The Witcher Enhanced Edition

[Stark]

Yeah, well, their fault. The upgrade is free and I already own Witcher, so I'm just circumventing the silly patch process of not working for me.

BUT WORKING FOR VYMPEL RAR

[Hotfoot]

I think the issue is just that your angry way has scared the patch into not working, because you are too Angrious.

[Stark]

I prefer to blame Vympel's voodoo.

Or, actually, Vista. It's all Vista's fault, lol!

[Vympel]

You're probably right - I have XP SP3

I was amazed how it went off without a hitch - I should mention, however, that the install process for modifying files is long - the message says up to two hours. I didn't even see how long it took, because I went out and then came back later in the day (yesterday).

[D.Turtle]

I did get it to work yesterday - it seems the game has problems with EAX, which requires you to turn down the hardware acceleration from the maximum one notch.

I didn't play the game too much when I first got it (only played to the end of Chapter I and quit after constantly being killed by the Beast - yeah I suck), so I can't really comment too much on the differences/improvements.

What I HAVE noticed (and one of the reasons I stopped playing before) is the reduced load times when entering and exiting houses. You can automatically sort the inventory which is a help, and its a lot easier to use alchemy (I actually used it this time, before it was too tedious/stupid).

And yeah, the patching takes a while (about one hour).

[The Grim Squeaker]

I quit after getting to the retarded "Find 12 random jewels that you should have been keeping (rather than tossing away) quest to open the tower to deal with the mage" quest.

[Stark]

What I HAVE noticed (and one of the reasons I stopped playing before) is the reduced load times when entering and exiting houses. You can automatically sort the inventory which is a help, and its a lot easier to use alchemy (I actually used it this time, before it was too tedious/stupid)

The alchemy thing has always confused me. When Witcher came out, people said LOL TEDIOUS ALCHEMY POOR INTERFACE, but ... there's a list of potions, you pick one, press mix. This feature was in the AU version from day one. I have never bothered to 'experiment' or manually formulate potions.

[DesertFly]

I've gotten through the prologue and part of chapter 1. I only played the prologue in the demo, so I can't really speak for the changes. I do enjoy that there's a sex scene in the prologue

[Vympel]

I quit after getting to the retarded "Find 12 random jewels that you should have been keeping (rather than tossing away) quest to open the tower to deal with the mage" quest.

....

What?

You do realize that those jewels count as quest items, and so go in your quest inventory, and so cannot, by definition, be tossed? That quest is freaking easy.

I never found alchemy difficult at all either. It's simple - line up the ingredients, try to use ingredients which all have the same secondary component to give you a sweet extra bonus. Simple.

The new inventory system is a big improvement, and the load times are even shorter than they were after the first patch. Playing through a Scoi'atel game now (I only ever finished it with Order of Flaming Rose and Neutral).

[The Grim Squeaker]

I quit after getting to the retarded "Find 12 random jewels that you should have been keeping (rather than tossing away) quest to open the tower to deal with the mage" quest.

....

What?

You do realize that those jewels count as quest items, and so go in your quest inventory, and so cannot, by definition, be tossed? That quest is freaking easy.

I never found alchemy difficult at all either. It's simple - line up the ingredients, try to use ingredients which all have the same secondary component to give you a sweet extra bonus. Simple.

The new inventory system is a big improvement, and the load times are even shorter than they were after the first patch. Playing through a Scoi'atel game now (I only ever finished it with Order of Flaming Rose and Neutral).

It was a long time ago, but as I recall I didn't pick them all up, and I quit on principle when I realized I was still missing some 4-7 items that would need to be randomly found in huge maps.
I loathe "hunt the XX mcguffins" quests, maybe I'll give it a re-try after installing the patch...

[Vympel]

It was a long time ago, but as I recall I didn't pick them all up, and I quit on principle when I realized I was still missing some 4-7 items that would need to be randomly found in huge maps.

That quest is pretty hard to get wrong. None of the items can get lost, and if you're even moderately thorough you can find them all very quickly.

[The Grim Squeaker]

It was a long time ago, but as I recall I didn't pick them all up, and I quit on principle when I realized I was still missing some 4-7 items that would need to be randomly found in huge maps.

That quest is pretty hard to get wrong. None of the items can get lost, and if you're even moderately thorough you can find them all very quickly.

I game like I think.
And I have diagnosed ADD. .
[size=0]Pity there isn't a "Give item" cheat. [/size]

[Fingolfin_Noldor]

The patch worked on XP, so I started playing it. Dialogue seems a bit brushed up. I haven't seen much changes to graphics, but it's only the Prologue.

That aside, I'm frustrated the patch isn't working on Vista. And the The Witcher Forums haven't been helpful.

[Edi]

The prologue is better up to Leo's funeral. The new voiceacting really fucks that part up. Some of the new voices in Chapter 1 are also worse than the old. I want the old Kalkstein back! "BADLY distilled alchohol!" Some things are better and the new inventory is great.

