Product Details
- Amazon Sales Rank: #710 in Video Games
- Brand: Warner Bros
- Model: 1000270947
- Published on: 2012-04-17
- Released on: 2012-04-17
- ESRB Rating: Mature
- Number of discs: 1
- Platform: Xbox 360
- Number of items: 1
- Dimensions: .80" h x
5.40" w x
7.40" l,
.68 pounds
Features
- Sequel to the acclaimed 2007 PC RPG, The Witcher, now allows Xbox 360 play along as well
- A complex, expansive and mature adventure with a non-linear story in which every decision may have grave consequences
- Experience and exceptionally realistic, vast game world, teeming with its own life and distinct locations
- Spectacular, dynamic, brutal combat system featuring numerous tactical options such as, real-time interactive moves, ranged weapons, traps and bait and non-lethal attacks
- Exclusive bonus items available only in this Special Edition of the game
The Witcher 2: Assassins Of Kings Enhanced Edition
Product Description
Compared to the initial award winning PC release, the Xbox 360 edition will feature lots of new and exciting content. Additional hours of gameplay for the Xbox 360: New major adventures set in previously unseen locations, expanding the story and introducing new characters, mysteries and monsters. New Game Introduction and cinematic: All new animations and cut scenes, including a new, three and a half minute pre-rendered cinematic depicting the assassination of King Demavend of Aedirn. BAFTA Award winner and Academy Award nominee Tomasz Baginski brings this key historical event to life, setting the stage for the story told in The Witcher 2. Upgraded interface, designed specifically for the Xbox 360: Game camera and targeting have been redesigned for the Xbox, and with upgraded pad controls, players will now be able to experience fully The Witcher 2's spectacular and thrilling combat. Enhanced Edition content: GAME DVDs The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings game on 2 DVDs. WORLD MAP: A map of the game's world. QUEST HANDBOOK - The Witcher 2 quest handbook for both novice and experienced role-playing fans. GAME MANUAL: A rulebook and interface explanation to help you get started.
Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews
162 of 182 people found the following review helpful.
By Sloopydrew
After receiving a copy of The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings Enhanced Edition for the Xbox 360, I decided to play the PC version of the game (my 3rd time through) simultaneously with the Xbox 360 version. I played 3 hours per sitting - 90 minutes on the PC version, 90 minutes on the 360. At least that's how I started. 18 hours into this grand experiment (and/or geeky lunacy) and 9 hours into each version of the game, I set the PC version aside and began playing the 360 version exclusively.Is this to say that the 360 version is better? The 360 version is close enough to make it the better option for those who prefer gaming with a controller over a keyboard and mouse. The PC version of the game and the 360 version use the same 360 controller, but developer CD Projekt Red has done such an excellent job at revamping and streamlining the controller layout for the 360 that going back to the PC version started feeling painful, despite those pretty, pretty PC graphics.Graphically, the PC version is superior, but the 360 version is more impressive. How? The 360 version somehow took the graphics of the PC version -- which wouldn't even play on "high" settings until I upgraded my PC with a $390 graphics card, last year -- and made them comparable.Yes, we see more pop-up. No, we don't get as much depth of field. Yes, there are more jaggies. No, the texture quality isn't as detailed. Yes, there is screen-tear (this was the hardest for my eyes to get used to, but my girlfriend couldn't see it, even as I was frantically pointing at the screen screaming, "Right there! Look! It just happened again!"). But the console this is playing on is seven years old and was half the price of the year old video card that is used in my PC.How did they pull this off?!?After a beautiful CG intro. created for this version (and, thanks to CD Projekt Red actually rewarding paying customers, instead of punishing them for their loyalty, now available as free DLC for those owning the game on the PC), the graphics may initially underwhelm -- especially if you're coming off the PC version. But just wait.Wait until you're running from a fire-breathing dragon. Wait until you see the sun begin shining through the trees at dawn in the forest outside of Flotsam (the lighting effects in this game are beautiful -- noticeably better than those in the PC version). The further into the game you get, the better the game looks. By the time you finish, you'll look at your 360 and wonder if someone quietly replaced it with an Xbox 720 while you were away. The Witcher 2 is the best looking game on the console.The Witcher 2 is no slouch in the gameplay department, either. If you can imagine a Western style RPG (Fallout, Elder Scrolls) merged with a JRPG (Final Fantasy, Persona 3) by way of George R.R. Martin (Game of Thrones) -- you can get a sense of what The Witcher 2 has in store for you. The game is dark, gritty, absurd in the best possible way, and adult. It is not like any other RPG you've ever played.There's a choice system in The Witcher 2, but most choices aren't presented as "good," "in-between," or "bad." They're just choices. Like in real life, you can't even be sure if you're making good choices (or "bad" ones, if that's your style) until the choices have been made. Like in real life, you'll kick yourself a few times, knowing you chose poorly a number of times, despite trying to do the right thing. Many times the consequences of your choices won't be revealed until hours later.No matter the choices you make, the game will send you on a bevy of quests the likes of which you have never seen in a game. In the first 5 hours alone, you can try to help an alcoholic troll get off the sauce, you can seek out the embryo of Endrega (don't ask) to help a witch cast a spell that may take the curse off of a medallion you got from a dead boy who was killed because