Well, with CD Projekt RED’s first non-Witcher game, Cyberpunk 2077, poised for one of the biggest, most hyped-up drops in a really long time this November. The franchise that turned CD Projekt RED into the multi-billion dollar games developer is also today is seeing a renewed surge of interest. Gamers who got derailed via Skyrim or their favorite esport the first time around. Or fans of the hit Netflix show curious in order to see what kind of game it takes to turn superman into a nerd. In this article, we are going to talk about Should I Play Witcher 2 Before 3 Or Not?
Since Henry Cavili is a nerd, it turns out. Just a really athletic one — are thinking about diving into the Witcher universe and then seeing what all the rage is about.
With The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt the standout standard-bearer of the franchise. Most would rather jump right into the most modern installment of the RPG. That actually changed the world of gaming forever. However, are understandably worried about skipping the first two parts actually.
Should you play The Witcher 1 and 2 before diving into 3?
We also answer that very question down below, as well as shed a little light on the unlikely origin story of one of the greatest RPGs ever made as well.
Contents
What is the Witcher?
The Witcher franchise actually spans a wider range of media than most realize. Not only is it a TV Show and a series of RPGs, however, also many hundreds of thousands of excellent polish prose. Indeed, Geralt of Rivia was first born on the pages of a really short story from almost 40 years ago.
How Geralt found his way to the PC and Console screen, that burns the image of his white hair into the retinas of millions of gamers is also a tale of two entities. One, a series of brilliant fantasy novels through Andrej Sapkowski, and two. A pair of Polish video game nerds along with a bunch of unusable code and a brilliant idea as well.
The Novels
Geralt of Rivia’s first appearance in the minds of a doting audience that came well before most of you reading this were probably born. It was 1986 and Polish author Andrej Sapkowski just submit his original short story actually. The Witcher to Polish science-fiction magazine, Fantastyka for a writing contest as well. The story followed Geralt and his fight along with a Striga. That even found its way into the Netflix show and surprisingly ends up in third place (how good were those first two stories?) as well.
However, the story lingered in the minds of the Fantastyka readership, and also Sapkowski continued to publish stories. Instantly expanding the universe of the now world-famous professional monster hunter.
As Sapkowski churned out more stories at a really high pace, the initial burst of short stories culminated in a two-volume anthology. The Last Wish and The Sword of Destiny, that put the Witcher on the map for a really wide readership in Poland and beyond. These stories would actually lay the bedrock for the Witcher’s rich universe. That Sapkowski would later build into a linear, five-part series. And also a standalone novel that would become the Witcher Saga. That is starting alog with The Blood of Elves.
CD Projekt
Well, CD Projekt actually began as a video game distributor before they ever dipped their toes into the development waters actually.
The company’s founders, Marcin Iwiński and Michał Kiciński, both also had humble starts in the industry as high-school hawkers of cracked video games. Most of the time than not skipping school to play with them or sell them rather than study. The pair actually grew up in an era unlike ours, when Poland was still inside the sphere of influence of the USSR and also western media. Even video games were pretty hard to come by. There was no Steam or Epic Store in order to download giant AAA titles from without ever leaving your house. There was only the open-air video game bazaars that actually began to creep up in the wake of Polish independence.
It was the early 90’s, right around the time the Witcher Saga books were coming out, whenever the pair met up and decided to try their hand at distribution. They formed CD Projekt (the predecessor to the CD Projekt RED that also would one day be worth 2.3 billion dollars) along with a budget of $2000, working out of their friend’s flat. It was actually around this time that they, unknowingly, we’re also reading the books. That would soon play a part in changing their lives forever as well.
Further | should I play witcher 2 before 3
Along with their company finding success importing and distributing western games. They branch out into game localization actually. That creates packaging and manuals in Polish for western games that soon proved lucrative actually. CD Projekt only truly hit their stride, but, with a partnership along with Interplay Entertainment. That had them fully localizing the Baldur’s Gate games with complete Polish voice acting as well. End to end translation, and eventually collaboration on the development of Baldur’s Gate: Dark Alliance as well.
