Combat has been completely reworked in Witcher 2 to enable a smoother, more fast-paced experience, tuned to both consoles’ and PC users’ controller schemes. Geralt can switch styles mid-fight, choose targets on the go, counterattack and actively block incoming blows, and use magic without any detriment to the speed of combat.
Fights have been made a lot more challenging and new type of character development will have to be used extensively to allow Geralt to survive the overwhelming odds. New character advancement system allows three distinctive paths of development. Witcher Mage will rely on signs and magics in combat. Witcher Master Swordsman will be able to swing silver (monsters) or steel (humans) swords in an almost superhuman manner. Finally, Witcher Alchemist will focus on the knowledge of the arcane potions that enable a variety of effects in and out of combat. During the development of Witcher 2, devs decided to reduce the number of passive abilities and instead make the active abilities more ‘witchery’ in their nature. One example, provided by devs, is that Geralt can catch a monster, pump it full of some tracking substance, then let it loose – only to follow it to the creatures’ lair, thus being able to actually end the monster threat once and for all (instead of simply killing X monsters). Geralt’s progress in game is also influenced to some degree by the abilities that he learns.
The new engine (previously, it was a pretty outdated version of Bioware’s Aurora 2007) will now include a host of next-gen effects and a lot of detail, as well as ambient, open locations. Advanced AI allows creatures and NPCs some awareness of Geralt’s actions. Immensely detailed graphics are still rendered in a smooth manner – animations, transitions and overall pace of the gameplay are not slowed down by any hiccups, lagging or loading (except when entering a completely new zone – Acts of the game are now contigious regions with little to no loading times within such zone, but switching between those zones will factor in some loading time).
The rich and varied environments are not just eye-candy in Witcher 2. Geralt can jump down, climb over obstacles or sweep over them. While there’s no ‘free run’ known from e.g. Assassin’s Creed II, existing freedom of movement in open environment enhances the atmosphere of the game immensely.
COMBAT
• Will be major, but neither the most important nor an only one element of gameplay.
• Injuries will depend rather on Geralt’s statistics than player’s abilities– TW2 stays cRPG, not an action game.
• In TW2 there will be fast and strong sword strikes, but this time we can join then randomly (for example: fast, fast, strong, fast) in one combo, together with blocks and dodges, signs, traps etc.
• We can cut off limbs now.
• There will be 3 types of Geralt’s development: sword-master, alchemist and sorcerer – the one you pick will decide about bonuses and extra abilities. According to CDP RED, “some abilities from different development paths will exclude each other, but it still allows us to join remaining abilities from different paths to create hybrid – character”
• Geralt’s development will be much more expanded than in TW1. Every new ability will give you some new strike, signs etc. – there won’t be passive abilities like „+10 to intelligence”
• Alchemy and signs were rebuild to be more useful
• New set of fatalities was created for TW2
• There will be new monsters (like arachas or nekker). Appearing of the biggest ones (like dragon) will be fully founded in story
• Geralt has scabbards now. Blades are placed parallel to each other on Geralt’s right shoulder
• No level scaling. Entering inexperienced character to dangerous location equals suicide
• Game will have varied difficulty levels to ensure maximum fun for both hardcore and casual players. Pro mode is considered – where one death would mean end of your game
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Prefered the combat in the first.
Dodge is just rolling on the floor, and parry is restricted to your stamina and are shared with magic?
Personally i dont like it.
Theres nothing like the rileef of finding what youre looking for.
