The Witcher 2 : Assassin of Kings - Enhanced Edition

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So we finally have the game which many of us Xbox RPG fans thought we'd never see on our console – The Witcher 2. The original Witcher was a success on PC not only due its story (unsurprising due to its source material being the cult Polish novels by Andrzej Sapkowski) but also for the quality of its graphics and world it created. It's sequel Witcher 2 was met with even more critical success and again used an impressive game engine which, much like the Crysis games, meant many of us thought we'd never see it on our consoles. However, again much like Crysis, here it is at last, but was it worth the port.

The simple answer is a resounding yes. The reason being is this is a very smart, mature RPG (mature in the aspect of storytelling not just sex, violence and language though there is plenty of that) but it is a lot more in depth and complicated than your average console RPG. You play Geralt of Rivia, a Witcher or monster-hunter, who begins the tale suffering from amnesia and in the reluctant service of a king about to go to war. The tale soon escalates and you'll find Geralt travelling the land getting involved in regicide, revolutions, racial hatred and even dragons all while trying to regain his lost memory.




This is a story where unlike recent RPG's like Bioware's Dragon Age and Mass Effect, choices are not black and white. Often you'll find yourself choosing between the lesser of two evils when faced with a decision and there really is no right or wrong choice. However it fits the character perfectly as Geralt himself is only interested in what concerns himself foremost and is often forced to aid other people just to get what he needs. But it also here that the game really shines.

Decisions made in the Witcher are important and make a big impact on the story. Every decision you choose will have major impacts on the plot, in fact one choice you make effectively splits the game into two different paths which means its impossible to see the entirety of the game in one sitting (though at just under 40 hours a playthrough, your at least getting your money's worth with around 80 hours needed to see the entire game!). Also with a world like the Witcher's you'll want to see all aspects of the game.

This is a world much more real in its portrayal of characters. Elves are not hippie like eco warriors but vicious human hating bandits determined to enact vengeance on mankind for invading their lands. Dwarves are warriors and craftsman just as interested in drinking, gambling and sex as fighting and crafting, but both are treated like lower forms of life by humans. They don't sugar coat the racism or even the inequality between class and sexes in the Witcher and insults are harsh and the treatment of characters even harsher. This is fantasy set in the Dark Ages and proud of it.

Often in RPG's you'll have your main story quests and then completely unrelated side quests which feel like bizarre tasks that a hero would never do, such as fetch cabbage from a field for an NPC who is too lazy to get it for himself. Here all the side quests are so well integrated into the storyline that you often don't even realise your doing a side quest unless you check your quest log. Most side quest have a full tale to be told and often are tied into the main story so success at these will aid you in the long run.

The whole storyline is impressive and is one of the best you'll see on the Xbox, if only let down slightly by the ending which involves a lot of dialogue and is very obviously left open for a sequel as there are a lot of loose ends which are left, some of which are only revealed in the ending dialogue.




The majority of the gameplay will see you hacking and slashing your way through areas defeating whatever monsters or enemies are in your way. Combat is simple to pick up with your basic attacks being quick, strong and magic with a block and dodge button available too. It suffers slightly from the transfer of controls from PC to console in the clunkiness of some of the quick menus but it doesn't take long to get used to it.

Mastery of combat requires a bit more time though. Witcher's can drink various potions which aid them in combat in various ways such as regenerating health or reducing damage, but potions can only be applied outside of combat. You also have access to traps, bombs and daggers to use in combat as well as various oils which can be applied to blades to aid in combat. Although these seem like just a nuisance to begin with you quickly find out they make all the difference in battles as the right combination of potions and oils can switch a battle from difficult to a easy instantly and is a great innovation on a very old and tested game style.

In fact there is an extra mode called Arena which can be used to polish your fighting skills. Completely separate from the main game you are charged with fighting 30 rounds of enemies, some of which contain creatures not in the main game. Between each round you'll be able to stock up on items, level up your character and hire allies to help you. The longer you last the higher your score will be which can be compared to friends and other Xbox Live users on the leader boards.

Outside of the hack and slash gameplay, there are also a few stealth parts of the game requiring you to sneak through enemy camps. There are also several mini games to enjoy such as dice poker, arm wrestling and fist fighting which not only add to the character of the game world but also will add much needed cash to your pockets.





Graphically the game should be impressive considering the original version could only be run on high end PC's and on the whole they are. Every area you go to is incredibly detailed and as like the story everything is not all sparkly clean so you'll see plenty of wear and tear in the buildings helping immerse you in the game world. The forests that you explore are also amazing. You can quite easily get lost in them as much like a real forest no two places look the same in the game and with paths being hidden by overgrown branches or not clearly marked by worn ground they are the most realistic forests I've seen in a game.

The characters are designed well as are the monsters you fight. All the main characters are instantly distinguishable from each other, though many secondary and NPC characters seem to have come from a smaller pot of choice. However all the characters converse between each other and interact around you which add to the immersive world, though if you stay long enough in one place they will start repeating but it is very rare that you'll notice this.

As can be expected from a port of high end PC game there are some issues with the graphics and you'll occasionally spot pop-ups in textures when your switch between characters too in cut-scenes as well as briefly after the game loads up new areas but these are few and far between and don't really distract from the game.




The sound of the game is designed to help immerse you and convince you your in a real world and does a fantastic job of it. Whether its bird song in the forest, soldiers chanting battle songs as you stroll past them or the noisy hubbub of background chat in the inns and pubs its layered so that you constantly feel that there is a world around you going on even when your not there.

Although there is music in the game its rare you'll notice it as usually it'll be brought up during cut-scenes to heighten the atmosphere or during battles and kept blended in the background the rest of the time for ambience. However the music is well written and perfectly suits the style of the game.

Achievements are nicely spread among the game and will be rewarded for making certain choices in the game as well as some tied up in levelling up or performing certain skills. Also due to the nature of the achievements they encourage two playthroughs which is clever as it will mean most people will attempt to see both versions of the story. There are also two achievements tied into the Arena side mode. The only real challenge will be the completing on the hardest difficulty as this will require some knowledge of the combat and potion system as so is recommended to try after finishing all the other achievements as it will be a tough one.

Overall this is a superbly polished games and easily one of the best RPG's out recently. With a immersive and realistic world combined with an in-depth combat system and a decision system which makes a genuine difference to the game world it easy to see why this was a success on the PC market. If Xbox players can get over the few minor issues coming from the port over to console and prepare themselves for a more complex RPG than they've had till now they will find themselves in for a real treat as this could well be the best RPG of the year already.



Overall 10/10

Been playing this and kinda enjoying it. I'm still on first disk though and about 5 hours into it. Only got it till Saturday cos rented it from Blockbuster so got no chance of finishing it on time really

Thats a shame, I'm currently on my third and final playthrough at the mo on dark difficulty. I now have access to uber weapons and armor and have seen the huge differences the game can give depending on the smallest decisions you make. If you find it cheap I'd certainly recommend getting this or paying full whack as you get a lot of stuff with it!

I finished this the other day, my first playthrough was on Dark mode, even though it recommended easy for me I suck at fighting lol Turns out my preferred fighting style, run away, worked soooo much here My second playthrough was on easy to get the achievements from the other path however the challenge was gone, greatly, when no one blocks *Sighs* However the most annoying and hardest achievement for this game ever was the damned poker one! That one alone took me longer than both playthroughs together Mean achievement was mean

After humming and ahhing for a few hours about whether to pick this up for 400 points, I read this review again and it swayed my decision. I don't really remember playing much of it, but I do remember the awesome opening scene.