The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings Previews

IGN offers a piece that reads like a CD Projekt promotional flyer, covering its enhanced engine, superior and flexible gameplay, and stronger choice and consequence.

Thanks to a strong first game that valued the player’s approach to a given scenario and offered choice and depth in most situations, The Witcher 2 had a solid foundation to build on. As in the first game, the combat is a fluid mix of hand-to-hand, spellcraft and sword play. However, the system has been retooled and optimized for gamepads, rather than mouse-clicks. We’re assured the new system is more fluid, intuitive and fun. The other significant improvement rests with Geralt’s use of the environment. Every corner can be peered around; waist-high objects become invaluable cover for stealthing around.

Critically, the world itself is far less linear, too; every building you see can be reached and every surface is yours for scaling if you have the proper attributes to get you there.

Finally, the game appears to be making good on the promise of truly epic scenarios. Late in the demo, we’re dumped into massive battle on the ‘Haunted Battlefield’ a dead landscape full of demonic warriors doing battle around a fiery, smoky behemoth known as Draug. As hundreds of figures clash around you, Draug transforms into a thunderous tornado of real, physics enabled debris that spins and powers after Geralt. We can’t wait to see how this one plays out.

Additionally, Eurogamer brings word the Witcher 2 has 3 openings and 16 endings, which we already knew. But if you’re into that sort of thing, it brings more numerical “willy-waving”, if you’re into that sort of thing.

And the willy-waving doesn’t stop there: The Witcher 2 has 256 cut-scenes (150 minutes’ worth), The Witcher 1 had 130 (53 minutes’ worth); The Witcher 2 has over 30 armour types, The Witcher 1 has 5; The Witcher 2 has an extra magic sign; and The Witcher 2 has 4 load screens whereas The Witcher 1 had around 700.