never gotten into one...GET THIS GAME!!!… Expand
  77. salllyr
    Dec 3, 2009
    10
    Best most well thought out rpg in a long time. Apart from the samey npc's, everything is great. The music, the look of the game but most importantly quests you care about. Not fetch and carry ones but fun who dunnits etc that make you think about the story in order to solve it. Love it. H8 the crashing in vista even with fix.
  78. anonymous
    Oct 19, 2008
    10
    One of the best games i've played in a while. The choices throughout the game and the ending they lead up to is amazing.
  79. AliT.
    Apr 11, 2008
    10
    With Betrayal At Krondor and Planescape : Torment, one of the best computer based RPG ever. 2 Thumbs up.
  80. JessicaA.
    May 27, 2008
    10
    OMG Geralt's so HOT! Too bad it's only for boys. Great...I feel left out!!! My brother loves this game so a 10 it is.
  81. Rob
    Jun 3, 2008
    10
    I've not enjoyed a classical rpg this much since 'Dungeon Master'. Quirky, a little rough around the edges, but an essential play for anybody who is a fan of rpgs. Shame on you PC gamer reviewer, maybe you go back to playing peggle?
  82. Josh
    Jul 15, 2008
    7
    Combat: Takes a step back, autotarget fighting isn't fun or challenging, why do people like to have less control over their characters? Clicking at the right time isn't even hard and it still doesnt change teh mechanics of I don't control how I attack etc. Graphics: Are good for an RPG, but Oblivion is older and still has better graphics, so I can't say I find them Combat: Takes a step back, autotarget fighting isn't fun or challenging, why do people like to have less control over their characters? Clicking at the right time isn't even hard and it still doesnt change teh mechanics of I don't control how I attack etc. Graphics: Are good for an RPG, but Oblivion is older and still has better graphics, so I can't say I find them great, the environments arent very interesting to look at either. Linearity: Your following a chapter by chapter sequence, but you can choose to do whatever during the chapter which is okay, but the main quest is just what your going to do anyway with a couple side quests, and the world is NOT open, actually I found each level pretty small. Progression: It's okay, their aren't that many spells, u can just get additional effects to spells, other than that its alrite. Storyline: When I first heard the general idea for teh witcher it sounded cool, some guy taking down monsters etc. But when you get the world revealed to you, you realize it's a completely fantasy world so its not like its any different from any fantasy game, the monsters are just monsters like any other rpg, and there's elves and dwarves. Just a standard rpg setting with a more minor key tone. Also as for environments etc, its just terrible imo, nothing changes, your in the same setting type throughout the game for the most part, a village, a city, a different quarter of that city, a forest... The general storyline is kinda stupid, Some guy steals some mutagens so you track him down, you see him several times wherever you go, at one point you could have had him like seriously, you wlak outside to see him and several thugs you hide behind the door until he leaves and u still face the thugs anyway.. like wtf... I don't blame the critics at all, I enjoyed mass effect much more, Mass effect watered down? a laugh considering as much as mass effect lacks in progression content, it has more spells, more attributes, and actually a choice of classes, the storyline is also so much better, like not even worth an argument, there's also a lot different environments.. the witcher is maybe worth a play through for an rpg fan that's about it.… Expand
  83. WNxWind
    Dec 8, 2020
    9
    Pre-ordered on Direct 2 Drive back in the late summer of 2007 after reading about an RPG that individuals on forums had been describing as "A True PC RPG" during the time of CRPG's vanishing.
    At launch completing a massive playthrough; exceptionally impressed at how CDPR turned the Aurora engine from NWN2's isometric view into a third person action RPG. My review for Accelerated Evolution    Pre-ordered on Direct 2 Drive back in the late summer of 2007 after reading about an RPG that individuals on forums had been describing as "A True PC RPG" during the time of CRPG's vanishing.
    At launch completing a massive playthrough; exceptionally impressed at how CDPR turned the Aurora engine from NWN2's isometric view into a third person action RPG. My review for Accelerated Evolution at the time landed at an 8.5 stating that Poland's CD Projekt Red had just made a statement to Bioware/Obsidian "We'll use your tech and do things you told us was impossible with the engine."

