Are you looking for an action role-playing video game with a vast map in an open world that gives you that authentic feel, great combat, and dense RPG mechanics? Then The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is the game that we highly guarantee that you’ll enjoy!
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is the third installment in the Witcher series and is the sequel to The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings. It was released on May 18, 2015, by CD Projekt Red and has become among the biggest gaming sensations in the world.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is one of the best action role-playing games you’ll ever play. It is one of those games that you won’t be able to play in just one sitting. The Witcher 3 will undoubtedly consume hundreds of hours of your time because, even if you think you’ve played every part of the game, defeated every villain and monster, and done every quest, in reality, you’re only scratching the surface.
You’ll find that it will be a struggle to finish the game immediately because every decision you make affects the world’s progression. Every decision you make will result in a unique sequence of events that may or may not be a step closer to completing the game.
CD Projekt Red’s The Witcher III is definitely a huge sensation. It’s a game on a genuinely epic scale, with a huge emphasis on each and every detail and even great character progression. Before we go on to discuss the individual aspects of the game, we’ll first give you our quick take on the game.
Let’s get into it!
Quick Take
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Our quick take on the game, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, is that it is among the best role-playing games ever made, alongside the Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, which says a lot about the game.
That being said, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is unlike the previous games in the Witcher series. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt doesn’t immediately give you that “kaboom” factor like the previous Witcher games. In hindsight, the beginning of the game can be seen as “mundane,” as some might say, and we totally agree. However, as you start to stray away from the main quest and start to go on a path of your own, you’ll have a better time playing this role-playing game.
By veering off the main storyline, you’ll begin to see more of this Witcher game, which is full of exhilarating side quests, amazing adventures, the slaying of monsters, encountering many enemies, and much more. You will get a better sense of the game and you will have to expect the unexpected.
But despite the main plotline being a bit dull, in hindsight, it isn’t as bad as the other games. At one point, I began to enjoy it because it shows how Geralt, someone who lacks emotion, begins to care for someone other than himself. The main plotline is really heartfelt, and it may not be for everyone. But if you do enjoy character development, you’ll definitely like the flow of the world.
The game will get you engaged, especially if you love RPGs and story-driven games. Every choice you make will have an impact on how the game will end. So even if you’re just at the beginning of the game, your decisions may or may not have a negative impact on the ending that will either leave you satisfied or not. And even after hundreds of hours of gameplay, Wild Hunt will still show you something you haven’t seen before, which makes the game all the more exciting!
Nevertheless, let’s now go on and discuss the more detailed aspects of the game.
Pros
- Incredible and long hours of gameplay
- Vast map to explore and go on adventures.
- Offer you an authentic feel of the game.
- Engaging characters.
- Great boss battles.
- Interesting side quests.
- Great combat system.
- Gorgeous visuals and sounds.
- Has numerous difficulty levels to cater to every gamer level.
Cons
- Sudden frame rate drops.
- Long loading screens.
- Dull main quest.
Plot/Storyline
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If you’re someone who’s new to this game series, you might be confused since The Witcher 1 and 2 are somewhat connected to The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. You might miss some elements and the story background of Geralt if you didn’t play the first game. But even if you haven’t played the previous titles, you can still enjoy The Witcher 3 as it is.
In The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, you will play as Geralt, a witcher who is a powerful warrior who hunts monsters for money.
The tale begins with Geralt going on a multi-continental search for his lover, Yennefer, and his surrogate daughter, Ciri. As you play Geralt, you’ll notice that he is a character that lacks emotions or is one-dimensional. He is also seen as “not afraid of anything,” which is true. But in Witcher 3, you’ll notice that Geralt has genuine emotions and cares for Ciri, which sets up an emotional and genuine story.
Since The Witcher 3 is dense and deep in RPG, you will have to go through a lot of side/story quests and Witcher contracts to be able to maintain or reach the required level to continue on to the main quest. At first, these side quests seemed too repetitive and boring. However, as time passed, I began to love hunting these monsters and getting to know all about them.
