The monster-slaying antihero Geralt returns for an all-new adventure that will look better, challenge you with choices that have real consequences, and offer a brand-new story in a dark fantasy world. We take an exclusive look.
In 2007, Polish developer CD Projekt Red released The Witcher, an unusually titled role-playing game inspired by the dark fantasy novels of Polish author Andrzej Sapkowski. The game starred Geralt, a cynical, white-haired "witcher"--a spellsword equally talented in the arts of alchemy and swordplay--in the royal service of a king presiding over a realm divided by mistrust, conspiracy, and hatred. This original game became a cult classic and was later rereleased with various improvements as an "enhanced edition." But since the release of the first game, CD Projekt Red has been doing a lot more than just enhancements. In fact, it started development on the next game just after completing the first one, and for the sequel, the studio has overhauled the graphics engine, has changed the way combat works, and has been building a more-challenging new adventure with a gritty, adult feel. Take your first official look at The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings below, but be advised that this story contains early game plot spoilers.
The Witcher 2 takes place after the events of the first game, in which Geralt accepted the task of working for King Foltest of Temeria to investigate a curse that befell the king's daughter. But in The Witcher 2, Geralt won't be chasing something as subtle as a magical curse. This time around, he'll clash swords with two new villains: the first, a hateful elf spy named Iorveth, and the second, a mysterious man known only as the Kingslayer, whom you'll meet in our exclusive video. As you might have already guessed, given The Witcher 2's subtitle, this Kingslayer has already begun to ply his trade--though as the mysterious assassin himself claims, his bloody work is far from over. And while the world-weary Geralt has no great love of royalty, he eventually becomes embroiled in this assassination conspiracy, since it crosses tracks with several new monster hunts--which are his calling as a witcher--and since the assassin appears to know Geralt of old.
Our demonstration began at the beginning of the game (in a very early version of the game), with the above movie sequence that opens with Iorveth, the elf spy, finding that his forest sanctum has been discovered by the Kingslayer. For those not familiar with the world of The Witcher, yes, the game take place in a fantasy world where people do battle with swords and sorcery, and yes, there are elves who have pointy ears and live in forests, but they don't cavort or caper, nor do they make cookies. Instead, elves (and other nonhumans, such as dwarves) largely hate, and are largely hated by, humans. Some, like Iorveth, actively plot against (and murder) humans, so he and the Kingslayer--who claims to be a friend to nonhumans--are apparently able to form an uneasy truce.
Our demonstration then switched to a playable segment of the game during which Geralt arrives at the port of the game's first major location--the medieval town of Flotsam, which lies between the borders of Temeria (Foltest's realm) and the neighboring nation of Aedim. Before disembarking from the vessel, we had the chance to listen in on banter between Geralt's two companions: Triss Merigold, the redheaded sorceress from the first game, and Vernon Roche, a sharp-tongued member of Foltest's military sent to help Geralt scout the area. We'll just say that Roche has specific opinions about a woman's proper place in the world (specifically, the kitchen) and that Triss less-than-respectfully disagrees.
After listening to some verbal jousting, Geralt breaks up the argument and leads his companions into the woods on the road to Flotsam, through thick grass and swaying, detailed brush, until the party begins to hear the sound of pipes playing. Roche makes a passing remark about "smelling" an elf nearby before leading us right into the next cinematic sequence…to meet Iorveth face-to-face. The elf casually stood atop a tree branch out of reach of Roche's and Geralt's swords. As it turns out, Iorveth and Roche know of each other--the former being aware of the latter as an elf-hating bigot, and the latter being aware of the former as a human-murdering psychopath.
In The Witcher 2, your companions don't hesitate to speak up, but like in the previous game, they're not directly under your control and will act to the best of their abilities in combat situations and will speak their minds in the game's dialogue sequences. The Witcher 2's dialogue system allows for banter between multiple participants at once, and new characters can join the conversation midway. In this particular dialogue, Roche and Iorveth continued to trade verbal barbs while Geralt quietly entered into an active dialogue with Triss about how best to attack the elf. Like the previous game, The Witcher 2 will use a "timed dialogue" system that will offer you various responses to give in conversation but will default to a standard response if you don't choose an alternate thing to say.
@Warlod_Irochi the reason why pc gamers hate when games come out for console is that pcs are years ahead of consoles so when they release games for both there not letting the pc do its best because its getting held back by consoles but game still looks fun
What is the problem with console versions?. If you don't like just buy the PC one (like I will do). Really don't understand that anti-console mentality of some PC gamers.
those idiots, how could they replace Geralt model with som kind of douche. Bastards.................
I hope the "mature" romance part of the game doesn't scream "teenage boy fantasy" as pathetically as in the first game. Other than that iffy bit, looks cool.
