Does the combat get better in Witcher 2?

[_MaZ_TeR_]

I really want to play through the whole trilogy, but my god I feel like falling asleep because of how bad the combat is in this game. And that half the game is a walking simulator.

[Dadpool]

The combat in W2 is different, you click and it attacks right away just like in most of games, there's no rhythm game stuff like in W1.

[_MaZ_TeR_]

Originally posted by Brutal Sensualist:

The combat in W2 is different, you click and it attacks right away just like in most of games, there's no rhythm game stuff like in W1.

Okay good

[Dark_Sirian]

Originally posted by _MaZ_TeR_:

I really want to play through the whole trilogy...

One can have legitimate doubts about this. The combat system is unusual, but fully functional. For a game that's been around for a decade and a half, the combat system is actually exceptionally good.

However, if you're used to nothing other than hectic staccato clicking with the left mouse button (or erratic movements with the controller), you'll have to learn something - and you should do that in the prologue and take your time. And if you follow this well-intentioned advice, you'll find that the combat in the first Witcher game is really fun once you get used to it.

[max.strauss]

Originally posted by Dark_Sirian:

... you'll find that the combat in the first Witcher game is really fun once you get used to it.

I can fully confirm that.

@ OP

In the prologue you can learn (safely) all the essentials here, which will be more than helpful later on - and decide whether you think what you see on the screen is clunky or great.

The TW1-fights are very dynamic ...

https://youtu.be/l8xa0GbtWC4

... allow you to exploit your opponents' small -) weaknesses to Geralt's advantage...

https://youtu.be/_naT3fQB0KU

... and get better and better the longer the game lasts.

https://youtu.be/dB-ottrzbjM

https://youtu.be/v34WGJ4gwTk

(All videos: DL “hard”, Vanilla)

If you are serious about getting to know the whole series, then I advise you to start the first part again and learn the controls. Basically, startup is all about left-clicking when it's indicated on the screen. The rest (using signs, preparing and apply potions, oils, bombs, etc.) will appear in a similar form in the following parts - and will somehow seem familiar to you, just like the atmosphere in which the Witcher world takes place.

[Mike Brown]

Yeah, ngl 1 has my favorite combat in the series, 2's is pretty bad imo and 3's is better than 2's but still suffers from some of the same issues. 1's is honestly pretty interesting and the most functional of the 3 games. If you're playing on normal which I assume you are if you're only trying to go through it the first time, the mouse cursor literally tells you when to click if you're having trouble with the rhythm of the different styles. Even in hard, the flaming sword cue is still there and gives you an indicator of when to follow up with successive hits. Don't sleep on magic either it's extremely useful, especially Igni, if you dump a couple points into that towards the beginning, once you find it anyway, it's exceptionally useful.

[Dark_Sirian]

Originally posted by Mike Brown:

Yeah, ngl 1 has my favorite combat in the series, 2's is pretty bad imo ...

I share with you your enjoyment of the combat in TW1 - frankly, I'm even happy to hear a positive assessment once again.

On the other hand, I also like the combat in TW2. Some positive things have been added. For example, Geralt can now block and counter. This was actively not possible in the first part.

And he can also climb - at least in the places intended by the developers. (However, if he wants to climb a 12 cm high mattress, he must hire at least two helpers.)

But you were obviously very unhappy with it. Would you like to tell us what turned you off?

[Mike Brown]

Originally posted by Dark_Sirian:

Originally posted by Mike Brown:

Yeah, ngl 1 has my favorite combat in the series, 2's is pretty bad imo ...

I share with you your enjoyment of the combat in TW1 - frankly, I'm even happy to hear a positive assessment once again.

On the other hand, I also like the combat in TW2. Some positive things have been added. For example, Geralt can now block and counter. This was actively not possible in the first part.

And he can also climb - at least in the places intended by the developers. (However, if he wants to climb a 12 cm high mattress, he must hire at least two helpers.)

But you were obviously very unhappy with it. Would you like to tell us what turned you off?

