One thrilling fact stands strong against the ever-moving video game industry: the next game in CD Projekt Red’sThe Witcherseries is coming. AsThe Witcher 3: Wild Huntlives on as one of the greatest RPGs of all time, it’s natural to be curious about every aspect of the fourth installment in this powerhouse series. That’s especially true for combat as a central feature of the world.
The Witchergames’ mechanics have grown increasingly complex, especially as they have improved alongside rapid video game development in general. At the end of 2022,The Witcher 3received its long-anticipated next-gen update, which included mechanics and visual updates. Much of this included combat, which could very well indicate what the upcoming game will look like.
The Witcher 4 Could Have the Most Immersive Combat in the Franchise Yet
Combat Improvements to The Witcher 3 Provided Balance
A key part ofWitcher 3is its portrayal of The Continent, taking players directly into the mind and body of Geralt. To be a witcher is to face an onslaught of monsters few others can defeat, requiring a mechanical balance that allows players to feel powerful but retaining the realism of survival. The next-gen patch improved that balance.
Firstly, a huge change was that Geralt can switch between bombs and potions inTW3’s radial menu, making it easier to fully utilize the many witcher skills that players have access to. Regardless of which abilities and resources players will have access to inThe Witcher 4, the next game is sure to align with a smoother UI, mirroring a witcher’s notoriously fast reflexes.
Food regeneration was lowered, which forced players to be mindful of the healing potions they have access to and eat accordingly outside of combat. There are also swords that were notably underleveled by the time the average player got them, such as The Blade from the Bits from Hattori and the Winter’s Blade fromCrach an Craite. The patch ensured they leveled with the player, allowing greater access to different weapons.
There was a rebalancing of decoctions and potions, and armors, especiallywitcher gear, got huge upgrades, making progression feel far more meaningful. For any high fantasy game, it’s important to have a diverse and powerful spread of weapons and armor, which the expansive next-gen update suggests will be a priority inThe Witcher 4too.
The Witcher 3 Next-Gen Combat is Lore Accurate
The next-gen combat also improved simple visuals, such as getting blood on Geralt’s face and body and arrows getting stuck in his armor. However, a few changes were more intriguing in terms of watching Geralt do what he’s best at.
Geralt now wields his sword at different angles depending on the difficulty level of enemies, at times even creating a firm guard held with both arms. This visual detail is one combat and sword-fighting lovers can delight in. Similarly, new voice lines were added during combat, including “a few drownersand a water hag, my favorite,” indicative of the monotonous lifestyle of monster killing, which Geralt often cites in the games and original novels. It also ironically makes the killing feel less monotonous to the player, as Geralt interacts directly with the different things he faces. HopefullyTW4will feature more interactive dialogue throughout combat.
All of this said,The Witchergames are immersive at their core, with CD Projekt Red clearly putting colossal effort into world-building and the characters’ place within the setting and story. With a brand-new protagonist on the horizon, thestory possibilities ofThe Witcherare endless, but the precedents set by previous games offer clues about the gameplay.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
WHERE TO PLAY
You are Geralt of Rivia, mercenary monster slayer. Before you stands a war-torn, monster-infested continent you can explore at will. Your current contract? Tracking down Ciri — the Child of Prophecy, a living weapon that can alter the shape of the world.PLAY AS A HIGHLY TRAINED MONSTER SLAYER FOR HIRETrained from early childhood and mutated to gain superhuman skills, strength, and reflexes, witchers are a counterbalance to the monster-infested world in which they live.Gruesomely destroy foes as a professional monster hunter armed with a range of upgradeable weapons, mutating potions, and combat magic. Hunt down a wide variety of exotic monsters, from savage beasts prowling mountain passes to cunning supernatural predators lurking in the shadowy back alleys of densely populated cities. Invest your rewards to upgrade your weaponry and buy custom armor, or spend them on horse races, card games, fist fighting, and other pleasures life brings.EXPLORE A MORALLY AMBIGUOUS FANTASY OPEN WORLDBuilt for endless adventure, the massive open world of The Witcher sets new standards in terms of size, depth, and complexity. Traverse a fantastical open world: explore forgotten ruins, caves, and shipwrecks, trade with merchants and dwarven smiths in cities, and hunt across the open plains, mountains, and seas. Deal with treasonous generals, devious witches, and corrupt royalty to provide dark and dangerous services. Make choices that go beyond good & evil, and face their far-reaching consequences.
