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The Witcher 2Help: I really want to like this game(41 posts)(41 posts)
(41 posts)
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Posted May 24, 2011
I loved the original Witcher game. The mechanics, while some were clunky, were explained and useable. I am totally lost with The Witcher 2 (PC). I don't understand the combat, which seems insanely difficult, with an annoying and largely unhelpful auto-target feature which seems to choose the one opponent in a mob that you can't reach. Seems like the game could have used a tutorial section, as I'm pretty sure I must be doing something wrong, or there is a feature I am unaware of.

The story, what I have seen so far, makes no sense as well. Geralt is being interrogated by turban headed guy. I played through the gate assault to the church/temple flashback, the point of which Geralt reveals that there were scoia'tel nearby. Turban-headed guy muses thoughtfully...except Geralt already revealed this information to Turban-headed guy and Foltest after opening the gate in the flashback chapter...

Why is turban headed guy pumping Geralt for information about stuff he was present for? Why does turban headed guy not remember these things? Why is the story fractured nonsense and the combat so hard and overall interaction with the game mechanics unintuitive and unexplained?
Posted May 24, 2011
The tutorial segments can be read in your journal tutorial section after they pop up. They will explain how combat works, and, among other things, how to lock onto a single target. There is also a manual.
Posted May 24, 2011
I suspect, if you're that caught up on those specific issues this early in the game, you won't run out of reasons to have issues as you continue. Save yourself the high blood pressure and just go play something else. ;p

It's a great story though, more so if you have any knowledge of the novels.
Posted May 24, 2011
As for "turban headed guy", he does remember these events, and eventually becomes impatient with Geralt for retelling them.
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revial: I suspect, if you're that caught up on those specific issues this early in the game, you won't run out of reasons to have issues as you continue. Save yourself the high blood pressure and just go play something else. ;p
Yeah, the game gets easier as it goes on. There were several points, mainly in the prologue and first act, where I was in mental anquish over my decision to beat the game on normal. Definitely going to kick it down to easy when I play through on the other major path.
Post edited May 24, 2011 by DarkProdigy
Posted May 24, 2011
You're in the Prologue; no, the entire game is not flashbacks, this is just foreshadowing and setting up your objective. It's a tutorial also, but a very unforgiving one, most of the tips go by to fast to notice, and you'll have to refer to your journal to read them properly.

Keep it constantly in mind that Geralt is level 1, and is extremely weak at this stage of the game.

Tips
1. Dodge, dodge, dodge.
2. Don't ever let yourself get surrounded. Ever. You won't get swordsmanship and magical abilities to deal with groups until later in the game. Backstabs do like 200% damage.
3. Spells: use Quen to protect yourself, especially against fire(!) and missiles. Yrden is good for seperating people in groups.
4. You want to take on foes one at a time, where you can properly parry and hit back. Use Yrden and the environment and try to seperate the weaker foes (unarmored, no shield, etc) from the tougher ones. If a group is standing over there and hasn't noticed you, try to approach them from an angle where only one sees you, then kite him away from the group and kill him.
5. Learn to parry then strike back, but be aware of one caveat: parrying requires Vigor (that lil' yellow bar), but spells also use vigor. If you snap off a few spells and that meter is suddenly empty, guess what: no parrying. . If that happens use your mobility and tip #1.
6. Any of the flashbacks that have friendly NPC's with you, let them do the fighting, and skirt around the edges of the battle, taking cheap shots at the enemy. If an enemy "locks on" to you, run away until they're busy with a friend once more. Then cheap shot them again.

Until you get some levels, more health, more vigor, powerful spells, etc, you have to fight groups guerrilla fashion, hit-and-run, dodge, seperate, over and over.

Once you're out of the prologue, that's when the game really begins. It's a huge, wonderful game stretching out in front of you.

Good luck!
Post edited May 24, 2011 by SlackerSupreme
Posted May 24, 2011
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SlackerSupreme: You're in the Prologue; no, the entire game is not flashbacks, this is just foreshadowing and setting up your objective. It's a tutorial also, but a very unforgiving one, most of the tips go by to fast to notice, and you'll have to refer to your journal to read them properly.

Keep it constantly in mind that Geralt is level 1, and is extremely weak at this stage of the game.

