General Gaming What should I play next: Witcher 3 vs. Ghost of Tsushima

[Bloodporne]

I ended up staying up till 3AM playing it. I turned the "?"s off, no mini-map and on Death March so far and the combat and general world have felt very threatening and alive, it's really cool so far. I'm getting the hang of the combat and it's so much better so far than what I was expecting from all the negative feedback I've read.

 

As a side note, this game has the most ridiculously beautiful skyboxes I've seen in a video game and in general, the lighting and wind effects especially are amazing.

[Keyser_Soze]

1 hour ago, Bloodporne said:

As a side note, this game has the most ridiculously beautiful skyboxes I've seen in a video game and in general, the lighting and wind effects especially are amazing.

 

One day maybe @SaysWho? will be able to notice them.

[best3444]

Witcher 3 is great but not in my top 5 this gen. Combat is a bit clunky, the music is underwhelming and depressing, and I just didn't like Geralt as a protagonist. 

 

It's really well done and I can understand the overwhelming praise it gets. I personally think Ghost of Tsushima is a better game. 

 

Overall, you'll enjoy it for sure.@Bloodporne

[legend]

4 hours ago, Bloodporne said:

I ended up staying up till 3AM playing it. I turned the "?"s off, no mini-map and on Death March so far and the combat and general world have felt very threatening and alive, it's really cool so far. I'm getting the hang of the combat and it's so much better so far than what I was expecting from all the negative feedback I've read.

 

As a side note, this game has the most ridiculously beautiful skyboxes I've seen in a video game and in general, the lighting and wind effects especially are amazing.

 

It is very stunning and immersive. You'll probably end up playing it again when the raytracing patch comes out for this reason. 

[AbsolutSurgen]

The story and characters for Witcher 3 are among the best of any game I have played -- and the way the game handles player choice is probably the best.

 

However, the combat is mediocre, the traversal is a let-down, it lacks much of the "quality of life" features that you expect in a more modern RPG (for instance, it doesn't let you know when you are near a quest objective), and the encumbrance and weapon wear suck.

 

If it was just the story/RPG elements, it might be among my Top 5 games of the past few years -- but the "gameplay" knocks it further down the list.

 

11 hours ago, Captain Pickle said:

Quen, dodge, dodge, slice, slice, dodge, quen, slice, slice!

 

This.

Unfortunately, it makes the whole combat really easy -- I haven't bothered to use a potion in combat since the beginning few hours.

[Bloodporne]

Thing is I never play games like this so right now this is actually really refreshing.

[SimpleG]

3 hours ago, AbsolutSurgen said:

for instance, it doesn't let you know when you are near a quest objective)

   

Thats a bonus in my book

3 hours ago, AbsolutSurgen said:

nd the encumbrance and weapon wear suck.

Why developers continue to do this I have no idea.  If the game was a survival sim game I can understand but I cant imagine any player would say " Geralt never once had the pockets in his super magical armor fixed 3/10!"

 

3 hours ago, AbsolutSurgen said:

Unfortunately, it makes the whole combat really easy -- I haven't bothered to use a potion in combat since the beginning few hours.

You could try not playing the game in the most brain dead way.

[Bloodporne]

I dunno, on the high difficulty the combat encounters are pretty exciting to me. I mean it's definitely a bit wonky feeling coming off From titles, Nioh and what not this gen but the way I imagined it based on some reactions was some unmitigated disaster or Dynasty Warriors garbage.

[Bloodporne]

5 hours ago, SimpleG said:

You could try not playing the game in the most brain dead way.

[johnny]

13 hours ago, best3444 said:

Witcher 3 is great but not in my top 5 this gen. Combat is a bit clunky, the music is underwhelming and depressing, and I just didn't like Geralt as a protagonist. 

 

Overall, you'll enjoy it for sure.@Bloodporne

Not at all surprising considering your opinion on RDR2 

[Mercury33]

14 hours ago, Bloodporne said:

I dunno, on the high difficulty the combat encounters are pretty exciting to me. I mean it's definitely a bit wonky feeling coming off From titles, Nioh and what not this gen but the way I imagined it based on some reactions was some unmitigated disaster or Dynasty Warriors garbage.

