Brasas: The thing is, if the game is anything like the books, the message is not clear at all. It's a very, very nuanced and conflicted setting. Realistic even. I mean, the parallels to Communist control over Eastern europe are obvious, some of the connections to ecology likewise, and I particularly enjoy the tension between realpolitik and humanism that flows throughout - a very Polish tension that. Yet in the realm of individual human choice Geralt is a very specific lens of otherness through which humanity is observed, and usually left to its own. Having read Sapkowski's interviews, I see a certain core of apologia for freedom. But then again, that's neither a very original take on his work, nor any kind of definitive opinion of mine. Particularly when you consider the angles of sterility and futility that also surface throughout. He is an interesting author, and a pity how Polish translates badly to English, where it being Fantasy doesn't help, as Lem for example has made the cut into better translations already.
And all that is without casting judgement on the reviewers' ability to consider the work they are reviewing objectively at such levels of meaning...
Sadly, I have only read the first book in the series. I enjoyed it immensely, but I have avoided the others due to hearing the translation is pretty rough, just as you noted above. I fear they may not make much sense.
When I talk about messages though, I am not so much looking at the overall game and what it is working to convey if anything. I am mostly focusing on the smaller quests and situations the player encounters on their journey. Whether it is the intention of the developers or not, parallels can be drawn between in-game events and the real world. As I noted, one quest shows the how awful domestic violence can be while the prominent racism between certain groups could easily bring about discussion of how these attitudes are destructive.
Critics right now are obsessed with social/political issues and injecting their own agenda into their writing. If they really wanted to discuss this stuff in purposeful ways, they need to stop the call-out culture tactics and actually look at the game they are playing. They have ample opportunity with The Witcher 3 to tackle tough topics. Instead, it is just "look at how sexist and possibly racist this game is!" They are too busy nitpicking the little things and not paying attention to the actual stories.
Honestly, I rarely want to read about any of this stuff in a review anyway. I am usually only interested in how a game plays and that it isn't too buggy. Youtube Lets Plays are generally more helpful at this point than any written review. I just think if people really cared about these issues, there are better ways to approach the topic.
I do apologize though if I implied the series is purposefully sending out an overarching message of good and evil. I am certainly aware that the game deals a lot in grey areas and vague outcomes. The world is crappy and there is almost never a "right" solution to a problem. It is one of the reasons I love the game so much. It is pretty late at the moment and I am halfway falling asleep, but tomorrow I may work to clarify in my writing that the game itself is not trying to send an underlying message, just that analyzing the smaller stories can lead to interesting discussions if critics really cared about this stuff.
