The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt - Complete Edition is a special edition of the action RPG, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. It was developed by the authors of the original - the Polish CD Projekt RED team. It compiles the base game with all additional content released after its premiere, as well as two large story expansions: Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine.

Next-gen update

On December 14, 2022, CD Projekt RED released a free "next-gen" update to The Witcher 3. The Complete Edition - containing the base game, all DLC and story expansions - was developed primarily with the new generation consoles in mind, although the PC version received a few improvements as well.

The "patch" made the textures and character models more detailed and available in 4K (while maintaining 60 FPS). Ray tracing support was also introduced, providing more realistic lighting, shadows and ambient occlusion. The update also added a photo mode, an improved map, a quick sign casting system and alternate camera settings (from above Geralt's back). Yet another addition is a new story quest - "In the Eternal Fire's Shadow". The reward for completing it is a Witcher set inspired by the Netflix series - one of several new armors introduced by the patch. Moreover, some characters received alternate looks, such as Dandelion.

Thanks to the cross-save option (cloud saves and the ability to transfer them between different platforms) the players can try out all the changes without starting a new game. In addition, those who already own The Witcher 3 on the PC, PS4 or Xbox One can download the update for free.

Plot

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt - Complete Edition takes place in a fantasy universe created by Andrzej Sapkowski for his series of The Witcher books. The game's protagonist is Geralt of Rivia, already known from the previous instalments, with the story centering on a war between the Northern Kingdoms and the invading Empire of Nilfgaard, stopping the titular Wild Hunt, who harassed Geralt throughout the novels and had a significant presence in the previous installments, as well as the search for Ciri, Geralt and Yennefer's - his beloved - adopted daughter. The story is non-linear, with its course and ending depending on the decisions we make throughout the game.

The main plot is significantly expanded by two story DLCs. In the first one, Hearts of Stone, Geralt is hired by the so-called Master Mirror to face the immortal Olgierd von Everec. The second expansion, Blood and Wine, takes place in the land of Toussaint, one of the few that hasn't experienced war. When a mysterious, apparently inhuman murderer starts prowling the realm, the Duchess Anna Henrietta asks the White Wolf for help. In the course of his investigation, Geralt discovers the dark secrets of the seemingly idyllic land.

Gameplay

The gameplay in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt - Complete Edition is shown from the third-person perspective. The game's vast open world is divided into several large maps which can be freely explored. These include picturesque Velen, the keep of Kaer Morhen - the home to Witchers of the School of the Wolf, the islands of Skellige or the realm of Toussaint from the Blood and Wine expansion. The areas can be traverse on foot, on horseback (Roach, Geralt's faithful horse, can be summoned at any time with a whistle) and aboard a boat.

The game revolves around completing quests to progress the story, during which we conduct investigations, hunt monsters and get involved in political intrigues. There are also countless side missions and optional activities such as destroying monster nests. The virtual world is dynamic in a sense, our actions influencing it - we can, for example, cause an abandoned village to repopulate by killing nearby bandits or monsters.

Combat is a major part of the game, tasking us with observing the enemies' movements, dodging and quickly countering. We use primarily melee weaponry (Geralt's iconic swords - one for humans, other for monsters) and Signs, which are quick off-hand spells. We'll face humans - and other sentient humanoids - as well as mindless beasts. Defeating the latter often requires Geralt to learn more about them and their weaknesses. Some monsters leave behind unique alchemic ingredients (Geralt can brew and drink potions to acquire buffs) as well as crafting resources used to upgrade items or create brand new ones. Progressing through the game rewards us with experience and allows us to level up, increasing the White Wolf's combat capabilities.

Last updated on 30 January 2024