CD Projekt Red certainly seems as though it is going to be kept busy for the next few years. Currently working on the release of the next-gen versions ofThe Witcher 3,Cyberpunk 2077’s DLC and sequel, the nextWitchersaga, and aremake of the firstWitchergame, there’s a lot to look forward to for fans of either big CD Projekt Red IP. However, among all these exciting projects, there is one game of the company’s past that feels a tad left out, and that isThe Witcher 2: Assassin of Kings.
The Witcher 2released back in May 2011, and while it didn’t manage theenormous success ofThe Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, it did see the story of Geralt reach new heights both in terms of sales compared to the first game and general critical reception, going on to win over 50 awards, as reported by CD Projekt Red in 2015. With the focus being solely onThe Witcher 1right now, it might be easy to forget the successes of Geralt’s second video game outing, but should there come a chance to remakeThe Witcher 2in the future, CD Projekt Red should jump at the opportunity.
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What a Remake of The Witcher 2 Needs to Change
The Witcher 2may have received some great reviews, and it might still be remembered fondly by fans of the series, but it is definitely a title that is showing its age. Being over a decade old, with its Enhanced Edition releasing in 2012,The Witcher 2could do with a reworkof its gameplay and a complete overhaul of its graphics. The visuals especially, while impressive at the time, show a night-and-day difference from those ofThe Witcher 3, for example. Of course, it is expected that a sequel to a game on an older console generation will look better, but this means that a graphics upgrade in a potentialWitcher 2remake would be heavily appreciated.
As a lot more gamers are familiar withThe Witcher 3, going back to play the older games can be somewhat of a jarring experience thanks to the difference in visual style. AsThe Witcheris getting a graphics upgrade in its Unreal Engine 5 remake, this is likely going to get more people than before seeing where Geralt’s video game journey kicks off. However, with the first and thirdWitchergames looking great with the remake and next-gen versions, this leavesThe Witcher 2as an awkward middle child without any sort of upgrades.
Beyond the visual changes, another thing that makes returning toThe Witcher 2jarring is in its gameplay. Thecombat ofThe Witcher 2is similar toThe Witcher 3, but the former comes across as a lot less polished compared to its successor. Again, while a lot ofThe Witcher 2’selements were impressive for its time, the game has showed its age considerably, and so a remake could tighten up those gameplay systems to make Geralt feel less clunky in a fight. A lot of these aspects for improvement onThe Witcher 2would likely revolve around smaller changes compared toThe Witcherremake, particularly regarding graphics and gameplay, but it is still worth updating an aging game to modern machines, if only for that perfect trilogy experience.
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Why The Witcher 2 is Worth Remaking
Though the game is showing its age at the time of writing,The Witcher 2should not be disregarded by any fan wanting to learn WitcherIP or those who simply enjoy great RPGs. It is important to remember that a lot of the reason gamers were so hyped forThe Witcher 3back in 2015 was because of the success ofThe Witcher 2. Therefore, not only would it be to the benefit of the game for it to be remastered, but it would also benefit those who haven’t yet got a chance to experienceThe Witcher 2.
There are plenty of things to like aboutThe Witcher 2, but perhaps the most obvious thing that sticks out to those who’ve played it is its cinematic and interesting story. Kicking off with Geralt supporting King Foltest through a siege and following the White Wolf as he tracks down the titular assassin of kings,The Witcher 2has a smaller scale than its sequel, but it uses this expertly. With impactful story choices that can lead to somecharacters living or dying inThe Witcher 3,The Witcher 2’snarrative is not one to be missed for those looking for the complete tale of Geralt.
Moreover,The Witcher 2’snarrative is unique in its diverting paths. Early on in the game, Geralt has to choose between following Iorveth, theleader of the Scoia’tael, and Vernen Roche, a Temerian Special Forces commander. Through these characters, the player gets vastly different narrative options inThe Witcher 2, something thatThe Witcher 3doesn’t really manage to replicate despite its larger scale and well-crafted quests.
The Witcher 2also comes packed with interesting creatures and monstersthat the other games don’t have. From the Kayran that is still remembered as one of the series' best boss fights to the iconic Dragon, there are a lot of epic creatures that would look phenomenal were they to be rendered with Unreal Engine 5. Combined with a potentially improved combat system as well,The Witcher 2remake could allow for as much fun in its monster hunts asThe Witcher 3does.
Were there to be a remake ofThe Witcher 2, it would be interesting to see how far CD Projekt Red could go in improving the game. As fans have recently found outThe Witcherremake will be open-world, marking a significant difference from the original game, it seems that CD Projekt Red is willing to go beyond just slapping a fresh coat of paint on its previous titles. To seeThe Witcher 2as one grand open-world adventure would excite a lot of fans, and introduce new players to another greatWitchergame.
The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kingsis available now on PC, Mac, Linux, and Xbox 360.
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