The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

The opinions of the critics regarding the story of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt are overwhelmingly positive. Many critics praise the game for its captivating narrative, well-developed characters, and engaging storytelling. ActionTrip describes the narrative as captivating, while New York Daily News mentions a deep and immersive story with meaningful choices. CGMagazine highlights the compelling plot and morally ambiguous storytelling, while LevelUp emphasizes the impending catastrophe and Geralt's role in stopping it. MMORPG.com adds that the story feels immediate and engrossing, with choices that have drastic consequences. Critics also commend the game for its handling of mature themes without moralizing. Gameplanet praises the story for its characterizations and mature themes, while Guardian mentions quests involving infidelity, domestic abuse, and miscarriage. The Washington Post and We Got This Covered both appreciate the player choice and moral ambiguity in the storyline. PC Games and ZTGD highlight the well-written dialogues and emotional weight behind conversations, respectively. Slant Magazine praises the war-torn Northern Kingdoms and the branching choices that impact the story. However, there are a few critics who express some reservations about the main story of The Witcher 3. IGN, in particular, mentions that the main story can feel like a wild goose chase with too much padding in the form of fetch quests and collectathons. This sentiment is echoed by Metro GameCentral, who states that the story takes a backseat to exploring the countryside and making a living. Despite these criticisms, the majority of critics still find the story to be engaging, well-developed, and complex. In conclusion, the overall consensus among the critics is that the story of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is very good. The game is praised for its captivating narrative, well-developed characters, and morally ambiguous storytelling. The inclusion of mature themes without moralizing is also commended. While a few critics express reservations about the main story's pacing and focus, the majority of critics find the story to be engaging, well-crafted, and complex. Overall, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is widely regarded as having a strong and compelling story.

The opinions of the critics regarding the gameplay of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt are varied, with both positive and negative aspects being highlighted. Several critics praised the combat system, with IGN stating that it is "excellent" and "fluid," making the player feel powerful and accomplished. MMORPG.com also commended the "deep combat" and GameCrate mentioned that the combat system is engaging and allows players to develop their own preferred style. The 360-degree combat and challenging AI were also positively mentioned by ActionTrip. The game's complex game systems, including exploration, crafting, and experimentation, were lauded by CGMagazine. The variety of quests and missions, as well as the meaningful outcomes of side quests, were appreciated by We Got This Covered. However, there were also criticisms regarding the gameplay. Some critics, such as Slant Magazine and Digital Spy, found the swordplay to be repetitive and lacking impact. Digital Spy also mentioned that the targeting system can be a hindrance. The Guardian highlighted technological issues, such as texture pop-ins and frame-rate drops, which affected the overall gameplay experience. NZGamer criticized the gameplay mechanics, describing them as poorly made, with inexact fighting mechanics and occasional bugs. Gaming Age found the combat to be more hack and slash than tactical, with movement feeling off and not as fluid as it should be. VideoGamer also mentioned bugs and loading issues that hindered the gameplay experience. Overall, the consensus among the critics is that The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt offers a deep and complex gameplay experience with a focus on combat, exploration, and questing. The combat system received mixed reviews, with some critics praising its fluidity and satisfaction, while others found it repetitive and lacking impact. The game's complex game systems, including exploration, crafting, and experimentation, were appreciated by some critics. However, there were also criticisms regarding technological issues and gameplay mechanics. Despite these criticisms, the majority of critics found the gameplay of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt to be engaging and enjoyable, with solid combat and a joy of exploration, hunting, and making choices that matter, as mentioned by Xbox Achievements.

