If you’ve ever played a video game, you know that you need to play a certain level or stage to proceed. In most cases, the same goes for video games. However, this isn’t always the case. Sometimes, developers will release new versions of their games with different requirements in mind. These changes are known as “patches” and they are introduced to keep players content while enjoying the latest and greatest version of their game. The Witcher series is no stranger to patches. Each one has been released to fix various bugs and improve the overall gameplay experience.
What is The Witcher 4?
The Witcher 4 is the latest entry in the popular fantasy series created by polish author Andrzej Sapkowski. The title is also known as The Wild Hunt, and it’s the first game in the series to be set in a fantasy context. Like its predecessors, The Witcher 4 is a role-playing game (RPG). In an RPG, your task is to become the master witcher and fight against the Wild Hunt, a chaotic force led by the nameless Watchers. A demo for the game, titled The Wild Hunt: Spires of Stone, was released in January 2019 to positive reviews.
Release Date:
The Witcher 4 was released in Spring 2020 for both the PS4 and Xbox One. Like all games in the series, it’s a launch title for the new consoles, which means it’s arriving near the tail end of the actual release cycle. This is the first entry in the Witcher series to not be developed by TheCDProja, who created the original games. Instead, the new team, led by writer and artist Andrzej Konrad, has taken over the task. The Witcher 4 Release Date was originally set for the Spring or Summer of 2020 but was later pushed back to the Spring of 2021.
How Does It Compare To its Predecessor?
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is the last Witcher game released, so it’s a natural fit to review the competition. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt was released in 2014, and it’s widely considered to be one of the best games of all time. It was followed up in 2016 with The Wild Hunt: Explorers of the Empire, an expansion that added tons of new content and features. So, how does The Witcher 4 stack up against its predecessor? Let’s take a look.
Gameplay and Story
The story of The Witcher 4 is similar to that of its predecessors. You play as a Witcher, a legendary mercenary who specializes in defeating supernatural threats. The witcher’s job is to rid a region of monsters, whether they be supernatural, such as a witcher’s nemesis, the Wild Hunt, or man-made, such as a certain elven CEO. The story of The Witcher 4 is primarily focused on your relationship with both witchers and their larger world-building.
What’s in the Box?
The first piece of content players receives when they purchase The Witcher 4 is a Free Companion token, which is redeemable for a total of three items: a bow, a quiverful of arrows, and a backpack filled with equipment, consumables, and gold. The Witcher 4 also comes with a season pass that includes access to four additional DLC packs and the ability to play as fan-favorite characters, such as Ciri, Yennefer, and (eventually) Geralt. There’s also a demo, which is exactly what it sounds like — a demonstration of the game’s features and available content.
Negatives and Drawbacks
This is a hefty game on several fronts. It’s more than just a double whammy, as it’s also a role-playing game and an action game. As such, it features a unique blend of the two genres, known as Roguelike or Action-RPG, which is a challenging combination on its own. Furthermore, The Witcher 4 doesn’t have a traditional single-player campaign, instead relying on online connectivity to serve as its main storytelling component.
Final Words
The Witcher 4 is a long-awaited sequel to The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt and it does not disappoint. The quality of the new game is extremely high and the added features, including the ability to play as the witcher, Ciri, and Yennefer, make the game even better. It is a must-play for all fantasy lovers and fans of games with great storytelling.
