Creating games based on the works of renowned authors always carries a certain risk. Developers must carefully transfer the atmosphere of the novel into the gaming sphere, without ignoring important details or cutting aspects of the plot. Unfortunately, this is not always achieved. The outcome is predictable – neglect from fans and total oblivion. However, sometimes truly worthy projects emerge, delighting both enthusiasts and casual players. "The Witcher" is a prime example of how to create good RPGs based on a literary universe. The game was developed by the Polish studio CD Projekt Red, which fulfilled its task with honor. The release of "The Witcher" took place in October 2007 in the USA and Europe. The publisher in Russia was "Nовый Диск".
The game is based on the story of the works of the famous fantasy author Andrzej Sapkowski. The main character of "The Witcher", as you might guess, is a witcher named Geralt. The gruff and silver-haired hero continues to travel the world in search of monsters and beasts, which he hunts. The peaceful population is not particularly friendly towards witchers, but Geralt is used to it and pays no attention to the idle speculations of the local folk. At one point, Geralt's life changes dramatically – as a result of an injury, he loses all his memory and finds himself entwined in a whirlpool of mysterious events. Schemes, conspiracies, intrigues, strange personalities – Geralt needs to navigate all this "muck", trying not to lose the remaining friends. If only he knew where all this would lead...
In the world of "The Witcher", many peoples coexist peacefully or relatively peacefully with each other. Dwarves do not like elves, who, in turn, look down on humans, and so on. Traveling across Temeria and the surroundings of Vizima (the capital of the state), Geralt gradually approaches the very essence of what is happening, but no one forces him to stick to the main storyline – he can take a couple of side quests and, for example, go slashing ghouls in the swampy wastelands. During battles, Geralt can choose a combat style that will be most useful in the emerging conflict situation. Against heavyweight opponents, the best choice is the strong style – the strikes are slow, but a sword can breach any armor. However, if Geralt is ambushed and surrounded on all sides, then the group style of fighting will help – the damage is not as great, but it is dealt to all enemies at once.
Another interesting feature of the game lies in the use of different types of blades. For instance, an ordinary iron or steel sword performs well in fighting dangerous animals and humans, while a silver sword is only suitable for the undead and monsters of various kinds. The witcher does not shy away from using magical tricks (signs), as they often serve as Geralt’s only salvation. Although all of the witcher’s magical abilities pale in comparison to his alchemical talents – the protagonist can brew various potions, oils, and explosive mixtures that can be used at any moment in battle.