I agree it's challenging. Most games nowdays start off with easy tutorial missions, here they throw you in the middle of a siege! Id does however get easier as you get a hang of it, and the diff. settings change a lot. It also gets a lot more awesome.

Hope you won't give up. If you have anymore questions, feel free to ask!

It's funny I decided to look here after being BBQed by the dragon three times in a row. I like how I can dodge roll their attacks. at first I thought: I'm no pussy, I'm going to hack my way through, but unlike dynasty warriors, that's not smart. I'll try to use the signs and maybe I'll get through it. Man I like the difficulty. I am not ashamed I died a few times.

Sapkowski's novels were always dark and gritty about the combat :-)

BTW I can't imagine finishing the game on Insane settings - it makes you restart the game if you die!
What about the guys guarding the ballista?

I don't know what you mean.

I passed through it! The reducing damage sign is very useful. Also pay attention to when your allies are coming along. It's usually your cue to move forward. Let your allies distract the enemies and swiftly kill the enemies while they are distracted and it should work.

Was asking about the dragon the first thing you did when Roche started questioning? It seems the nonlinearity allows you to tell the story in any order, but telling it chronologically (in the order the questions are stated) makes it easier to get used to the game.
Yep, that's good advice!

Nah, after 2 or 3 playthroughs in Hard diff (which will still need previous runs in lower difficulties) Insane will be the only challenge left and I think that any other diff will be boring! We'll know when we're ready for it when Hard diff becomes a breeze and we don't die once on it. But never ever get distracted in Insane diff. Dying in hardcore with a high level char really hurts and cause manly tears!

Let's hope it does ^.^

I went back to choose the first option this time. Doesn't make a difference. The game is still frustratingly bad in every aspect. Took me 5 times to finally kill the first group guarding the ballista, then after I did some stupid QTE thing where I just had to mash on a button over and over (dumbest game mechanic ever created. Any game with them I instantly loath.) I get another swarm of enemies, barely defeated them, did another stupid QTE to aim the ballista this time, fought another bigger group, this time I get killed by some guy hitting the thin air behind me after a roll. Does it start me at the last wave again? OF COURSE NOT! That would be good design. Instead it starts me back at the top of the wall and I have to do the whole thing over again. You can't quicksave either, gives the message "You can't do that here." if you try to quick save between waves.

I loved the first Witcher, but I've barely scratched the surface of 2 and it's already a steamy pile of you know what I wish I didn't buy. I don't have any choice though, I'm stuck with it, might as well keep trying and just hope it start getting better.

I had trouble with the game as well, especially at the dragon bit and a later one. Can't remember what I did exactly, but after the first batch of guards (and listening to some dialog), I think I tried to reach the end of the path as quickly as possible.

However, when you need to open the gate later, I'd recommend making use of the Yrden sign. That gave me trouble, as there are two heavily armoured knights with two handed swords, plus a soldier with a shield and two grunts. Using Yrden enabled me to get through the fight.

Anyways, playing on normal and it is a tough game, but when you finally get the hang of it and beat encounters, it makes it all the more rewarding.

Just stopped for now after that gate part for a break. (i've been at it for ages to reach there. ;) )

I imagine it gets easier as well as you level up and get more abilities, like Voodoo said.

Edit: Zed, I find making regular saves helps rather than relying on the auto-save. You also killed the ranged attackers near where you drop down? They're up the stairs. They kept killing me at that part until I took them out.

Don't forget to take advantage of signs, traps, bombs and potions. Combat isn't about charging blindly in anymore, its about careful planning and isolating enemies and picking them apart. For the ballista segment, Aard is incredibly useful, since stunning enemies results in a 1 hit KO.

Mmm, if I hadn't bought it, I'd actually never consider playing it again. but, I've spent my 65 or so AUS so I'm going to get something out of it. Apart from the 26 dollars of free games+gothic 2 Gold

I wasnt happy at all with the game at first, but im slowly getting the hang of the combat.... it's still very hard, especially when you're fighting 2-3 armored guys at once and you can't even drink a potion during combat

still, frustration is lessening and i'm starting to enjoy myself

Finally, I'm past the prologue/tutorial and now I'm escaping from the dungeon. I have to say that was the hardest, most poorly designed opening I've ever played. I must have died at least 20 times, more then I die in most games over all, let alone the opening tutorial level.

Games are supposed to have difficulty curves, not Difficulty straight lines. Jeez.