What difficulty should I play on?

[✚ Mariel ✚]

I don't mind a bit of difficulty ala Dark Souls, but I don't want to get 90% of the way through the game and then become trapped and unable to make progress because I missed something essential for the difficulty

[flyingturtle]

Well, you don't really ever hear that this game is really difficult because of the odd (some say flawed) combat system so I doubt you'll get stuck. I don't think it's flawed as sword fighting is essentially a rhythm game -- just click when your is sword flashing to execute combos -- and you'll get used to it, and like others have said, it'll grow on you.

Combined with the fact you can use potions, oils, and whetstones, to significantly increase your damage output with swords, if you feel the need to, then nothing is really difficult. Plus you can upgrade your weapon via runes or meteorites (depending on sword type), it's a pretty easy game.

Just make sure you do the side missions so you'll be decently leveled when you start each chapter. That's probably the one complaint, like when you reach the swamps, some of the mobs may be tough if you're still low level.

And, anyway, if things do get tough, you've got signs at your disposal as Aard can sometimes allow you to one-shot kill monsters (even some bosses) and Igni, once leveled up, can easily wipe out mobs.

Only cheesy/dfificult thing is early on is at the conclusion of chapter 1 when you have to fight this one boss monster, a certain "beast." Regardless of difficulty level, it's a tough fight, but there's a few workarounds to make it doable. One of the longest threads on this forum is just devoted to that fight but with those tips, you can easily get passed it. It's just up to that point everything is really easy so most people are unprepared for their first tough fight, which may actually be one of the toughest boss fights in the whole game.

Most people just play this game on Normal. There are guides here on Steam that have tips on playing game on Hard level which will force you to use potions, alchemy, signs, etc, and everything at Geralt's disposal to beat the game. That may approach more of a Dark Souls-type challenge but even then, I'm not so sure if it'll compare. The DS games are on a whole other level.

Having said that, it's a fun game because of the story and setting. While DS has far superior combat, this first Witcher game does have a similar gothic and mysterious feel like the DS games. Great atmosphere. Also the quests in Witcher are well done, more creative than your usual RPG videogame, and it often has several twists.

[✚ Mariel ✚]

Thankyou very much :)

[Slagathor]

I'm currently at the beggining of chapter III playing on Hard mode.
And, as Flyingturtle said, the only difficulty I've had so far was the "Beast" boss at the end of chapter I.
The fighting system is tricky only if you haven't read the tutorial/paid attention: You can only link attacks if you click when there's an orange trail in the attack animation. Otherwise you just start the combo all over again.
Sometimes I make fights more difficult because I'm an idiot and forget to use the signs, but the game gives you enough resources to get through anything it throws at you.