Ben-DutkaIf you didn't already know, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is a very large game.
Therefore, while I'm not quite ready to post a full analysis, I can put up some impressions based on the first seven hours or so. The question that has been nagging me for days, ever since reading some of the early reviews, is this:
Could this game be worthy of the elusive perfect 10 score?
It has garnered nine perfect scores thus far (according to Metacritic ) and that includes major sources like The Guardian, The Telegraph, Digital Spy and GameSpot (the latter's 9th perfect score in history). But of course, everyone has different definitions for a "perfect score," so perhaps that doesn't mean much.
To me, a game receives a perfect score only when it's the best possible game I can envision given the current hardware capabilities. If it's the very best title on store shelves, it has a shot at a 10. There's no such thing as a perfect game so if that's the requirement, no 10 will ever be handed out. You just have to determine if the flaws are small enough, so small that they don't disqualify the game from "perfect" status. In other words, if even one flaw is significant enough to hinder the gameplay, even if it's minute, the game can't get a 10.
Now, there is a control issue with The Witcher 3 . It's undeniable. It's not dissimilar to small issues we've seen in other open-world third-person adventures but I expected a touch more refinement and stability. If anything holds me back from the 10, it's this. I just have to figure out if it's still just as good, if not better, than, say, Assassin's Creed or Grand Theft Auto . Each of those franchises have always had their little control peccadilloes, and GTA has always managed to bring down plenty of perfect scores, anyway.
As for the rest, it's pretty amazing. That's all I'll say for the time being; I just wanted to toss out my current thoughts concerning the prospect of a "perfect" review score.
P.S. The ultra-tiny text on my screen is just absurd, CD Projekt Red. Not everyone sits a foot and a half from a computer monitor; we lowly console peons like to sit in a comfortable chair with a nice big screen…and even a big screen can't help that miniscule text. Make…it…readable. Thank you.
Related Game(s): The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
I would consider a few things for top marks, maybe asking questions like these below.
1) Who is your primary audience?
If I was writing a review for a hardcore fighting game scene I would write about and weight things according to the values I perceive from that audience. If I was writing for a more generalized gamer I would focus more on those elements that seemed more important to the general interests.
2) Are there immediate self evident strengths and or flaws of the game that are either noteworthy or make you feel the ought to be improved upon? Aspects like slow down, most any technical issues, or say bad controls, or unaccommodating text size. These problems don't require a lot of experience from the gamer. Most any of the flaws can be picked out by even the more casual and are likely to cause grief with a reasonable portion of gamer.
3) External comparisons. How does this game relate to other games in the genre or of a similar type and offering? (this is a primary strength of a seasoned game critic).
I feel like if the game has some negatives from these questions it likely shouldn't get a 10, at least by me.
I'm assuming you've already tried but in case you haven't Ben, you can change the HUD size and stuff in the options menu to make the text bigger.
It doesn't make the text bigger. It's large by default but that's too small as it is (I can't imagine what the small setting looks like). The other stuff is for how the elements are spaced on the screen.
Last edited by Temjin001 on 5/20/2015 11:32:12 PM
What Temjin said.
Oh gotcha, yeah it is pretty small.
I like to play games standing, so I can read it without problem…. but yes not having option for that it's ridiculous.
Standing? Was that a side effect of playing too much Kinect back when it was hot?
Why standing? Got hemorrhoids?
I don't have hemorrhoids, I do it because it's more healthy.
p.s. Tem serious question because this it's not the first time you reply me in that way, are you still mad at me because of my opinions of The Order?
Last edited by Oxvial on 5/21/2015 6:39:03 AM
Oh man I have killer back problems but standing hurts too. You can get some really great gear to augment chairs for safe sitting.
Damn sorry to hear that World 🙁
Other personal plus to play standing it's that when I play fighting games with my joystick it reminds me the old days of arcades cabinets.
Yup, The small text is so troublesome, I need to get up from my couch and go near my TV everytime I need to read something, it's so tiring, it's like playing game and doing cardio in the same time…
Playing on a 55" and have no problem reading the text at all. To each their own I suppose.