you gave the boy bad advice at the start of the game (again, choices matter and you don't always know if you've made the right ones), or you can collect some mucous from a gigantic sea monster who has been randomly picking fishermen off the docks and devouring them.With mucous, embryos and vodka soaked trolls, you may start getting the impression the game is in the slapstick vein of the Fable titles. Get rid of that impression immediately. Despite the unique nature of the quests, this game takes itself seriously. It tells a grown-up story in a grown-up way. If you have any doubt about how serious this game can get, wait until you hit the haunted hospital early on. The quest is like something spit up from Hell -- and it's nerve-racking enough to have you feeling shaken up by the time it's over, if you can make it that long without taking a breather.The Witcher 2 is an all-around amazing game. I never hooked up my 360 to the Internet while playing, so never downloaded any patches, and the game had but one glitch. And that glitch was funny enough I wondered if it was kept in on purpose. When climbing up a ladder at the very beginning of the game, our "hero," Geralt, literally has his head up the king's butt. It was clearly a collision detection issue, but my girlfriend thought it made for grand humor. After coming off of Skyrim -- which was glitchy to the point where I started wondering if Bethesda Game Studios had a vendetta against its loyal fans -- a gigantic RPG that ran virtually glitch-free without half a dozen patches felt miraculous.Are there problems with the game? Yes. But what it gets wrong is hardly worth mentioning. Forcing gamers to set up and take potions before -- and making potions off limits during -- a fight is a little sadistic (these are also the only times in the game where you can't save). Despite the tweaks made to the menu for the 360 release, it is still a bear to navigate. An immediate fix I'd recommend is to make sure that after upgrading a sword or armor, the sword or armor you just upgraded remains selected. For some reason, after you upgrade a weapon or a piece of armor, the game sends you back to the top of the item list. If you want to add more than one upgrade, you have to scroll all the way back down to the item you had just scrolled down to a minute earlier. But these are minor nits to pick at in a nearly perfect game.The Witcher 2 is the whole package. What CD Projekt Red pulled off, in their first console game, is something many developers are still striving for in their fifth or sixth console entry. The music, the graphics, the gameplay, the quests, the story, the voice-acting, the environments, and the art-design are all top-notch. How a company developing for a console could hit it this far out of the park on their very first try is something of a welcome mystery.In a "battle" between the PC and the 360 version of the game, only PS3 gamers lose (hopefully CD Projekt Red makes that right, soon -- everyone should get a chance at playing this game). The downgraded graphics are a little hard to get used to if you've spent dozens of hours on the PC version of the game, but going back to the less-than-perfect control scheme on the PC version, after playing the 360 version, is even harder. Would I recommend this to those who have already finished it on the PC? Probably not (although it is fun to compare the two). Would I recommend this to those with a 360 who have never played it? Unconditionally.The Witcher 2 is the best RPG of this console generation, and one of the best games to grace a seventh-generation console. I don't know how they did it, but I'm sure glad they did. Those of you waiting for something better can stop your waiting! The Witcher 2 is likely "Game of the Year 2012" for the 360 (or any console, for that matter). What are you still reading this for, when you could be playing? Go now, Witcher ... there are monsters that need slaying and worlds that need saving!Specs (both versions played on a 50-inch Panasonic Plasma 1080p HDTV, for comparison purposes):Settings on the PC version of the game used for this review:Anisotropic Filtering - 10xAnti-aliasing - 4xLighting Quality - HighTexture Quality - HighShadow Quality - HighGrass Quality - HighDecals Fade - MediumDepth of Field - EnabledVisibility Range - AverageSmall Animals Number - AverageSettings on the 360 version of the game used for this review:Power Button - OnA few gameplay tips I learned throughout my many adventures with The Witcher:- Avoid playing on "easy," if at all possible. When they say "easy," they mean it. It turns the game into a button-masher, where you can just press "A" and/or "X" from beginning to end. "Normal" is a little more difficult than most games at "Normal" settings, but stick with it.- Many battles have a "safe spot." This is probably the most important thing to remember when feeling overwhelmed. When you're facing what seems like insurmountable odds, find this safe spot and let your health regenerate. Then go fight some more. Wash, rinse, repeat.- Don't skip the cutscenes and -- if you have the time -- read the journals. There is a heckuva great story being told in this game. The more you put in, the more you get out.- If the sword with the silver wolf head on the handle is at your back, the sword you're using is steel (for humans). If the sword with the silver wolf head on the handle is in your hand, the sword you're using is silver (for monsters). If you're using the wrong sword, you're in for a world of hurt.- The magic sign "Quen" can be your best friend in a difficult battle. When all seems lost, give it a try.- To level up press the back button. Once there, you'll see your item list. Hit the left or right trigger until you're at the leveling up tree. If you play the tutorial, you know this already.- Play the tutorial.- When done, there's an amazing prequel just waiting to be played. Despite being 5 years old, the original Witcher is still a great game. No, you don't need to play that one first. But if you loved the second, there's a lot more waiting for you, should you choose to delve even further into this wonderful gaming universe.
