The Witcher 2 - launch controversy

As you all know The Witcher 2 is not due for UK release until tomorrow, however a lucky few (myself included) happened upon some rogue stock on sale in Tesco over the weekend. It seems that Tesco inadvertently began to sell the titles on Friday, a whopping 4 days before the official release. Developers quickly got in touch and demanded that the supermarket pull the remaining stock from the shelves until the actual release on 17th April. 

Whether this mistake was genuine error, or a more sinister ploy to make a few bucks at the expense of more established game retailers, we will likely never know. I for the most part was completely unaware, shambling into my local Tesco on a quest for Cat food, Butter and AA Batteries, I came across The Witcher 2 in the entertainment aisle. 

Without a second thought I dropped one of the many copies on sale into my basket and set off towards the quest marker at the checkout. I encountered no enemies on route and no traps, not so much as a puddle of spilled Ribena. Plain sailing.

After tweeting about my recent purchase, I received a few messages of confusion from friends and followers. For the most part these read something like "Howd u gt that?? N0t out till tues...!". After doing a bit of googling, I stumbled upon this article on EuroGamer, which explained the mix up.

Some of the environments are stunning

In all my gaming history, I've not really experienced this before but the sensation was probably akin to time-travel...or being sent a review copy of a game. Without hesitation, I decided to get stuck in, and here's what I found:

The Game

Following a short, obligatory tutorial designed to introduce you to the combat mechanics and some of the basic functions, you are thrown into a large battle between two ruling powers in the fictional land of Temeria. Your character (Geralt, the Witcher) is a super-human who specialises in slaying monsters. However, on this occasion, you have been summoned by the King to assist in a clash against his enemies. 

So far this looks like an excellent example of a modern RPG. The story is well crafted with characters that have a depth and complexity that makes them really come to life. The graphics are excellent considering that this is a game that has been ported from a PC and adapted to fit the aging hardware of the Xbox. 

In general, the game feels a lot more focused than some open-world RPGs like Skyrim for example (Not that freedom in Skyrim is a bad thing!) but you don't get the feeling of being herded in one direction. I spent the best part of the day exploring, getting pretty stuck into the initial quest, only to find that I was still in the prologue and hadn't even started the first chapter! So, needless to say, there is plenty to do in the world of Temeria.

Mean looking chappy, eh?

Above all though, The Witcher feels very much like an adult's RPG. The mature themes are in your face, but in no way overdone. The language is rife, the violence bloody and the nudity full-frontal, but where others try and fail, the Witcher manages to pull this all off without it feeling trite. 

The Xbox version also comes with some additional DLC and some lovely booklets, manuals and a map. Manuals. Remember those?! If you are a fan of RPGs, Game of Thrones or fantasy in general, I think you'll dig it.

The Elder Scrolls: Skyrim - Looking Forward

Skyrim is the next installment in the Elder Scrolls saga and so far it is looking epic. The game is set 200 years after the events of Oblivion and the story will take place in the region of Skyrim located to the North of Cyrodiil and to the West of Morrowind. Skyrim will be released in both the U.S and Europe on the 11th November 2011 (11.11.11).

The development team boast countless improvements on the previous title, Oblivion, but here are just a handful of things that I am looking forward to the most:

New system for leveling up

Unlike the previous Elder Scrolls titles (and indeed most RPGs), Skyrim has taken a more open ended approach to character leveling up and skill customisation. Players will no longer be bound to a class and it's related skills based on a decision that they made right at the start of the game. With the new system your character can improve any skill simply by using it. This means that you can now adapt the skills of your character as the story progresses e.g you may start off with skills with a two-handed weapon but after some experimenting discover that spell casting is more your style. Experimentation looks like it will be key in Skyrim and it means that your character will be constantly evolving throughout your journey, regardless of the path you take.

New combat systems

You can now dual-wield a variety of weapons and spells. You can for example hold a sword in your left hand and a fireball spell in your right. You can alternatively dual wield two different spells, or even dual wield the same spell in both hands. This will give you the ability to cast an enhanced, more powerful version of the spell. The new combat system will encourage players to try different combinations and tactics for attack, furthering the ethos of creating a unique character that suits your style. 

Prettier menus

Ok so, menus aren't generally a deal-breaker for a good RPG. However, from what I've seen of Skyrim, the menu and stats screens look stunning. For example the skills/perks system is presented as an enormous night sky filled with the twinkling stars of the various constellations that represent the various gods. Your character will now look to the heavens for skills and powers instead of the generic lists that we have come to accept. Skyrim has even taken a fresh approach to the Map Screen - now, at the push of a button, the player camera will zoom up into the sky giving a birds eye view of the entire region. As vertigo inducing as it sounds, it looks fantastic!

New ways of talking

Unlike Oblivion, conversations with Skyrim's inhabitants will no longer take place from a fixed perspective. You will now be able to converse freely with NPCs whilst on the move or whilst rummaging through their homes. This means that once a conversation is initiated, the game will no longer zoom in the other characters face, forcing you to hang on every word while you are glued to the spot. Not much is known so far about the conversation mechanics such as persuasion, but early speculation is that it may resemble something like that in the Fallout series.

