The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

Introduction

It has been 7 years since the release of The Witcher 3, and I still have not experienced an RPG game better or even at the same level as The Witcher. Indeed, Witcher 3 is the pinnacle of the RPG open-world video gaming genre, and its 260 Game of the Year Awards are there to back up that claim.

I currently have 180 hours in the game, and I am still hooked on the Witcher 3’s amazing visuals, fantastic storytelling, gorgeous soundtrack, and addicting gameplay. Witcher 3 is what every gamer quenches for in an RPG game and I am sure when I finish my full playthrough of the game, I will feel empty again….

Story

In short and with as few spoilers as possible, the story revolves around Geralt of Rivia (you), a skilled Witcher from the School of Wolf who is in search of Ciri, a Witcher that trained under Geralt since childhood, and bears the burden of an ancient power that is sought by a powerful organization called the Wild Hunt. To protect her loved ones from the Hunt, Ciri decides to leave the Witcher school and live isolated from the world. Geralt is opposed to this and decides to find Ciri and protect her from the Wild Hunt himself.

The story is put on a pedestal by the game’s unique characters. Each character comes with their own agendas, problems, and different relationships with Geralt. Some are old friends, some are lovers, and some are even past enemies of Geralt that now share a common goal with him. Moreover, these relationships are affected by the choices you make; hell, your choices decide the lives of these characters. The story has multiple endings, and all endings depend on your decisions as the Witcher Geralt.

On another note, there are multiple Witcher contracts and side missions that act as breathers from the intense moments in the main story. The contracts are made by townsfolk asking the help of a Witcher in slaying a monster or uncovering a mystery, and side missions are mostly helping allies with their problems and further developing their character.

Gameplay

So the story’s good, but a game’s true core is its gameplay. A game’s story is nothing without fun gameplay. Thankfully, Witcher 3’s gameplay is enjoyable and addictive.

The first component of gameplay is the vast skill tree. The game has a plethora of abilities that are divided into 3 branches: Combat, Signs, and Alchemy. Combat skills focus on sword attack power and combos, Signs focus on improving your magical abilities (I’ll explain magic soon), and Alchemy focuses on your usage of potions, decoctions, and bombs. The skill tree allows for the player to play around with different builds and create a playstyle fitting to his liking.

Secondly, the equipment. Equipment is a big part of Witcher 3. You have armor sets of different weight classes and resistances to certain attacks (bleeding, poison, burning, etc.). There are even sets unique to each of the Witcher schools called Witcher gear. Furthermore, there are potions and decoctions that give you a type of “power-up” for a limited time. You also have 6+ different bombs that apply effects on enemies (freeze, poison, burn, etc.). Another thing you must look for is oils. You can cover your swords with different oils to increase crit. hit chance percentage to their assigned monster type. All bombs, potions, oils, and Witcher sets are upgradable and require crafting; making looting important and useful to upgrading Geralt through your journey

Finally, there are the signs. Signs are one-handed magic spells in combat that help ward off dangerous threats. “These magic spells can be used for offensive and defensive purposes and can help turn the tide in battle. Whether it's by channeling dangerous flames, a protective shield, or by controlling the minds of his enemies, Geralt never has his back against the wall.” – Witcher Wiki. These signs are a crucial skill to master in Witcher 3’s combat system, and with the right build, signs can become overpowered easily.

Conclusion

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is a must-play game with an engaging story and set of characters that keep you hooked throughout a 70 to 90hr story with easily an additional 90hrs of side content. Truly, The Witcher is a game where your choices matter and affect the characters of the Story. It’s a game with fun gameplay that gets better throughout your playthrough. So, toss a coin to your Witcher and get the Game of the year edition for the full experience.