The Witcher 2 Assassins of Kings Thread

[AsRock]

The second installment in the RPG saga about the Witcher, Geralt of Rivia, features a thoroughly engrossing, mature storyline defining new standards for thought-provoking, non-linear game narration. In addition to an epic story, the game features an original, brutal combat system that uniquely combines tactical elements with dynamic action. A new, modern game engine, responsible both for beautiful visuals and sophisticated game mechanics puts players in the most lively and believable world ever created in an RPG game. A captivating story, dynamic combat system, beautiful graphics, and everything else that made the original Witcher such a great game are now executed in a much more advanced and sophisticated way.

Up for preorder today on steam with 10% off
http://store.steampowered.com/app/20920

Also available on D2D 10% off
http://www.direct2drive.com/10030/p...:-Assassins-of-Kings-Digital-Premium-Download

Digital Premium Edition Features:
Making-of: All the cinematic materials related to game - trailers, developer diaries, gameplay footage, interviews and making-of exclusive video.

Soundtrack: Audio files with in-game music.

World Map: A map of the game's world.

Game Guide: The Witcher 2 strategy guide for both novice and experienced role-playing fans.

Game Manual: A rulebook and interface explanation to help you get started.

Pamphlet: A representation of one of the in-game items.

Key features:
A truly epic, intense, emotionally charged adventure with non-linear game narration. Three independent plot lines with several alternative events are dependent on the player’s choices and lead to multiple different game endings and several additional plot forks. This time gameplay time will be shorter than The Witcher 1, but more intense and packed with events.

A complex, realistic and mature story touching upon subject matter seldom seen in other RPGs, told in a manner that is understandable and attractive to contemporary gamers. We investigate the assassinations of the rulers of the Northern Kingdoms and follow Geralt’s personal theme, in which he’s looking for his own identity. Gradually we learn how powerful forces influence our situation and what role they order us to play.

Rich, mature dialogue as found in Andrzej Sapkowski’s book series and The Witcher 1, presented in highly filmic cutscenes and dialogues sequences, thanks to a new game engine.
New, improved system of flashbacks. Now the reminiscences of Geralt, in which we observe the link between our past choices with current actions, are realistically and smoothly woven into the gameplay.

Unique, deep, consistent and rich game world established in a series of best-selling books by A. Sapkowski and recreated in the game to provide an incredible, believable story-driven experience.

Believable, true-to-life characters with their own motivations and goals. During our journey we meet ordinary men, soldiers, rebels, powerful mages, rulers and their assassins. Depending on our decisions we meet different game characters, and our relationships shape further actions in the game
.
Highly varied, breathtaking locations, which thanks to the new engine create a cohesive, fully accessible world!

Rich, living world in which every character has their own way of life and unique occupations. Our actions modify the relationship with the game-world population and, in the case of the main plot line, open or close the possibilities of interaction with the game world.

Greater freedom of exploration to provide increased game realism and a wider range of new tactical options. Geralt will surmount barriers, jump over fences, scale walls and ascend rock formations.

The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings Digital Premium Download Features

A truly epic, intense, emotionally charged adventure with non-linear game narration.
A complex, realistic and mature story touching upon subject matter seldom seen in other RPGs.
Rich, mature dialogue as found in Andrzej Sapkowski’s book series and The Witcher 1, presented in highly filmic cutscenes and dialogues sequences, thanks to a new game engine.
New, improved system of flashbacks.
Sex and eroticism will be introduced in a much more realistic, involving and mature way, thanks to which sexual relationships are presented more credibly than in TW1.
Believable, true-to-life characters with their own motivations and goals.
Highly varied, breathtaking locations, which thanks to the new engine create a cohesive, fully accessible world!
Rich, living world in which every character has their own way of life and unique occupations.
Greater freedom of exploration to provide increased game realism and a wider range of new tactical options. Geralt will surmount barriers, jump over fences, scale walls and ascend rock formations.

Official System Requirements for The Witcher 2 are finally here!

We have what so many of you have been asking for: system requirements for The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings. This should help you decide whether your gaming rig needs an update before May 17th.