    All in all this is the only title in the franchise that hasn't aged in a way that can be immediately gorgeous and visually captivating the way both The Witcher 2 (Still to this day maxed out with Ubersampling on is visually STUNNING) and The Witcher 3 (5 years later and it's still better looking than AAA games coming out in the 2018, 2019 and even 2020 era). Now with Cyberpunk a day away from launch it's amazing to look back at the debut release from the Studio that brought Western PC Games to the Polish game shelves raising enough money to fund this 13 year old master-class.

    It set a perfect foundation of what CDPR was capable of in game design and narrative story-telling.

    Next they would shatter all expectations with The Witcher 2, changing what story-telling and branching narratives in an RPG could be in the modern era; while boasting the studios RED ENGINE; and then change the genre forever with The Witcher 3.
    Now... We wait for Cyberpunk 2077 to display once again why CDPR is the best in the business. They understand what gamers want because they themselves are gamers that are in control of the vision they set out to create.

    The last studio to be independent. We used to praise Blizzard for this in the mid to late 90's; We praised id Software (rightfully so) for being an independent studio without a publisher breathing down their necks... (This changed with Bethesda but id Software at-least kept it's identity even if it took awhile to find it again.)
    I believe CDPR will remain that last beacon of hope for gamers "You can do it. You can be an independent studio and change the world of gaming; not over-night with a debut, but first impressions matter. This first impression was a definitive example of "Success or Bankrupt".
    The result was success and my original 8.5 is rounded up to a 9.0 as of 12/8/2020.

    Final Note: While this is the Witcher title I have put the least total amount of time in, completing two play-throughs compared to 6 PC complete plays of The Witcher 2 (and one 2 week advance review copy of the eventual Xbox 360 port). 7 times and I wouldn't mind cracking an 8th play in the future.
    In mid 2021 I plan to revisit The Witcher 1, 2 and 3 and (in the future..) revisit Cyberpunk 2077 to create an evolution of the studio video and full analysis on technology and game design.