118 of 137 people found the following review helpful.
By Chad E. Munn
I'm a 40 yr old gamer with about 22 years of gaming under his belt. I've been a D&D table top gamer for almost 18 years. This is the first time those two worlds have come together.Witcher 2 is THE single best game I've ever played in my life. Period. It ruins every medieval themed game I own or did own. It absolutely defines RPG for computer gaming because it is SO close to a real table top RPG with a real life DM. And best of all- Witcher 2 has the best, most rewarding combat I've ever played. The finesse of Soul Calibur, the severity of Dark/Demon Souls and the beauty of a novel dreamed of in your head. The plot, the acting (voice and animation) the script, the animation and texture work... they're all without peer on consoles. IF you have the ability to play this on high settings on your PC- naturally go for it there. I don't. I don't know anyone who does as a matter of fact. So for me and those like me- this is the only and best way to experience the masterpiece of this genre.A word to the wary: This is NOT a hack and slash game. This is NOT a casual, pick it up every month or so for a day or two. This game demands skill, tactics and dedication. And for that, you're rewarded with the most satisfying game style and combat mechanics I've ever experienced, and I've played them all.This game is also- VERY MUCH SO- not for kids. Parents who foolishly buy this for their kids without paying attention to the M rating will have their hair fall out when they see the realistic world of the Witcher.I could go on and on about the amazing graphics and art direction, but save your time by visiting the official website or any game review page. The game is brilliantly executed and illustrated. I will say that if you can't install the game onto your drive (13.5 gigs) then be prepared for loading. Once you do have it in the HD though, those loads are often less than 2 seconds each. In other words- MAKE ROOM, you won't regret it. I'm only half way through the game- maybe- and I can't stress enough how this is without a doubt, my game of this generation. I can't wait to see how I feel when I'm done for the first time.For those looking for the ultimate Western RPG- look no farther. You've undoubtedly purchased an Xbox for it's dedication and noted Western RPG reputation and this is the highest form I've seen of that style yet. If you're more into Japanese RPG's (the majority of what the PS3 is known for attracting), this will likely be of NO interest to you as it is a VERY mature plot and cast of characters. No kids looking to discover "love, friendship and true courage". Nor are there any cute talking animals or flying ships. I don't mean to offend anyone- just giving a warning for the system/player types that have created the stereotypes out there.
40 of 46 people found the following review helpful.
By BASEDnectar
So just off the bat, the pre-order copy of this game was well worth it. I have always been a fan of great storytelling in a non-linear or, semi-linear fashion, to tell you the truth as long as there is an amazing story behind the game with graphics and function-ability to match, I love the game; that may be raising the bar but what the hell, why not? So when I first received my copy I installed it onto my Xbox 360 hard drive (makes the game play a little better), after waiting a few minutes I started it up. The opening cinematic to the game (before you press start) is the trailer of the assassin killing the king that many people have seen, seeing that to start me off was just awesome (tends to have more of an effect when it's not on a laptop), so by this point I am already sucked in, I believe it had something to do with relating with an earlier amazement, I then choose the hard drive and start the game. It starts with a linear story-line, which is kind of nice for entering a newcomer into the world of The Witcher, and for developing a little of the plot. The characters are somewhat developed and are well rounded at the beginning! On a side note, I have grown very tired of starting a game and having to guess at what the story will unfold into. So far I have gotten to the first 'free-roam' area of the game. Took about four hours to get through the prologue (mind, if playing on an easier difficulty it will not take that long, probably two or three)-Now for the pro's and con's:PROS:- Very well integrated story-line where your choices matter- Control's make for very intense and awesome swordplay and archery, also magic- Rounded and very deeply developed characters- Addictive and interesting- A perfect blend of strategy and action- Graphics are stunning and beautiful and darkCONS:- The graphics noticeably load at times (but I believe that is because I have a six year old arcade Xbox console)
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