[weemadando]

Sorry to resurrect this, but my wife got me the full boxed copy of The Witcher EE for christmas (with the extra adventures, editor, audio CDs, making of, manual, gameguide, map, short story etc) and I wanted to drop in my few cents.

1st - I'm still super-early on (only about 2 hours in), but damned if these characters aren't interesting and the setting something slightly different from your usual completely straight fantasy.

2nd - It's dark. In tone that is. I love it.

3rd - What? RPG combat that isn't just random rolling? And it actually looks cool too? Fuck yes.

4th - The character advancement system is great - not sure how it will hold up over time, but I like it at the moment.

5th - I want to keep playing this. A lot.

6th - Before STRAK drops a bile-bomb on this, sure it's a suckers edition, but this is a suckers edition that I'll support. CD Projekt have put together a suckers edition that is actually worthwhile, instead of just putting in a tin with a cheaply made T-shirt and a shitty figurine.

[Stark]

Don't stop playing, even for a week; I really liked Witcher, but I've never been able to get back into it after taking a break while waiting for patches. It's just crazy dense and there's so much to do that you can load a game and have forgotten what is even going on.

Ironically people hated the combat back in the day; not complex enough for the DOA crowd, not number-based and min/maxable for the Baldur's Gate crowd. Normal people think it's awesome (even in TK is massively overpowered).

[Hotfoot]

I just wish it would work on my system. After making fun of Stark, I've now hit the same problem, and the game won't even boot. RARG.

[Edi]

Excellent, we have another minion!

Seriously, what Stark said, if you take a break from it in mid-chapter, you'll forget half the things that were going on after a few days.

[RazorOutlaw]

I put in a humble request for the enhanced Witcher (or the original so I could grab the patch) in addition to the U.S. release of the book for Christmas. Previously I had taken "GAME GOOD" from Stark at face value, and that sort of stayed with me well after I played some of the demo myself, but going back a second time the early portion of the demo didn't live up to my expectations. I'm kind of kicking myself for not saying "Just get me that game only" because after I wiped out a crypt full of "dead'uns" I encountered the alchemist and his entire sequence. Not only was his dialogue well done, but so was the mention of in-game choices. The demo arbitrarily chooses a previous decision for you but just the way the alchemist seems to tease with "can you live with your choice?" was a more solid indication than someone's word that the game had substance.

Oh well, the Enhanced Edition is bound to come down in price someday. Failing that Amazon.com is sure to have something used and in decent condition.

[Fingolfin_Noldor]

Yeah, the update isn't all that cracked out to be. I got an Enhanced Edition copy later anyhow. Prices of games in Singapore never fall and there isn't a used game market as well. I would say the dialogue is a tad bit enhanced and a bit smoother. The graphics seem a little improved though I can't really tell.

[Hotfoot]

So is there any fix for the patch fucking up the game, or am I SOL?

[weemadando]

Holy crap! Did I just experience... consequences? IN A GAME? THIS CANNOT BE! I demand a full investigation into the awesomeness of this game. A Royal Commission will be established.

Said consequences thus far:
1) Dude (Coltrane or someone) getting smoked by the Scoiatel after I let them pick up their shipment of weapons.
2) Townswomen in Vizima not wanting some of the Geralt because I tapped that Witch.

I'm sure there's more that I haven't noticed, but goddamn - that's fucking awesome.

[CaptHawkeye]

Excellent, we have another minion!

Seriously, what Stark said, if you take a break from it in mid-chapter, you'll forget half the things that were going on after a few days.

I stopped playing the game a few months ago and sure enough, I don't remember a thing about it. Something about some guy name Gerald and his ghost hunting business. Who ya gonna call?

I actually want to start playing it again, but i'd pretty obviously need to start the whole thing over. By the way, is Witcher Enhanced reduced price or some such? Because I already owned the original but want to give the "Wanker's Edition" a spin.

[Stark]

There are patches, but various people had problems with installing them (and they're like 1.5Gb). If you can get the EE that's the best way; if you own the first one already and the addon is free, just find a source.

And Wando, yeah, that's why Witcher rules. On my second attempt I did things differently, and having consequences that actually interfere with your investigation is cool - I've had much more trouble in town by arming the terrorists than when I just killed them all for being elf cunts.

[Edi]

Holy crap! Did I just experience... consequences? IN A GAME? THIS CANNOT BE! I demand a full investigation into the awesomeness of this game. A Royal Commission will be established.

Said consequences thus far:
1) Dude (Coltrane or someone) getting smoked by the Scoiatel after I let them pick up their shipment of weapons.
2) Townswomen in Vizima not wanting some of the Geralt because I tapped that Witch.

I'm sure there's more that I haven't noticed, but goddamn - that's fucking awesome.

Ah, you got Coleman killed. Working around that can be a bitch and a half if you sold Haren's goods in Chapter 1 and it makes the investigation more challenging. Chapter 2 has a lot of pitfalls if you fail to pay attention to things.

Chapter 3 has its share of consequences as well and some of the things you do in Chapter 2 impact as far as Chapter 4, from what I've heard...