So, for kicks I decided to load up a new game of Witcher 2 in the Insane mode, deciding to see just how far I could make it before finally being done in for good. Because I knew this was Geralt's one and only life I began thinking more tactically about situations, knowing most of the enemy placements since I've completed the game once, but also considering general weaknesses, flaws in attacks, and useful Signs/Potions.

On hard mode I never truly considered these things. Death wasn't permanent and could be played in more trial and error. And while that's good, I have to say, Insane mode forced me to have FUN with the game. I couldn't risk dying so I began thinking ahead more. Something that I've never done in any game, even Dragon Age: Origins couldn't make me consider tactical options.

I know for a fact that I wouldn't have implemented the choice of weapons had I otherwise been given the ability to respawn. I started to appreciate bombs far more than before, and liberal use of Quen, while an option, left me with only one or two spare stamina to use mid combat so I had to consider other ways of staying alive. How? Weaving in and out of enemies, taking those cheap shots when I could sneak them in, and dodge rolling like there was no tomorrow.

Combat became more exciting for me when I couldn't allow myself to die. I strongly recommend doing at least a single genuine attempt at this mode. Even if you only make it to the end of the tutorial you can pat yourself feeling you just learned something about the game you wouldn't have before.

I for one am loading up a new game and going to keep at the Insane mode. It brought a thrill to me that I haven't experienced in gaming in a long, long time.

i bet there was some guy who loaded insane mode and then picked the option to fight roche.

That poor poor guy... I feel sorry for him already. First time I play through Insane mode I'm taking the path of least resistance XD

that's like... cheating? heh

Origins will give you an achievement for completing the game in NM diff without ever being "injured". And you cannot switch difficulty in the process. But there's nothing like Hardcore and I'm about to finish this Hard run and then it is Insanity time!

I'll probably have a diary of my dead Heroes since none replied to my request for a Heroes Cemetery as we have in World of Gothic, for those that truly play it hardcore and pay the ultimate price! Much better than that Ghost avatar for deceased Diablo 2 characters! =0

i didnt cheat i just wanted to know what will happen

and i already passed the game twice on normal and hard and never attacked roche...

Or another who upon exiting Flotsam got attacked by 5 endrega/endrega warriors.

Yeah, I got curious too but reduced diff to Hard in that part just to see it. Smartest move I made in the game! hehe

And I wouldn't call that "cheat". I as referring to backup to use in the real deaths, you know, in combat. But there's no way a backup save will work in TW2. That toon is flagged and nothing can enable "reload" if the save was made in Insane diff after death. (like loading a hard diff save and switching to Insane and saving. That last save is still flagged)

I am actually preparing inanely hard for my insane run.... I will probably open a post on it.

Oh hell yeah, insane gets you immersed fully into the game..one false step and it's over. I'm grabbing every item and preparing for every battle fully.

Fear of death and uber death consequences makes a game more fun.

There are fun things to do during insane playthrough.. like: Keep telling Iorveth that He is a murderer scum while talking to him on the clearing
or Telling the operator that we are not the chosen one etc :)

I did my insane playthrough with a really silly method ...
Seeing as my usual build is projectile spam anyways, I had to develop a good tactic for attacking & retreating (for when swordfighting actually becomes necessary).

So, I learned how to make Geralt do his 4 hit spin.
Lock on target, rotate camera so enemy is at short range and off to the right, hold W & A, left click.
It's actually quite amazing once I got the hang of it, when a single click of the light attack button can kill a lot of enemies outright (also, multiple hits = more proc chance) .. plus, the move has a short startup and recovery, so it's reasonably safe.

I swear Geralt hates me for making him spin repeatedly.
It's gotta make him dizzy.

didn't knew then that i can change the difficulty i thought its like in the witcher 1 that there is no option like that

This x1000

I am having so much more fun having to worry about death, in too many games death isn't a consequence, its an annoyance.

I can't imagine insane mode being fun when you can die through no fault of your own at several points in the game, or at any time really when your signs or block fail to respond to key presses.