Because you’re probably playing it right. I know that’s a cliche thing to say but in this game it really applies. 
 

Could you go through the whole game just using Quen and attack? Of course but it would be boring as hell and combat would drag on. Learning about each enemy and using the proper potions makes a huge difference in how easy an encounter is. When you slice through a tough enemy because you knew how to prepare it really makes you feel like...wait for it...a professional monster Hunter 😳

 

Also let us know when you get to the Bloody Baron quest line and your impressions as you go through it. 

[Dexterryu]

On 10/16/2020 at 5:03 PM, Bloodporne said:

The days are getting shorter, the weather worse and 2020 shittier by the month. I need some time-sink escapism and I thought I should probably plunge into one of these massive AAA open world fests I usually avoid exactly for my usual lack of time.

 

I never played Witcher 3 due to reading tons of negative comments regarding its combat being janky. After watching some gameplay videos...it looks kind of fun? I definitely like the gory dismemberment, always cool combat feedback. Now if the combat isn't anything to write home about, which seems like a huge part of the game, what makes it so special? Also, how overwhelming is it in regards to map "?" vomit and so on?

 

I've read a lot about Ghost of Tsushima in the OT already so I know of understand what I'm in for there. How does the busy work and open world overwhelming amount of shit compare to Witcher 3?

 

And by the way, this is on PS4 Pro as a disclaimer.

 

Also, feel free to suggest other games of their ilk if you think they're superior.

 

Having played and really enjoyed both, my vote goes to the Witcher. I think it has a stronger story, characters, and side quests. Combat is serviceable, was decent for the time especially for the type of game it is. As for the ?s, most of them can be skipped and they aren't really quests just small points of interests/things to loot.

 

As for Tsushima, it's almost the opposite in terms of strengths vs weaknesses when compared to W3. The combat is great, while the main story is good but not great. Characters and side quests are mix of serviceable to good. It also has plenty of very skip-able '?' type stuff.

 

They're definitely both worth playing and both very good overall games.

[best3444]

On 10/17/2020 at 9:49 PM, johnny said:

Not at all surprising considering your opinion on RDR2 

 

What is so bad in what I said? The Witcher 3 is a tremendous game.

[Bloodporne]

Been fucking around in Velen for quite a bit and yeah, this game is really good. Combat is starting to open up more and it's actually quite challenging right now, I really enjoy taking on camps especially. Also, I love the gore in this, it seems really dynamic and sells the combat. Sword dismemberment...

 

Somehow I didn't have the impression this would be sorta...Souls meets Game Of Thrones in terms of atmosphere, I thought it'd be way more 'bright' fantasy for some weird reason. It's surprisingly melancholic and morbid in general, high-five to that. 

 

One question: I feel like I'm leveling up really slowly. Every quest is at the very least one or two points higher. I just passed through that frozen village after messing around in the 'beginnings' of Velen for a while and doing a few small side quests. In general, I felt like I did a lot of side quests in the previous area always netting me pretty bullshit rewards like 20 XP. I'm only on level 4, see no blacksmiths anywhere yet...for the time I've played it feels like I'm doing something wrong or I'm just too used to playing From games for a decade now where killing enemies is the leveling.

 

 

[Spork3245]

1 hour ago, Bloodporne said:

Been fucking around in Velen for quite a bit and yeah, this game is really good. Combat is starting to open up more and it's actually quite challenging right now, I really enjoy taking on camps especially. Also, I love the gore in this, it seems really dynamic and sells the combat. Sword dismemberment...

 

Somehow I didn't have the impression this would be sorta...Souls meets Game Of Thrones in terms of atmosphere, I thought it'd be way more 'bright' fantasy for some weird reason. It's surprisingly melancholic and morbid in general, high-five to that. 