Minimum Requirements:

Processor: Core 2Duo 2.2 GHz or dual core AMD 2.5 GHz
RAM: 1GB Win XP/ 2GB Vista/7
Graphics: GeForce 8800 512MB or Radeon (HD3850 512 MB)
HDD Space: 16 GB

Recommended Requirements:

Processor: Quad Core Intel or AMD
RAM: 3GB Win XP/ 4GB Vista/7
Graphics: GeForce 260 1GB or (HD4850 1GB)
HDD Space: 16 GB

Recent Witcher 2 media coverage (.PDF).
ftp://ftp.thewitcher.com/newsletter/TW2_Coverage_March2011.pdf

Patch 1.1
http://en.thewitcher.com/patch/

Patch 1.2
http://www.en.thewitcher.com/patch1-2/



New DLC!
"Barbers and Coiffeuses"

Some traders also provide barbershop services. For a small fee, Geralt can get them to change his hairstyle. Search notice boards for information about barbers and coiffeuses offering services of this nature in a given location. In Flotsam, in Chapter 1 of the game, these services are available from the antique book dealer Einar Gausel. In Chapter 2, look either for Sambor in Henselt’s Camp or for Felicia Cori in Vergen. This apprentice sorceress also provides hairstyling services in Loc Muinne, in Chapter 3 of the game.

Patch 1.2 fixes

Patch 1.2 Corrections/Amendments (June 3, 2011)

1.

All previously released DLC packages are installed with Patch 1.2:
* "Blue Stripes Combat Jacket"
* Ultimate Alchemist's Outfit"
* Ultimate Mage's Outfit"
* "Ultimate Swordsman's Outfit"
* "Finisher Pack"
* "Mysterious Merchant"
* "Troll Trouble"
2. Patch 1.2 adds a new free DLC package titled “Barbers and Coiffeuses.” To take advantage of barbershop and hairstyling services, look for Einar Gausel in Chapter 1 of the game, Sambor in Henselt’s Camp in Chapter 2, Felicia Cori in Chapter 2 if you travel to Vergen, and Felicia Cori once again in Chapter 3.
3. Game saves are now compressed automatically, lowering the amount of disk space they utilize.
4. An option has been added to the game menu allowing game saves to be deleted. To delete a game save, highlight the relevant item and press the ‘Delete’ key.
5. The game menu now loads at a markedly accelerated pace.
6. The game now supports Logitech G35 headphones and other USB headsets with on-board sound cards.
7. A number of fixes have been added to the key binding functionality (actions can now be mapped to number pad and cursor/arrow keys).
8. Analog sticks on gamepads now work correctly in the GUI panels.
9. A number of game balance fixes have been introduced in the Prologue.
10. Lock on targets is not lost when the distance to targets increases.
11. A number of fixes have been made in blocking functionality during combat. Also, player character responsiveness in combat has been improved, and Geralt can attack more than one target during normal combat.
12. A number of corrections have been made in the statistics displayed in item diagrams in the Crafting panel.
13. The Witcher 1 saves are now imported correctly.
14. An auto–save has been added before the fight against the draug.
15. Flare bomb duration is now 2 (two) minutes.
16. Issue involving the equipping of bombs (or other items) even if they were not present in the character Inventory has been fixed.
17. Islamic–themed and similar textures have been deleted and/or replaced.
18. A number of fixes have been made in game dialogues.
19. Issue that blocked advancement to the next level at the start of Chapter 3 has been fixed.
20. Issue involving the occurrence of T-poses upon the destruction of nekker nests has been corrected.
21. Guards can no longer block Geralt when he is on a ladder.
22. Knives no longer affect friendly NPCs.
23. Bug related to using some containers has been fixed.
24. Ostmurk (an ingredient required to complete a quest) can no longer be sold.
25. Ingredients required to complete the “Melitele's Heart” quest have been added to the game.
26. A fix has been introduced in the “Troll Trouble” quest whereby the she–troll’s head can be won in a game of dice poker.
27. The Ghost of the Banner can no longer be killed by wraiths.
28. Issue involving the Operator being neutral and thus susceptible to being killed before any conversation occurs has been fixed.
29. A number of fixes have been introduced to prevent selected NPCs from being blocked (king in siege tower, knights when destroying a gate in the Prologue, etc.).
30. The “Three Sisters” quest has been fixed so that the door does not remain locked forever once the quest has been completed.
31. A number of progression breaks have been fixed, including instances of blocked meditation, inability to save game, and blocked combat after use of static cameras (e.g. game could not be saved after completion of the “Indecent Proposal” quest).
32. The progression break during the fight against the dragon in Chapter 3 (exploration not working properly) has been fixed.
33. The progression break during the fight against Dethmold (whereby he sometimes remained behind his barrier, doing nothing) has been fixed.
34. The progression break (black screen) in the "Little Shop of Dreams" quest has been fixed.
35. The progression break following failure to complete the ritual with Anezka has been fixed.
36. The progression break during the dialogue on the beach in the “Hung Over” quest has been fixed.

