So does this game have any flaws? It would be nice if that answer were no, but we all know that rarely, if ever, happens. For one, there are a fair number of quests that do feel like filler. And in a game this big, there’s no need for that sort of thing. That’s only a small detraction, though. For gamers that don’t like a lot of exposition, well, this isn’t the game for you. Nor will the combat model, which at end of the day is still point and click, appeal to all gamers. And if you detest reading a lot of dialog when playing a game, just stay far, far away. This is very much a die-hard RPG fan’s game. That’s a great thing for those of us that have been craving this sort of thing, but it won’t be for everyone.
What will really kill the experience for many is the egregious save and load times. Going from one area to another generates a loading screen, which is to be expected. But so does the mere act of going in and out of doors –something you’ll be doing a lot of- and these loading screens can take anywhere from 20 seconds to a full minute to get you where you want to go. Saving and loading games also take just as long. And when you find yourself up against a particularly nasty critter, having to reload multiple times is just a nightmare. Worse, the game is extremely crash prone under Windows Vista, which means Vista users will feel compelled to save early and often to avoid losing chunks of time to an unexpected crash. Installing an existing patch to the game, a Windows Vista update linked from game’s webpage and up to date video drivers reduces crashes considerably, but given how long the save times are, it’s still an ugly, ugly scenario. Fortunately, CD Projekt recently revealed that a December patch will –hopefully- significantly reduce save and load times and further reduce (and possibly eliminate) game crashes.
Regardless, if you’ve been waiting for an epic, vintage CRPG experience then The Witcher deserves serious consideration. It’s a nice tall bottle of liquid awesome. So grab a glass from the bar and give it a shot.
