360 The Witcher 2

[eaglespremiers]

Just bought the PC version today.
Requires a 10GB enhancement download.
Guess I'll leave the computer on tonight.

 

[eaglespremiers]

After slowly becoming disillusioned with Diablo 3

Quick question about Diable 3, slightly off topic.
The meta critic score is 88 but the user score is 38.
Is that some sort of hack or are they just having real problems with playing the game?

 

[kaysee]

Quick question about Diable 3, slightly off topic.
The meta critic score is 88 but the user score is 38.
Is that some sort of hack or are they just having real problems with playing the game?

There is a D3 thread

No there are real problems with D3... the game itself is pretty great. The problems it has is almost entirely around it being an ONLINE game and Blizzard's level of service... ie:

- Server issues, rubber-banding and latency issues for AUS players.
- Real Money Auction House... screwed up economy.
- Lack of end-game content and item progression.
- Bugs, exploits, balancing isssues are there too.. but more minor issues (unless related to the RMAH).

And now players have dropped off in droves... probably peaked around 6 million... now down to a few hundred thousand.

 

[eaglespremiers]

There is a D3 thread

I know there is but they seem preoccupied with talking about tactics and whatnot.
Well Windows decided to install updates so I had to restart the 10GB download.

 

[FGMPR]

There is a D3 thread

No there are real problems with D3... the game itself is pretty great. The problems it has is almost entirely around it being an ONLINE game and Blizzard's level of service... ie:

- Server issues, rubber-banding and latency issues for AUS players.
- Real Money Auction House... screwed up economy.
- Lack of end-game content and item progression.
- Bugs, exploits, balancing isssues are there too.. but more minor issues (unless related to the RMAH).

And now players have dropped off in droves... probably peaked around 6 million... now down to a few hundred thousand.

To go into a little more detail with what been said here, the biggest problem (aside from the above) is the fact that loot-drops have been tuned with the AH in mind. So instead of the process of finding loot becoming the drawcard and the thing that keeps you addicted, instead you are picking up tonnes and tonnes of vendor junk and the occasional decent drop which you then sell on the auction house for gold to gear yourself up. Finding optimal gear for your own build is so rare, that it forces you to use the AH to build a decent character, which, along with legendaries not necessarily having decent stats at all, completely strips any excitement away from the process of looting. Worse still, all the premium gear is being sold on the RMAH, which when combined with the fact that finding something useful for your own build is like finding a needle in a haystack means that in order to acquire top level gear, you pretty much have to pay real money.

The problem with the reviews was that these problems didn't really become apparent in the time a reviewer has with the game. Until they had played through the game on all its difficulties, then the promise of good loot was still there, and the games fundamental flaws were hidden somewhat under the surface.

...and yes, playing from Australia isn't a great experience.

 

[eaglespremiers]

To go into a little more detail with what been said here, the biggest problem (aside from the above) is the fact that loot-drops have been tuned with the AH in mind. So instead of the process of finding loot becoming the drawcard and the thing that keeps you addicted, instead you are picking up tonnes and tonnes of vendor junk and the occasional decent drop which you then sell on the auction house for gold to gear yourself up. Finding optimal gear for your own build is so rare, that it forces you to use the AH to build a decent character, which, along with legendaries not necessarily having decent stats at all, completely strips any excitement away from the process of looting. Worse still, all the premium gear is being sold on the RMAH, which when combined with the fact that finding something useful for your own build is like finding a needle in a haystack means that in order to acquire top level gear, you pretty much have to pay real money.

The problem with the reviews was that these problems didn't really become apparent in the time a reviewer has with the game. Until they had played through the game on all its difficulties, then the promise of good loot was still there, and the games fundamental flaws were hidden somewhat under the surface.

...and yes, playing from Australia isn't a great experience.

Thanks, I picked it up in JB HiFi yesterday but instead went for the Witcher 2.
Glad I did, the game looks stunning.
Although I am now considering upgrading my GC from a GTX 260 to a GTX 670.

 

[FGMPR]

Thanks, I picked it up in JB HiFi yesterday but instead went for the Witcher 2.
Glad I did, the game looks stunning.
Although I am now considering upgrading my GC from a GTX 260 to a GTX 670.

That was a wise choice. W2 is a much better game. Also, the GTX 660Ti will be out soon (maybe already), and that will likely offer a better price to performance ratio than the 670, though if you just want a beastly card and don't mind paying the price, the 670 is still a great choice.

 

[eaglespremiers]

That was a wise choice. W2 is a much better game. Also, the GTX 660Ti will be out soon (maybe already), and that will likely offer a better price to performance ratio than the 670, though if you just want a beastly card and don't mind paying the price, the 670 is still a great choice.