The Wild Hunt makes these side quests a lot more intriguing due to their huge variety of monsters, their uniqueness to one another, their weaknesses, and their strengths.
Furthermore, Geralt’s love triangle with Yennefer and Triss was a great addition to the game. It was a great way to add a bit of spice and excitement to Geralt’s story.
I also absolutely loved the plotline of the Wild Hunt. The Wild Hunt is a group of specters led by the King of the Wild Hunt, who is said to be an omen of death and misery. They were the main antagonists of the game, trying to capture Ciri for her elder blood which we’ll talk more about later.
The Witcher 3 also portrayed how the ongoing war has affected the world of the Continent. The War of the Nilfgaard Empire, a fictional version of the Holy Roman Empire, invades and attempts to assimilate the Northern Kingdoms into its empire.
This open-world RPG game has a very diverse way of storytelling, not to mention the many choices you can make in each quest that adds to the uniqueness of the game. You’ll be plunged directly into a world full of adventure and emotions.
Our Favorite Characters
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Another factor that makes The Witcher 3 a great game is its interesting characters. We get to see a lot of diverse characters that have distinct personalities, like Geralt, Ciri, Yennefer, Tris, and so much more.
Main Characters
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Our main character is Geralt of Rivia. Geralt is a monster hunter that has been trained since childhood in battle, hunting, alchemy, and witchcraft, and who has been mutated to become stronger, quicker, and more resistant to toxins.
Photo Credits to Polygon
Geralt is one of the best protagonists in the video game industry. You might believe he lacks personality, yet in actuality, he is a remarkable character. He can display a wide range of emotions, from being harsh and contemptuous to being a caring surrogate father to Ciri.
Next up is my personal favorite, Cirilla Fiona Elen Riannon, also known as “Ciri.” Aside from Geralt, Ciri is the most important character. After all, finding Ciri and protecting her from danger is the game’s main plotline. Unlike other characters from many games, Ciri isn’t a “damsel in distress.” She is a powerful warrior who can protect herself from danger. Her power is even more clear once you get to control Ciri. But what shines through the most, aside from her amazing skills and power, is her connection with Geralt.
Photo Credits to Witcher Wiki – Fandom
Yennefer of Vengerberg is one of Geralt’s love interests in the game. However, she is more than just a love interest.
Yennefer is an amazing character who is also incredibly strong-willed, much like Ciri. She also plays a huge role in Ciri’s life as she acts as a mother figure to her and protects her at all costs. Yennefer is also one of Geralt’s best and most powerful allies. Overall, she is one of the most memorable characters in the whole franchise.
Another key character in the game is Triss Merigold of Maribor. At first, she wasn’t a key character in the game. However, in The Witcher 3, she becomes someone very important. Triss is a sorceress and is another potential love interest for Geralt. In the game, she was shown to be a great ally to Geralt, skilled with magic, and actually likable.
There are a lot more great characters in the game, such as Keira Metz, Zoltan, who is a good friend of Geralt, and so much more. CD Projekt Red did a great job with each and every character. They gave the game a more authentic feel, especially with the different dialogue options for each character.
Villains
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Aside from our favorite main characters, we also have our favorite villains that make the game even more intriguing, challenging, and fun.
Photo Credits to Witcher Wiki – Fandom
The first villain is Emperor Emhyr. Emperor Emhyr is a complex character that you may have sympathized with at first, but as the game progressed, he became a lot more hated. He was the one who started the search for Ciri. The emperor has a sick mindset that even went as far as deciding to have a child with his daughter, Ciri, to fulfill some “prophecy,” which got him a lot of hate.
Photo Credits to CBR
Next up is Gaunter O’Dimm, also known as Master Mirror or Man of Glass. Just like the emperor, he is one twisted character with a twisted mindset that will definitely leave an impression. He is seen to have a very mysterious aura, which makes his character interesting, but it does raise some red flags. He is an incredibly evil and very dangerous character.
