Why You Should Play The Witcher 3 on Death March Difficulty

"The best way to experience CD Projekt Red’s epic conclusion to Geralt’s story."

[Takwin]

I feel like it is where the game truly shines and maximizes each of the components of preparation, strategy, and execution. My Death March full play through is my favorite game play experience of all time (and I'm 40 and have played and beaten hundreds of games)

[Nu]

I recommend you try Dragons Dogma Remastered when it launches

[nitus10]

Dragon's Dogma is an excellent game especially Dark Arisen but most of the quests (go there kill that and escort missions) were really boring. What Capcon needs to do is randomize the drops (there is some randomisation) including the enemies you meet every time you pass the same place (you do this allot) although with Dark Arisen there are more teleports and they are not as expensive.

I did like the day/night cycle and some of those huge monsters were really fun to fight.

Getting back on topic. I fully agree that the best way to enjoy The Witcher 3 is on the "Blood and Broken Bones" and preferably "Death March" difficulty since you are basically forced to use your magic and potions.

Unfortunately, IMHO you can change the difficulty on the fly (like Skyrim and Oblivion) and there are far too many people who will adjust the difficulty down when the going gets tough and miss out on a really challenging experience. It is a pity (again my opinion) that you once you select a difficulty you can't make it easier on the fly since to me it is sort of a cheat but in a single user game, the only person you can really cheat is yourself.

I don't have any issue with a player selecting an easy mode (if one exists) initially to get a feel of the gameplay but to select a hard mode then when the going gets tough instead of getting better equipment/stats just reduce the difficulty if that capability exists. It's no wonder that Souls/Borne players use the expression "git gud" since we all have to start out as noobs and getting good then preferably better is the way to go.

BTW. For those that say I don't have the time. My answer is that TW3 is a 50 plus hour game why are you playing it if you don't have the time? Sort of like the people who want an easy mode in the Souls/Bourne series.

[Princess_Pilfer]

It's not a remaster. They aren't releasing the game with higher quality assets or anything, it's just at higher resolution and a more stable framerate. An improvement, yes, a remaster, no.

[freshslicepizza]

@nitus10

I will never understand why people worry about how others play games. If the Souls games had an easy mode I bet you would be against that. Having hard settings like in The Witcher 3 is great for everyone. I do agree once you pick a difficulty you should have to stay on it.

As for Dragons Dogma getting a resmaster it already looks pretty good on the PC and runs well. Dark Arisen is only $10 on Steam right now.

[Princess_Pilfer]

I hate to break it to those people who disagree, but you are wrong. I already have the PC version. There is a noticable improvement for the more detailed textures that were already in the game (Ie weapons, armor, spells and enemies) but basically everything else is the same, but displayed at higher resolution and with better Anti Aliasing.

There is simply no comparison to a remaster like FFX HD or the Halo 1 remaster where almost everything is re-done and much higher quality.

That doesn't mean it's a bad game or not worth buying or whatever, but it's not a remaster.

[joab777]

I adore Dragon's Dogma. One of my favorite games last gen!

[joab777]

Yep. And even this gets too easy towards the end!

[mav805]

I feel like just about every game should be played on the highest difficulty for the reasons you stated. I played TW3 on DM the first time through, which forces you to learn the game systems and mechancs to your advantage, rather than just be able to stumble through.

[Big_Game_Hunters]

Because I want to spend more time fighting spongebob enemies with a boring sign spam combat? Best way to play the Witcer 3 is on the normal difficulty so you don't have to spend any more time than you need to with the shitty combat.

The game exceeds in every other standard, it's such a shame that the gameplay is so basic and boring.

[PaulFiend]

This is THE truth unfortunately.

[thekhurg]

There is nothing shitty about the combat. On normal difficulty it requires little skill or tactical approach. Nor do you have to work with oils, potions, decoctions, or sign usage.

The enemies also don't become damage sponges unless you take the same ADHD approach to combat that the majority of complainers take when discussing this game. But hey, hammerfist your way into each fight, the developers gave you that option with the easy/normal modes.

[BEASELY]

He's talking about the overall polish and redundance of the sword play, most likely.

[thekhurg]

Except there's nothing unpolished about the sword play. There are counters based on terrain, instant kills, flanking crits, stagger mechanics, etc... Again, if you just hammerfist your way into each fight, then yeah it'll feel unpolished because you're just spamming light attacks over and over.

Every game in the world is redundant, so that argument is 100% moot.

[Cy]

THANK YOU. God the combat in this game is awful. Especially the randomness of the "cool" flippy animations Geralt does throwing off your timing.

