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There's something bewitching about the witchers stare - The Witcher (R16, Atari. PC) it could easily be a surprise hit.
The PC game with a fairly uninspiring name turns out to be one of the most gritty, intriguing, mature RPGs for a long time and a whole new twist on a fantasy sword and sorcery tale.
This is not the usual retake of a dungeons and dragons title, nor the usual elf and orc tale.
This game is bleak indeed with brutal combat.
The Witcher lives in a depressing, grim, medieval world. It is based on books by a Polish author Andrzej Sapkowski. Imagine Scotland with English countryside and superstition abounding, evil deeds seeding monstrous creatures and spectres. A gripping mystery around the end of Witchery and the beginning of organised religions in a non-linear plot.
A Witcher is a mutant hunter of monsters and wielder of magic that can cook up potions and is immune to plague and pestilence. Their demeanour distances them from humans and the mutagenic compounds they create have slanted their pupils and altered their appearance - so they are considered cold and untrustworthy by the commoners until they have proven their mettle and redeemed themselves.
The witcher you play, Geralt of Rivia, is suffering amnesia after being dead for five years - as you could imagine. His village has been ransacked and the perpetrators have immense powers of sorcery at their disposal so are able to breach the impenetrable castle and steal the long-kept secrets of the Witchers Guild. But to what end?
It's so engrossing as a result the moral dilemmas you keep encountering with the many intrigues along the way. The people Geralt thinks he should help sometimes turn out to have a dark side that cannot be ignored. Which side do you choose? A lynch-mob that hates you or a murderous witch? The characters seem authentic and fascinate with realistic actions and movements making the choices very difficult.
Do you help Grandma looking after her young attractive granddaughter by hussling you for coins? So much thought gone into all the contextual banter and conversation, making The Witcher a rich and complete journey.
This game has fantastic new battle mechanics, which incorporate fluid natural sword movements and techniques such as the Witcher styles with Silver sword and upgradable weapons and skills.
It uses the Bioware engine, and has a deep and compelling storyline with multiple side-quests. It runs about 60 hours and has some really beautiful environments. The learning curve is slow but there is a lot to pick up and you can save at any point.
Is Eastern Europe the new place to look for fresh blood in game development? I think it may be so. This is a rewarding title.
MadGamer's Rating: 9 / 10
