RageGT: I love the combat.

If you can't handle it, switch to Easy... or to Insane and when you die, RIP!

cloud8521: still the worst rational ever

Coflash: There are obviously degrees of action orientation in RPG's, Gothic 2 being at the low end of the scale while a spam fest like Dragon Age 2 or Mass Effect obviously placing themselves at the opposite side. In fact, any RPG could be considered as being action orientated. There aren't many that don't involve action or combat.

Itkovian: I fail to see how you can put Dragon Age 2 in the same category as Mass Effect, or The Witcher.

DA2 is a pause and play traditional RPG. The only difference between that and DAO is the combat is faster-paced. You just just tell x to attack y then watch them fight, activating special powers as necessary. Just because it is faster does not make it an action RPG.

Now, ME and The Witcher (1 and 2) are clearly action-RPGs, where you directly control your character's attacks and defense through player skills.

Of course, there's nothing wrong with that. I'm loving TW2, and love ME, but let's not compare apples to oranges please.

Itkovian

Itkovian: That said, as for TW2 combat itself, I rather like it.

Yes, it can be frustrating if you cannot handle large groups. It took me a while before realizing using WASD for movement and spacebar to dodge was the best way to do it (instead of double pressing one of the WASD keys), and once you pick up the dodging increase talents things do get better.

It is very different from most other action games of this style, which usually will handle large group battles by having the enemies encircle you and then attack you only one or two at a time, like in martial arts movies. It took some real guts from CDPR to actually make them gang up as they would in reality (more or less). The end result is that being outnumbered is far more dangerous than in most action games, and can be extremely frustrating.

Once you've mastered the art of handling large groups, it does become much simpler. Keep on the move, dodge frequently, move in when you've singled out an opponent, then dodge out when their friends come in.

Use crowd control: Aard or Yrden signs, stunning bombs, wittle down their numbers. Or fire up Quen and move in to quickly land a few blows and dodge out before the protection is stripped away.

Do not hesitate to use potions and oils. Learn to recognize when things will get rough and plan accordingly.

And finally, practice. Practice, Practice, Practice! When I ran into the monastery fight in the prologue, I must have done it 20 times. Not because I couldn't beat it (though it was tough), but rather to just learn to handle such situations. Same thing with the fight against the Baroness' son (I tried to negotiate, then deliberately choose to fight them all to challenge myself and learn how to cope with 3 sword and boards).

And when practicing, try to keep sign usage at a minimum. Just learn to dodge and roll around a lot and single out opponents. Then when you get to the game proper and use those extra protections and traps and bombs, you should be far more effective.

Hope it helps.

Itkovian

cloud8521: i still want to block.... garalt always said how blocking an strike was important.

Itkovian: But you can block, what is the problem?

Indeed, as you learn swordmanship your blocking will get better, cost less, and you can riposte, at which point it becomes very useful (never mind that for defensive enemies, blocking will usually drop their defense).

Just block when you have singled a target or two, instead of when the whole horde falls upon you. Don't hesitate to use those vigor-generating potions as well. If you combine vigor-regen enhancement bonuses from talents with, say, a Tawny Owl, you can almost constantly block attacks, and if not you can easily roll away a bit to regen all your vigor.

Itkovian

dreamwraith: Witcher 1 was HARDLY as heavy on REFLEXIVE reactions. I don't have great reflexes. I never have. Thats why I don't play games like Modern Warfare, Resident Evil, Demon Souls, Etc Etc.

RPG's, by their very nature, have generally placed the onus on the roll-playing, with combat being a combination of skill and character build. This WAS the case with Witcher 1. The combat in Witcher 2 is so heavily based on my physical ability to respond with quick and accurate reflexes that I am unable to play.

This was not the case with Witcher 1. As I said before, I do understand that some enjoy, and are completely able to handle Witcher 2's combat. However I am not one of them, and It is wholly different from what was experienced with the first game.

I have no problem with them having combat like they do - if they had delivered the easy mode they described before release. The easy mode they delivered is nothing like they described. The pidgeon hole of the OTS camera doesn't help much either.

I am sorry if you feel the need to attack my position because it does not agree with yours. I will continue to agree that you are allowed your position, and even state that they should have made the game as they did - where I will differ is that I will continue to say that 1) they should not have removed the different camera / control options (OTS only is a killer for me) 2) That Easy Mode should actually be... EASY. 3) If they dont want to change easy mode, then add a configurable option for those who are unhappy with the combat to revert to something more akin to witcher 1 controls - or, add an optional pause/que action system if they cant add optional witcher 1 combat.

Those are my requests - and notice that my requests allow you to enjoy the game as you do, and me to enjoy it as i was lead to expect by the various interviews, videos, and pre release press.

I thank you in advance for allowing me to continue to have my feelings and opinions, as I will continue to allow you yours.

Addai67: My response to the game is pretty much the same as yours. The changes to combat and camera view and lack of pause/play make it unplayable for me. This is not even to mention the awkwardness in the UI and other controls. I probably could fight with the system for hours on end as people say they've done, but life is too short. There is a reason I don't play action games.

And yes, my fault for thinking that even with changes, TW2 would play enough like TW1 to feel like a similar game. I followed TW2 development but not slavishly and just had faith that the games would play similarly. TW1 combat was not perfect but overall enjoyable, and I could get along well enough that I could experience what I really wanted to see- the world and the RP interactions. Not so with the sequel.

It's the second huge disappointment of the year for an RPG sequel. Dragon Age II was playable (mostly) but half a game, dull and had railroaded story choices. But at least I could play the game in order to find this out for myself. I'm afraid unless TW2 gameplay is significantly changed in patches, it might as well have a sucky story and characters, too, because I'll never see them.