Although its been precisely one thousand years since 2015, its still hanging around in my memory. Not because I achieved anything worthwhile that year (rarely the case); but because I was given multiple distractions from the continuous depressing blows of the real world; just ask your mum. One of those distractions was the Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, CD Projekt Red’s attempt to let Geralt of Rivia retire; Netflix thankfully has had other ideas since.
Now as im sure you remember the game was met with rave reviews from the big publications and went on to win game of the year for most of them when it was released. And this was in 2015...probably the best year for gaming since some demented scientists thought the place nerds wanted to escape to in 1958 was the horrible game of tennis. Within mere weeks of the release of the Witcher 3, Fallout 4 and MGS5 continued their respective franchises; and these games were great. But what was it about Geralts final story that’s lead to it being called by many; (myself included) the greatest open world, (possibly?) game ever made; As oppose to its competition? That’s what I intend to answer, first though; me.
Myself and Open World Games:
Over the years I’ve played many open world games; the obsession began with the Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of time; and then to Majoras Mask; being a nineties baby I have fond and long-lasting memories of these games that are very hard to tarnish; and the innocence of exploring these fantastic places will never be replicated. Fast forward to the early noughties and I began to hunt harrowing polygon rollerblade enthusiasts, to their frankly all too late extinction on the streets of Vice City. I saw Peter Parker gulp down countless neck full’s of the Hudson river, failing to rescue idiots who spend money on boats. Most recently I convinced myself that Dutch Vanderlinde could’ve sold the cartridges my boozy hands used to uselessly murder the hats of his enemies, to finance his gang to last until the 21st century… and be able to found a 3rd party company selling those same hats as DLC skins in Red Dead 3 with the proceeds. He’d probably do very well. Better than I did when, immediately after my first steps in a small town called Goodsprings in the Mojave wasteland, I walked up a road only to be attacked by what I thought were low level enemies; they were flies for god sake. So, imagine my surprise when after two simultaneous jabs from behind (your mum again) my character shit himself so hard that his legs and head exploded instantly as he ate pavement.
Despite their quirks open world games are always appealing to me; I have always had a desire to explore. As a result, IRL I travel a lot and even now I write this on a merchant navy vessel in Australian waters, far away from the UK. Although as it turns out the sea is more depressing to explore than the world of Fallout 76. A feat I thought impossible. But worlds and exploring them is at the core of videogaming appeal to me. And the world of the Witcher 3 is where I’ll start.
The World of the Witcher 3; Establish Lasting Anguish:
You’re first steps in the Witcher 3 are taken in the aromatic and picturesque tower of Kaer Morhan; the home of the wolf school of Witchers. Take Two steps from the room to the balcony overlooking a beautiful but harsh landscape; and it beckons you down stairs to go explore it. Its like the opposite of Liverpool. There’s a distinct feel and character to even this early area, there are details everywhere you look; from the old broken walls to the rough leather dummies and overgrown training areas; it convinces you that people do, have and will continue to live there. And the characters seem to be content within the walls. It’s a shame then that this is swiped from our hero as part of a dream… a recurring dream… of a training level. Im surprised Geralt doesn’t persuade Yen to employ Freddie Kruger to keep him from slumber.
After a short-lived nightmare, we learn the crux of Giralt’s plans to find Yennefer his former lover and address issues with his reoccurring impassable training level dream. Chiefly the fact his estranged adopted daughter is gallivanting around in the company of the worlds most depressing heavy metal enthusiasts- and I mean that very literally; the wild hunt. This locale ‘white orchard’ serves as a great intro to the game; it’s every bit as depressing and downtrodden as most the pitiful holes the townsfolk and farmers of Tamaria are usually allotted. But at least their cornfields haven’t all been uselessly burnt yet. There’s rolling hills and fields; windmills sway on the horizon. It’s quite idyllic in places. However, the world of the wild hunt never lets its people off that easily. No matter how much you enjoy living around a babbling brook or watching the sun set over your newly trimmed tomato verge; knowing the peace could at any moment be destroyed by some cretinous haunted succubus of the damned (not unlike your mum) sawing off your hands with the nearest breadknife. This constant threat is broadcast brilliantly throughout the game and is what lends the world its intoxicating atmosphere. And ultimately what makes it a resounding success.
Yes, the constant threat of being shanked by a ghost, vampire, werewolf, ogre, drowner, ghoul, griffon, harpy, doppler, lichen or troll is the only constant in the world. Not to Without mention the horrible people that inhabit much of the continent- or the fact there’s an immortal mirror salesman looking to stick wooded spoons into every orifice of the world’s entire population. The world and its dreaded atmosphere; something that only truly affirms its self when you lay your eyes on the most depressing windchime ever ‘hangman’s tree’ are evident from the very beginning. But Geralt arriving in Velen is the point where the world becomes a character within the game. The constant state of anguish the people live in for fear of being killed is very evident here! Initially the sheer number of posters requesting our white-haired hero’s help do the best job of showing the player the ridiculous levels of fuckery that these poor peasants have to tolerate. The people’s plight is the one thing our morally neutral protagonist shouldn’t care about – but the players sensibilities are toyed with constantly and making the best decision is always in some way impossible. And it is how this is done throughout that is the reason this game is the best open world game to date; still, four years later.
Conclusion:
Now I will be lying in a darkened room trying to avoid the possibility of things being wholly ruined by hundreds of overly keen fans; Just like your mum does; regarding their next game Cyberpunk 2077 releasing in April 2020.
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