A cIassic case of one step forward, two steps back.
The inventory system is vastly improved as well. Not only can you mix up potions, but now there's also a crafting system which enables you to create weapons and armor, among other things. Speaking of which, customization is strong in this game whereas it was all but non-existent in the original. Leveling up advances your character in a healthy variety of swordplay, magic and alchemy skills. The graphics are fantastic both technically and artistically. The texture quality is astounding, the lighting system often breathtaking and the foliage nothing short of spectacular.
Despite a few oddities here and there, the writing and voice acting is much stronger in The Witcher 2 which continues the story of witcher Geralt, the professional monster slayer. The story begins with a spectacular battle depicting the end of the Temerian civil war. Geralt sides with King Foltest to crush the rebellious La Valette family. In the aftermath of the battle, Foltest ends up being assassinated by a mysterious figure. By circumstance, Geralt is blamed for the murder and then sets out to clear his name, unveil the conspiracy and witness as well as affect the turbulent political climate of the entire Northern Kingdoms.
Where The Witcher 2 falls short is personality, atmosphere and locations. It seems that CD Projekt Red was so proud of the lighting system that they made every area bathe in almost constant sunlight - a stark contrast to the original which had a dark and murky atmosphere. The Witcher 2 also seems to be devoid of the distinctly Central European personality in regards to storytelling, characters and locations. It's all a lot more generic fantasy now possibly in an effort to appeal more to American audiences. The choices--while still morally ambiguous--seem to have a lot less impact and meaning, they come off as less personal and focus more on the grand scheme of things.
Locations are generic, drab and uninteresting. There's also very few of them even though each is relatively expansive. It's also a lot shorter - it took me 27 hours to finish as opposed to 49 hours it took me to finish the original.
The Witcher 2 managed to improve and build upon the original game when technical merits are concerned, but somewhere along the way it lost a part of its soul.