No issues with text size on 60" also.
60 inch here also. I even set my HUD to small and can still easily read text without straining. 60+ inch flatscreens are dirt cheap nowadays. Anyone complaining of text issues should invest in their hobby and purchase a new t.v.
It's like a gearhead installing nitrous and a turbo on an otherwise stock toyota prius, and complaining that they can't beat a stock dodge charger in a quarter mile…
Last edited by PS3_Wizard on 5/21/2015 9:13:57 AM
Maybe it's a sharpness setting on the TV
Time to sell my kidney and buy big ass 60" TV…
@Fareez, if you need to go to those lengths might I suggest finding a better job. Or budgeting. Most folks complaining probably have small TV's anyway, which is an understandable complaint if your TV is small. Otherwise if you have a big screen there is no issue. Hell even on PC my monitor is small and I can still read the text.
As were now comparing sizes lol mines 32" I Do sreuggle a bit but not loads I just sit closer.
I've had no real issiues, just drops in framerate, got to say that small text is really bugging me, even with my contacts in i can hardly read it on if i'm close to the tv screen
WTF is everyone complaining about small text for? What you can't really complain about this game because it's actually put together pretty well? So you have to find something to whine about? I can read the text just fine. Maybe you should get glasses instead of nitpicking.
That's why people are complaining about the small text, for a game that's so well made and thought out having text that can be too small to read (and it is at times) is a shocking oversight. Also this type of game has novels worth of lore within the game and many people enjoy getting really immersed and reading all of it. So that's why the text is actually an issue worth mentioning.
Have you actually seen the game or are you just lashing out in defense with no foundation whatsoever?
Last edited by Ben Dutka PSXE on 5/21/2015 10:50:15 AM
I own the game man. The text is just fine for me. I'm on a 39" MAGNAVOX TV. BTW Magnavox is awesome. NO input lag whatsoever.
Last edited by LowKey on 5/21/2015 3:10:35 PM
How close are you sitting to the screen?
And there should be no input lag on any decent TV.
Last edited by Ben Dutka PSXE on 5/21/2015 4:51:45 PM
The text is a major issue because it plays a heavy role both in gameplay and narrative. These complaints are valid and necessary as the developer will likely take them into consideration and patch it at a later date to improve the experience.
The text is small and I am playing on 46 inch TV. I thought it was only a problem I was experiencing. I cannot play the game after a long day at the computer at work. My eyes will hurt far too much.
I'm on a 46" TV, too.
Tip for your eyes: Eye strain is like the strain of any other muscle and it generates heat. To lessen eye strain, slap an ice pack on your eyes for as long as you can stand (won't be for more than a few seconds).
I use this technique several times a day and I no longer suffer from bad eye strain. Keep the eyes cool; that's the key. 🙂
I couldn't give it a 10 though I've only had a short time with it but it's pretty awesome. Those horse rides into towns to check out the troubles reminds me of Red Red Redemption more than other fantasy RPGs.
The text size is perfect for me because (unless I'm on the 70-inch) I sit about 6 feet from the screen 🙂
I've logged about 6 hours into Witcher 3, and while it is definitely a work of art and deserving of a 9 or higher, it's not quite a 10 in my book. There are several issues that just aren't polished enough. Control can be frustrating at times, while the layout is intuitive it doesn't have the response or predictability as say Bloodborne, thus Geralt often does things you don't want him to.
Item pick up, especially plants, flowers, seed is context sensitive and requires the player to be in the exact right place. Menu systems could use some work and aren't very intuitive. I haven't encountered too many glitches but they are there.
Last the TEXT, holy god! why do developers expect gamers to sit two inches from the screen, I have a 46 inch and I sit about 6-7 feet away when I play. This is a major issue when it comes to picking up items.
That said the game is fantastic and the positives definitely out way the negatives, but at this point my experience hasn't been quite at the perfect 10 range.
Last edited by Squirreleatsman on 5/21/2015 8:16:23 PM
yeah no fair enough ben, but i think it will fine but who gives what score will be interesting across the board yeah lets see what happens.
happy gaming