 

[WhiteLotus]

shit that looks good. Time to reinstall the first one...

 

[digibucc]

pre-ordered on GoG, 44.95 worldwide they say, im in US but they say they give a credit for EU, etc to have the game at that price after exchange.

don't actually pay til release, which is months. but still.

as lotus said, time to play the first one I never actually finished it , though i consider it one of the best RPGs made...

 

[left4lol]

Some Gameplay footage from new engine, (warning boss fight spoiler)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ravxVjnOoRM&feature=fvw
http://www.gamestar.de/index.cfm?pid=1589&pk=14615

Info about the gameplay

Spoiler

* * * GAMEPLAY * * *​

• Rolling heads, swears, nudity – these things are to stay – game’s still gonna be mature and violent
• Erotica will be integral part of in-game life, not a mini game. No sex cards - this time we're gonna get cutscenes
• There will be a dynamic camera in dialogues
• In some, requiring a swift decision, dialogues, there will a clock appear. If you don’t pick a dialogue option in given time, game will do it for you (like it worked in Heavy Rain)
• Dialogue options will show the shortened version of what Geralt is about to say (like it worked in Mass Effect, but without "I pick blue, I'm a bad guy --- I pick red, I'm a good guy" thing)
• NPCs are ‘living their lives’ now, following their daily routine and reacting to players current and previous actions (house robbing ends now!), but also to other in-game events. There won’t be villagers drinking in a pub 24/7
• There will be a few fractions of opposite needs in each location. Our alliances to them will decide about available side quests, people’s attitude etc.
• Locations are to be few times bigger and much more varied than in TW1, each of them is to have own graphical style and climat
• There will be "find-me" items in TW2, giving exp when found
• Just like in TW1, no returning to locations from previous acts
• No horses
• There will be all old (known from TW1) mini games + 1 new - arm-wrestling
• Geralt’s ponytail – stays. There are chances that Geralt’s hairdo will be up to player
• All characters’ models were done from zero
• Life bars and status info are staying "on" characters
• Interface will be rebuilt and simplified in comparison to TW2
• Some quests will enable / request to play not Geralt, but some other NPC - for example, Dandelion

