Why 'The Witcher 2' Is Better Than 'The Witcher 3' (So Far)

Forbes:
Mild spoilers may follow. This is Part One of my ongoing ‘Witcher 3′ review.

Partly because The Witcher III: Wild Hunt is so huge, and partly because I only got a review code a few hours before the game launched, I’ll be reviewing it as I go.

I’ve done this plenty before of course, treating many of my video game reviews as works-in-progress, journal-as-you-play. This will be no different. Take whatever I say in the following passages as nothing more than first impressions.

[ARESWARLORD]

I would have to think that they are both equally awesome

[Ezz2013]

For me, Witcher 3 is far better than 1 and 2
the combat alone is just in another level for the other witcher games
which i always thought have a very dated combat system

[Captain_TomAN94]

You see I personally got bored almost instantly with the Witcher 2. Is 3 any better in reality besides the obvious stuff like graphics?

Keep in mind this is someone who loves the Souls series and Bloodborne.

Frankly after those games 90% of sword fighting games play like absolute garbage imo.

[starchild]

The combat in the Witcher 3 is way better than in W2 and is frankly awesome. But if you're one of those diehard Souls/Bloodborne fans that thinks those games are flawless gifts from the gods and who can't seem to adjust to anything else you probably won't like it.

Personally, I like both series and can enjoy them for their unique strengths and weaknesses.

[Ezz2013]

@starchild

No i'm not one of the Souls's diehard fans at all
i like souls games but the gameplay have it fair share of problems to me too

out of all of them Witcher 3 offer the best combat in RPG game to me ...(Didn't play Bloodborne)

[bomajed]

Witcher 2 was good, really good, but Witcher 3 is just miles better in every possible aspect!

[Summons75]

I think W3 is better than W2. Reason being W2 expects you to have played the first game and know everything about the series. As someone who started with the 360 version it was really jarring being thrown into everything and not given anything to make it less confusing. W3 starts with that cutscene before the menu that explains the world, a beginning cutscene that brings you up to speed on the story without any words, a dream that gives back story to a lot of important characters, and it slowly brings you into the world. It started beautifully and the improved combat just makes it way better. The only thing I find annoying with the W3 is the swimming, the game always seems to fight me and do the opposite of what I want.

[fallacious]

Forbes articles are generally terrible.

[ThePope]

Agreed. As I think most do, unless its bashing the X1 then people on this site act as if its the lords word.

ON TOPIC: The Witcher 2 was amazing, and while I'm only a couple hours into the W3 its so much easier to complete and thus enjoy quests. I would run around for what seemed like hours trying to find the things the quest book is telling me to find.

[oIITSBIIo]

So far for me TW3 is better, but the OST is not that good compared to TW2.

[linkenski]

I guess music is entirely subjective, but I am in love with the soundtrack for this one whereas I thought W2 was kind of just decent.

It doesn't have any distorted guitars this time, but those cellos and screaming vocalists just sets the tone perfectly.

[MilkMan]

It is true that Witcher 2 is a different animal than Witcher 3, however the devs where aware of this going in. This is why they allow you to do what you meant to do, actual Witching in this third installment making it superior to the more intimate politically tense Witcher 2.

[linkenski]

I have to say, I feel like W3 so far (20 hours in) is Great characters & decent plot whereas Witcher 2 was decent characters & great plot.

I sorta miss the pacing of the story in the second game though, but I knew it was gonna be this way when I heard it was open-world. There's a lot of story-padding but luckily almost all of the writing is really good, and the cutscenes are well animated.

Gives Bioware a run for their money.

[vikingland1]

So far I'm liking TW3 better than TW2. Mostly because there's so much more to see and do. I honestly feel TW2 was a linear game and I prefer open world game more.

[Bigpappy]

This is the problem with the article: "Why 'The Witcher 2' Is Better Than 'The Witcher 3' (So Far)".

Stupid opinion piece. Better is completely subjective and because you write and article, doesn't mean you get to speak for millions on what they see as better. Apparently just about every review disagrees with his assessment.

[vikingland1]

Well said, it's an opinion and it comes off as the gospel which it's not.

[Captain_TomAN94]

Or is it that you for some reason think of it as gospel when he never said it was?

I mean come on that is how you write an opinion piece. You don't have to agree with him.

[kraenk12]

I actually liked TW1 more than TW2 and I also think TW3 is much better than both. The combat alone is worlds above the other two games. Strange article. Finish the game first.

[linkenski]

I do agree with his points that Witcher 2 has a much more snappy pacing and a more impactful opening. After an hour or two I did feel a bit let down that The Witcher 3 was starting to drag a little bit in setting up the plot.

In many ways Witcher 3 just feels a lot more like Witcher 1 in its vibe, all the way to the pacing of its plot. I don't know the ultimate outcome(s) of things, but so far it's still very good and some of the new characters are great.

I just get the feeling that I might end up remembering the individual side-quests and subplots more than the main plot for some reason, which is the opposite of what made Witcher 2 so good.

It's important to note though, that Sebastian Stepien is not a writer on Witcher 3 (he was the lead for 2) but Marcin Blacha, who has been heavily involved from the start is still there.

I also can't help but feel that Witcher 3 isn't as naughty or openly offensive as the other games... not that there isn't nudity or naughty moments though... I just feel like it's more respectable to its subject matters whereas Witcher 2 was below the belt a lot

[windblowsagain]

Haven't played witcher 1 or 2.

But I'm really enjoying the new one.