 

One question: I feel like I'm leveling up really slowly. Every quest is at the very least one or two points higher. I just passed through that frozen village after messing around in the 'beginnings' of Velen for a while and doing a few small side quests. In general, I felt like I did a lot of side quests in the previous area always netting me pretty bullshit rewards like 20 XP. I'm only on level 4, see no blacksmiths anywhere yet...for the time I've played it feels like I'm doing something wrong or I'm just too used to playing From games for a decade now where killing enemies is the leveling.

 

 

The leveling primarily comes from quests. If a quest is too many levels below your own level then you get practically no exp from it.

[Bloodporne]

2 minutes ago, Spork3245 said:

The leveling primarily comes from quests. If a quest is too many levels below your own level then you get practically no exp from it.

I desperately tried to beat a Lvl 33 quest at Lvl 4 last night and failed miserably. Good to know, that would've been a rage attack.

[Chris-]

4 hours ago, Bloodporne said:

It's surprisingly melancholic and morbid in general, high-five to that.

 

Man, just you wait, it is going to get PHENOMENALLY more melancholic and morbid.

[Mercury33]

9 minutes ago, Chris- said:

 

Man, just you wait, it is going to get PHENOMENALLY more melancholic and morbid.

Yep, that’s why I wanna hear his impressions when he gets to the Bloody Baron story. 

[thedarkstark]

You made the right choice, Tsushima was a fun time (platinumed it) but its pretty forgettable imho. It's kind of a jack-of-all-trades, master of none game. 

[gamer.tv]

7 minutes ago, thedarkstark said:

You made the right choice, Tsushima was a fun time (platinumed it) but its pretty forgettable imho. It's kind of a jack-of-all-trades, master of none game. 

Nothing to do with this thread, but I think it may have been the first game review I ever read where Shadow of the Empire was referred to as a jack of all trades but a master of nine’ and as a seven year old I had no idea what it meant. Sorry, as you were...

[JPDunks4]

Witcher 3 is an all time great game.

 

Ghost of Tsushima is a 2020 great game.  If you are into Multiplayer though, the new co-op mode is extremely well done.

[Bloodporne]

2 hours ago, Mercury33 said:

Yep, that’s why I wanna hear his impressions when he gets to the Bloody Baron story. 

I'm starting to read about him a lot and considering the state of Velen on top of it, sounds like a pretty baaad dude.

[johnny]

7 hours ago, Bloodporne said:

Been fucking around in Velen for quite a bit and yeah, this game is really good. Combat is starting to open up more and it's actually quite challenging right now, I really enjoy taking on camps especially. Also, I love the gore in this, it seems really dynamic and sells the combat. Sword dismemberment...

 

Somehow I didn't have the impression this would be sorta...Souls meets Game Of Thrones in terms of atmosphere, I thought it'd be way more 'bright' fantasy for some weird reason. It's surprisingly melancholic and morbid in general, high-five to that. 

 

One question: I feel like I'm leveling up really slowly. Every quest is at the very least one or two points higher. I just passed through that frozen village after messing around in the 'beginnings' of Velen for a while and doing a few small side quests. In general, I felt like I did a lot of side quests in the previous area always netting me pretty bullshit rewards like 20 XP. I'm only on level 4, see no blacksmiths anywhere yet...for the time I've played it feels like I'm doing something wrong or I'm just too used to playing From games for a decade now where killing enemies is the leveling.

 

 

If you’re level 4 and doing quests in Velen you’re underleveled a bit. 

[legend]

7 hours ago, Bloodporne said:

Somehow I didn't have the impression this would be sorta...Souls meets Game Of Thrones in terms of atmosphere, I thought it'd be way more 'bright' fantasy for some weird reason. It's surprisingly melancholic and morbid in general, high-five to that. 

 

Yeah it's very much GoT in terms of the world is filled with mostly grey people and some selfish people mostly in control. Here's a fun article I remember reading on that analogy.

Why 'The Witcher 3: The Wild Hunt' Is Better Than 'Game Of Thrones'

WWW.FORBES.COM

---

We'll address an important distinction first. One of these things -- The Witcher 3 -- is a video game. The other -- Game of Thrones -- is a TV show (unless otherwise specified, I'm talking about the show). These two media are different, there's no way around it: one is [...]