The opinions of the critics regarding the Graphics and Visual Design of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt are overwhelmingly positive. The majority of critics praised the game's graphics, describing them as stunning, beautiful, and visually impressive. Critics such as New York Daily News, MMORPG.com, Gameplanet, Washington Post, PC Games, ZTGD, Slant Magazine, Digital Spy, Gaming Nexus, GameCritics, Cheat Code Central, IGN, NZGamer, Game Informer, RPGamer, games(TM), GameCrate, Xbox Achievements, Metro GameCentral, RPG Fan, Gaming Age, Official Xbox Magazine UK, VideoGamer, and IGN Spain all highlighted the game's attention to detail, realistic graphics, and visually stunning world. They mentioned the open world as sumptuous, with impressive attention to detail and a sense of wonderment. The landscapes, towns, and wilderness were described as beautiful, brutal, and full of liars and tricksters. The level of detail in the game, including the characters' facial animations, was also highly praised. However, there were some criticisms mentioned by a few critics. ActionTrip mentioned that certain areas lacked visual splendor, while Guardian and Slant Magazine pointed out issues with texture pop-ins, frame-rate drops, and occasional NPC pop-up. Xbox Achievements and Metro GameCentral mentioned screen-tearing and frame rate issues on the console versions. RPGamer noted that water visuals could be improved, and VideoGamer mentioned framerate drops, texture pop-in, and geometry pop-in as issues. Overall, the consensus among the critics is that The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt has exceptional graphics and visual design. The game's stunning visuals, attention to detail, and immersive world were highly praised by the majority of critics. The open world was described as vast, beautiful, and full of life. The level of detail in the game, from the landscapes to the character models, was highly appreciated. While there were some criticisms regarding technical issues and occasional visual shortcomings, they were overshadowed by the overall positive sentiment towards the game's graphics and visual design.

The opinions of the critics regarding the sound design and music of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt were largely positive. Multiple critics praised the soundtrack, with ActionTrip describing it as "first-rate" and RPGamer mentioning that it adds a "breath of fresh air" to the game. The music was said to perfectly match the world and fantasy setting, with Gaming Nexus highlighting the exciting battle tracks and atmospheric ambiance. Xbox Achievements also commended the "brilliant Slavic folk-inspired score," which added a characterful and immersive element to the game. The voice acting was consistently praised by critics, with Cheat Code Central mentioning the excellent voice cast and VideoGamer acknowledging the top-notch voice acting. However, there were a few criticisms regarding the sound design and music. MMORPG.com mentioned that the music could be repetitive, particularly the combat score. VideoGamer also noted a minor annoyance with the song played during fights, comparing it to a Shakira tribute act. While these criticisms were mentioned, they were not significant enough to overshadow the overall positive reception of the sound design and music. Overall, the consensus among the critics is that the sound design and music of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt were highly impressive. The majority of the critics praised the soundtrack, highlighting its quality and how well it matched the game's world and fantasy setting. The voice acting was consistently praised for being top-notch and complementing the overall presentation of the game. The minor criticisms regarding repetitive music and a specific song during fights did not significantly impact the overall positive reception. As a result, it can be concluded that the sound design and music of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt were widely regarded as excellent by the critics.

The majority of the critics praised the voice acting in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, highlighting its effectiveness in conveying emotions and adding depth to the characters. CGMagazine commends the game for having full voice acting throughout, which enhances the overall immersive experience. PC Games also notes that the voice acting, especially for the main character Geralt, is well done and effectively conveys emotions without relying solely on words. IGN echoes this sentiment, stating that the game has excellent dialogue and voice acting, providing emotional payoff along the way. VideoGamer further emphasizes the excellence of the voice acting, mentioning how every emotion is conveyed in each character's face. However, there were a few criticisms regarding the voice acting in specific situations or for certain characters. Gameplanet criticizes Geralt's voice acting in romantic dialogue, finding it to sound ridiculous. Metro GameCentral mentions an element of try-hard machismo in the voice acting of Geralt, which may not resonate with all players. Xbox Achievements also points out that while the voice acting is characterful and pleasingly earthy, the deliberately dour portrayal of old Geralt may not be to everyone's liking. Overall, the consensus among the critics is that the voice acting in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is of a high standard and greatly enhances the game. The performances are praised for their emotional weight and realism, with little details like character reactions during dialogue adding to the immersive experience. The notable cast, including Charles Dance from Game of Thrones, is also mentioned positively by Guardian and Washington Post. The voice acting is considered top-notch by Gaming Age, with no particular character standing out as bad. The English language dialogue is commended by RPGamer for sounding organically English, and Official Xbox Magazine UK describes Geralt's voice acting as dryly funny and emotionally complex. In conclusion, the voice acting in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is widely regarded as very good by the majority of the critics. While there are some criticisms regarding Geralt's voice acting in specific situations and the portrayal of old Geralt, these are overshadowed by the overall positive reception. The voice acting effectively conveys emotions, adds depth to the characters, and enhances the immersive experience of the game.