[Telgou1]

did you ever play an elder scrolls game or any other 3rd person rpg with swords ? of all of the ones i remember witcher 3 did the best job in creating a fun combat

[Big_Game_Hunters]

Being better than shit doesn't make it good.

[Nacho_Z]

I thought it was more fun on DM, on normal difficulty I cruised through the whole game just using the Gourmet perk, switched to DM for NG+ and had to really think about my build and play the game properly.

[nitus10]

Yes, that "Gourmet perk" is a must have for your first perk since each recovery potion will allow you to auto recover for 20 minutes. Of course, it does not really help if you are getting beaten to a pulp by enemies that are four levels and more above your level.

[ThatGuyDart]

Already did. One of the best games of the generation

[CyrusLemont]

Death March was challenging not hard, which I think should be the standard for all games. Wish it had a more difficult mode though. Normal mode in video games these days is a joke.

[daBUSHwhaka]

From the start no..new game plus is a must.

[Goldby]

From the start yes.

1 man should be weary of a pack of wild dogs or wolves, not see them like a bunch of chickens

[Yui_Suzumiya]

I only play games on the easiest difficulty. I like enjoyment, not frustration. This is coming from someone who started with the NES in 1990. Never played The Witcher 3 and not sure when I will. Cyberpunk 2077 is definitely a day 1 for me though.

[nitus10]

I like enjoyment and a challenge. If the game is too easy I will find it boring to play. Beating everything to a pulp on the first playthrough usually means you are a fantastic player or the game is far too easy.

This is why I like the Souls/Borne games. Yes, they are difficult but they are fair and if players don't like the idea of learning by getting hammered when playing for the first time then maybe they should not play those games.

BTW. There are plenty of games that are more difficult than the Souls/Borne games but just because they are difficult does not mean they are fair. Try doing Super Mario the Lost Levels (they are doable) and unless you are exceptional and there are some who are the game is just about impossble for the average player.

[Yui_Suzumiya]

I guess what could be the hardest game that I really loved in recent history would be Catherine. Thing is, I had almost no issues getting through that game. Bayonetta as well. I read people on hear saying how difficult they were but I had no issues. Now Killzone: Shadow Fall, I was unable to complete due to difficulty which is strange because I had no trouble with the original trilogy. That one still perplexes me. I may have to give it another try at some point because I was enjoying the story.

[Psychotica]

How do you get any satisfaction from only winning on easy? Knowing that's all I could do would be embarrassing. This is coming from someone who started with the Atari 2600 in the early 1980's..

[Exoil]

Yeah, and your E-penis must have been huge ever since..

[Goldby]

All he can do isn't the same as all he chooses to do.

[Yui_Suzumiya]

Yeah I know. I've beaten Super Mario 3 and Castlevania 3 on the NES when I was a kid. Maybe I just don't enjoy too much difficulty nowadays.

[CrystalFantasy]

Did BlackB0nd write this bullcrap?

[Cy]

I like to actually have fun when I play games, and I don't need to brag about how good I am at a video game to feel good about myself, so no, I'll happily stick with easy mode on this and any other game I play.

[FPS_D3TH]

Can I do this from the start? Haven't done my witcher 3 run yet and I have all the dlc but with as big as this game is, I'm not gonna play it twice and do this for NG+

[Takwin]

Of all the games I've ever played, The Witcher 3 improved the most the second time (and the first time, it was already the best game ever). NG+ Death March was the pinnacle of gaming.

[FPS_D3TH]

So I shouldn't try Death March unless it's new game plus? It can be as amazing as it is but with my limited game time I'd like to play it only once. My backlog is getting extreme too lol. I try and explore everything the first time and it's such a huge game so I just doubt I'll play it a second time after beating it a first.

[Goldby]

Jump into DM deeler, I didn't that for my first play through and man it's a completely different experiences. Meditating doesn't heal you, you actually have to take use of the potions and decoctions

[Sniperwithacause]

The hell with death march.
Ive had the game since day one, and I can't find the time to finish it. Although I have switched back and forth between difficulties testing my skills and reflexes out between them.

[FPS_D3TH]

That's my problem. I haven't started the game yet but I'm wondering if it can be started in death March and still be possible without wanting to die in frustration. I too don't have time for two playthroughs of a game this massive. Not unless I came back to it a decade later lmao

[Neodyminium]

I start again fresh (no NG+) for Death March and loved it. You don't need to finish the game first in order to enjoy Death March

[Neodyminium]

.

[classic19]

Tw3 best game this gen for me.. It has its problems but the whole xp is bar none for me.

[Tru_Blu]

Focus on Quen and it's pretty easy.

[DrumBeat]

You don't even need to use potions and decoctions on normal.