The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Review

Let's get straight into it, and to start off with, we're going to talk about the platforms and pricing of the game. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is available on so many different platforms, including PC, PlayStation 4 and 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X and S, and Nintendo Switch. It recently got a Next Generation upgrade which does mean it's available absolutely everywhere. And if you do own the PS4 version, then you can get that next-gen upgrade for completely free.

There are physical versions for every single edition of the game as well, and there are also Game of the Year editions and complete editions which can obviously come at a higher price, but you're getting the two DLCs. Now, as of 2024, the game does actually continue to receive support and updates across all of these platforms, and the pricing does vary depending on the edition and the platform. The standard edition generally can be found at a discount for around $15 to $20, with the complete edition of the game on next-gen consoles going for around $25 to $30. And of course, that will include all the expansions and the base game.

So typically, you do want to get either the Game of the Year or the Complete Edition. They're the exact same thing, but the Game of the Year Edition is for the older consoles, and then the complete edition is for the newer consoles and Nintendo Switch. So it's really up to you how you get the game, and you know, if you get the DLCs or not. But yeah, the DLCs themselves can be found for literally a couple of dollars each, while if you get the entire game, then you're looking at about $15 to $20.

But either way, let's actually look now at the previous games leading up to The Witcher 3. So, this famous trilogy began with The Witcher and was followed by The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings. These games introduced us to Geralt of Rivia, a monster hunter known as a Witcher, and immersed them in a rich, dark fantasy world. Each installment is built upon the lore, characters, and choices made in the previous games, creating a sense of continuity and also consequences that carried over to The Witcher 3.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt offers an epic and emotionally charged storyline that spans across its vast open world. The main narrative revolves around, of course, Geralt's quest to find his adopted daughter, Ciri, who is being pursued by the titular Wild Hunt, a group of otherworldly riders. The story is full of love, loss, politics, and the consequences of choice, presenting you with morally gray decisions that shape the game's outcome. The Witcher 3's storytelling is masterfully created, featuring branching narratives, engaging side quests, and very memorable characters as well.

So in terms of the good about the story, the game's narrative is captivating with morally gray choices that have meaningful consequences. The writing is simply superb, presenting complex characters and exploring emotional arcs. The quests are diverse, ranging from thrilling monster hunts to political intrigues.

Now let's look at the bad. Some players might find the main story's pacing to be pretty slow at times, and I would have to agree with that. Certain side quests may lack some general depth compared to, of course, the main narrative. It is generally known as agreed that there is quite a lot of story padding within The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt.

Completing just the main story without the DLCs could take about 50 hours, and to be honest, it shouldn't take that long in terms of what is involved in the actual story. There's a lot of just going to point A, then going to point B, and just, and just some general quests that you don't need to do, and you're just doing them because CD Projekt Red just put in there to make the story a bit longer. 

Some people will like that. They like the idea of having loads and loads of content, which of course is great to a certain extent, but having lots of story padding, side quests, and main quests that don't really mean anything and don't contribute anything to the story can be a little bit annoying. Personally, I was able to get through them, and I didn't find it to be too much of an issue.

But now let's look at the characters. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt boasts a rich cast of characters, each with their motivations, backstories, and also personal struggles. Geralt of Rivia serves as the protagonist. Many would consider him to be a compassionate Witcher, but he does have a troubled past. 

Throughout the game, you encounter a vast array of intriguing characters, from powerful sorceresses like Yennefer and Triss Merigold to charismatic dwarfs like Zoltan and the enigmatic bard Dandelion. I really like the characters within The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. I feel like they all have some true meaning to the game, and yeah, I have no complaints there.

And now let's talk about your mode of transport within The Witcher 3, something you could compare to maybe a game like Red Dead Redemption 2. Roach is Geralt's loyal and oftentimes quirky horse companion. Now, of course, there aren't loads to say about Roach, but she is pretty iconic and plays a very big part in The Witcher 3. Roach has garnered a special place in our hearts as a beloved and sometimes amusing companion throughout Geralt's adventures. And she'll be there through thick and thin. Roach will be your main source of transport. You can't actually change your horse within the game. You are stuck with her for the entire thing, but you can customize her quite a bit too, getting new saddles, new horse blinders, and some new saddlebags as well. I really do like Roach, and I think that the horse mechanics, whilst they are a bit outdated now, they do still work very well.

The world of The Witcher 3 is a sprawling and meticulously created open-world environment, comprising multiple regions, each with its distinct flavor and challenges. The map is vast, offering a staggering amount of content to explore, like forests, bustling cities, treacherous mountain ranges, and war-torn landscapes. 

The attention to detail is absolutely astonishing, with dynamic weather systems, day-night cycles, and a living ecosystem. The open world is brimming with Easter eggs as well, hidden secrets, and also captivating stories that reward exploration, making it a truly immersive experience. 

You're really not going to be disappointed if you do like open-world games. I mean, this literally compares to games like Red Dead Redemption 2, Grand Theft Auto 5, and Skyrim. It's right up there in terms of the open world, and some would even consider it to be the best open-world experience out there, and I wouldn't be far off agreeing with them there. Really had no complaints from me in terms of the open world. It's massive, it's beautiful. You can't ask for much more.

In The Witcher 3, you have access to an intricate crafting and upgrading system. This allows you to create potions, weapons, and armor using a wide range of materials obtained from the game's world. The system offers depth and customization, which enables you to tailor Geralt's gear to your preferred playstyle. 

Additionally, the game features an inventory management system that provides ample storage space and various sorting options. I think it works well, and I do think that the overall inventory and crafting system is designed well. Now, could it maybe be designed a bit better, maybe seem a bit clearer, particularly with the crafting system? Probably yes, I think it could be improved upon. But is it bad? No, it's not bad. It's fine, it works well.

As for the combat in The Witcher 3, it offers exciting and fast-paced action. Geralt's arsenal consists of steel swords and silver swords, each tailored to deal with different enemy types. The steel sword is effective against humans and non-magical creatures, while the silver sword is for slaying monsters. 

Geralt can execute light and heavy attacks as well as dodge and roll to evade incoming blows. The combat system will reward you for reading read their opponent's movements and responding with well-timed parries and counter-attacks.

Geralt also has access to a set of magical abilities called signs. These signs enable him to cast basic spells during the battle. Each sign has its only unique effect, ranging from igniting enemies on fire with Igni to creating protective barriers with Quen. 

Now let's talk about the graphics in the game. Does the game show its age a bit on the older consoles? Yes, it does a bit. Of course, you're playing in, you know, around 30 frames per second on the older consoles, but if you do play on a PC or a next-generation console, then you're getting some great graphics with the new Next Generation update. 

Over on PC, you're getting ray tracing, which you get on the next-generation consoles as well. You really can't complain. The game looks and feels amazing, with higher frame rates and some really great textures, resolutions, and overall graphics. It does feel like an amazing experience over on a console, but even on the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch, you're still getting a decent experience.