Since the release of the Witcher 3 six years ago and after many game of the year awards and not to mention, the recent rise of popularity in the series whether that would be from the books or the recent release of Netflix Season 2 of the Witcher, I thought why not jump back in and let's look at the game for the veterans and the newcomers to the series. Welcome to the Witcher 3 Wild Hunt 2022 review.
Back in May of 2015, I was coming off playing RPG games such as Fallout 4, Dragon Age and Bloodborne.
Having not played the previous two games and no idea what the game was about, I decided to pick up the game and release purely because it was an RPG and I'm forever thankful that I did.
The game story and lore, at first, for people who are fresh to the series, can seem somewhat overwhelming but after a few hours in you quickly become engaged and emotionally invested into the story, its characters and the world surrounding them.
The story revolves around Geralt, a Witcher from the school of the Wolf who is a monster slayer for hire and is in search for his long-lost daughter and child surprise Ciri.
With the Wild Hunt pursuing Ciri, you'll encounter many friends along the journey who are willing to help you or not, depending on your choices you make throughout the game.
With the game being an open world RPG, you do have the option of doing the many side quests, Witcher contracts and treasure hunts that are scattered throughout the world.
The side quests are just as impactful as the main story; adding amazing depth and background to the characters and the world with the choices that you make throughout the quest, they could definitely result in a different outcome each time you play something you usually don't see in other RPGs.
I'm amazed at how great the game is by filling you in and giving you in-depth details of characters and adventures they have been on or situations they have been involved with.
The book section in infantry is filled with information and knowledge and you can find these books and notes scattered throughout the world.
I'd have to say that one of my favorite parts about the game is the small information cutscene they show once you've loaded back up into the game after a previous session, giving you much detail about where you are in the main storyline.
The game's combat is pretty simple with light and heavy attacks mixed in with the straightforward dodge and parry system.
The combat starts to pick up and change a bit once you start using the five magic signs and the mini bombs and potions you can use to alter the stats and effects of Geralt.
The crafting system can definitely take some getting used to for newcomers. With things such as brewing potions bombs and even crafting new armor and weapons for Geralt.
To many, it may seem overwhelming at first but you will come to understand what goes with what the more you dive into the crafting system.
The bestiary is an amazing feature that gives you a detailed look at every monster you encounter whether it's from learning about its habits and how it lives to understanding what potions, bombs and signs it's vulnerable against.
You could definitely spend hours just going through reading and understanding the monsters that are spread through this vast open world.
The character tab gives you such freedom on how you want to play and what type of build you want in your Witcher throughout your journey.
Whether that's just wanting to use the magic, attack combat or potions and bombs there's definitely something in there to suit everybody's play style.
The leveling system in the Witcher 3 can at times be a bit of a grind; earning the most experience would definitely come from the main story but jumping into the many other activities around the world such as horse racing, fist fights and of course, the card game, Gwen will have you wanting more and more with each level coming with great satisfaction and more items to use in craft, the more you level up.
The sheer scale and scope of this world is huge and even once you finish the game there's still so much to explore and discover.
Whether you travel by foot on a horseback or just by a boat along the journey, you'll discover large cities, castles, snowy mountains, caves, swamps and misty islands.
The chances of you exploring all the world have to offer the first time around is near impossible and it's also one of the many reasons why I myself and others keep coming back to this game to find new and undiscovered locations across this vast open world.
The NPCs in this game are very well programmed in. The outside conversations they have as you're passing by or stopping off to get some supplies or a drink or two fire exceed what many other RPGs try to accomplish.
The way they can make the world feel so alive with real-time world changing makes you feel like you're really living in the world.
It's definitely one of, if not, the best worlds I've ever come across in any open world RPG. The music in this game is absolutely amazing and breathtaking.
You really have to appreciate what the team over at CDPR have done. They challenge the everyday and haven't just made typical fantasy RPG music we have come to see in many other games.
Right from the opening cinematic, the music sets such a standard throughout the game that it never seems to disappoint.
Whether that will be during combat with humans or monsters or just taking a stroll through a village or a city.
It always sets such a great tone and vibe that it really makes you feel a part of the world. I'd highly suggest listening to this soundtrack on its own it is absolutely amazing.
Given six years after release, the Witcher 3 has achieved what many few games have and that's having an emotional story that's paired with a beautiful sprawling world, good gameplay and amazing characters throughout the world.
It really is the perfect combination of a genre-defying game and if you're a fan of the series or just someone who loves open world RPGs, I'd highly suggest you give this game a go in 2022.
Let me know in the comments below on whether you played the Witcher 3 and if you have, what are some of your favorite memories from the game. So that's my review of the Witcher 3 Wild Hunt in 2022. Remember, toss a coin to your Witcher.
