10 Reasons To Replay The First Witcher Game In 2021

With CD Projekt RED’s record-breaking release of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt in 2015 introducing gamers around the world to Geralt, Dandelion, and all the beasts of the Continent, it is easy to forget the comparatively quiet origins of the now-famous series. Released in 2007, the first game, simply titled The Witcher, paved the way for what was to come in later adaptations of Andrzej Sapkowski’s epic fantasy novels.

The first game actually has more to do with the trilogy’s conclusion than many may think, and there’s never a bad time to revisit old favorites. Although dwarfed by its popular sequels, The Witcher is a game that more than deserves a replay, if only to witness Geralt’s origins once again.

10 An Epic Story

After playing through Wild Hunt for the fiftieth time, it is possible that some players may grow a little tired of tracking down Ciri, slaying ghouls, and accidentally riding Roach off tall mountains. Luckily, The Witcher has a brand new storyline for RPG fans to sink their teeth into which is different enough to be surprising with its numerous twists and turns, but also familiar enough for diehard Wild Hunt players to enjoy.

The game starts with Geralt returning to the fortress known as Kaer Morhen with no memory of who he is, where he is, or how he ended up there. He meets several of his fellow monster-hunters before the fort is attacked by a group of cultists known as Salamandra, and Geralt makes an oath to hunt them down and destroy them. It is, at first, a simple story, but, with each chapter the player completes, complexities arise.

9 Familiar Characters

For many new fans, The Witcher will not be their first foray into Sapkowski’s world. With Netflix’s adaptation and the popularity of Wild Hunt, most newcomers will surpass the first title in the series. For those players who are returning to the PC original, however, there will be the friendly faces of many beloved characters to look forward to.

One thing that The Witcher is known for is its colorful cast of characters both good and bad that are in no way one-dimensional or generic fantasy characters. The first game introduced the world to these heroes and heroines, and replaying will give the player another chance to be humored by Dandelion and Zoltan and horrified by the dark underbelly of Vizima.

8 Familiar Settings

As fans will remember, a majority of the first Witcher game takes place in the city of Vizima, which is under a strict quarantine due to a plague. Although only mentioned in the second game, The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings, the palace of Vizima plays an important part in Wild Hunt when Geralt is personally invited to visit by Emperor Emhyr var Emreis and is given the main quest for the overall story. For many players, it is simply entertaining to see a familiar place throughout the two games.

7 Combat

Unlike the modernized combat in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, the first title has a more tactical approach to vanquishing foes and destroying monsters. In The Witcher, players can choose from three different styles of sword combat, with the outcome varying between each enemy. Also included is a heavier reliance on alchemy and the crafting of potions.

For some fans, the older style of combat and careful study of a creature’s weakness and strengths was dearly missed in later installments, and returning to the first game will bring them back to the sort of combat that is less like Skyrim. For others who prefer charging headfirst into the fray, perhaps a replay of more structured combat will be a refreshing change.

6 Choice of POV

One main component that was lost since the first Witcher game was the choice of perspective. There were originally three camera styles players could choose from: two isometric perspectives where the mouse is used for most actions and an over-the-shoulder third-person perspective that became the norm for the second and third installments.

This choice of POV is alluring to many fans who prefer the style of gameplay found in games such as Baldur’s Gate, Warcraft III, or Divinity: Original Sin II. Even if players prefer the perspective used in the second and third games, this sort of change is an interesting option when they need a broader view of the battlefield.

5 Structure

Whereas Wild Hunt is structured like other massive, open-world RPG titles such as The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim or Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla, some players have felt a little overwhelmed at the sheer scope of the game and its mass amount of content. With the main quest line taking anywhere from 70 to 100 hours to complete without additional side quests or objectives, it is easy to see why a return to a more structured story and a shorter playtime would be tempting.

Players familiar with the first Witcher will remember that, even though there are a handful of side quests scattered throughout the game, the main story is split into five concise chapters with an additional prologue and epilogue.

4 Different Endings

Something that became a staple of The Witcher series as a whole, a decision-consequence system was implemented in the first game to make the player feel more invested in the outcome of specific trials, and, in some cases, the deaths of certain NPCs. With a varied array of decisions to make, players will reach different conclusions to the story with each playthrough, automatically making the game perfect for a replay.

3 Easter Eggs

Every title in The Witcher trilogy is packed to the brim with easter eggs, and many references to other franchises can be found throughout each game. In Wild Hunt alone, the player can find ghost ships sailing the seas, Tyrion Lannister dead in a cell ripped straight from Game of Thrones, and even a secret treasure in the Emperor’s palace.

Similarly, in The Witcher, players can come across allusions to films such as Star Wars, Saving Private Ryan, and Monty Python, and even classic works of art. Keen listeners will hear NPCs whistling the “Imperial March” that accompanies Darth Vader’s entrances, and, in the swamps outside Vizima, players will discover some lumberjacks who will discuss their love for crossdressing.

2 Old School

As strange as it sounds, for many young gamers, the first Witcher is now considered to be somewhat old-school. With its less-than-stellar graphics by today’s standards and oftentimes awkward and stilted animations, there is a certain retro-ish charm to the game that’ll have players nostalgic for the days of Windows XP. There is a certain beauty in its flaws, and fans wanting to return to a different era in video gaming will find great enjoyment in revisiting a classic RPG like The Witcher.

1 Voice Actors

If there’s one thing that The Witcher trilogy is known for, it’s the stellar voice acting talent featured throughout each installment. Any chance to hear more of Doug Cockle’s gravely, charming performance as Geralt of Rivia should be a treat for fans of the series.

Additionally, players will be able to hear a different take on the bard Dandelion’s voice courtesy of Tim Beckmann, who was replaced by John Schwab in the second and third games.

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