I just want to say that I really like the challenge of this game. I play on Hard difficulty and it actually *is* hard. I've been playing Dragon Age 2 for a while, and now that I'm playing Witcher, it's obvious how dumbed-down and "kid/mom friendly" Dragon Age has become.

Until now, I didn't realize how much of my skill I have lost over the years as RPG's have gotten easier and easier. The Witcher really brings me back to many years ago when I had to tune my strategy and reflexes to master a game, and it felt great to actually become good at it.

Once again in comparison to DA2, they gave the illusion that the player is really good, but in reality the game was just really easy, even in Hard mode.

What's the point of this post? I just want to say that I refuse to play on any difficulty lower than Hard, because I feel if I can be good at Hard, then Normal should be a walk in the park. It's more rewarding, and it also extends the game play time (which I know many people say it's too short).
Playing on Hard, at least for me, requires a lot of saving/reloading, especially before a difficult battle. If I fail the first run, after a reload I think of a better strategy. Should I use a different potion? Maybe I need to kill this guy before that guy? Where can I run too if I get cornered? In DA2, the strategy was basically to first run in and everyone dies in 5 seconds, reload, move all your characters far back and pull fewer enemies. Rinse and repeat.

There are a few things that I think can be improved, though. In most games, the "E" button is Use/Interact, while mouse click is attack or move. It's reversed here so I'm constantly pressing E on objects or people. I haven't checked if that can be remapped. Also, kind of unrelated, but there need to be a separate volume slider for voice. Sometimes the sound effects are too loud and it's hard to hear voices, but lowering the sound effect volume also lowers the voice volume.

To end on a positive note, I'm really enjoying this game so far. It's pretty hard-core and has a steep learning curve, but if you can get past that, it's what makes a game much more enjoyable and memorable.

Please. Even though I hate Dragon Age with a passion, the combat in both games is infinitely more challenging than this on the hardest modes.

You think? I died more times in the prologue of this game than I did in the whole game of DA2.

All they need to do is tone down the back stab damage on easy and it should be better. Normal is pretty nice for me, and easy is a cake walk AS LONG AS you don't get hit from behind/side.

I think the only danger to the player in DA2 is if they can't fight because they're rolling around laughing at the break dancing mages and ninja rogues.

Yeah, same here. Just in the first part with the ballista thing. I think what gets me is that there is no way to pop an instant heal potion. The fact that you have to sit down and meditate to drink a potion really changes the gameplay. You really don't want to get hit :P

Normal in this game is too hard compared to Normal in The Witcher 1. It's a fact. If you want it hard you should play hard. Normal shouldn't be hard in disguise.

Why shouldn't it be difficult on normal? I guess you've never played any hard game before, like Demons Souls or Ninja Gaiden.

I just enjoyed dying 8 times against Kayran, 5 times against Letho and loads of times more in other encounters on Hard. It's much more enjoyable and rewarding to win, than, if you have no challenge at all.

I did play them, but those games are known for being hard and it's their main purpose. The Witcher 2 is not.

Certainly chapter 1 is a pain and unbalanced , i am on chapter 3 and i am kind of overpowered D: , on chapter 2 i was also overpowered , sword path

Demons Souls or Ninja Gaiden
I smiled while reading the name of these two...brilliant games.

on topic: PEOPLE NEED TO REALLY UNDERSTAND THAT YOU CANT HACK AND SLASH YOUR WAY THROUGH....YOU HAVE TO USE THE SIGNS. AND USE THE MEDALLION ALWAYS IN THAT BALLISTA PART THERE IS A SOURCE OF POWER.

ALL THE TOOLS YOU NEED TO BEAT THEM YOU HAVE. IF YOU SUCK IT IS NOT A GAME MADE FOR YOU. GO PLAY MARIO or COD.

/rant ends

feels much better now

Tis will be addressed in the upcoming patch, so let's hope your irritation won't last longer than a week :-)

I love Demons Souls the combat is flawless i got platinum on that game , the game wasn't even hard it was a well balanced game , awesome game. I don't think the combat on The Witcher 2 can be compared with Demons Souls...too many childish comments in here , rants and caps rage lol...the combat on the beginning of the game is unbalanced you want it or not. No need to write in caps or to put people down. Sharing opinions is ok , writing childish comments is well i gues it counts as your opinion too. This is mine opinion no caps needed , no childish comments needed :)