THE WITCHER 2: ASSASSINS OF KINGS (PC)
Of all the games on this list, The Witcher 2 is probably (and most undeservedly) the least well known. Sequel to the 2007 PC exclusive RPG The Witcher, The Witcher 2 is the developers’ first attempt at making a game with their own game engine.
The original game was something special, and it was also a bit of a conundrum because of that. You see, in a time when all companies, including Bioware, were increasingly streamlining (or consolizing or dumbing down, as the PC fanboys would say) the RPG elements in their games to move them closer to being action titles, CD Projekt RED, developers of this game, obstinately stuck fast to the tradition of true RPG gaming, in spite of all the superficial differences that separated it from the other RPGs on the market at first glance. It’s ingenious use of Bioware’s Aurora engine, it’s great time based combat system, its ambiguous morality system, its setting and its characters, everything about the game screamed ‘FOR THE HARDCORE RPG PLAYER ONLY.’
It was perhaps this very thing about the game that divided public opinion about it so sharply. For the modern day player, accustomed as he is to six hour long campaigns and fifteen minute long explosion filled deathmatches, The Witcher, with its exceedingly complex mechanics and its ambling pace, alienated a lot of people- including many critics. For those who were willing to give it more time, however, there was waiting a delightful rople playing experience to be had, which is possibly one of the very best we’ve had since Knights of the Old Republic.
A sequel was never really planned- The Witcher 2 began life as an expansion pack. However, as it grew in scope and in content, it became apparent that this would have to be an all new game of its own, and this, Assassins of Kings was born and announced:
To the modern gamer bred on nothing but Call of Duty and Halo, nothing might seem exciting about the trailer above, but for an RPG fan, the trailer is sweet, sweet love. The story looks elaborate, and when the developers of the original Witcher tell you that a game is gonna have ‘more RPG goodness,’ you know it will, and you sit up and take notice, and make a mental note to buy the game in question.
Do it, fellows. The developers of this game series are in trouble financially- developers of great games need all the help they can get. Get out there and buy The Witcher 2, so we can see The Witcher 3, 4, 5, 6, and so that we can see the series migrate to the consoles too.
