The Witcher 3 needs a little introduction. A paragon of the last console generation and an all-time great on many gamers’ must-play lists, the fantasy action RPG has a reputation which far precedes itself. From the Polish literature which inspired the game series from the now infamous CD Projekt RED to the Netflix series which in turn drew its popularity largely from the games themselves, the world of The Witcher presents a wildly rich story to immerse oneself into. From violent wars and debaucherous antics to horrific monsters and a plague of magic, the spectrum of friends, foes and fiends which the world presents are near-unrivalled in-depth and wonder. And all of this, of course, we see through the eyes of the quietly complex and devilishly talented “Butcher of Blaviken”, Geralt of Rivia.
A sequel and reboot in equal measure, as the first of The Witcher series to launch on previous-gen consoles, The Witcher 3 gained notoriety for depth, breadth and storytelling. A vast open world but one filled with activity and adventure enticed players to become The Witcher, to engage with its challenges and to learn the lore in order to fully become a master over it. As an action game, an adventure game and indeed an RPG, The Witcher 3 presented a masterclass in game design and mechanical perfection which made you, the player, feel both consistently threatened by magnificently-produced monsters, but equally consistently powerful and capable of overcoming them with care, caution and strategy. Be it through magic, alchemy or the simplicity of careful timing when swinging your silver sword, any challenge you faced was both deadly and possible in equal measure. This made The Witcher 3, and indeed it’s award-winning expansions, a triumphant pleasure to play. Hence, of course, why fans and first-timers alike have long waited for the promised next-gen update, which The Witcher 3 Enhanced Edition gloriously delivers.
It is worthy of note at to returning fans at the offset that, whilst some very light additional content has been added such as Netflix series-inspired consmetics, there is little to shout home about in terms of the content added in this updated version of the game. The focus has been much more heavily on mechanical polish, visual fidelity and truly enhancing the overall Witcher 3 experience. And boy, is this Enhanced Edition enhanced. Whichever side of the frames vs fidelity fence you fall on, The Witcher 3 Enhanced Edition is beautiful at every single level. From a blade of grass in the wind to the sprawling mountains and forests surrounding Kear Morgen, if you thought that The Witcher 3 looked good before this game is truly stunning. The addition of ray tracing into the mix makes the lighting of every man, woman, child and monster look as close to real as anything I have seen in recent games, and the clean movement around the world feels impeccable. Playing in performance mode hits a real sweet spot between looks and fluidity, as well as making each and every battle feel a little bit more impactful and controllable than before. Certainly, the adventures of both Ciri and Geralt are enhanced to the teeth in this new version of the game. Were the story any different, this could well be the Witcher 4 and it would be an impressive next chapter at that.
Nostalgia goggles are damned, this is The Witcher 3 as it lives in my memory from playing seven long years ago and more. Truly, this upgrade is astoundingly well-produced and reignites the flame of belief in what CD Projekt RED is capable of as a development team. A few wobbles in their recent endeavours are easily forgotten in the first few minutes of taking in this title in all of its glory, and the time feels very much nigh for a Witcher 4 (which of course is very much on the way). For new players, this is the pinnacle of what the Witcher 3 has to offer, and for returning fans it is certainly everything that could have been asked for in terms of a reason to jump back in. Let us hope that this achievement represents a new golden age for CD Projekt‘s abilities to bring us to otherworldly experiences at the top of the gaming food chain once again.
Reviewed on Next Gen Platforms PS5 and Xbox Series X
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