GameSpew’s Game of the Year 2015
Ben and Samuel: The Witcher 3
[divider]Ben:[/divider]
I’ve gone through every game I’ve played this year and I can’t help but think that The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt deserves all of my praise. All of it. It’s not often a game will come out that I can’t sit down and complete within a week after buying it, it’s just so huge! Not only in map size, but the unending list of unique characters and side-quests, all of which have been separately scripted as opposed to copy and pasted throughout the game. There’s also the great combat system, with really satisfying collisions and the badass strings of moves that, when pulled off, can leave you feeling really good about your gaming ability. The script is amazingly well written, with characters that, while potentially following a trope of some description, are all still unique and loveable. Even Geralt, who I’d assumed was just another broody, no-sense-of-humour Batman character, he managed to display a certain amount of charm and wit without ruining his whole character.
I won’t even go into how visually stunning everything is, I can go on for hours about how appealing the scenery is. It’s my game of the year because it’s so expansive and yet isn’t therefore dull and repetitive. It’s just a good, wholesome game.
[divider]Samuel:[/divider]
The Witcher 3: The Wild Hunt has set the benchmark for open world RPGs in the current generation with an engaging story, characters that make you care for them and a vibrant world that promises endless hours of fun exploring. While playing the game I never felt as though a quest, no matter how small, was happening for the sake of prolonging the game; it felt like a natural progression of the world.
Mechanically the combat is a gratifying in a loose kind of way and the enemies, especially on higher difficulties, always present a challenge. The tactics involved and the systems that are available to prepare for battle using the various oils and potions procured on your travels lends enemy encounters a certain intensity that increases as you begin to tackle more powerful foes later in the game.
In terms of graphical fidelity, the Witcher 3 is beautiful. The environments, the characters and the enemies all lend to the creation of a cohesive world in terms of art design and characterisation. Every location has a personality, be it Skellige or White Orchard; this is enhanced by wonderful sound design that breathes life into the environments and the people that inhabit them. That’s why I’ve named it as my game of the year 2015.
