Long Live Saskia

Warning: Minor Spoilers

I have now breezed through Witcher 2. At least it feels that way compared to Witcher 1. Geralt can meditate wherever he pleases and the maps seem more compact and much more interesting. Despite many improvements I have some complaints. Geralt can only drink potions while meditating. This means either a full metal alchemist perennially poisoned Geralt or the save a lot, die a lot strategy. All the best gear and character abilities are reserved for Chapter 3 none of which carry over for a second play through. I found character development the most confusing of the three games. I tried to hold out for greater mutagens but only ever got two greater vitality mutagens and by the time I could spend them I was nearly at end game anyway so what was the point? I know that I missed some Chapter 3 content but I was more interested in story progression and didn’t really care. I believe that there is a fair amount of randomness in game play and others may have had a better experience.

My choices in Witcher 2 don’t exactly line up with my PS4 Witcher 3 game save but I don’t think it really matters. Geralt got much of his memory back and has evolved into the Witcher 3 jerk so inconsistency seems consistent. If you haven’t played Witcher 1 there doesn’t seem to be much incentive to abandon Roche and follow Iorveth’s path. He’s generally depicted as a ruthless terrorist who makes life harder for everybody. On play through number one, I ignored Roche’s own ruthless tendencies and assumed that his heart was in the right place. I was surprised in Witcher 1 by noble knight Siegfried’s refusal to negotiate with Scoia’tael for the release of hostages and sided with them eventually. This lent some logic to aligning with Iorveth in Witcher 2.

Even though I had forgotten so many details from my first play through, I have always remembered the game as grittier and funnier than Witcher 3 and a second play through confirmed that. Iorveth’s path is even better. Dwarves are hilarious. Iorveth’s path also introduces Saskia, the powerful dragon/human female egalitarian leader. No romance there. She seems to appreciate Geralt for what he’s truly good for which is just as well because Iorveth would have ended him.

No matter on what terms Geralt ends Witcher 1 with Triss, he starts out Witcher 2 with her. He had reluctantly blown Shani off and then refused to commit to Triss but there she is. He made time with nearly everyone he could in Flotsam and Vergen. He ultimately sacrificed Triss for Saskia but let Letho go for saving her. Quite conflicted that Geralt. His allegiance to any kings has died with Foltest. He’s the people’s Witcher now. In his sort of self interested jerk face way.

After taking Iorveth’s path, I am disappointed that CD Project Red could not find a way to weave Iorveth and Saskia into the third installment. They are LOTR level epic characters. Things did sort of go off the rails for Saskia á la Game of Thrones but Geralt saved her and I got the ending GOT fans wanted.

As for Uncharted, I decided that I don’t need to force myself to finish games that I am not enjoying and have moved on to Uncharted 2. Game play improvements are subtle but noticeable and I am happy for now.