Tips
1. Dodge, dodge, dodge.
2. Don't ever let yourself get surrounded. Ever. You won't get swordsmanship and magical abilities to deal with groups until later in the game. Backstabs do like 200% damage.
3. Spells: use Quen to protect yourself, especially against fire(!) and missiles. Yrden is good for seperating people in groups.
4. You want to take on foes one at a time, where you can properly parry and hit back. Use Yrden and the environment and try to seperate the weaker foes (unarmored, no shield, etc) from the tougher ones. If a group is standing over there and hasn't noticed you, try to approach them from an angle where only one sees you, then kite him away from the group and kill him.
5. Learn to parry then strike back, but be aware of one caveat: parrying requires Vigor (that lil' yellow bar), but spells also use vigor. If you snap off a few spells and that meter is suddenly empty, guess what: no parrying. . If that happens use your mobility and tip #1.
6. Any of the flashbacks that have friendly NPC's with you, let them do the fighting, and skirt around the edges of the battle, taking cheap shots at the enemy. If an enemy "locks on" to you, run away until they're busy with a friend once more. Then cheap shot them again.

Until you get some levels, more health, more vigor, powerful spells, etc, you have to fight groups guerrilla fashion, hit-and-run, dodge, seperate, over and over.

Once you're out of the prologue, that's when the game really begins. It's a huge, wonderful game stretching out in front of you.

Good luck!
This
Posted May 24, 2011
I bought this game yesterday and admit the graphics are excellent the story line seems to be getting there (I only just escaped from the dungeon and left on the special forces ship) but......
I had the same questions as you czerro...

I was stuck on the last 'flashback' level where you have to find the tunnel and fight the 6 soldiers before opening the gate for the king for about 2 hrs last night!!! In the end I did use the shield spell and finally completed it but I too think that the combat system is poor at best, like the other posters here said I will read the journal tonight to see how to lock on to a specific target and hope that helps but I totally agree, you have the target on someone and then for some unknown reason it changes to someone well out of the range of your sword!!

I am playing with a Xbox controller so I that may be the problem? :(
Posted May 24, 2011
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MdotMania: I bought this game yesterday and admit the graphics are excellent the story line seems to be getting there (I only just escaped from the dungeon and left on the special forces ship) but......
I had the same questions as you czerro...

I was stuck on the last 'flashback' level where you have to find the tunnel and fight the 6 soldiers before opening the gate for the king for about 2 hrs last night!!! In the end I did use the shield spell and finally completed it but I too think that the combat system is poor at best, like the other posters here said I will read the journal tonight to see how to lock on to a specific target and hope that helps but I totally agree, you have the target on someone and then for some unknown reason it changes to someone well out of the range of your sword!!

I am playing with a Xbox controller so I that may be the problem? :(
Lock on is LB on the 360 controller
Posted May 24, 2011
I find the bulk of the criticisms - and it's no difference in this thread - are branding the combat system poor because it is quite demanding and challenging at times, which leads to frustration. Sadly games like Dragon Age and Mass Effect have bred a lethargy in gamers that leads everyone to acting all surprised when a game comes out that seemingly throws a curve ball in the form of a demanding and challenging combat system.

I was one of those people to begin with, I'm not ashamed to admit, however as the game progresses I realised what was happening. As I gained new abilities and better equiptment, the combat became less demanding and more forgiving. I think CD Projeckt were attempting to deliver a gameplay experience that highlighted your progression in a more noticable way, as in as you gain levels and stated attributes you gain in power and things become easier to deal with. I think it punctuates the character of Geralt in a really nice way, and if it was intentional - which I can't see how it wouldn't be - it really is a credit to CD Projeckts ability to create an immersive experience all round.

So my only retort to the crticism in this thread is: demanding and challenging isn't synonymous with poor. If you feel that gameplay that offers a challenege to the player and forces you to actually play, rather than just to sit back and hammer your mouse button mindlessly, is poor, then I guess it is poor. HOWEVER after consideration I personally don't think it is poor at all. I think it is bang on and I am very much looking forward to my second play through on a higher difficulty, knowing that all that stands between me and the next chapter is my ability, or lack thereof.
Posted May 24, 2011
I think that now I know that holding LB locks on a specific target this may be my saviour - thanks Aglynne :)
Post edited May 24, 2011 by MdotMania
Posted May 24, 2011
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indelible: I find the bulk of the criticisms - and it's no difference in this thread - are branding the combat system poor because it is quite demanding and challenging at times, which leads to frustration. Sadly games like Dragon Age and Mass Effect have bred a lethargy in gamers that leads everyone to acting all surprised when a game comes out that seemingly throws a curve ball in the form of a demanding and challenging combat system.
Or maybe it's because the tutorial is a piece of crap, and the game does not really tell you how to play. I love the combat, once you learn how to play and get into it the combat is awesome. They did a really poor job of introducing you to it though, and teaching you about its fundamentals and its subtleties.

