'The Witcher 3' May Have Ruined Other RPGs From Here On Out

Forbes:
This has been a year of firsts for me, gaming-wise. Namely, I’m diving into series or genres I’ve never normally stepped foot in as they haven’t really been my “thing.” First, I devoured Bloodborne after quitting several Souls games early on, generally annoyed with the difficulty of Miyazaki’s games. And now I’m playing The Witcher 3 after skipping the first two for a multitude of reasons, namely, they just didn’t interest me and seemed like the kind of overly technical RPG I would grow tired of quickly.

But like my time with Bloodborne, spending a few weeks with The Witcher 3 has been nothing short of a revelation. So much so that I worry that it’s going to dampen my enthusiasm for the entire genre, if future games don’t live up to this new standard set by CD Projekt Red.

[ArchangelMike]

I completey agree, The Witcher 3 has set a new RPG standard. I think it just surpasses Skyrim, just because of the extra polish that it has. In terms of NPC's, quests, combat, story telling, dialogue, voice acting, etc etc etc I think its up there as one of the best RPGs out there.

[DoctorFry]

I agree, Skyrim's production value is pathetic compared to TW3. You'd think a AAA studio could hire more than - I don't know - 12 voice actors. I hope Bethesda worked on a new engine for Fallout 4 after all these years.

[nX]

Bethesda definitely have to step their game up now, it's mind-boggling what CD Project Red was able to achieve with TW3, it's hard to imagine how anyone can top that level of quality.

[geddesmond]

The only thing the Witcher 3 needs is a deep combat system. You get tired of the same few strikes the game has. Its just dodge, parry, strike roll strike repeat

[Eidolon]

That's just it.... it's simple, but fun and hard to master, like Souls games. Witcher combat has a lot more going for it though, with more buffs, signs, traits, etc.

[thekhurg]

More than any other open world RPG has for combat.

[himdeel]

I agree that the combat is the least enjoyable part of the Witcher for me. Its not horrible but not my favorite. If I could replace just the striking parrying combat in Witcher for whats in Shadow of Mordor, this game would be much better in my opinion.

[MadLad]

I think it surpasses Skyrim because it offers a (mostly) open world, but with actual content, proper writing, and engaging combat.

Let alone the fact that it allows for choices that actually affect the game itself.

[Maxor]

This game is the 1st RPG breakthrough in a long, looooong time. In fact I haven't seen a game like this since the original Fallout.

Before the Witcher, fantasy RPGs all fall into roughly 3 categories.

1. D&D or D&D clones
2. LOTR clones
3. Gothic or Nordic fantasy.

The world of the Witcher is none of the above. This stark, war ravaged and poverty stricken Eastern European fantasy somehow managed to present a world that is totally different, yet similar enough for me to slip right in. They really did an amazing job.

[AndrewLB]

I just finished my first play-through and have to say this game is absolutely incredible. No RPG in the last 5 years comes even remotely close. What really stood out for me is they actually managed to properly account for actions taken in the previous games they directly affected the ending. Basically, they managed to pull off everything that Bioware promised to do with ME3, only to be lied to when they gave us 3 cookie cutter endings.
I didn't get a happy ending and when looking back, I know exactly why.

@OmegaHeat

How do you know bloodybutcher isn't a short fat black guy and wants his character to be as such? Oh I know... you're one of those hypersensitive people who are perpetually offended at anyone who'd dare make a comment involving a politically protected minority group that you are not a part of. Let me say to you that black people don't need guilt-ridden self-hating white people running to "save" them every time they imagine faux-racism. In fact, what you did is far more offensive than bloodybutcher's comment.

[JsonHenry]

The fact that even side quests are so well done is what impressed me about the game. You always expect the main quests to be fleshed out well. But sometimes in this game I can't remember if I'm completing a main quest, side quest, or just one I happened to come across while wandering around.

[-Foxtrot]

We'll see once Fallout 4 is out

I'm sorry but with an RPG game I like to have a character who I can shape into my fighting preference. With the Witcher you can't do that, Geralt is a warrior to the bitter end. It's what separates RPG's in my opinion. Story driven ones like the Witcher to something more open like Elder Scrolls.

Once I come out of the vault or where ever next in Fallout 4 I can shape my character anyway I want. He'll be a blank state.

Main thing I want Bethesda to learn from the Witcher 3 is the map size.

I want to see at least two regions joined together in Elder Scrolls VI with another being DLC

http://postimg.org/image/88...

[bloodybutcher]

it's like saying, that you want to play Uncharted(yes, i know, not an rpg, my point still applies, but you'd like to make Drake a short and obese black guy with no hair, because you like to customize your characters. The Witcher's protagonist is an existing(in his fantasy world) character with established background and(more or less) looks, so see it for what it is.

[omegaheat]

"Short obese black guy with no hair"? I understand you were trying to make a point, but it's pretty obvious that you tacked on the black ethnicity with the intention of stressing how bad it would be if the game allowed you to customize Geralt's features. I guess you're more comfortable with the cliche that a protagonist is more appealing if it's a tall muscular white guy with long hair.

[YodaCracker]

@omegaheat No. He was making his point by describing a character that is completely the opposite of Nathan Drake.

[kraenk12]

The map size is not what makes Skyrim look pale compared to The Witcher 3. Everything else is.

[Erik7357]

Na...Fallout 4 is gonna blow this away...
It's a breath of fresh air from stuff like witcher and skyrim

[DARK WITNESS]

I love how everyone is jumping up and down that Fallout is going to blow this away...