    Kill some monsters.    … Expand
  84. Zuboklev
    Jun 15, 2011
    10
    Since I passed Witcher I beginning behaves to the videogames as to art. Great nonlinear adventure story in framing of wonderful music of Adam Skorupa.I remember it and till today.
  85. willmaster123
    May 26, 2011
    8
    The game is a good game, i will give CDproject that. Its about Geralt of Rivia, a monster hunter, or witcher as the locals call him. He is the typical grunty voiced, tall and handsome protagonist, but once the storyline starts speeding up his true character shows. They have created a great protagonist with the fact that he is a complete badass, but he also has a lot of character. For theThe game is a good game, i will give CDproject that. Its about Geralt of Rivia, a monster hunter, or witcher as the locals call him. He is the typical grunty voiced, tall and handsome protagonist, but once the storyline starts speeding up his true character shows. They have created a great protagonist with the fact that he is a complete badass, but he also has a lot of character. For the rest of the characters, not as much can be said, for it seems as if the game forces the whole entire 'all the characters have a bad side' thing on literally everyone, which can definitely get annoying eventually, but brings a new light to the black and white choices of say, mass effect. The combat is different from the regular hack and slash, but can get fairly annoying especially early on when the combos you do look exactly the same for each hit. His attacks look and get better over time, but it is still frustrating. Another great part of the game is the alchemy system, something where you collect materials to make potions, bombs, and traps, all of which are REQUIRED, not just fun to use, to win in combat at all past easy difficulty. The setting is varied, you go from swamps to cities to small villages to snowy areas, however within these areas there will always be a stalemate where it gets needlessly boring, making the game hard to complete unless your some kind of game perfectionist. The story is a good one though, one that has far reaching choices that make you feel a part of the world like no other game. The game changes according to your choices, and it makes the whole game feel under your control, almost as if your writing a novel through a game. The graphics are also great and detailed as if an artist made them, although somewhat murky. It would have been more pleasing to the eye if they were a bit more colorful, even if it were to take a bit away from the atmosphere. Another issue i have is the loot system, in which there is almost no loot. Most of the time you will be stuck with the same exact weapons throughout most of the game, and if they perhaps made a better armor system the game would have been much more enjoyable and more lengthy (in a good way). That is actually my main issue, the only loot you pick up is small weapons which aren't feasible to use, or alchemical ingredients. With the sound work, it is great in some areas, amazing in other areas, and downright bad in others. Geralt has great voicework, but some of the smaller character make it seem as if they picked a random man off the street to do the voicework. The soundtrack however makes up for it, for it is a great soundtrack. Well, because of a few detractors, this game shys from being truly great, but it is definitely worth playing, especially if you want to play the witcher 2 which is almost unplayable without having played the first game the whole way through.… Expand
  86. Jabberwok
    Sep 19, 2011
    10
    There are really some flaws in the game (but Enhanced Edition is seriously improved), but they are really minor and don't spoil game play. But I give this game 10 out of 10 because of the terrific story and character's personality development. There are a lot of situations in the game where you have to think about philosophical questions.
  87. greywolf00
    Apr 21, 2013
    8
    When I hear the word ARPG I tend to cringe and move on. They tend to be light on story due to the increased attention to combat and the free aim combat as seen in the Elder Scrolls series just drive me nuts. Fortunately, The Witcher doesn't suffer from either of these problems. The story was interesting, something I rarely say about newer RPGs anymore and the combat isn't free aim. It doesWhen I hear the word ARPG I tend to cringe and move on. They tend to be light on story due to the increased attention to combat and the free aim combat as seen in the Elder Scrolls series just drive me nuts. Fortunately, The Witcher doesn't suffer from either of these problems. The story was interesting, something I rarely say about newer RPGs anymore and the combat isn't free aim. It does require far more clicking than any of the old infinity engine RPGs due to the combo system, which can ware on your nerves at time, but overall it works well and can be interesting to watch (for a few minutes) after you unlock new combo moves. Not as grindy and combat heavy as other ARPGs. Hitting most of the side quests I spent about 30 hours to beat it. Well worth the massively discounted price you can find it at.… Expand
  88. HolyDiver005
    Jul 4, 2012
    9
    This game was fun, entertaining, and pretty. The game kept wanting more. I will be buying the sequel. The sex cards make me feel like a pre-teen again, giggling at cards with "boobies" on them. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing. The game-play while repetitive, is a lot of fun. The RPG elements in this game are exactly what you'd want from an RPG.
  89. Xacius
    Jul 14, 2012
    9
    Despite some poor voiceovers, the game delivers in almost every category. The character customization has depth, the story has meaning, and the NPC's you encounter are more than enough to fuel immersion. RPG makers of this day and age could learn a lot from CD Projekt RED.
  90. IsNotATerrorist
    Mar 31, 2013
    10
    The story of the witcher Geralt is an entirely absorbing tale. Visually impressive for 2007, the game has aged well. You have a multitude of options in character development and progression, every decision made has it's own merits and reasons, separating it from every other cut and paste RPG whose moral compass limits you to either evil or good.
  91. omnipop
    Apr 1, 2013
    9
    Very good start of the series. Game has great story, massive amount of sidequests. Fighting is a little bit difficult in the beginnig, but when you learn it, it gives much fun.
  92. gracjanski
    Jul 1, 2022
    8
    Surely a good game with a great and dark atmosphere. The story is interesting and the dialoges are great, but..
    the controlling is not good, the dialog system easy, the inventory is too small, the fighting is system action oriented and the gameplay a bit easy
  93. Pravs
    Dec 2, 2013
    10
    Polish best game ever made. My favourite game from all. Everything is the best. Story, combat, voice acting, characters etc. I have finished The Wicher three times and I love it.
  94. jseph1234
    Dec 18, 2022
    10
    I LOVE The Witcher 1....Just an Incredibly good Fantasy RPG. Easily a Top 10 of All-time. The voice acting and incredibly detailed scences and situations that are presented are just First Rate!