There is a reason damn near every review lists this as a flaw, despite rating the game high.
Posted May 24, 2011
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indelible: I find the bulk of the criticisms - and it's no difference in this thread - are branding the combat system poor because it is quite demanding and challenging at times, which leads to frustration. Sadly games like Dragon Age and Mass Effect have bred a lethargy in gamers that leads everyone to acting all surprised when a game comes out that seemingly throws a curve ball in the form of a demanding and challenging combat system.
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StingingVelvet: Or maybe it's because the tutorial is a piece of crap, and the game does not really tell you how to play. I love the combat, once you learn how to play and get into it the combat is awesome. They did a really poor job of introducing you to it though, and teaching you about its fundamentals and its subtleties.

There is a reason damn near every review lists this as a flaw, despite rating the game high.
That may be the case, yes. The tutorial did leave a lot to be desired. However I've found that most of the criticisms levied at the combat system to fall under the, "it's poor because it's demanding and challenging, and thus frustrating," line... with or without the poor tutorial. I figured it out quite quickly, but still found it to be quite difficult earlier on in the game. In addition to that I think it'd be quite hard to run a tutorial for the combat system; I don't think having the various mechanics more thoroughly explained would it make it that much more easy to get into. I still think most of the same criticisms would have been made regardless.
Posted May 24, 2011
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indelible: That may be the case, yes. The tutorial did leave a lot to be desired. However I've found that most of the criticisms levied at the combat system to fall under the, "it's poor because it's demanding and challenging, and thus frustrating," line... with or without the poor tutorial. I figured it out quite quickly, but still found it to be quite difficult earlier on in the game. In addition to that I think it'd be quite hard to run a tutorial for the combat system; I don't think having the various mechanics more thoroughly explained would it make it that much more easy to get into. I still think most of the same criticisms would have been made regardless.
I agree with that, I see both. Surely the poor tutorial exacerbates the difficulty complaints though. For example I saw someone complain on another forum about block not always working because they had no idea block used vigor.
Posted May 24, 2011
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indelible: That may be the case, yes. The tutorial did leave a lot to be desired. However I've found that most of the criticisms levied at the combat system to fall under the, "it's poor because it's demanding and challenging, and thus frustrating," line... with or without the poor tutorial. I figured it out quite quickly, but still found it to be quite difficult earlier on in the game. In addition to that I think it'd be quite hard to run a tutorial for the combat system; I don't think having the various mechanics more thoroughly explained would it make it that much more easy to get into. I still think most of the same criticisms would have been made regardless.
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StingingVelvet: I agree with that, I see both. Surely the poor tutorial exacerbates the difficulty complaints though. For example I saw someone complain on another forum about block not always working because they had no idea block used vigor.
Oh I'm not saying that it doesn't exacerbate the problem; it quite clearly does. I just don't think it's so much of an issue as to be a total, or even major, game changer. Furthermore the information is there to be read (allbeit a little difficult to find) even after the tutorial is over. Perhaps making this information more noticable in the journal, as well as expanding on some of the mechanics, would be an idea?
Posted May 24, 2011
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indelible: Oh I'm not saying that it doesn't exacerbate the problem; it quite clearly does. I just don't think it's so much of an issue as to be a total, or even major, game changer. Furthermore the information is there to be read (allbeit a little difficult to find) even after the tutorial is over. Perhaps making this information more noticable in the journal, as well as expanding on some of the mechanics, would be an idea?
Unfortunately, right or wrong, a lot of gamers do not want or expect to read information like that. I know you are probably rolling your eyes to that and honestly I agree, but that is the state of the industry right now. Especially if they are going to port this game to consoles they need to get that subtle information out of the journal and up on the screen during the prologue. Maybe some kind of quick pop-up window.

It's funny because personally I would rather read the manual in the loo, which is exactly what I did with TW2. I kind of hate in-game tutorials because most of the time they are telling you something you already know and boring the hell out of you. Like I said though we have to deal with the hand we've been dealt and most people do not want to read.
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The Witcher 2Help: I really want to like this game(41 posts)(41 posts)
(41 posts)