The Witcher: Enhanced Edition
Release Date: September 19, 2008
RPG, TPP, fantasy, books, Polish, crafting, action RPG, romances, singleplayer
Steam
An enhanced and expanded edition of the bestselling role-playing game based on Andrzej Sapkowski's fantasy novels, developed by CD Projekt RED. This new edition brings many changes in terms of both the content and technical aspects. The creators introduced numerous corrections eliminating the flaws present in the original game, such as stability issues, prolonged loading time, and many errors present in foreign language versions.
The Witcher: Enhanced Edition for PC is an improved version of a very successful Polish cRPG based on a series of novels by a popular fantasy writer, Andrzej Sapkowski. The developers were focused mainly on improving the source code of the game, and fixing various aspects of which the critics and players did not fully approve after the game release. A lot of effort was put into correcting the English and German language versions of the game - the quality of these was substantially improved in contrast to the original release.
According to players' expectations, the issues of the lengthy loading screens, and low general stability of the build, were addressed in the first place. The devs assured that the loading time has been reduced by up to 80%, and the stability issues - particularly visible among the players with low-end PCs, or unusual hardware configurations - were once and for all dealt with. The developers made a detailed analysis of the source code fragments responsible for combat and interaction with NPCs. The overall responsiveness of these aspects was greatly improved.
The Witcher: Enhanced Edition for PC comes with new content as well. Graphic designers from CD Projekt RED diversified the NPCs, by creating more combinations of their outfits. The face-animations of the characters were built nearly from a scratch - over 250 new animations were added. The creators have also decided to improve the interface, offering new main- and inventory menus. The big changes in the foreign language versions are also worth mentioning. Chunks of dialogue won't be missing from the English version anymore. The German version contains a set of new, better character voices. In both the cases, the changes greatly contribute to the atmosphere of the game world.
Apart from all the technical improvements and new content added to the game as such, The Witcher: Enhanced Edition for PC comes with a lot of additional content. Among the most interesting, there is a bonus DVD containing the D'jinni editor and two additional adventures. Geralt's fans will also be pleased to find a DVD containing videos from the development of the game. There are two audio CDs for all you music-lovers out there. One contains the official game soundtrack (29 tracks), and the other - music inspired by adventures of the Rivian witcher (15 tracks). In the game box, the player can also find a manual, a guide written by the creators of the game, a map of the game world, and Andrzej Sapkowski's fifty pages long story. Of course, the players who own the original edition of the game can download the update package free of charge, thus enhancing their old Witchers to the new version. A similar situation took place in case of Sacred, and its later representation Sacred Plus.
Last updated on February 11, 2016
Videos and Screens
[3:02] The Witcher: Enhanced Edition Gestures and Dialogue
[2:30] The Witcher: Enhanced Edition New Character Models
The main pros of the game
- Engaging Storyline: The narrative is rich, complex, and filled with moral ambiguity, allowing players to make decisions that significantly impact the outcome of the game.
- Character Development: Geralt and other characters are well-written and memorable, with deep backstories and motivations.
- Immersive World: The game presents a dark and atmospheric world that feels alive, with various locations and lore that enhance the experience.
- Choices Matter: Player decisions influence the story and character relationships, adding depth and replayability.
- Alchemy and Combat Mechanics: The potion-making system adds a strategic layer to gameplay, and while combat is clunky, it can be enjoyable once mastered.
- Soundtrack: The music and sound design contribute significantly to the game's atmosphere.
The main cons of the game
- Clunky Combat System: The combat mechanics can feel awkward and unresponsive, especially for players accustomed to more modern systems.
- Outdated Graphics: The visuals show their age, with some character models being reused and animations appearing stiff.
- Navigation Issues: The game features significant backtracking and can feel tedious due to the lack of fast travel options.
- Voice Acting Quality: The quality of voice acting is inconsistent, with some performances lacking emotion.
- Bugs and Technical Issues: Players have reported crashes and other glitches that can disrupt gameplay.
The features or elements that are missing from the game according to users
- Improved Combat Mechanics: Players desire a more fluid and responsive combat system akin to modern RPGs.
- Enhanced Graphics: Many users wish for a graphical overhaul to bring the game up to current standards.
- Better Quest Navigation: Suggestions for a more intuitive quest log and improved navigation options to reduce backtracking.
- Increased Variety in NPC Models: A desire for more diverse character models to avoid encountering clones throughout the game.
- Fast Travel Options: Players express a need for more efficient travel methods within the game's world.
Summary
- Overall, while The Witcher: Enhanced Edition Director's Cut has its flaws, the compelling narrative, character depth, and immersive world make it a worthwhile experience for fans of RPGs and storytelling.
Summary generated on:
GAMERS Score
Average score from 8801 votes. 371 players anticipated the game.
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15
GAMES
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.
15 video games
The Witcher: Enhanced Edition Summary
Platforms:
PC / Windows
Developer: CD Projekt RED
Publisher: Atari / Infogrames
The Witcher: Enhanced Edition System Requirements
PC / Windows
Recommended: Core 2 Duo 2.13 GHz, 2 GB RAM, graphic card 512 MB (GeForce 7900 or better), 8.5 GB HDD, Windows XP SP2/Vista
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