    All-time Classic!
  95. filmfanatic_86
    Oct 16, 2013
    9
    İt the most realistic and playable role playing game in the 2007's. You should give the chance this stuff. Actions and graphics are wonderfull. if you have a GREAT TİME you have to play.
  96. ozzsoffy
    Feb 23, 2021
    8
    Very nice game, compelling story, the game felt a bit too long for me, I would prefer it to be much shorter. during the gameplay I was stuck twice, and didnt know what to do next, this make me to lose a lot of time, but I think, make the game much easer.
    playing this game, I used a mode, white wolf, to make the game more playble.
  97. Genezi
    Jun 10, 2017
    9
    Great game. i have spent a lot of time on this title. It has a great story with memorable characters. Good gameplay with lots of possibilities during missions and best cut scenes with good dialogs.
  98. MrAro
    Aug 2, 2014
    10
    Story - 10/10
    Gameplay - 8/10
    Sound/Music - 10/10
    Graphics - 9/10
    World Design - 10/10
    Dialogs - 10/10
    AI - 9/10
    Deserves an assessment 9/10, but I will put 10 because it is the first game CD Projekt Red.
  99. Larry223
    Jun 13, 2015
    5
    Iniciamos con una cinemática, no nos explican nada. Nos hablan de brujos, el nacimiento de la era de la espada y el hacha, y el personaje queda herido. De hay vamos a otra cinemática y según parece estamos en una fortaleza de hechiceros, pero no hay mas que 4 personas en todo el lugar, y unos bandidos atacan. Y empezamos.... No entiendo ni donde estoy ni que pasa, nos dicen que conocemos aIniciamos con una cinemática, no nos explican nada. Nos hablan de brujos, el nacimiento de la era de la espada y el hacha, y el personaje queda herido. De hay vamos a otra cinemática y según parece estamos en una fortaleza de hechiceros, pero no hay mas que 4 personas en todo el lugar, y unos bandidos atacan. Y empezamos.... No entiendo ni donde estoy ni que pasa, nos dicen que conocemos a la pelirroja y ya vamos a matar gente. Eh jugado 1 hora y no tengo ninguna intención de continuar. Si a ti te gusta, bien, pero no siento nada. Se siente como una excusa para matar, y el combate es hacer click. Decidí iniciar en la mayor dificultad y aun así no morí ni una ves. Y no siento que tenga algo que ver con mi habilidad, es solo hacer click cada segundo, lo hice y no perdí ni la mitad de mi vida. Eh jugado Dark Souls, al principio no parecía haber mucho, pero al menos si tenia ganas de continuar por que la jugabilidad si entretenia desde el inicio, tenia una motivación por el caballero que me pide que cumpla su ultimo deseo, eso me basto, pero aquí... No hay nada que me haga sentir que tengo que continuar. La jugabilidad no es entretenida, no nos dan nada de contexto aparte de 2 cosas, que hay brujos y es la edad de la espada y el hacha. Simplemente no me engancha en nada. Ni historia, ni mecánicas, ni los personajes suenan estar interesados en lo que pasa.

    Aunque al menos no desperdicie mi dinero. Me costo $1.49, por lo que no perdí mucho. Y me encanto que venga un cómic interactivo. De echo disfrute mas el "combate" de el cómic que el del juego. !!Es de locos!! El combate de Skyrim es mas complejo y variado.

    No lo le daré una puntuación por que no lo termine, pero no lo recomiendo.    … Expand
  100. ShodanSpectre
    Dec 5, 2015
    9
    I am a fan of the Witcher series since I've read the books back in 2005 or so (and this fact really helped enjoy the game better) however even if you haven't read the books - this is a very good RPG in itself.

    The pros: + Good quality graphics, not a big deal for me gotta get that out of the way. + Wonderful soundtrack. Really immersive. + A nice "dark fantasy" world. Where elves get    I am a fan of the Witcher series since I've read the books back in 2005 or so (and this fact really helped enjoy the game better) however even if you haven't read the books - this is a very good RPG in itself.

