And I have to say that...well...it's a good game but I felt kind of disappointed.
First of all it's really...really short.
I guess there's a good deal of replayability, but damn the first Witcher easily lasted me twice as much as the sequel.
Second of all the combat...oh boy, the combat.
I'll just say it: The Witcher's combat used to be better in the first game.
Yeah, so we had to just click rythmically to get the combo going, but now all we have to do is click. That's it.
Alchemy used to be more involved (5 minutes for potions? really? No potions during combat?) and for your information no, I did not need to use bombs or traps aside from the Yrden sign for the entire game. (I played on normal)
The only time I used a trap I was swarmed by a pack of nekkers and set myself on fire, after that I just maxed out my resistances because screw fire. è__é
After chapter 1 the combat becomes incredibly easy.
Also, without spoiling anything...your nemesis kind of sucks.
By the end I was like "meh, let's fight...because why the hell not?" I didn't really care about him!
By comparison I really wanted to disembowel the Professor during the Witcher's second chapter, he wasn't even the main villain but I seriously hated his guts, and it made the game so much better!
So in all, I wouldn't say it was a complete miss, but please CDP, now that we have our snazzy new engine, can we get a properly awesome Witcher next time? :P

P.S. English ain't my first language, I hope this thing is decipherable. :v

This is what happens when game developers spend too much time on graphics, we end up with a shorter game and crappy gameplay, and a lot less side quests.

Who really cares if a dungeon has shiny walls? I sure the hell don't. I hope skyrim isn't going to be all about shiny graphics for the graphic fanboys

Use of the word fanboy invalidates any opinion you have. Thanks for your input (sarcasm)

skyrim already looks incredibly silly, character design-wise.

Yah, TW1 is a really great game...They beat it in graphics for sure..but gameplay? I'm not sure about that..I would say, no. But it's a fun game nonetheless.

I never use the word "fanboy" but it seemed fitting. Also, i wouldn't expect any less from your side of the world (sarcasm)

I disagree wholeheartedly, and Im a tactical/ turn based combat fan. But if I can't have party based tactical combat, I'd rather have a dynamic real time implementation like in TW2, than the tedious, disconnected approximation in TW1, which so desperately *wanted* to be real time, but couldn't be. But the subject is discussed in dozens of other threads, and I'll not pursue it here.

I'm sorry you didn't enjoy the game. I didnt enjoy TW1 overmuch. But at least we both have games we enjoy and can go back to.

The fact that you think Letho was your nemesis speaks volumes of how much you actually took from this excellent story. Also, you haven't really finished until you've played both sides, as each side is only half the story.

Sure, the combat in TW2 is just wonderful... I might've actually broken the mouse for clicking too fast (and hard)...

This is what I really like about TW2. I'm currently on my second play through; choosing Iovorth this time instead of Roche this time. I am really enjoying the differences in the game right now, and I'm hoping Chapter 3 continues to be different enough from my first play through (though I'm thinking it is going to be more like Flotsom in terms of difference). TW1 was great, but the choices didn't take you to different places, which was fine, but I like the way TW2 works.

Chapter 3 is absolutely different in many ways. Much closer to Chapter 2 differences than Chapter 1's.

Good to hear. I'll probably find out later tonight when I finish Chapter 2.

Meh, he was the closest thing to it.
I mean, am I really supposed to care about nonhumans or politics as a Witcher?
As Geralt himself put it once "I'm a Witcher. Neutral as all hell.", I played through TW1 as a neutral character and all of a sudden I'm supposed to care about the schemes of sorceresses or about Nilfgaard?
What about the wild hunt?
Turns out they're probably some kind of extra dimensional elves...what? :v
Letho is the closest thing that can be associated with a rival.
You're the most wanted man of the realm because of him, he kidnaps Triss to make his getaway from Flotsam and is you're told multiple times that he's got some important knowledge about Geralt.
Then at the end..."oh hai, I was a Nilfgaardian agent all along! Also, I don't really give a shit about you, but if you wanna fight, you know, I'm totally up for it! Also let's get shitfaced with vodka!"
I mean come on, what kind of ending is that. :v
I decided to fight him, only because I wanted a boss fight...but by that point I was like "so he's working for Nilfgaard...really? That's IT? pfffrt" I didn't really care. :\

I agree with you. OP had to much expectations of TW2. TW2 is Game of the Year hands down.