The Witcher - how good is it?

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As the title. Basically, the purpose of this thread is for you guys to drown me in Witcher goodness so I'm tempted to buy it.
But seriously, how good is it really? Pros? Cons?

Naturally, no spoilers please!

Secondly, is it worth buying the collecters pack? There's maps and some lore books and some fancy stuff. More interested in the music CD, because some game music are phenomenal, but I don't know if Witcher is one of them.

I remember the good old days when games automatically had cool maps and lore books. No more, it seems. Oh well.

 

It's alright. Combat is repetitive I found though. I played it for a few hours then gave it up. It''s OK though.

 

Buy the Enhanced Edition, not the Collector's/Limited Edition, are they even on sale anymore?. It has the game already updated and lots of additional material, including the OST which is great. I think it was only about 36 € on Play.com.

As for the game itself, it is good. The main storyline is great, although it might be a bit difficult to follow all the things. There are a few choices you have to make, which affect the world more or less, so it has some additional replay value because of that. The combat is repetititve and easy. It is boosted with magical signs ("spells") and alchemy (potions), but those are not really needed at all, except on the hardest difficulty level. You should check some of the new reviews on the recently released Enhanced Edition, Gamespot's review here. Simply put, the best CRPG of 2007 and now with the EE release, 2008 too.

 

The combat is at least more interactive than the system in NWN. It allows for simple spells and evasive moves but it is mostly sword-based and the necessary timing isn't that strict. I play hardest btw, and the combat is pretty easy.

I like the alchemical system, the monster hunting and the way how the choices you make in one chapter have consequences later on. The music doesn't do anything to me, it is barely noticeable behind the sound of the combat.

What I really like is the mature aspect. This is finally a game that doesn't aim at the 12+ or 15+ focus group but at the 18+ people. When you stun an enemy you can "finish him." The taken attack is random, some involve simple decapitation, other involve sticking the sword downwards into the base of the neck. All of them involve blood. The protagonist is a realistic and believable "tough guy," unlike most of the games which use hollywood tough guys as characters (for example CoD with Captain Price and Khelgar Ironfist from NWN2, the most inane dwarf ever thought up.) There is also sex and screwing every female character that isn't nailed to a wall can be seen as an implicit bonus quest where the reward isn't experience or cool items but a collection of soft-pornographic pictures.

 

I really liked it. One of the best CRPGs I've played. It is a real roleplay in that your actions have consequences.

The story is excellent, the combat system interesting, the locales detailed and not overwhelming. The production values are first rate all around. The cut scenes, leveling system, magic system, etc.

The 'good' guys aren't always GOOD. From this perspective, it is much more realistic than many games. There are many shades of grey and often the choices are not easy to make.

Not only is it not a "monty haul" game, it actually prevents you from carrying around unrealistic amounts of gear (BG series anyone?). It is reminds me of the Ultima games in this respect. It's about the story and the characters, not so much about the gear and set pieces (Icewind Dale?).

If you do get it, then stick to true roleplaying. That is what it is geared towards.

 

I haven't got all the way through yet but so far I'm really enjoying it.
Found it a little hard to control at first but I'm more used to the 'point and click' (IWD type) games.

The opening titles were pretty cool and got me quite excited but the in game isn't quite as good so it was a bit of a let down

Overall though, it's really good. A lot of fun to play and I feel it's like reading a good book; I can't wait to see what happens but I don't really want to have to stop playing it!