An Open-world Masterpiece: The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Review

Very few video games rise to the top and redefine this media that we love so much. Very few demand that we reexamine the very meaning of art, storytelling and gameplay. Even fewer games make us beg them not to end. CD Projekt Red's The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is a title which does all that and more, and will help define this era of next-generation games.

Geralt of Rivia is your name, and monster hunting is your game. You're a Witcher, a monster hunter for hire with mutated DNA to fight everything big, scary and dangerous. The game introduces Geralt has having an immense past in the world of The Witcher 3, and your reputation as the "White Wolf" precedes you. With this being the third installment in a relatively little-known series, many new players will be introduced to characters new and old and all of them built with endless pre-existing contexts. CD Projekt Red does an excellent job at inching new players in without overwhelming them with an unreasonable amount of (incredible) backstory. The role playing game eases you into what will be the most immersive and detailed game of 2015, and without a doubt, the very best.

The Witcher 3's approach to storytelling is one of direct, unforgiving realism (set in a fantastic world of Westerosi proportions). Racism, war brutality and geopolitics dominate the world of The Witcher 3. As Geralt takes on his quests and side-quests around the world, he strives to rise above wars between nations, political intrigue and crime (but dabbles in it occasionally, creating fascinating plot lines). The RPG lets you pick and choose how you function in the world, and how the world reacts to you, within instances of small-scale conversations with scrappy villagers, or powerful warlords.

Aesthetics and environmental characteristics of the game are impressive beyond belief, and truly feel like a collection of living things. Wind and light through the trees, water on stones and your footsteps on snow are all genuinely beautiful. From dainty villages to immense cities and social hubs, the world of The Witcher 3 is living, breathing and teeming with opportunities to interact with your surroundings.

Gameplay in The Witcher 3 is unique and exact. While minimal movement is a little troublesome sometimes, especially in close quarters, the overall feel of The Witcher 3 is crisp and coordinated. Combat is different, but incredibly easy to get used to, and hot damn is it pretty to look at. Carefully placed strikes of varying intensity can turn the tides of battles, whether it's a vicious monster or a band of murderous looters. Choreographed movements are fluid and incredibly cinematic, helping facilitate a fun and visually appealing project.

Another trait The Witcher 3 proudly boasts is it's phenomenal narrative development. A very wide game in terms of plot, the player can approach scores upon scores of quests in whatever order they prefer, to a certain extent. While main quests carry the primary story, side quests can still deliver incredible stories and characters. Some short and sweet, others brilliant and sad. Each quest packs enough content to fill an HBO miniseries, and the writing often shines brightest in the smallest of places.

CD Projekt Red has and will continue to release several expansion passes. These mini-games will feature new stories and quests and expand the universe of The Witcher. The first expansion, called Hearts of Stone features at least 10 hours of new game play, while the second planned release will include 20-30. In this column's opinion, keep 'em coming. In fact, keep an eye out for our eventual reviews of these additional titles.

To wrap things up, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is ambitious, gorgeous and meaningful. The game should make others strive to be better, and make players strive for better standards. A game that works this hard for your justly deserved respect and admiration should be praised, as it has been with over 200 game of the year awards. The World of The Witcher 3 is alive and teeming with danger and adventure. It's breathing deep in anticipation of your actions, and can feel you presence. Do not keep it waiting. This is the very best game of 2015.

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Ben Stembridge, Editor-in-chief

Ben leads the reviews and news coverage for Game Chop. He also offers opinions on games and the industry, covering a wide range of genres and platforms. Ben especially enjoys discussions on game narratives, design styles, and independent titles.

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