    The pros:
    + Good quality graphics, not a big deal for me gotta get that out of the way.
    + Wonderful soundtrack. Really immersive.
    + A nice "dark fantasy" world. Where elves get racially discriminated, town guards take drugs as bribes, and use said drugs... Witches are trying to survive the ignorant mod that fears and hates them.
    + No "good vs. evil" - just a lot of people (and other creatures) with their conflicting goals, feels and wants.
    + With the above said - often you can decide who to help and how to judge those around you.
    + A lot of character development. You start as a guy who can barely deal with a couple rabid dogs, and end up taking out dragons (well, not quite 40-meter-long High Dragons like those found in Dragon Age, but 6-meter-long Wyverns) - multiple at a time, and beating much more dangerous creatures, as well as armed human enemies (mages, angry Templars, etc).
    + Not a lot of grinding for better gear. In fact you start out with quite decent gear: a Witcher's Steel and Silver sword, and not until quite late in the game can you find a weapon that's better.
    + There are ways to get very VERY powerful, if you figure out how to. It's no cheating or bug, just strategies that you HAVE TO learn if you wanna play on HARD. And there are multiple ones.
    + There are rune stones to use as a permanent upgrade to a sword, and it's nice that the better gear is rare and interesting to find, craft and upgrade (rather than something you can buy from the town merchant - just collect 100'000 gold, like in many RPGs)
    + Unique items are obtained through truly unique experiences, that would make you value them to a point that I chose to keep that item throughout Witcher-II game (using the import save feature)
    + No **** quests like "go hunt 10 squirrels and bring me the furs". Most quests are backed with a story that something really bad happened, and only a Witcher can help the person in need.
    + The quests match the protagonist, and feel on-the-spot. So unlike Commander Shepard saving the galaxy, and then being told to deal with some scumbags that stole something from a merchant, or the Inquisitor in Dragon Age looking for a lost cow.
    + Interesting characters. Many from the book. Yes you can make relationships with them, and even cheat on them if you wish to :-)
    + Overall, there are a lot of strategic and tactical things you are encouraged to learn, and a few things to upgrade (weapon and armor), but in a thoughtful way, (rather than the grind-to-get-top-level-gear way) the game is really hard to play on HARD unless you understand how to play it right.

    Cons:
    - You can't jump over a knee-high fence. WTF. But sometimes you can jump over the head of an enemy - this happens somewhat unexpectedly
    - The combat is a bit scripted... Not very manual control (no jump, no sprint, no duck or block), kind of an RTS-like feel to it. The "click at right time to strike a combo" is not bad, but gets old a bit too quickly. Maybe a love-it-or-hate-it thing.
    - The game world is a few isolated locations. They aren't very big either. Granted, they are nicely detailed, but will probably feel tiny to players coming from TES.    … Expand
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Awards & Rankings

37
#37 Best PC Game of 2007
9
#9 Most Discussed PC Game of 2007
6
#6 Most Shared PC Game of 2007

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
81

Generally favorable reviews - based on 50 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 40 out of 50
  2. Mixed: 10 out of 50
  3. Negative: 0 out of 50
  1. Game Over Online
    78
    So if you’re looking for a dark and moody role-playing game that is different than everything else out there, and if you have a reasonably powerful computer that can handle the engine, and if you don’t mind adult themes that are more than a little male-centric, then the Witcher is certainly a game to consider.
    Read full review
  2. Game Revolution
    75
    Trading more traditional, menu-drilling RPG “depth” for sheer style, action, mechanical elegance and what might be called a refreshingly grim mood, The Witcher is one of the most compelling - if not the cheeriest - fantasy excursions to come along in many a moon.
    Read full review
  3. PTGamers
    90
    The Witcher is a fantastic RPG, a perfect recreation of the world imagined by Sapkowski. Being focused in a complex story as it is, the many hours of play will make us completely disregard the absence of multiplayer of any kind.
    Read full review
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