You might wanna check out the article here focusin on combat
http://witcher2game.com/2011/05/exploring-the-witcher-2-day-two/
Combat sucks.
combat is very disappointing compared to witcher 1
I haven’t played the witcher 2 yet, but the witcher 1′s combat system sucked big time for me, it was too strategic, while i prefer more action paced, button mashing combat, but seeing as you guys say that the combat in wither 2 sucks, i guess that means the combat will be my type, due to which I’m definitely gonna buy this game now!
the combat in the witcher 1 is pretty terrible, ive been playing it for 5 hours and i still dont kno why my character randomly stops attacking then wont start again for a while, and the clicking on time is so simple it seems that the real determinant of the fight is ur stats, so why do i even have to play the fights? should make a fighting system where player skill actually matters imo, and if u just want it to be item based and potion based etc, just make it turn based instead of giving us the false sense that were actually doing something when we do all these combos.
yup combat is failure, testers must be morons to pass it.. Most dissapointing is that you can only hit your target… Even if another enemy not selected as target is in range but your sword goes through him withut any damage as he is not target.. sucks balls
i like the combat is way faster then in witcher 1 but is wierd when you fight you jump around to much its like you have springs
witcher 1 was a bumpy start for me, but after some time and some patches, the game really rocked. Combat wasnt easy, but very rewarding, when you got it right.
havent played witcher 2 alot by now, just the intro and some running around in flotsam.
But combat really sucks, only button mashing, no combos, no sword styles.
While Witcher 1 had very unresponsive controls too, it was slower paced and you could compensate very well.
Witcher 2 is the generic button mashing you know from every other hack and slash, but with a twist, most times Gerald wont do, what you want.
Im sure this will get better, with more patches and stronger hardware.
But it feels hollow ….
The game itself is just fantastic. The visuals and locales are extraordinary. The only downfall of TW2 is the combat. Ridiculously slow response times mixed in with Opponents that swarm you, and hit-box bugs just makes combat almost unbearable.
Slow response times – When you swing at an opponent (light swing) and you miss or for some odd reason he hits you first even though you swung first, you get “thrown” off and you’re character isn’t available to move again until you’ve already been hit or surrounded.
Swarming Enemies – Normally I love it when enemies swarm. The issues here is that the way they designed the combat it just makes it infuriatingly and needlessly difficult. Having only two main ways to defend yourself, one being to roll which is an issue due to most of the areas you fight in are relatively small and the AI’s pension to swarm. The other being to Deflect or parry which uses up vigor (which is also used when casting spells).
It’s like they tried to imitate the way assassin’s creed combat was but failed at it miserably. Maybe next time they’ll spend as much time on the combat as they did on the story.
Absolutely love every aspect of the game except for the combat. Version 2.0 patch made the combat even worse. Now blocks and counters mean nothing, considering the damage you take (even when respective categories are leveled) and damage reduction from blocking is so miniscule that it makes blocking next to useless. As a result, you are left with striking, rolling, striking, rolling, rolling, cast sign, roll, strike, roll….etc. etc. type of gameplay. Very poor. Prior to the latest update, combat at least became tolerable with the right amount of practice. Now it is anything but fun and is being uninstalled from my pc as I type this. Amazing job on every other aspect of the gzame (which i absolutely loved). However, please try to get the combat together by the next game.
Its so obvious that most of the people commenting here about the combat system have spent very little effort in gaining skill in it at all. In every description of the game theres a paragraph about how Strategy, preparedness and most of all knowlege of your enemy is at the core of the combat system rather than button mashing.. they also say Geralt will need every trick up his sleeve to prevail in combat.
I think you all are just so used to the wide range of fail button mashers that have come before. The more i play Witcher 2 the more I challenge myself to try all many different strats and styles the more skillfull at combat I become the deeper i find the combat and the more brutally I dispatch enemies.. Ive now beaten the game on dark difficulty and made it through the arena on hard mode to the last fight without a loss. And i can tell you while i do agree with the guy who mentioned that theres a bit too much rolling around on the floor i find the better i get and the more tactics i discover the less i have to do it.. Thats a base strat for people who dont understand how to win fights in witcher… take bombs for instance.. each one is devastating but only in certain circumstances… My new favorite is the dancing one that lays down fire, this bomb alone combined with signs that i rarely used before have me ruining large groups of foes without it being such a dodgefest. the Combat is deep and FULL of intricate nuance, Its almost too deep for the average button mashing gamer to understand without forgeting what has come before.