25 things you should know about The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

CD Projekt RED’s The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is one of our (if not the most) most anticipated upcoming action RPG titles, and if you have played any or both of the previous two games in the series, it’s easy to know why. The developer has delivered fantastic gameplay experiences featuring deep and intricate plots along with memorable characters and diverse locales in the Witcher games so far. Here’s what you need to know about The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt:

The game marks the final instalment of the trilogy of this saga revolving around protagonist Geralt of Rivia, a monster-hunter with superior reflexes and skills compared to the average human.
Expect more than 100 hours of non-linear gameplay, consisting of handmade (not procedurally generated) quests which can be acquired in any order and completed simultaneously or one at a time.
There are 36 different possible endings with three distinctive playable epilogues driven by the consequences of your actions, which allows for greater replayability and places emphasis on player decision-making.
Seemingly trivial choices may have a noticeable impact on your journey later on, with your actions actually affecting the game world, possibly transforming locations and impacting how NPC’s react to you.
The game is being developed on REDengine 3, an updated version of the original version of the engine, built specifically with the purpose of rendering quality open-world environments. REDengine 3 will also be used for the developer’s other open-world game – a scifi RPG called Cyberpunk 2077
The Witcher 3 boasts of a truly open world, around 35 times larger than that in the previous game. Plus, there are no transition load times between the diverse landscapes, which can be traversed using different means of travel such as on foot, by horseback and even swimming across water bodies.
Expect numerous locales, ranging from dense forests and murky swamps to impressive cities, busy ports and war-ravaged locations
A new in-game economic system is being established, wherein the cost of goods will vary according to surrounding conditions and price of origin. For example, fish will be costlier as you move to locations farther away from water bodies.
This is a living world inhabited by people as well as other creatures, each with their own system of behaviour – predators hunt, merchant caravans abound on roads and fishermen, well…fish.
REDengine 3 allows for more detailed day and night cycles, diverse weather conditions and improved lighting – all resulting in a more immersive experience when it comes together. Players can spot a storm in the distances even before the weather in their current location changes.
A superior visual experience involving fully dynamic light and shadow effects as well as detailed, realistic looking locations with higher polygon counts.
A redesigned combat system combining traditional RPG elements with the dynamic pace, responsiveness and fluidity of a fighting game empowers players, allowing you to feel like the master swordsman that Geralt is.
Players can unlock new combat moves (96 new action sequences compared to 20 in The Witcher 2), utilise different enhanced Witcher Signs, apply poison to their blades, set traps and craft bombs, thereby devising the most effective method to dispatch their enemies according to their playstyle, while challenging them to think more tactically.
NO QTE’s
Around 80 monsters to hunt, each with its own strengths, weaknesses and preferred habitat.
Improved crowd AI translates into better communication among enemies who will coordinate among themselves while attacking you (expect flanks, combo moves etc).
Introduction of enemy morale system results in varied enemy reaction when facing you (cautious when scared, pleading mercy when faced with inevitable defeat etc).
No enemy scaling means that the player will actually feel his character’s skill growing as the game progresses.
Environmental awareness during combat – use a hive to let loose a swarm of hornets upon the unsuspecting enemy.
New Witcher Senses system boosts Geralt’s vision, hearing and reflexes. This means that you can more efficiently stalk your prey by its tracks, procure and sort through evidence and defeat your opponent.
You can create a hybrid character from the three specialisations – Swordsman, Mage and Alchemist.
An expanded Sign casting system means that each of the five Signs now has two different modes.
Improved Alchemy involves players drinking potions prior to combat, and activating them when required.
Expanded Crafting allowing for more the creation of more diverse items such as armour elements and weapons.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is expected to arrive in 2014 on the PC, Xbox One and PS4.