I remember the hype building up to fallout3 then the game came out and everyone was complaining about how it was a buggy mess of a game. I personally loved fallout but I remember all the flack they got over bugs etc.

Then skyrim came and everyone was hyped for it. then it released and again everyone was crying about all the game breaking bugs and how the story was short etc...

I am just saying here we have a master piece of a game and already people are saying fallout is oing to blow it away... and we know nothing about the new fallout

[ArchangelMike]

@Fries
Please tell me what thelottery numbers are for this weeks game... I mean... you obvioulsy have a magic crystal ball that can predict the future /s

Dude, we know aboslutely nothing about Fallout 4, for all you know it could be an isometric RPG. How about we wait till we at least see gameplay trailers before we begin making such claims.

[bozdo]

But Bethesda can't into atmosphere! Hoping they're gonna drop the Gamebryo engine, fallout and skyrim felt superficial, they're not good with immersion.

[Airyck]

Idk I love Witcher but I feel like Skyrim ruined the genre for me cause so far I haven't enjoyed anything else as much. I like building my character my way and you can't do that as well as you can in Skryim. The story telling and quests so far are better in Witcher but I like a lot of things in Skyrim more.

[hennessey86]

but I always lose interest, maybe I'm not giving them enough time. Advice anyone

[StrayaKNT]

Advice: they need ALOT of time. I'm talking 100 hours minimum. And if you cant get into them then maybe they just aren't for you which is ok not every game is for everyone.

[Jonnyquest321]

Get your reason and logic out of here! this is N4G damn it

[ArchangelMike]

Thats cool, I've got mates who just don;t have the time to mentally invest into a story based game, or a systems heavy game. They just have busy live full of real world responsibilities. But that's ok, it means they only play games that don't require that level of investment - which end up being quick fire shooters of football. Which is also ok. To each his/her own.

[Big_Game_Hunters]

Witcher 3 is amazing, but it isn't that good.

[mezati99]

it's the best RPG ever made and nothing else even come close to it, i played alot of RPGs in my 18 years of gaming but TW3 is just another level of greatness.

that's just my opinion of course

[StrayaKNT]

I agree

[CaspuR]

I think TW3 is the best WRPG i ever played, i just think Jrpgs deserve there own category. They are 2 fundamentally different styles and approaches to rpgs. Persona 5 is coming out this year and is probably going to get equal reviews scores to the witcher 3 but id have a hard time comparing the 2 games and saying which one is better than which.

[ArchangelMike]

@Big_Game_Hunters

Congrats. You just won the award for 'self contradictory statement on the day'.

[gamertk421]

I believe he meant in reference to the title. It IS amazing, but not enough so to ruin future games.

On another note, does anyone else feel somewhat intimidated by how huge the game actually is? It's friggin' massive!

[Big_Game_Hunters]

Again man, that reading comprehension.

[paddy95]

Fallout 4 will look far better and be more fun to play. The Witcher feels like a chore to play. clumsy controls and far too much talking about uninteresting things. Fallout gives far more interesting second to second things to do in it.

[xTheMercenary_]

Judging by Bethesda's previous games i dont see fallout surpassing the witcher 3 visually, unless they have some new futuristic game engine.

[bloodybutcher]

uninteresting things? really? maybe you shoukld go back to cod, won't have too many conversations there.

[Roccetarius]

It wouldn't surprise me if someone does play Fallout like CoD with a bit of dialogue choices that doesn't really matter.

[Kal-V3]

Press X to pay respects.

[Big_Game_Hunters]

Bethesda games are also offenders of feeling like a chore to play. Much more so than the witcher 3

[WitWolfy]

Had a flew glitches in my 20+ hour gameplay so far, but nothing game breaking though...

[slappy508]

Its going to be hard to beat the witcher. What sets this game apart from other open world games Ive played (other than the superb storyline) are the side quests, they are fun to do, instead of feeling like a chore as in DAI

[gamejediben]

Don't worry, Fallout 4 is coming to pwn Geralt's frosty ass.

Cause War Never Changes, B!tches!

[ScorpiusX]

Wouldn't say ruined, but is challenging them to do better by setting a high standard in RPG

[KryptoniteTail]

By sucking so bad it turns people off from the genre, maybe. Witcher is TES' retarded cousin. Plus JRPGs are a different beast. Witcher 3 is just another good RPG, all poking aside. It isn't so good as to set the bar.

[Paleblood]

I like The Witcher 3 a lot but in no sense I believe IMO that it will affect From Software games. Also, I find W3 the same level of Bloodborne because they both give unparalleled experiences.

In fact, I would love to see in the future a game with the scope of W3 and the fluid, smooth, brutal and amazing gameplay combat style of Bloodborne. That would be so awesome.

[CaspuR]

Not that i dont agree with you on how good bloodborne and the souls series is ( i bought them all on or around release date) I really dont get the rabid fans behind it, like seriously, this is the one game that was made to be a niche title made from a japanese studio that has a fanbase this strong. I know souls games are good but idk there not UP There for me. people that like souls games usually rank it as there favorite game of all time or somewhere there, and on that level i just dont see it.

[Lukaszram]

It definitely sets a new level for quest design and dialogues... next dragon age and other rpgs need to step their game up

[averagejoe26]

Relax, buddy. The Witcher 3 is a great game but by no means is it ground breaking or way ahead of past rpg's. If you just jumped into the RPG genre then I can understand your lack of knowledge here.

[Dyldog69]

Other than upping the bar on story It didn't do much

[rainslacker]

I'm looking forward to developers trying to outdo one another.:)