Despite trying, I just can’t get into The Witcher 2. It’s a gorgeous game, I loved the first title, and I have time for an RPG right now while waiting for :NDA:, but I just can’t do it.
The main problem for me is the basic interaction mechanic; you can open chest/doors or investigate things by looking at them while your character is near them and hitting F, but this is so flaky that it’s infuriating. The game would be downright impossible without being able to ‘flash’ highlight everything by hitting Z, but what was originally a nice feature I now view as absolutely necessary just to minimize the game’s biggest flaw.
The combat also feels like a lesser version of what the first title did. I can’t say exactly what it is, but it just feels cheaper and more ‘gamey’ in a bad way.
Then there are all of the little things, like the overuse of stats, crafting, and other ‘normal’ things an RPG has that really don’t add anything to The Witcher. The first game was so great because it was focused on what it did really, really well (story), and did not distract from that with tacked on junk. The Witcher 2 feels like the devs had the money, and rather than just make a better Witcher, they made a bigger Witcher instead. Bad choice IMO.
So I’m back to Skyrim, thanks to a final-day Steam purchase of the two DLC packs, along with a slew of new mods. Surprise, Skyrim is still awesome.
Edit: Oh more DLC coming ‘soon’ huh.
Hardcore Casual 
Don’t remember ever noticing any issues with the interact mechanics in TW2. Hm.
Unlike you, I *hated* the combat in the first game. It’s why I have gone back, tried to play through it and ended up quitting three separate times now. The combat in the second game was a million times better and more fun, for me. Different strokes, I guess.
The interaction thing (because maybe I’m doing it wrong):
You run up to a ledge that you can jump up. If you run too close, no jump option. Too far, no option. If you were just in combat, no option. It just seems like you have to be in the perfect spot to get it.
Often I’ll run towards something like that, for a split second have the option pop up, and then go away because I took one step too far.
I’ve always felt that between The Witcher 1 and The Witcher 2, they have an *outstanding* game.
Personally, I like the combat of TW2 more than 1 – it just feels better to me. I hate enforced crafting, though. I’m not a fan of crafting, because I hate collecting random stuff. TW2 is *gorgeous*. Outstandingly so. Amazingly so. I love the visuals.
So, for me, take TW1’s story and general gameplay, add TW2’s visuals and combat, and you’ve got the best RPG ever.
I like TW2 a lot, regardless – like I liked TW1. But I’ve never finished 2, despite starting a couple times. I just lose interest about 2/3rds of the way though; the story just doesn’t capture me the same way TW1’s story did.
Maybe having read the books is your real problem?
I do prefer the combat in TW2. It does not give me the disconnected feeling the first title did when hitting something. The adult storyline is what really draws me into TW2.
As for Skyrim – it’s crack. I dare not load it as it generally eats 3 hours of my time in a session if I am not careful.
Played a few hrs of Witcher 1 on my laptop over the holidays and really enjoyed it – I think you nailed why, as I thought I would enjoy W2 even moreso, but just can’t quite get hooked (although the story is great and the visuals stunning).
Just restarted Skyrim myself. Turns out Dawnguard is a necessity for at least a couple of the mods I am interested in. Caught it at $13, and hey…crossbows are awesome. Lots of mods also require the free utility SKSE which took <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xTGnQIiNVqA"this youtube video to get installed correctly. T3ndos Skyrim Redone though has sold me on finally taking this game from start to finish.
If you are still using Steamworks for mods, I have found a few authors are choosing Nexus Mod Manager exclusively. It may not be iphone simple but I believe its more of a home for the mod community then Steamworks will ever be.
lol html formatting fail
I am not surprised that Skyrim is still awesome, it was created by genius…
I liked Witcher 2 enough to play through twice for both endings, but I found it to be way overrated. Not a terrible game, just not the great masterpiece people try to claim it is.
Skyrim is just one of those games you never uninstall and always go back to isnt it, add xcom to that list
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