In terms of the technical performance of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, there are both positive and negative aspects mentioned by the critics across different gaming platforms. Starting with the positives, some critics praised the game's performance on high-end PC setups. The Washington Post mentioned that the game ran at an average frame rate of close to 30fps in cities and 40fps in the countryside on a high-end PC setup. RPGamer also had a positive experience on PC, stating that the game performed splendidly and never crashed, with only one quest glitching, which was easily resolved by loading an older save file. These positive experiences on PC highlight the game's potential for optimal performance and customization options. Moving on to the negatives, several critics mentioned technical issues and bugs across different platforms. The most common issues mentioned were frame rate drops, glitches, and occasional bugs. IGN, in their reviews for Xbox One, PS4, and PC versions, noted compromised technical performance with 30 frames per second and long transitions between maps. They did mention that these minor glitches did not impact gameplay in any meaningful way. MMORPG.com experienced bugs, crashes, and save issues on PC, which brought down their overall score. NZGamer described the PS4 version as buggy and frustrating, even after a day-one patch, with issues such as Geralt's horse getting stuck, hindered movement, and problematic animations. VideoGamer also highlighted framerate drops, bugs, showstopping loading issues, texture pop-in, and NPC behavioral oddities on PS4, which hindered the overall experience. Overall, the consensus among the critics is that The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt had some technical performance issues across all gaming platforms. While there were positive experiences on high-end PC setups, with smooth performance and customization options, the game faced challenges on consoles. Frame rate drops, long loading times, glitches, and occasional bugs were mentioned as common issues. However, many critics also acknowledged the studio's commitment to addressing these issues through patches and post-release support. Gameplanet expressed confidence in the studio's player-centric philosophy, while RPG Fan mentioned that the developers released patches to address glitches and unresponsive controls. Despite the technical deficiencies, the game's immersive world, engaging gameplay, and the studio's dedication to improving the technical performance were also highlighted by some critics, such as GameCrate and Gaming Age.

The opinions of the critics regarding the replay value of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt are overwhelmingly positive. Many critics, such as MMORPG.com, PC Games, ZTGD, and Gaming Nexus, highlight the vast amount of content and gameplay hours available in the game. They mention the main quest, side quests, exploration, and additional activities like Gwent, which provide players with several dozen to over 200 hours of gameplay. The branching paths, nuanced choices, and meaningful consequences also contribute to the game's replayability, as mentioned by Cheat Code Central and RPGamer. The decision-making and narrative seeds embedded within side contracts and incidental missions add depth and replay value, according to RPGamer. The game's massive open world, dynamic quests, and colorful characters are also mentioned by Digital Spy and Gaming Nexus as factors that enhance the replay value. However, there are a few critics who express some negatives regarding the replay value. GameCritics mentions the potential for quest burnout and boredom when pursuing all the side quests and points of interest. VideoGamer highlights technical issues and frustrating performance that hinder the overall experience, despite the reviewer's enjoyment of the side quests. Overall, the consensus among the critics is that The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt offers exceptional replay value. The majority of the critics praise the game's extensive content, lasting ramifications for actions taken, and the ability to shape the world through choices and decisions. The massive open world, interesting activities, and entertaining quests are mentioned as factors that make the game worth revisiting. The replay value is further enhanced by the multiple endings and different world states available, as mentioned by Game Informer. The positive opinions of critics like Metro GameCentral, RPG Fan, and Official Xbox Magazine UK further support the notion that The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt provides a highly replayable experience.