I was looking particularly at the Gigabyte version (approx. $469).
What do you know about the GTX 660Ti?

Initial thoughts of the Witcher 2 are positive.
Runs well on my system.
Looks gorgeous.
The storyline is well thought out, however, there seems a lot of cinematic exposition (i.e. the dungeon scene where the two men are discussing scenes that they were both at - it is a bit disconcerting). It is still significantly more interesting than the stories you get from Skyrim, Dragon Age or Dragon's Dogma.
There are a lot of glorious cut-scenes. I assume this ratio of cut-scenes to gameplay will decrease as I go along.
The combat feels clunky but has more depth to it that others like Skyrim.
Certainly not just a hack-and-slash motion and when I become more proficient the clunkiness may not be present.
Oh, and the loading time is almost instantaneous .

 

[kaysee]

Thanks, I picked it up in JB HiFi yesterday but instead went for the Witcher 2.
Glad I did, the game looks stunning.
Although I am now considering upgrading my GC from a GTX 260 to a GTX 670.

TBH I haven't played anymore on W2... I'm now totally addicted to Path of Exile (see other thread)... which is how D3 should have been.

 

[eaglespremiers]

I'm now totally addicted to Path of Exile (see other thread)... which is how D3 should have been.

Link to other thread?
After reading some about this game, what makes you like it so much?
Are there server issues?

 

[kaysee]

Link to other thread?
After reading some about this game, what makes you like it so much?
Are there server issues?

BF Thread: http://www.bigfooty.com/forum/threads/d3-arpg-fans-path-of-exile-kiwis-delivering-the-goods.964741/

Will continue PoE discussion there and leave this thread for W2

 

[Fuzzy Wuzzy Bear]

I'm going to want another open world game to run alongside GTA V and AC4, if I liked games like Dragon's Dogma will I like this? Thinking of getting it but there isn't much info on it's Wikipedia.

Is this a must buy if you love open world RPG's?

 

[woopedazz]

Must buy. The storyline is just amazing, I'd play it just to sit there and watch the cut scenes alone. Combat is fun and requires thinking, graphics are fantastic.

It has enormous depth if you choose to use all the different potions and do all the quests, etc.

With number 3 just about released I'd strongly recommend giving this one a play through, because number 3 is going to be the open world RPG to end all open world RPGs.

 

[pantskyle]

I played the first 10mins and never went back. Not because I didn't like it just couldn't be ****ed playing my 360.

 

[eaglespremiers]

I'm going to want another open world game to run alongside GTA V and AC4, if I liked games like Dragon's Dogma will I like this? Thinking of getting it but there isn't much info on it's Wikipedia.

Is this a must buy if you love open world RPG's?

Not really an open-world game.
Witcher 3, however.....

 

[Fuzzy Wuzzy Bear]

Must buy. The storyline is just amazing, I'd play it just to sit there and watch the cut scenes alone. Combat is fun and requires thinking, graphics are fantastic.

It has enormous depth if you choose to use all the different potions and do all the quests, etc.

With number 3 just about released I'd strongly recommend giving this one a play through, because number 3 is going to be the open world RPG to end all open world RPGs.

Yeah it was after I saw some previews for number 3 that I thought I would give it a go. Will pick it up. Cheers

 

[NUFC Tiger]

Playing it at the moment on PC and really liking the story telling and characters in the game.

If you love RPGs, chances are you'll love the game.

The only gripe I would have is the quest journal and map can be a bit confusing to use as sometimes it won't explain what you need to do or where to go. Given the xbox version came out about a year later, maybe they fixed these issues in the console version?

 

[Balony_pony16]

Im going to get this game on PC... should I get a PC game controller or is it alright to play with key board controls?

 

[NUFC Tiger]

Im going to get this game on PC... should I get a PC game controller or is it alright to play with key board controls?

I finished it about a month ago on PC - I'm not sure how the PC version stacks up on the console versions but I think the keyboard would probably be handy if you plan on using magic and gadgets/accessories quite a bit. I personally just went the hack and slash way so rarely used hotkeys or anything like that.

 

[Fuzzy Wuzzy Bear]

Finally got around to playing this and having not played the first Witcher it will take me a while to get used to everything especially the interface and controls....even the tutorial in the arena took me a while to figure out.

 

[NUFC Tiger]

Finally got around to playing this and having not played the first Witcher it will take me a while to get used to everything especially the interface and controls....even the tutorial in the arena took me a while to figure out.

Yeah, I was the same - played it on PC and the controls took a bit of getting used to - basically to make it simpler for myself, played the game almost purely as a hack and slash game.

I've heard that if you have a save from Witcher 1, you can import it into Witcher 2 but I hadn't played the original either so wouldn't be able to tell you if its worth doing or not. Great game though! Can't wait for the third one.