* * * COMBAT AND CHARACTER'S DEVELOPMENT * * *​

• There will be 4 difficulty levels – easy, medium, hard, insane
• Insane difficulty is gonna be a pro mode - where death means that game restarts from zero
• If someone’s not interested into fighting – he may play on “easy” and don’t give a shit about potions, swords etc.
• No level scaling. Dragging an inexperienced character to dangerous locations – it’s a suicide
• Damage will depend rather on Geralt’s stats nor player abilities – TW2 stays cRPG, not an action – adventure game
• In a sword – combat there will be fasts and strong strikes, but this time you can fluently swich between them in one combo (like: fast, fast, strong, fast). Without interrupting combo you could also block, dodge, use signs, petards etc…
### You choose the direction (if not - then the action goes straight) and press an action key. The action happens in a given direction. You choose the enemy you want to attack, and that is why we gave up the group style. High leveled fast style with direction changes makes a good blood bath.
You choose an action: a strong strike, fast strike, sign, block, jump, etc. but the game’s mechanics selects (depending on stats) whether it is a level 2 or 5 strike sequence, jump, pirouette, evade and it may (instead of attack) start the finisher (when the opponent has a little life ) or can push an enemy into a chasm (context action) etc. Mechanics is a bit modeled on Arkham Asylum - those who played, will quickly feel like at home. ###
* * *
### Each type of opponent has it’s unique AI. If you happen to fight with guy equipped with shield and then guy with two swords, you tactics has to change. Combat is not like “go and mash” – it requires to develop your character. You will also be forced to try different tactics – block, jump away, attack, avoid special attack of opponent etc. It’s not that simple.
We want to do ‘easy to learn, hard to master’ combat. We want to make sure that everybody understands combat mechanisms and are able to play TW2 on difficulty level it suits them most. Mechanisms will be really easy to learn. But for more demanding players, there will be different difficult levels. Those players will be forced to use all of combat mechanisms game offers.
I’m developer myself and at this moment, while playing on ‘hard’, I’m getting my ass kicked every two steps. So there will be no options not to uses signs, alchemy and not to prepare before battle on ‘hard’. ###
• There will be three Geralt's archetypes in the game: sword-master, alchemist, signs-master. Depending on which archetype you’d choose, there will be different abilities available and bonuses
### Some skills from different paths will exclude each other, but this doesn't prevent from combining the left ones into a hybrid. ###
• Archetype will not only influence combat (for example, when sword-master fill adrenaline bar, he can become berserker for a while) but also dialogues (sword-master can intimidate opponent, sign-master can use sign to achieve the same effect)
• Acquiring new abilities (from about 50 available) will have immediate effects in game – no passive abilities like “+10 to intelligence”
• New mutagen system allows to modify effects of particular feature, like sign: increase its power / amount of targets
• Alchemy’s available only before fight, not while it
• Meditation’s gonna be possible every time, everywhere, but now it can be disturbed by the world
• Geralt knows all signs from TW1 at the beginning of TW2
• +1 sign - HELIOTROP (means there are 6 of them)
• W2 will use a completely new set of finishers
• It’s gonna be important to use witcher’s knowledge about monsters
### It's an element which was designed to encourage players into exploring the game's world - in order to obtain benefits. For example: player will found out nekkers’ nest’s location and a way to destroy them – by doing it he’d clean the neighborhood out of nekkers - and it will bring him great benefits, but firstly he must gain this knowledge. And it can be done in several ways – for example from books (although it will be harder than in TW1). ###
• There will be new monsters, as well as those known from TW1
• New monsters we know about:
. . . . . . . archas
. . . . . . . nekker
. . . . . . . a "jumping from trees" monster
. . . . . . . succubus
. . . . . . . Tentadrake - unique monster, boss
. . . . . . . Draugr - unique monster, boss + Wraiths -
. . . . . . . (probably) dragon - unique monster, boss
. . . . . . . closer unknown "undead": ### Undead can dig into the ground and get up near the player. So when you run he will dig up in front of you and grab you. It will be harder to just run and avoid the fight ###
• Armor will have more parts – there were gloves, belts, boots added for example – armor could be upgraded
• Swords could be upgraded or created from zero from available parts
• Similar items will have random stats
• There will be scabbards in TW2. Blades will be placed just like this on Geralt's back
• Geralt still can’t use bow / crossbow

Plus the ability to import save from the first game

Minimum System requirements :
----- OS: Win XP / Vista / Win 7
----- Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo 2.2 GHz or similar AMD
----- Memory: 1 GB for XP / 2 GB for Vista
----- Graphics: Nvidia GF 8800 512 VR or similar AMD
----- Hard Drive: 8GB for game and 8GB bonus content

 

[LittleLizard]

good thing i bought the first one off steam holiday sales for 4.99.

 

[Swamp Monster]

In it's completely new engine, it will use:

Path Engine - Navigation library
Havok - Physics (I hope runs on GPU too)
Scaleform - User interface
Earth Mod - Sound library

Graphics - Dynamic lightning, HDR, tone mapping.

 

[Widjaja]

The only thing I remember about this game is the cut screen with some female character's boobs bouncing up and down, then my Brother laughing at me trying to figure out the combat system.

I was trying to fight in game with click click click hack and slash style only to find my character dancing about in front of the enemy with his sword above his head.

 

[crazyeyesreaper]

yea tahts because its not hack and slash if you were a genius you would set the difficulty to easy so you can see the little icon that tells you when to click its all about timing so that the atks are fluid its not a button masher like other games. Thus patience timing etc are needed for properly attacking enemies once you figure out the timing switch over to harder difficulties for a fun experience.

 

[Widjaja]

It takes a genius to think of setting the difficulty to easy?!

With combat games where are swords involved the last thing I think of doing is watching a timer for the right time click so I can attack the enemy.

It's different.
Takes away from the action for me.

But none the less there is a market for it.

 

[crazyeyesreaper]

no u go on easy so u can figure out the timing obviously you didnt do that or follow the tutorial or you would have known that instead you character probably just did

hack pause hack pause hack pause

instead of the fluid motion of combat that should take place since in the original witcher swordplay was mo capped by some of the worlds finest sword fighters and you atk by clicking with your mouse in time to the atks speeds which changes depending on weapon and atk style. not that hard to figure out really. If you can switch to easy for all of 35 seconds to figure out your weapons basic atk speeds well thats your problem lol. Its what I did then immediate i switched to the highest difficulty. As at higher difficulties that little timer which is located right on your mouse cursor is no longer visible thus making the game alot more challenging

 

[Widjaja]

I obviously did not but figured it out in the first few minutes of watching my character dancing around with the sword above it's head to much amusement.

