Witcher 3 is a game that won all of the awards years ago and still is a fan favorite. This game has finally made its way to Switch and has done so gloriously. A truly impressive feat to be sure as it is such a multi-faceted experience. One that years ago would never have been possible. To see such a game perform so well on a handheld is a sign of how far Nintendo has come. The Witcher 3 stars Geralt of Rivia a man who has grown and changed since his original adventure in the first game. Even if players haven’t played all of the games in the series they will be able to jump into this and feel good about it. The game is tightly its own thing, though playing other games in the series will grant context. The Witcher 3 is more about pushing Geralt ahead so his past means a little less.
Witcher’s are monster hunters by trade, beings who will take on jobs for coin and fight horrific beasts. Geralt has been doing this for a while and has gotten used to this lifestyle. Through his adventures, he has met the love of his life, a witch named Yennefer, and all he wants is to live with her. But when he finds his young ward Ciri has been taken, he heads out to right the wrong and save her. A big story component revolves around Geralt choosing either Triss Merigold or his long-time lover Yennefer. Each of these women is enigmatic and worth the player’s time. They have their storied path with the white wolf, and both do love him. Though those who try for both are destined to fail, so just keep that in mind. Love is a battlefield, which side will Geralt end up on? There are story beats that hit home, so choosing wisely is part of the fun.
This game is a marvel to behold with a vast open-world to explore and many monsters to defeat. Geralt is always ready to take down thugs and humans as well if they get snippy. Countless enemies are lurking on the map that just wants to end Geralt’s life. It’s up to the player how many of these foes he dispatches. Geralt is a wielder of two swords which makes others fear him. Though one of them is steel and the other silver. Steel is for the living mostly, while silver for the magical, the creatures and their ilk. Geralt will draw the correct sword for the fight on instinct which can be helpful. His skill knows no bounds and he fights as hard as he can. Geralt also knows a few spells to aid him in battle. These spells include shooting fire, making a barrier, and setting up a trap. It’s important to know when to use these spells and to switch between them when need be. Though personally, the barrier is probably the best bet as it significantly lessens the amount of damage he takes. In an open field, fire is helpful as it can cause massive damage.
The map is filled with unknown locations that the player can find. These locations might include loot, enemies, or both. It’s great to look at the map, target a question mark and run into whatever is hiding there. Sometimes players will find that whatever is there isn’t worth the risk. It’s good to mark these spots for later. Geralt will take on quests for people in the world. He’s willing to do just about anything as long as he is getting his just deserts. There are also Witcher Contracts which are important. Geralt will get these rarely but they will lead him to glory. Geralt can even ask for more money or a better reward, just don’t get greedy.
As Geralt fights, he will level up and gain skill points. Skill points can be spent to upgrade his attacks, his magic, and his daily life. Upgrading the right skills will be helpful. Though one skill I found useful was healing during under the sun. It’s important to pick and choose wisely, as this can guide the player to victory. Geralt’s weapons and armor will degrade during combat, so players must take care of his gear. Players can either use grindstones or other tools to fix things or go to a craftsman. Craftsman are important as they can affix runes and change weapons. It’s always good to check up on gear and fix it before it gets to worse for wear.
As this is the complete game it also comes with Blood and Wine and Hearts of Stone, plus the 16 extra bits of DLC released after the game was launched. These two DLC add at least 30 hours of gameplay and are sure to keep this game going for any player wanting to undertake them. It’s great that this game comes with both DLC as the stories within are certainly worth playing.
With the DLC comes a good amount of new content, won’t be truly playable until late game. There is also runecrafting which is great because runes can make weapons even stronger. Runecrafting won’t become usable until the player heads back to Valen, so don’t get too excited when just starting. Players can also jump into New Game + after completing the main game. This will transfer all of the gear the player has attained, their gold and their stash. This is a perfect way to jump into a new playthrough later on if someone wants to keep all of their playthroughs separate. Plus New Game+ lets the player play as a truer version of Geralt because he loaded up with all the skills and prowess he should have.
The Witcher 3 is forever going to be a classic example of an amazing RPG. This game was crafted with love at every turn and it shows. Geralt and his journey through this vast world is a game that any fan of the genre should cherish. Geralt has a ward to save, will the player help him save her?
Images taken from Nintendo.com