The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt ($59.99) presents a gorgeous open world that sucks you in with its incredible detail and lush colors, but Geralt of Rivia's latest adventure is more than just eye candy. The Witcher 3 has a gripping storyline, intense combat, and the RPG mechanics that inspire you to improve your character until it is unbeatable. And Geralt needs to be unbeatable in order to thrive in the massive, but flawed, open world of his first PlayStation 4 adventure. (The game is also available for Xbox One and PC.)
Developer CD Projekt Red also brought us the preceding game in the series, The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings. I enjoyed The Witcher 2, especially the way that your in-game choices influenced the story, and how the story stayed engaging no matter which shape it took; this continues into The Witcher 3. However, The Witcher 2's environments were small (especially when compared to this version), and combat was rough around the edges. I'm happy to report that The Witcher 3 is a better overall game.
It's Freaking Huge
The open world is enormous. It's split into several distinct regions, and all are sinister. This is a world that suffers from perpetual war, rape, and pillaging. If the people aren't suffering at the hands of man, then they're being hunted, tortured, and eaten alive by the monsters that populate the land. The feeling of dread that permeates the land will get to you. I found myself anxiously wondering what would go wrong next, where the next bit of danger would spring from. Yet, I also found myself admiring the idyllic scenes of bucolic beauty and enjoying the relaxing comfort provided by the little villages.
The world is beautiful, and the day and night cycle shows this off very well. Numerous times I've galloped up the side of a mountain just to watch the sunset. These may be the best sunsets that I've seen on the PlayStation 4. And yes, I said gallop. Geralt's horse,
A Full Combat System
Notice Boards
War Torn Landscape
Enjoying Village Life
A Dark Land Inhabited by Even Darker Souls
