I have the original, but not the second. This DOES look good... so I guess I need to get around to playing the first one.
Also, Ryan has distinct tastes apparently:
(https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/85017929/weknowwhathelikes.PNG)
E3 Gameplay Footage (played on Xbone, so the graphics aren't really that jaw-dropping)
Just a sidequest showing off some of the world, so maybe not all that exciting for some, but fuck, I'm still excited. It's all about the details.
Look at the animation. That's what's really being showcased, here. The combat movements look so slick, and FAST. Each hit of the sword recoiled the enemy in the correct direction (maybe I've just not noticed that in other games, but whatever, it looks great). There's a sick arrow redirection kill in there. There's no more dodge ROLLING, which is great, because rolling is kind of silly, really. It looks like there's less cooldown animation between your choices, so casting your shield magic doesn't leave you open as long. Even the facial and body animations during dialog look fresh and natural, not just a selection from a small handful of basic gestures like other RPGs (cough skyrim cough).
It almost looks too easy, though, but I'm sure that's because it would look bad if the dude playing the game ended up dying during the demo, haha.
I have the original, but not the second. This DOES look good... so I guess I need to get around to playing the first one.
Also, Ryan has distinct tastes apparently:
(https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/85017929/weknowwhathelikes.PNG)
HA. Would be true if Triss wasn't so annoying. Well, she's super annoying in the first game (a lot of things are, really), and in the 2nd game she's miles better (voice actor and all) but still leaves a bit to be desired. Like, some of my favorite moments in Witcher 2 were actually the dialog scenes where all 5-6 main characters were together. They would converse, and it would feel so natural, like they really were all old friends. Something that most RPGs don't do so well, since all dialog is 1-on-1, not often done as a group. But when Triss is supposed to be all tough and fight and shit, her VO's a little over the top. Hopefully it's better in the third game.
Which brings me to ... yeah, Arrow, definitely try to play through Witcher 1. It won't be easy. It's definitely a game that takes a while to get in to. I had to restart it a few times, really, but eventually I sunk myself in to the lore (did a lot of read in-game) and found myself really enjoying it. If you just can't do it, there's definitely some sites out there that will give you a written synopsis to prepare you for Witcher 2. It would explain things well enough, but I just don't think it would have the same impact. The second one is a damn gorgeous game, and a vast improvement on the first game. The lore, as always, is DEEP and very rewarding. The story is damn good, the characters are memorable and even seriously LIKABLE, and the combat is pretty sweet if you learn to use every weapon/skill/trick in your arsenal. Sure, you could just dodge roll around the entire game, but then you're a pussy and you're not doing it right. Use bombs, set traps, stack potions, combine items with magic, trap/stun/ignite enemies and slice them down with your sword while they're recovering. Learn about enemies, and their specific weaknesses, because the game will not simply GIVE them to you.
Don't play on easy. Hell, maybe don't even play on Normal.