Exploring the dark, violent world of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt on PS4

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Exploring the dark, violent world of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt on PS4

We take an early look at how CD Projekt Red’s action RPG sequel is shaping up

The developers of the open-ended RPG The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt describe their bold creation as a “morally indifferent” fantasy world, but this fails to capture the gravity of the claim. The world of The Witcher 3 is violent, desperate, dark, beautiful and palpably old. It teems with quests and hidden dangers, alongside gritty heroes and the evil to match them.

Playing the PS4 version for the first time, the world came to life in unexpected ways, but consistently delivered an engaging experience for the first several hours of play.

Those new to the Witcher series need not slink away in fear — The Witcher 3 is designed with you in mind. It begins with a prologue that deftly establishes the important characters and the stakes of the conflict around them.

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You play a slayer of monsters, a Witcher, one in a long line of highly-trained, mutated beings that seek out and destroy threats against humanity. This background has gifted (or cursed) hero Geralt of Rivia with an unnaturally long life, and a set of skills suitable for his profession.

In the beginning of The Witcher 3, Geralt and his old master Vesemir are tracking a mutual friend (and in Geralt’s case, former lover) named Yennefer of Vengerberg. This raven-haired sorceress sent a cryptic letter to the pair and little else, leaving Geralt and Vesemir to track her down on horseback.

This scene quickly reveals the open-world, which feels almost impossibly alive as Geralt and his mentor ride down dirt paths and weave through rich forests in search of clues. Peasants tend to their work, children dash through villages, and birds take flight from a rustled trees. The attention to detail is admirable, and that extends into Wild Hunt’s combat system.

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Danger lurks in all corners of the world, and comes in forms both human and otherwise. At the start of Wild Hunt, Geralt is armed with a steel sword and silver sword — for dispatching men and monsters, respectively. Once in combat, Geralt can unleash light and heavy strikes, dodge in any direction, and parry incoming attacks. A perfect parry will result in a riposte (counter), giving Geralt a temporary edge over his opponent.

But Witchers have much more than blades to their name. Geralt’s order has a basic understanding of magic (simple gestures called “Signs”) and alchemy, both of which have a tremendous impact on combat. At the start, Geralt has access to five Signs that can serve both offensive and defensive purposes. Quen, for example, forms a protective shield around the Witcher that can absorb one attack. Igni, on the other hand, casts a spray of fire before the Witcher in a glorious display.

And Geralt can use a variety of potions and bombs to complement his swordplay. Although reaping the benefits of alchemy requires ingredients, which can be scavenged from the world or purchased at one of many shops and inns.

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The PS4 version of Wild Hunt looks gorgeous, whether Geralt is spurring on his horse Roach through sweeping fields or just relaxing at the inn. The characters — including minor parts — are well written and acted, which further lends a feeling of authenticity to the game world. In fact, some of the best moments during the demo came from random conversations between Geralt and the villagers, which give players several dialogue options for branching narrative.

The team at CD Projekt Red has created something quite remarkable with The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, which is perhaps unsurprising given the quality of the previous two games. And Wild Hunt looks to be a worthy successor to this legacy. You’ll be able to find out for yourself when Geralt’s adventure continues on 19th May on PS4.

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