The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings Premium Edition

Most complaints about the game seem to be based on a few gameplay mechanics the developers have decided to impliment. One mechanic is the inability to drink potions during combat, so if your health is running low you can't just quaff a potion and keep on swinging heedless of taking damage, instead you have to prepare for your battles ahead of time, and during combat have to be far more careful about taking damage. To most this might seem frustrating, especially to a generation of gamers used to easy, low skill hack 'n slash combat, reliant on health potions saving them from their mistakes. Instead you have to work for your victories with a blend of preparation, skill, and patience. To me it offers a much richer fighting gameplay experience, instead of hollow, mindless hack 'n slash battles. Many may find that fun, but there are too many of those games nowadays, its good to have a change, and have some actual challenge.

Tutorials come as popups, but usually during battle, so the player is too busy trying to survive to pay attention. However all you need to know about how to play the game is included in the game manual, and in the in-game journal. It doesn't hold your hand through the beginning levels, you either do a bit of reading before hand, or launch headfirst into the game and learn the hard way through experience.

Branching dialogue options in this game are well implimented and carried out. By giving a good piece of advice to one NPC you may later find him in a position where he helps you out in return, wheras if you gave him bad advice he would then be… Er… Unable to offer you his help in return. Little branches like this add flavour and diversity to a genre often plagued by linearity.

The graphics are absolutely amazing, and has a wide range of graphics options to suit even those with an average PC.

All in all a great game. Difficult, yes, but rewarding, in visuals, story, and feeling of accomplishment. It has a high level of polish (heh) and is an absolute blast to play. I recommend buying this game if you're looking for more than just a single button mashing slaughter fest.

RE: Lee
Pressing ‘E’ to parry only works if you have vigor left to parry. Playing the game more than 30 mins, or reading the manual/journal would have taught you that fact. Also it should come as no surprise that it takes time to bring your sword up to parry, and if you're halfway through a huge swing you cannot bring your sword up as you've already commited to the swing. There are 4 difficulty levels, so there should be no problems finding a difficulty to match your skill.

Finally a game this generation that's actually a challenge.

From the start of the game you're dropped into quite an epic setting with great dialog, amazing character designs and indeed great graphics. The first thing I noticed in this game is that you could load up your witcher 1 save, if you had one, so that your run through the original game would have some affect on this one.

Now the thing I like most about this game would be the combat “anything” can kill you, it's not just some game in which you spam clicks until everything is dead occasionally hitting whatever button you have potions keyed on. No you actually have to be careful to make sure you ain't struck in the back, that you don't get fully outnumbered and that you have enough life left for the guy running up with a cleaver, it's really nice for someone who wants something a tad different for their RPG.

Anyway I am loving the game, probably my only complaint is that the premium version came with a game guide and that I live with someone who loves reading out spoilers.

^^ Please ignore the above review it's ridiculous and incorrect. No way in hell should this game be given a 1 just because the reviewer can't handle the difficulty of the combat and doesn't want to learn. It's also stated that they have not got past the prologue, they have no business reviewing the game if thats the case because the game doesn't open up until chapter one, including the combat system. (which makes things get easier actually) There are some valid points, like the alchemy system but I think it's this way to more closely follow the lore, which there is some meditative preparations to the quaffing. The difficulty is a little inverted. But, that besides this doesn't detract from one of the best experiences I have ever had in gaming in my 20+ years of playing them. The game has one of the best combat systems in a roleplaying game ever, spend some time to get the hang of it and you will “get it” it's definitely the best looking. It is nuanced and looks awesome once you have it under control. It's actually quite similar to Demon Souls with more attacks.

You don't need a super computer to play this, but you must turn off the ultrasampling option (FSAA) because it's designed with future hardware in mind and even the best computer will only get 30fps with it on. I am running full graphics on my rig with this option off and my jaw is constantly on the floor.

Amazing tone, design, storyline and gameplay. No game is perfect and it has a few flaws but not enough to detract from what is the best game's of this generation.

I would suggest using a xbox 360 control pad if you have problems on keyboard because it does work very well with it, but I haven't had issues with either.

At some point we should also see a modding sdk out for it and then you can wave any problems you have with the systems goodbye.

Game of the year… No, one of the best games of all time.

I don't know what game the two reviewers before me were playing, I am having a blast with this game. Sure it's hard and takes a while to get used to the combat (especially on the hard difficulty) but under it all is a very solid, deep game. So far I have just passed the prologue and the story is making sense (Having not played the original Witcher). The dialogue sequences add more variety in the story as it is very non-linear, my character has even been killed because of a decision I made and had to start the game again (Insane difficulty removes all previous saves – not for the easily frustrated!) So far I am having a blast with this game and am looking forward to getting into it further.

The Good:

Firstly this package is great value for money and the extras are a very nice touch;

Runs fine with my 8800GT on high;

The story is deep and sucks you in;

Combat really forces you to think and plan a head:
Do you attack straight on;
Do you divide and conquer;
Do you make potions and seriously buff your stats.
It really makes you feel like you're just a mortal in the world.

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The Bad:

Uses DRM;
Combat in the new engine is sluggish;
The new engine varies in how fast it responds.