 

 

50 minutes ago, Bloodporne said:

I'm starting to read about him a lot and considering the state of Velen on top of it, sounds like a pretty baaad dude.

 

He is... not a good person. Fitting the theme above though, he's a wonderfully complex character.

[Bloodporne]

16 hours ago, johnny said:

If you’re level 4 and doing quests in Velen you’re underleveled a bit. 

I just did the whole Wandering In The Dark and some sidequests last night and I'm almost up to Lvl 6 finally and also found a blacksmith for better weapons. Finally feel like I'm moving somewhere stat wise.

 

Also, what exactly does leveling up in this game 'give' you? Higher HP I assume, skill points? I forgot to check through everything, there's an overwhelming amount of stuff in that menu.

[johnny]

44 minutes ago, Bloodporne said:

I just did the whole Wandering In The Dark and some sidequests last night and I'm almost up to Lvl 6 finally and also found a blacksmith for better weapons. Finally feel like I'm moving somewhere stat wise.

 

Also, what exactly does leveling up in this game 'give' you? Higher HP I assume, skill points? I forgot to check through everything, there's an overwhelming amount of stuff in that menu.

Your ability points can help you out a lot if you put them into the right things. If you haven’t been using those you need to. 

[Bloodporne]

2 minutes ago, johnny said:

Your ability points can help you out a lot if you put them into the right things. If you haven’t been using those you need to. 

I invested in the sword combat buffs immediately but think I'll switch that up soon.

[johnny]

1 minute ago, Bloodporne said:

I invested in the sword combat buffs immediately but think I'll switch that up soon.

I think investing in signs early helps the most but it’s really up to how you want to play. 

[Keyser_Soze]

43 minutes ago, johnny said:

I think investing in signs early helps the most but it’s really up to how you want to play. 

 

Gives him something to look forward to when he starts his next gen play through.

[Bloodporne]

51 minutes ago, johnny said:

I think investing in signs early helps the most but it’s really up to how you want to play. 

It's Souls all over...so many fun rings, so few slots! I only have three slots unlocked right now so it's painful to try to choose. I do have a buff for Aard right now, I really like that skill although I can never get to the 'finisher' in time when enemies hit the ground. I did it by accident once, that's it.

[Captain Pickle]

So I started playing again bc of this thread. I started with first light attack sign dumped two points. 2 in quen and  next two in Axii for conversations.  After that who knows! Probably fire since I didn’t use that last time and it destroys human enemies and nekkers and u see them a lot in beginning.  Then I’ll respec to something else.

[Bloodporne]

14 minutes ago, Captain Pickle said:

So I started playing again bc of this thread. I started with first light attack sign dumped two points. 2 in quen and  next two in Axii for conversations.  After that who knows! Probably fire since I didn’t use that last time and it destroys human enemies and nekkers and u see them a lot in beginning.  Then I’ll respec to something else.

How does dumping points into one work by the way? I see a "1/3" in a skill tile...I've been afraid to click it again in case I simply end up purchasing a duplicate. If I invest another point in the same skill tile does that create a duplicate or strengthen the skill?

[johnny]

37 minutes ago, Bloodporne said:

How does dumping points into one work by the way? I see a "1/3" in a skill tile...I've been afraid to click it again in case I simply end up purchasing a duplicate. If I invest another point in the same skill tile does that create a duplicate or strengthen the skill?

Strengthens it 

[Mercury33]

1 hour ago, Bloodporne said:

How does dumping points into one work by the way? I see a "1/3" in a skill tile...I've been afraid to click it again in case I simply end up purchasing a duplicate. If I invest another point in the same skill tile does that create a duplicate or strengthen the skill?

Yeah it just makes the effect of that skill stronger. 
 

This fucking thread makes me wanna play again

[JPDunks4]

2 minutes ago, Mercury33 said:

Yeah it just makes the effect of that skill stronger. 
 

This fucking thread makes me wanna play again

 

Wait for the next gen upgrade.