Do i need to play witcher 1 before witcher 2

[Ellinor]

As title says. Do i need to play witcher 1 to enjoy this game?

[Nevakanesra]

It would help quite a bit with explaining story aspects, but you don't need to completely. Just don't jump into the game expecting Geralt to be something he isn't like some sort of archer.

[Alex]

The Witcher 2 continues off from the plotline of Witcher 1 and many of the characters return.

However, you can easily skip Witcher 1 and understand the bare bones of the lore.

[Akarhogy]

I didn't play Witcher 1 before Witcher 2, because I heard it had some really sloppy combat mechanics.

(In fact, my friend, who insisted on playing Witcher 1 first, just to know what's up with the story, now refuses to play Witcher 2, because he thinks it's a bad game...)

But, I didn't really care. As a fact, I found it really nice, that Geralt had amnesia. He started to remember things from his past, and I tried to associate it with his actions in Witcher 2. I found that really nice. :)

[Barry White]

why does he think its a bad game?
Is the witcher 1 story based on the book entirely? Because you could just read that if it is.

I didnt have that a hard time understanding the world. There were only one or two things i hadnt heard of and were mentioned. The only one which comes to mind is the reference to "salamandra" in flotsam a few times but outside of that i dont think there was anything though the 1st game may give more world backstory.

[Alex]

Originally posted by UltimateHobo:

why does he think its a bad game?
Is the witcher 1 story based on the book entirely? Because you could just read that if it is.

I didnt have that a hard time understanding the world. There were only one or two things i hadnt heard of and were mentioned. The only one which comes to mind is the reference to "salamandra" in flotsam a few times but outside of that i dont think there was anything though the 1st game may give more world backstory.

The biggest complaints of Witcher 1 is the combat and sidequests. Many people also get turned off by the prologue and chapter 1 which is why the friend quickly discarded the game.

[SP]

You don't "have to " play witcher 1 but you should play witcher 1 ...it help a lot with the story understanding plus when u start witcher 2 you can import your saved game from witcher 1.(It is a great help if u start witcher 2 with good silver/steel weapon , good armor and a 10% of gold u had in witcher 1 which give u a good start )
P.S. : For the combat problems in witcher 1 it is a simple solution u have to re - arrange your mouse buttons just for the game .

[Nubsauce]

You dont have to, but the witcher 1 is an amazing game and as some people have said, it will help you understand the story a lot more than what you're going into. Now, let's if this was about Assassins Creed or Dragon Age, I would def say play the original games first.

[Dexter_prog]

I did play it just to play TW2 and while upon first sight I thought to myself "WTF did I just buy?", after a while the suffering you feel by having to fight with that annoying fight system the programmed will feel like nothing when you get hooked by the story. I thought I would rush the game at first, but I ended playing 40+ hours of it in 2 weeks!

[Ellinor]

I think ill skip the first game :) Thanks for the replyes.

[Yog-Sothoth]

It always kind of bothers me how dismissive people are of the first Witcher. Do you need to play it? No, but I would deff recomend it.

[Ertu Invictus]

Originally posted by UltimateHobo:

why does he think its a bad game?
Is the witcher 1 story based on the book entirely? Because you could just read that if it is.

The games continiues the story after the books have ended. Geralts amnesia is the (time) gap between books and games. The games could thus be looked upon as really good fan-fiction. The witcher one is an experience in story and very good music, thus worthy a playthrough. The books (of course) expands on the universe, and the humor and gray morality present in the games are also so in the books. Sapkowski is an amusing author.