Due to the combat system which reminded me a lot of what final fantasy had, I stopped playing it.

Just not to my taste.
I prefer combat like dynasty warriors etc, using combos, blocking and being able to target whoever at any time.

 

[ComradeSader]

Rolling heads, swears, nudity - these things are to stay - game's still gonna be mature and violent
Erotica will be integral part of in-game life, not a mini game. No sex cards - this time we're gonna get cutscenes

Pre-ordered

No level scaling. Dragging an inexperienced character to dangerous locations - it's suicide

TESV can die in a hole, Witcher 2 all the way!

 

[crazyeyesreaper]

wow uh ive never played a final fantasy game that had the witchers combat system and i can easily atk i dont bother using the lock on feature its kinda useless since group style allows for easy crowd control. and since you can switch styles on the fly that seems be a bit more indepth in dynasty warriors as combos in that game are pretty stale just tap the same button 5 times hit another button knocks them in the air rinse repeat with enemies being pitifully weak hell only challenge is chaos mode but the pathetic 10min time limit on the newer games lvls means its pointless to play on chaos as the challenge it gives is now worthless. That said Witchers combat system could have been better but i prefer it over typical button mashers

if i want button mashers i could play Dynasty warriors Devil may Cry bayonetta Ninja Gaiden, Darksiders etc. theres more then enough mindless dribble of the same thing out there id rather not have my rpgs infected with the same lifeless overly stylish crap.

 

[Swamp Monster]

I obviously did not but figured it out in the first few minutes of watching my character dancing around with the sword above it's head to much amusement.

Actually one of my friends turned away from this game at the beginning because of the same reason. I was more interested, so I bought game from him and played further. It turned out that as game progresses, attacks becomes more beautiful and fluent.

 

[The_Ish]

10% off @ steam is 10% more than you would pay for a physical copy

 

[copenhagen69]

looks awesome but I just hate single player RPGs ... I love the marketplace too much

 

[left4lol]

The fact that this game didn't use any DRM should be enough to make any self respecting PC gamer to buy this game. A good game is just a bonus.

 

[assaulter_99]

The fact that this game didn't use any DRM should be enough to make any self respecting PC gamer to buy this game. A good game is just a bonus.

I can see by your avatar that you are a huge fan!

Seriously, I'm waiting for this game, the first one was absolutely ... well there's no word to qualify that game. It was one of its kind. One of the rare games that aren't shitty ports. So I'll defo buy it. So there's a new engine? Good but still, the first one was pretty impressive, since it used a heavy modification of the NWN engine if I am right? It looked and played differently even years later.

 

[ComradeSader]

it used a heavy modification of the NWN engine if I am right? It looked and played differently even years later.

"Powered by Bioware 2007 Aurora Engine" apparently.

The fact that this game didn't use any DRM should be enough to make any self respecting PC gamer to buy this game. A good game is just a bonus.

Too true. That and the fact it hopefully won't be consolised out the ass like what seems to be every other game out there these days.

 

[Blaircroft]

Looking forward to this one the first one made my head hurt.

 

[assaulter_99]

"Powered by Bioware 2007 Aurora Engine" apparently.

Yeah thats it. I remember CD Projekt bragging about how they fine tuned the engine. They did a pretty good job at it, I remember playing NWN, I dare say it was better looking, gave you more room to maneuver.

 

[TAViX]

1 q:
Is the hero the same guy from the first game??

p.s.

I hope they will make some decent cgi when banging girls not just some static card crap, hehehe!! )))))

 

[assaulter_99]

1 q:
Is the hero the same guy from the first game??

p.s.

I hope they will make some decent cgi when banging girls not just some static card crap, hehehe!! )))))

Yes it is Geralt Of Rivia.

 

[WhiteLotus]

I hope you can still get the "conquest" cards

 

[TAViX]

This technology (http://www.duelinganalogs.com/blog/2010/12/17/rockstars-amazing-facial-expression-technology/) could have been awesome for the cut scenes in this game. Specially the ones involving ladies, hahaha!