Witcher 3

It's difficult to believe this game was released over a decade ago. I left graduate school just a year prior and had just taken up teaching part-time at a community college. I had also taken up teaching full time at a high school that was populated by at-risk youth. Teaching college was my favorite job ever. Teaching high school was dreadful. There's no money in teaching, so dropping high school teaching was an easy decision. I did continue teaching college part-time. Unfortunately, there's very little money in it. Count me as one of those that was promised a high-paying job but didn't attain one after college. It wasn't exactly the best time in my life. My escape from feeling down on myself was of course PC gaming. That year, 2015, delivered two super fun games I escaped to: Fallout 4 and Witcher 3. Both are great, but Witcher 3 was on a whole new level. It cleaned up all the awards that year and is now regularly praised as one of the best games of the decade and even of all time. I definitely cannot argue with that sentiment.

Discount

It's interesting how I even stumbled upon it. I mentioned some time ago that I typically ignore hype. So, I've only heard vague rumblings about it on the internet. Somehow, I got my hands on a coupon for Best Buy. I think it afforded me five or ten percent off of any item in the store. So, I took a trip to Best Buy to see what I could find at a discount. Sitting on a shelf was a PC copy of The Witcher 3 for fifty dollars. I thought to myself "Well, some folks believe this to be an incredible game. At this discount, why not?" So, purchased it. I still have that copy. I definitely don't regret it.

Fallen World

Upon arriving home and popping it in to install it and playing it. I was immediately hooked. It was an open world game like many that where released in the 2010s. The setting was a dark fantasy; complete with elves, dwarves, sorcery, witches, necromansy, swords, shields, monsters, and mayhem. Emphasis on the word "dark". This world is definitely fallen. It takes place after the conjuction of the spheres. It was a cataclysmic event in which the different dimensions collided and the races of each dimension must now all inhabit the same world. They don't always get along. It's also the reason monsters exist so they can afflict all manner of misery upon everyone.

Empire at War

Moreover, the Nilfgaardian Empire is seeking to expand and has unleashed its war machine against the Kingdom of Redania. They locked in deadly conflict and both armies have their eyes set on the free city of Novigrad so that they may plunder it for all its wealth. A dimensional cataclysm, monsters, conflict between (fictional) races, and a war between kingdoms is the type of world that makes day-to-day living almost impossible for the ordinary civilians caught in midst of this precarious mix-up, as they eke out a living in these incrementally dangerous times.

Geralt of Rivia

It is unto this world our main character, Geralt of Rivia, destined to wear the burden of decisions that will affect the outcome of important events, must travel either by foot, horse, or by boat. He begins his quest in search of his lost lover, Yennefer. He eventually finds her, only to be entrusted with another quest, find the emperor's daughter, who also happens to be the young girl he raised since infancy and into adulthood. She also happens to a child of Elder Blood, which grants her teleportation powers as well as the pursuit of the Wild Hunt; a cavalry of evil elven horseriders. Her blood could be used for nefarious purposes and it is up to Geralt to find her and protect her.

Cast of Characters

The story might not seem so grandiose at first, but it opens itself up marvelously once you begin exploring the world and encounter its many interesting characters. Indeed, what makes this game endearing to so many is the colorful cast of characters. Practically all of them are memorable, even the ones that rub you the wrong way. Look at the Bloody Baron: a grotesque and unlikable character that one might eventually find a little sympathy for upon discovering the cruel fate of his wife, daughter, and unborn child. There are others that are much more likeable, such as the hearty residents of the Skellige Isles. That actually happens to be my favorite region of the game.

Sidequest Ministories

What brings these characters to life is how many of their associated side quests are mini stories unto themselves. Take for example the optional quest to continue assisting Keira Metz. Should you choose to assist her further, she takes you on a date that eventually leads to a tower where a mage was researching contagious diseases and how to deliberately spread them as weapons of war. Keira Metz reveals this to Geralt only after he's already knee deep in the quest. Moreover, the peasants that lived in the surrounding countryside pillaged the tower and murdered its inhabitants. One particular victim became a ghost that curses her lover for abandoning her. Now Geralt must contend with Keira's motivations as well as this vengeful ghost.

Monster Hunter

Even simple monster hunts contain micro stories unto themselves. One such monster hunt has Geralt meet with a villager about his missing wife. Turns out, she was killed by a werewolf. In a horrible twist of fate, it was that very villager that killed her. In an even crazier twist, it was orchestrated. The wife's sister led her to an isolated shack so that she may watch her husband's werewolf transformation and immediately runaway and abandon him. Why did the sister do this? So that she can have the villager to herself. Crazy twists like this for side quests aren't uncommon. Indeed, I find myself completing monster hunts because they're such a simple pleasure.

Combat

As you are slaying both monsters and cruel men, you will of course engage in combat. Revisiting it all these years later I was a tad bit afraid that the combat will start showing its age. I still think it holds up. It features the usuals of modern 3D combat: dodging, rolling, fast attack, quick attack, blocking, and parrying. You can also cast mini-spells called Signs. You can use fire, force push, magic circle, shield, and mind-control type magics. I like how it's not completely the usual elemental magic, but a slight deviation. You can also consume potions that grant temporary buffs in preporation for the hunt. I am pleased to say that it's not dated at all. Probably the only complaint is that Geralt performs a full spin attack for quick attack. That's not exactly what I would call quick.

Music

The music of Witcher 3 is another pleasurable treat. My two absolute favorite tracks are, without a doubt, Priscilla's lute song and the Fields of Ard Skellig. Both are breathtakingly beautiful tracks with a highly talented female singer that delivers a touching performance. The rest of the tracks aren't quite this amazing, but damn, they come close. Whether it's the miserable haunts of Velen, the more upbeat melodies of Novigrad, or just the soothing sonic sea waves of the Skellige Isles, they're pretty much all bangers. I also love the combat music with the chants. This music is some of the best committed to a video game. I'm glad I bought the physical PC copy because it came with the soundtrack.

A World Alive

What deserves special mention is the world of the Witcher itself. My chief complaint against Elden Ring, even after putting 90 hours into it, is that the world never felt alive to me. It felt like one those half-assed mods I used to make in Morrowind where all I did was place a landmass somewhere and plop a bunch of enemy characters and go to town on it. Sure, it's fun, but it just didn't draw me like I wanted it to and I eventually got tired of it.

Witcher 3 is the right way to go about making the world feel well and truly alive. The busling city streets of Novigrad are great example of this. The downtrodden villages of Velen and the more spirited denizens of Skellige add much appreciated variety and add even more life to the world. It's also curious how the common NPCs make minor remarks about events that Geralt participated in. They'll say something about the ice giant you helped slay or comment on your heroism upon protecting Dudu. It's almost as if the world itself reacts to your deeds on top of filling the world with cool characters and NPCs that go about their daily business.

Highest Recommendations

This is is withouth a doubt one of the best games I've ever played. I played it during less optimistic times and it definitely gave me something to look forward to at the end of each day. It seems silly to rely on a video game to bring a little bit of joy in your life, but it's no different than people claiming that a certain piece of music saved their life. During my first playthrough, I completed all of the sidequests and achieved the happy ending where Geralt, Ciri, and Yennefer are all reunited and are prepared to spend the rest of their days together. Talk about bringing joy into life. I can't recommend this game enough.

Post-Script

The expansions are also delightful and a must play-through in order to obtain the fullest Witcher 3 experience.