The only bad thing in tis game is that we will be having companions with us and that it is releasing in consoles which i dont think is a very gud idea
wow looks like they put lots of work into this game, poor elf people :P I hope we get to fight on there side like last time, casue helping medival crazy humans is not my "thing" at any rate I was hoping for a more magic using witcher BUT, having a mage with u is still better than nothing, I look fowrad to see this game finished.
,,Geralt the witcher returns for a brand-new adventure. And he isn't doing this alone.'' So,its party based is it?...fu**
"...planned for release in the early part of 2011 for the PC..." "...CD Projekt Red is also interested in developing a console version of the game..." Great article but ends on such a sad note. No, you can't have it any time soon and it might be compromised.
Looks amazing. The first game was nearly in a class of its own. I really hope they don't bother with the console versions ... the interface of the first game was excellent, and tailored to a PC. Dumbing it down for consoles would be a shame.
I think I will like this more than Dragon Age that already outdated in this action oriented game era ....
I CANT WAIT....Geralt is best new (anti-hero character) to enter the gaming world since Kratos...and if you can get the translated books and read them they are REALLY good....!!!
Guys that was an old model for Geralt's face it has now been changed to look closer to the original. Looks like they changed a lot since this trailer was made hopefully when it releases it should be even more awesome.
This game looks amazing. Graphics got a massive overhaul from the first. This will is now number 1 on my most anticipated list.
This game will be worth the wait. With no console development to get in the way, this game is looking to be everything we all had hoped. EPIC indeed.
That is some badass voice acting, coming from the elf =D wonder if the rest would be more diverse than Witcher 1.
this looks really cool but my computer would explode if this game so much as came within its vicinity. hopefully they'll go ahead and make the console versions as well.
I loved The Witcher 1, can't wait for The Witcher 2 as it looks even more promising as I expected! :|
No need for 'unofficial', they released a patch that gave North American markets the uncensored version that was released in Europe.
Sweet! I just hope the ESRB doesn't censor this one or I'll have to get the unofficial patches like before.
OMG, one of my favorite games is comming back This is one of the best games alongside Mass Effect, Dragon Age: Origin... Watched the little trailer: It looks weak -.-, wasn't so inspiring. Don't shut my post, i only say the truth! The trailer was WEAK!
Yes! It's good to know the game is coming out well. I'm glad they're changing the combat as that was the only thing that I disliked from the first game. I hope we get more items too! There weren't enough useful weapons in the first game and the bombs really didn't work for me. Lol @ Grenadespammed, kids never earn do they? The Fermi reviews should be out today so be on the look out for that too!
Hope the gameplay is much improved over the first one cause it was pretty boring... the story and dialog was very good though. that cutscene was pretty boring btw
Looking beautiful !!! Will get this on PC :) @ grenadespammed Lol dude you don't even know what you're talking about, you sound jealous to be honest and for your information PCs are not made by Micro$oft. M$ only make OS for PCs, hardware is from other companies and I am glad M$ is not in PC hardware business otherwise we will be seeing RROD on PC as well (lol joking). And you certainly don't know anything about PC hardware, a mid-range graphic card can run this game for sure and even if it cannot run it with good performance, we always have scalability in PC graphic settings. You need to grow up dude...Xbox is made by M$ YES ! but it does not mean that it deserves to get all games on it. Every platform gets it's share. Lets just hope every gamer can enjoy this wonderful game regardless of platform.
I hope it will released only for PC.This game isn't for consoles.They changed the voice of Gerald,it's differed from Witcher 1.I hope they will changed that!
I was so disappointed when they cancelled the console version of the first game. This game looks really awesome
Oh NOOOOOOOOOOOOO! Geralt, what have they done to your face? Your rugged, Slavic-faced face? You are man pretty when once you were pants-wettingly rugged :( He looks like a character from Final Fantasy. It makes me sick.
Loved first one and can't wait for this new sequel! When first Witcher came out, it's dark adult oriented take on RPG genre was very refreshing, so it seems developers will continue same route. :)
Curse the video game industry!!! :P Dragon Age Origins, its expansion Awakening, Mass Effect 2, Warhammer 40k - Chaos Rising, Command &Conquer 4 and now Witcher 2! I don't think I'll ever be able to get a life. :D
OMG, one of my favorite games is comming back ;) This is one of the best games alongside Mass Effect, Dragon Age: Origin... Watched the little trailer: It looks weak -.-, wasn't so inspiring.
It's really sad how the gaming industry is now catering to new, soft, and casual "gamers" like grenadespammed. Clearly he doesn't know what he's talking about but thinks he does, in other words he's a console "gamer". Luckily for us ignorance isn't permanent, and most of these console "gamer" will inevitably gain actual knowledge of video games. I believe we'll see less and less console "gamer" ignorance as time goes by.
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