The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings
Release Date: May 17, 2011
Steam
An action RPG game and the second chapter of the adventures of Geralt of Rivia. Similarly to its predecessor from 2007, The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings was developed by CD Projekt RED. The game follows the foiled plot to assassinate King Foltest. With the appearance of a mysterious man called Kingslayer the titular witcher becomes entangled in a complicated political intrigue, in which the fate of several kingdoms will be decided.
The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings for PC and X360 is an action RPG, which is a sequel to a big hit based on the work of a Polish writer Andrzej Sapkowski.
Story
The story in the second installment of The Witcher series takes off just after the events from the first game, so it continues the theme started by an assassination attempt on King Foltest that was foiled by Geralt. The whole thing quickly gets out of control, because of appearance of a mysterious man, known as the Kingslayer. The White Wolf gets caught into an intricate and dangerous political intrigue, and his decisions will shape the fate of the inhabitants of several kingdoms.
The game once again takes you into the world created by Andrzej Sapkowski, who decided to take a slightly different approach to fantasy genre than many other authors. Therefore, the universe of The Witcher is full of monsters, various races, and magical creatures, who, however, usually do not like humans and vice versa. This leads to many serious conflicts.
Gameplay
The developers faithfully recreated many places and characters from The Witcher novels and short stories, but also expanded the world with new elements. Players can visit a town called Flotsam and the adjacent forest, a dwarven city of Vergen, the Pontar Valley, and the ruins of an elven city of Loc Muinne.
You meet characters like Triss Merigold (a sorceress), Dandelion (a poet and Geralt’s friend), Zoltan (a dwarf and Geralt’s friend), Vernon Roche (member of the special forces of King Foltest), and Iorweth (commander of a Scoia'tael commando). Each of them has their own goals, beliefs, values, and personality, which are often reflected in cutscenes, conversations, and their comments. Many of the above characters can become your allies and travel with you - the developers also added many more secondary characters, however, you do not have full control over them. In combat they are controlled by artificial intelligence.
The Witcher 2 was built on an extensive system of moral choices, which lead to many different combinations of the game’s ending (16 in total). Geralt himself repeatedly expresses doubts about his own profession, that is tracking and hunting monsters. It is noteworthy that the story and the world of The Witcher 2 for PC and X360 is shaped not only by your decisions, but also by your choice of company. In addition to fighting, the witcher appreciates other entertainments, like flirting with women. In this installment you do not get cards with pictures for your conquests, but still you have opportunities to bring about bed scenes with some female characters.
Some major changes were made to combat system in The Witcher 2, which is now much more action-oriented. You can attack with a sword (fast or strong attack) and perform dodges and blocks. An extremely effective means of elimination of enemies is witcher’s magic, or so-called Signs. Traps and explosives, e.g. firecrackers, are a novelty that proves to be especially helpful at higher difficulty levels.
The Witcher 2 character development system is divided into three aspects - swordsfighting, magic, and alchemy. The rest of the character skills can be improved as they are being used (e.g. intimidating or effectively blocking hits) or by using objects of specific physical and magical qualities.
Technical aspects
The artwork is impressive, as the authors took care of creating amazing character models, richly detailed locations and breathtaking views. The towns are filled with conversing pedestrians, merchants, and residents, who often can be interacted with. In order to ensure full immersion there are no loading screens on entering buildings.
Last updated on August 14, 2015
Last Update: July 19, 2011
The Witcher 2 - Choices, Consequences & Endings Game Guide
The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings – choices, consequences & endings 46 paths and ways to complete quests of the game The Witcher 2 There are a lot of possible paths for various missions in The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings.
Last Update: May 30, 2011
The Witcher 2 Assassins of Kings Guide
This guide to Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings contains a very detailed, richly illustrated description of all the main and side missions found in the game.
Videos and Screens
[2:35] The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings Epilogue - Killers of Kings
[2:15] The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings Enter the dragon
The main pros of the game
- Engaging Storyline: The game is praised for its rich, mature narrative filled with political intrigue, moral ambiguity, and complex characters. Players appreciate the depth and engagement of the plot, which features multiple branching paths and endings based on player choices.
- World-Building and Atmosphere: The game excels in creating an immersive world with varied settings, detailed lore, and a strong sense of history, which enhances the overall experience.
- Character Development: The characters are well-designed and memorable, contributing to the narrative's depth. Voice acting and writing are also highlighted as strong points.
- Improved Combat System: Compared to its predecessor, the combat system is considered more fluid and strategic, requiring tactical thinking and offering a sense of accomplishment in battles, particularly during boss fights.
- Visual and Audio Quality: The graphics and soundtrack received positive remarks for their quality, enhancing the game's overall atmosphere.
The main cons of the game
- Clunky Combat Mechanics: Many users found the combat system to be frustrating and imprecise, citing issues with enemy AI, dodging mechanics, and a lack of responsiveness. The combat can feel cumbersome, especially when facing multiple enemies.
- Bugs and Technical Issues: Frequent crashes, glitches, and bugs were reported, which detracted from the gaming experience. Issues with the user interface and inventory management were also noted as frustrating.
- Linear Gameplay: The game is criticized for its linear level design, limiting exploration and making it feel restrictive compared to the open-world nature of *The Witcher 3*.
- Difficulty Spikes: Some players found the difficulty level to be unbalanced, especially early on, which could lead to frustration for newcomers or those unfamiliar with the game mechanics.
- Shorter Length: Several reviews mentioned that the game felt shorter than expected, with some players completing it in around 40 hours, which may not meet the expectations of those looking for a more extensive RPG experience.
The features or elements that are missing from the game according to users
- Improved Inventory System: Users expressed a desire for a more intuitive inventory and crafting system, as the current setup can be cumbersome and confusing.
- Potion Use During Combat: The inability to drink potions during combat was highlighted as a significant drawback, as it forces players to prepare in advance without knowing when they will engage in battle.
- More Exploration Opportunities: Many players wished for a more open-world design that would allow for greater exploration and interaction with the environment, akin to what is found in *The Witcher 3*.
- Better Guidance on Quests: Users mentioned that quest objectives could be unclear, leading to confusion about where to go or what to do next, which can detract from the overall experience.
- Quality of Life Improvements: Suggestions for additional quality-of-life features, such as faster navigation and clearer quest markers, were noted as desirable enhancements.
Summary
- In summary, while The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings Enhanced Edition is lauded for its storytelling, character development, and immersive world, it faces criticism for its clunky combat, technical issues, and linear gameplay. Users also expressed a desire for improved mechanics and features that could enhance the overall experience.
Summary generated on:
GAMERS Score
Average score from 29598 votes. 26729 players anticipated the game.
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14
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in The Witcher Game Series
Game Series
The Witcher Series
A series of action RPG games inspired by a series of novels and short stories by popular fantasy writer Andrzej Sapkowski. The brand is developed by Warsaw-based development studio CD Projekt RED.
14 video games
The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings Summary
Platforms:
PC / Windows May 17, 2011
Xbox 360 April 17, 2012
Developer: CD Projekt RED
Publisher: Bandai Namco Entertainment
The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings System Requirements
PC / Windows
Recommended: Core 2 Quad 2.2 GHz, 3 GB RAM (4 GB RAM dla Vista/7), graphic card 1 GB (GeForce GTX 260 or better), 16 GB HDD, Windows XP/Vista/7
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