Dynamic questing

The new Dynamic Quest system means that factors in your tasks will be randomly generated. Whilst the specifics of a quest may be pre-written, for instance 'steal an artifact from a sorcerer', the game will pick and choose characters and locations dependant on what is nearby and relevant at the time. In short, you and five friends could complete the same quest and yet each one of you would have a completely different experience. This factor sounds great for re-playability, although I wonder what it means for guide and walkthrough creators. 

Diverse dungeons

Dungeons in Skyrim have been built by a team of level designers who specialise in internal environments. The development team have said that this will help to create a better flow and diversity to these aspects of the game. I find this reassuring considering there are over 120 dungeons in the game.

New and improved AI

Much like Oblivion, the NPCs in Skyrim will all have set routines and occupations that they must attend to. However, the game will build on this by including unscripted reactions to the players actions. NPCs may now attempt to steal items that a player has put down or even challenge your character to a dual if they have taken a particular dislike to you. It's these small details that really breathe life into the villages and towns that you visit.

Dragons

Ah yes, the Dragons. These fiery foes will play a large part in the story of Skyrim. Without saying too much, Dragons have awoken and roam freely around Skyrim and your character is the last of the 'Dovahkiin' (the Dragonborn) meaning you have the soul of a dragon and can speak the dragon tongue. These huge beasts look incredible and I can imagine the first few encounters with them will be terrifying. That said, I can't wait to get stuck in!

So those are just a few of the many new things that I am looking forward to in Skyrim. I was a huge fan of Oblivion and I can tell that Skyrim will be spending a lot of time in my disc tray from day one.

The Elder Scrolls: Skyrim is due out on 11.11.11 and it's available for pre-order now.

Watch the trailer here:

Halo: Anniversary - Looking Forward

117 is back

I can scarcely believe it's been ten long years since Halo: Combat Evolved first graced our living rooms. I remember first playing Halo with a good friend of mine (I didn't own an Xbox at the time!) huddled around a 19" portable television, elbow to elbow and loving every minute.  

Halo really set the standard for console based first person shooters and it's co-op experience was second to none. My friend and I spent countless hours tearing around the first level in a Warthog, mowing down the enemy and plunging off of the occasional cliff. Ah, fond memories! 

Being an Xbox exclusive, It could be argued that Bungie's masterpiece was single-handedly responsible for the success of the Microsoft's first console. After all every platform needs that essential game to put it on the map. Halo was undoubtedly that game. 

A decade on and the Halo franchise now rests in the hands of 343 industries who will soon honor us with a re-release of Halo: Combat Evolved simply titled Halo: Anniversary.  

Anniversary will undergo a major face-lift with fresh, 2011 visuals created by Saber interactive. However, the game mechanics that we all know and love will remain untouched as changes to the game are 99% cosmetic. 

The visuals in Anniversary look stunning

Original fans of Halo: CE will be overjoyed to learn that the original graphics can be restored at the touch of a button (the Back button I believe) meaning that the entire game can be played as it would have been back in 2001. The switch can be made at anytime including during cut scenes. 

Do Spartans dream of sheep?

In addition to this, Martin O'Donnell's original musical score has been completely re-recorded with the Skywalker Symphony Orchestra. Some of the synth-heavy parts being replaced and the entire soundtrack now being audible in the glory of Dolby 5.1 surround sound. 

Co-op will also make a comeback, with two friends now being able to team up over Live as well as via the traditional split-screen and system link options.  

As if all that wasn't enough, players will have instant access to the multiplayer mode that was originally designed for four players around a single console (or eight with a system link). Multiplayer for Halo: Anniversary is being revamped to include seven original maps that have been re-imagined and the highly contentious Xbox Live play option. Multiplayer mode will be included on the same disc as the single player campaign, unlike Halo: ODST, and feature the mechanics that we have grown accustomed to in Halo: Reach. 

The Halo ring in all its HD glory

I am ecstatic about Halo: Anniversary and can't wait to get my hands on it. This is just what fans need to keep them busy until the release of Halo 4 in 2012. What with this, Skyrim and Assassins Creed: Revelations all due out at the same time, November is shaping up to be a very anti-social month for me. That's what Xbox Live's for though, right?

Halo: A brief history 

Halo: Combat Evolved - Fantastic graphics, gameplay and a lovingly crafted universe that inspired a cult following. A great boost for Xbox.

Halo 2 - The continuation of the great elements that Combat Evolved built up, as well as that a revolutionary multiplayer experience on Xbox Live.  

 

Halo 3 - New graphics engine, new enemies, new generation. Halo's first outing on the Xbox 360 was a treat for all the senses.  

  

Halo Wars - An unusual departure from the usual FPS to real-time strategy. The first game to come from a different developer, Ensemble.

Halo 3: ODST - A large side story that took the focus off of the familiar protagonist, Master Chief, and put the player in the roll of an ODST Trooper.  

Halo Reach - The final Halo game from Bungie studios and a great way for the developer to say thank you and goodbye to the series. Simply brilliant.