However, then Interplay Entertainment hit a financial pothole. And the game was canceled as well.
CD Projekt Red, the subsidiary Iwiński and also Kiciński creates to hand development. That is owned the code, but, and found themselves with the materials for an RPG and no IP to use for it. And then they also heard that the development rights for Sapkowski’s The Witcher were up for grabs, and well. They also say success occurs whenever luck meets opportunity.
The Witcher 1 was basically released in 2007, the follow-up in 2011.
Do You Have to Play the Witcher 1 and 2?
No, you guys don’t have to play the Witcher 1 and 2 in order to enjoy The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. Also even without the backdrop of its prequels, The Witcher 3 is basically a masterpiece of a game along with dynamic gameplay. A really immersive open-world replete along with adventure, and distinct. Full of life characters that will actually draw you in, regardless of your previous familiarity along with the universe.
CD Projekt Red also did a fine job of walking the line between giving players enough backstory via the dialogue and gameplay. Without even outright info-dumping to get new players up to speed along with the world. And characters of The Witcher setting without boring them. The game even also includes a datalog to reference in case that you’re feeling lost. Or want an instant recap of some aspect of the game’s history or a character’s lore as well.
Hardcore gamers who are more interested in the gameplay. Than narrative will be the most comfortable skipping the first two parts in the series actually.
Further
The combat system in The Witcher 1 is actually a bit… wonky in comparison to the polished, dynamic combat in Wild Hunt. Instead of a more varied skill-based attack system, also combat essentially boils down to a timing-focused point-and-click as well. That will utterly confusing to most modern players actually.
And when The Witcher 2 is certainly more up to date along with the modern meta of action RPGs. Those less interested in the lore of the Witcher will actually be less enthralled with what are comparatively lower-spec graphics and also a smaller scope. Then the sorts of open-world games on the menu in 2020 as well.
However, the plots of 2 and 3 especially are interconnecting, one can certainly follow along and then also get a handle on Geralt. Who actually he is, and the world he finds himself in just. If you guys are just looking for an incredible action RPG. Then you can freely dive into the masterwork that is The Witcher 3 as well.
But, Should You?
Yes. You absolutely should play The Witcher 2 at the very least actually. Doing this will improve the experience significantly. However, the action-oriented, well-designed gameplay and also immersive open-world make The Witcher 3 is a great game — its story. Its characters and its personality on top of that sound structure that makes it a god-given masterpiece.
Besides that, The Witcher 2 is itself an excellent game along with phenomenal replay value. It actually features a branching narrative in which an early decision opens up entirely different and altogether disparate pathways via the game. That makes it 100% worthwhile to pick it up and play again once you’re done.
The culminating events of the Witcher 2 also directly actually tie into the plot of Wild Hunt. And also playing via it will give a narrative context for the events of Wild Hunt. As well as introduce you to some really important characters ahead of time. This gives a firmer background for Geralt’s interpersonal relationships. That really make the narrative shine, and will also keep you from getting hung out to dry whenever someone references the past. Whenever talking to NPCs such as Triss, Dandelion, Shani or Zoltan.
Further
Players can more safely skip The Witcher 1 as, fortunately, the Witcher 2 opens along with Geralt having seemingly lost his memories actually. This alone makes a blind entrance into the second installment in the series almost more interesting than otherwise, since players are left to rediscover the backstory alongside Geralt. Additionally, some of the characters go out of their way to recount their past dealings. Along with our professional monster hunter.
So, if you guys do have the time, and would also like to learn more about the series and have the full, unvarnish Wild Hunt experience too. We highly recommend you give The Witcher 2 a play-through at least as well. Bonus points in order to read the books and pushing via the… unique… combat system of The Witcher 1.
Conclusion
Alright, That was all Folks! I hope you guys like this “should i play witcher 2 before 3” article and also find it helpful to you. Give us your feedback on it. Also if you guys have further queries and issues related to this article. Then let us know in the comments section below. We will get back to you shortly.
Have a Great Day!
Also See: GPU Monitoring Tools & Software – Review