Photo Credits to Witcher Wiki – Fandom
We also have Eredin. This character has layers to their personality. His reasons for hunting Ciri may be reasonable for some, but his ways of doing so are not. Just like the emperor, Eredin’s mindset is “the end justifies the means,” meaning he doesn’t care who he has to take out in order to achieve his goals.
Photo Credits to Villains Wiki – Fandom
Lastly, we have Imlerith, one of Eredin’s generals in his army. He stood out because of the death of Vesemir. Vesemir is one of the best-supporting protagonists in the series and his death greatly affected Geralt and Ciri. The death of Vesemir became a stepping stone for Ciri, which made Ciri explode in anger, causing huge amounts of “elder blood power” to burst through. Aside from that, Imlerith was a powerful villain that even the Crones feared.
Monsters
The Witcher 3’s monsters are also something you shouldn’t overlook. During your travels and doing side quests, you’ll encounter numerous terrifying monsters. Each monster you take on becomes increasingly challenging.
Regardless of how you can easily level up or bring unique weapons to turn the tables in a tough battle, some monsters just seem to be too difficult to beat no matter what. Some of our favorite common monsters you’ll get to see in the game are werewolves, bears, and fiends.
Werewolves are among the most common monsters in any fantasy-action RPG game, alongside bears and fiends. They may seem “easy” to beat, but in reality, they pose a big threat in the game, especially for early players.
Photo Credits to Villains Wiki – Fandom
But what makes the game better are the tougher monsters to beat, like the Gargoyles, the Crones, and higher-level vampires. Gargoyles are gigantic winged creatures that like to throw giant rocks at you while you desperately try to avoid them. Meanwhile, the Crones are dreadful witches who have taken control of much of the territory. You will not face them until later in the game, and the full scope of their abilities isn’t revealed during combat. Nonetheless, they’re still dangerous enemies. You’ll also get to encounter numerous higher-level vampires throughout your journey.
There are a lot more monsters that you’ll get to encounter during both the main and side quests, but these are just some that you should take note of.
Main and Side Quests
As mentioned before, the main quest of the story revolved around Geralt looking for Ciri and Yennefer, which may seem dull at first, but as time passes, you’ll get to enjoy each side quest that you have to do in order to find them.
Honestly, I enjoyed taking on the side quests more than the main one since the side quests allow you to see more of the world of The Witcher. You get to see things you would never expect and encounter countless enemies and allies along the way.
My favorite side quest was the “Return to Crookback Bog.” Many Witcher 3 fans think that the Bloody Baron is among the most fascinating, vile, and tragic villains you’ll encounter during the main storyline. After assisting the baron, you have the option of remaining to help around the bog. However, you’ll notice that things start to change, and all of your decisions will have implications towards the end of the story.
Another quest that is surely note-worthy is the two quests between Yennefer and Triss. “The Last Wish” is the quest that Geralt will take if you choose to pursue your romantic intentions with Yennefer. But on the other hand, you can also take on “Now or Never” if you want to pursue your romantic relationship with Triss.
The Witcher 3 is full of many different quests that will plunge you into a world of adventure, excitement, and love. So, take your time doing each and every quest since every decision you make will have an impact on how the game will end.
Map/Open-World
The Witcher 3 has one of the best open-world maps in the whole fantasy-action RPG gaming industry. You’ll be amazed at its sheer size. Everywhere you go, you’re bound to find something to do (or slay). And even after hours of gameplay, you would still not have traveled to each corner.
Overall, the map is one of the biggest highlights of the game, and it’s even said to be 30 times larger than the previous games.
Final Thoughts
Not only did CD Projekt Red create a game with one of the most realistic, fantasy, open-world maps, but they also proved that The Witcher 3 has an amazing plot, quests, and very dense RPG mechanics that make it a tremendously compelling environment to run, ride, and sail around in.
Let’s not forget the amazing graphics, soundtrack, and voice acting of the characters that definitely added depth to the character they were playing.
Overall, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is a revolutionary game, and it has set the bar for other future RPG games.
We hope you enjoyed this article! If you’re looking for more great games to play, you can check out our article about the top AAA games.
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