2's is serviceable on the lower difficulties, the big problem is that if you're playing on higher difficulties, especially Dark Mode, its unwieldiness and inconsistencies really start to grate on you. Enemies will routinely steam roll you in 1 or 2 hits in the first Act until you build a decent armor set, invest in the roll skill + the anti-backstab skill which requires you to basically steam roll the main quest since that's what dishes out the most XP. Enemy hitboxes in general in 2 are very jank, combine that with how weird the game can be about what constitutes a backstab and a lot of deaths early on can feel cheap.

[max.strauss]

Originally posted by Mike Brown:

Enemies will routinely steam roll you in 1 or 2 hits in the first Act...

That's not my experience, M.B.. Since I don't know which opponents in the early stages you're referring to, I'll take a guess.

Many players on this and other forums have had difficulties with armored enemies, especially shield bearers. To be fair, however, the game provides a whole range of ways to take down these rogues: signs (as Aard. Yrden), bombs, traps, backside attacks:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Hkkl5Wr_B8

(DL “Dark”, Vanilla)

Originally posted by Mike Brown:

...until you build a decent armor set...

Right, a central concern in many role-playing games. But apart from the imported equipment, this involves further battles to mercilessly exploit the local fauna. Endregas, for example, which are plentiful in the forests of Flotsam. But here too, the combat system provides the appropriate means for all levels of difficulty:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z7_2Lt4UrPc

By the way, if someone of the readers of this thread is looking for suitable information regarding good equipment, you will find it here:

https://www.gamingreality.com/2011/05/witcher-2-weapons-armor-and-items-guide_10.html

Originally posted by Mike Brown:

...how weird the game can be about what constitutes a backstab...

I was very happy that the devs introduced back attacks that do more damage to both Geralt and his opponents. This gives the combat a touch of realism and means more challenge. Prudently, the developers have also built in the option to largely eliminate this - for those who shy away from challenges.

Originally posted by Mike Brown:

Enemy hitboxes in general in 2 are very jank...

I'm not as strict as you. If Geralt has learned to fight properly, this becomes completely irrelevant, since even on "Dark" the opponents hardly have time to take their hats off to Geralt:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4qoEYvrRUfw


Tl; cr?

The combat system in TW1 is good, the combat system in TW2 is good, the combat system in TW3 is excellent. You just have to learn it.

[Simples]

I'm currently going through the trilogy and really enjoyed TW1 - albeit the combat wasn't great and having to go back and forth got a little boring.

It was a rude awakening when I booted up TW2 and all my keys changed!

I mean, i'm new to the PC gaming world, so I expected a BIG learning curve.

I've only got a couple of hours in TW2 and I think i've got the hang of it now but would say that the combat still isn't 100%, but think its down to preference!

I'm now coming to the realisation that when I eventually get to boot up TW3 i'll be back to square one!

[TheWizard]

Originally posted by Mike Brown:

Yeah, ngl 1 has my favorite combat in the series, 2's is pretty bad imo and 3's is better than 2's but still suffers from some of the same issues. 1's is honestly pretty interesting and the most functional of the 3 games. If you're playing on normal which I assume you are if you're only trying to go through it the first time, the mouse cursor literally tells you when to click if you're having trouble with the rhythm of the different styles. Even in hard, the flaming sword cue is still there and gives you an indicator of when to follow up with successive hits. Don't sleep on magic either it's extremely useful, especially Igni, if you dump a couple points into that towards the beginning, once you find it anyway, it's exceptionally useful.

2nd is just worst, they tried to do more action like, but to me it was a complete faiure

[Tohtori Leka]

Do you people even read the posts you're answering to? OP said the combat is so bad he's FALLING ASLEEP. Does that sound to you like he's complaining it's too hard?

[TheWizard]

Originally posted by Tohtori Leka:

Do you people even read the posts you're answering to? OP said the combat is so bad he's FALLING ASLEEP. Does that sound to you like he's complaining it's too hard?

i hardly doubt OP played on hard difficulty, where without preparation some battles are kinda hard, require spacing, signs and potions usage etc, at least before getting silver quen

[Weyrlock]

I, without doubt, also prefer the witcher one in almost every aspect than its successors, but I have to say that the combat only gets really good when you're at least level fiveish, with a couple of perks on all the things you can use early game and will use for the rest of the game. And that without any kind of grind will probably only be the case at the end of chapter one.