For the person(s) who recommended Witcher 2

[Commissar Vocaloid]

I don't get what I'm doing wrong here, but the controls are some of the shittiest combat controls I've ever played in a game. Terrible keybinds aside, the combat feels really clunky.

Someone tell me I'm doing something wrong, because I don't understand why combat is so god damn terrible :/ And it's a shame because the story looks interesting, but I don't remember the game being this bad in Witcher 1.

[BaptismByLoli]

For Combat:

What difficulty are you playing it on?
The higher the difficulty, the more you need to rely on your Equipment, Items, Signs and Potions.

Are you using your signs and potions?
AArd and Yrden are two signs you must master using. The Force Push Sign, The Trap Sign, The Shield Sign. All three of them can really turn the tide when used correctly. The other 2 is Meh.
Potions that regenerate Vigor Regeneration and Sign Intensity are a must to consume/possess.

Are you using your items?
Traps, Knifes, Bombs.
Don't be afraid to use them constantly and in every battle. Resources are a plentiful in the game and they make combat way easier, no joke.

Are you dodging your enemies and getting back stabs?
Don't expose your back when dodging as you receive more damage when doing so. Dodging is more rewarding than parrying/blocking as it can allow you to easily get around their back and do some good bonus damage.

How's your equipment looking?
Keep getting the latest equipment you can afford/craft. It helps.

For the rest:

Can't help you there sadly.

[Commissar Vocaloid]

It's none of the above. In fact, its the lack of any fluid fighting that disturbs me a lot. It seems that I have to roll infinitely to have any sort of defensive chance, and blocking is very limiting in that it only lets me block in one spot. That, and the lack of things like strafing or back pedaling make it utterly attrocious. It just feels like I'm locked to doing one or two things in combat that makes group battles a nightmare. It's like the minute I'm surrounded, I lose because rolling does squat if I'm getting slashed at. The locking mechanism is also pretty shit, and all it seems to do for me is redirect where my attacks or going, but I find it utterly awkward to swap targets mid-combat.

I don't know, I just remember W1 being a lot better in terms of the combat. In this, it's a pain. I just don't feel like playing it - it's utterly garbage :/ But I'm urked because I only hear great things about the story line and some of the other mechanics.

[BaptismByLoli]

Sorry to hear that. When I played it on the 360 it was pretty easy/fluid for me. Have yet to test Witcher 2 on the PC but I'm glad that they removed the Combat Stances from TW1. Was too much hassle. So was the alchemy.

[Jazz-Sandwich]

CD projekt made an official 'mod' to help make the combat more fluid as well as fix some general bugs. Look up 'witcher 2 combat rebalance mod'.

Though I wouldn't call the combat 'atrocious' to begin with. True, you can't flit between enemies and carve them up with impunity; it's a completely different style of combat than is popular in other games of the genre, and unfortunately not for everyone. It took me a lot of time and early frustration to get used to the whole 'positioning is key' aspect, and that I had to know when to use each of the signs, rather than sticking to a favourite.

[Barrogh]

There was a thread where we've touched upon the issue with combat system. I won't retype that here, but bottom line is that yes, IMO The Witcher series is a game series about rolling all day and left-clicking things to death you play for the story assuming it grows on you.

EDIT: well, you were posting in that thread too, so I guess there's nothing new. Allright then, nvm.

[Nurland]

The target swapping is a bit awkward at times but don't think I ever died because of that even when playing Dark mode. Mostly the combat is just poking evemies by hitting them with 1-3 strikes and then just rolling away. Staying in motion as much as possible to avoid being surrounded and gang raped by a bunch of angry monsters etc. Also Quen really helps on higher difficulties. Makes them a cakewalk.

[Barrogh]

Well, played using KB+M and had no problems. To me it seems that using pad or whatnot is only justified if either the game in question has that horrible "cinematic camera" instead of proper mouse look or when you really like to touch those round buttons.

Speaking of Quen, can someone please elaborate what's so great about that thing everybody seem to call it the best sign ever? I found it much more useful to spam aard or sometimes yrden, which may actually speed things up since you waste less time rolling and more time hitting this way.

But maybe that's because I was using mage build - yes, one that forces you to level up quen even though you will only ever use it by mistake.

[Commissar Vocaloid]

CD projekt made an official 'mod' to help make the combat more fluid as well as fix some general bugs. Look up 'witcher 2 combat rebalance mod'.

Though I wouldn't call the combat 'atrocious' to begin with. True, you can't flit between enemies and carve them up with impunity; it's a completely different style of combat than is popular in other games of the genre, and unfortunately not for everyone. It took me a lot of time and early frustration to get used to the whole 'positioning is key' aspect, and that I had to know when to use each of the signs, rather than sticking to a favourite.

This is one of the problems I have as it just looks ridiculous. I don't feel like I'm so much in a fight, as I am just a circus clown running around waiting for the best opportunity to strike. It's like, one second I jump in and I hit a guy for a few hits, the next, I'm rolling around and trying to essentially "herd" the enemy into moving into an opportune spot, as if they were mindless sheep/cattle. It doesn't feel like "combat" at all. That's another reason why the "fluidity" is just not there.

But it's true, I am probably making judgement based on plays of other games - in particular, games like Demon/Dark Souls and Assassin's Creed are probably clouding the judgement.

The target swapping is a bit awkward at times but don't think I ever died because of that even when playing Dark mode. Mostly the combat is just poking evemies by hitting them with 1-3 strikes and then just rolling away. Staying in motion as much as possible to avoid being surrounded and gang raped by a bunch of angry monsters etc. Also Quen really helps on higher difficulties. Makes them a cakewalk.

I've died twice to this, in that I rolled away and happened to roll next to a guy who I wanted to immediately hit - however, I'm not sure if it was a matter of not aiming my camera directly at him, but I was not able to swap my aim to him in a short moments notice. Thus, I proceeded to attack without realizing the camera was not able to lock on him, and I ended up jumping back into the group I had just rolled away from. Unless there's a "next" target button that I'm not aware of, that would be one of the bigger concerns regarding camera controls and target swapping.

[crazyman64335]

"I don't feel like I'm so much in a fight, as I am just a circus clown running around waiting for the best opportunity to strike."

That's what melee combat is though, in most every game, dark souls included in that.

[BaptismByLoli]

Dark Souls Golden Combat Rule is dancing with your enemy. So is TW2.

Maybe these type of combat gameplays just ain't your cup of tea?

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[Commissar Vocaloid]

I totally disagree as my experience with DS is the ability to strafe and back pedaling. That and the encumbrance of rolling around meant that it wasn't something I was spamming on the fly, and was used more sparingly dependent on your dex.

[Nurland]

Barrogh:
Well on higher difficulties Quen essentially allows you to make one mistake or get a stab in the back and not die or lose 50-80% of your hp. So you can just roll around and hit stuff and get hit without losing hp. Usin Aard makes killing enemies faster provided you can overpower them quickly enough but still is a riskier route (esp. against multiple enemies). Works OK on hard (I used pretty much only Aard on my Hard playthroughs) but on Dark I got way better results with Quen. Since it really does wonders to your survivability.

[Barrogh]

Melee combat can always be called "dancing with the enemy" as it is rather vague, but one thing is using just one move to evade attacks waiting for your opponent to screw up and leave a huge opening in the form of long-arse attack recovery animation for you to launch your most damaging attacks, another thing is when it involves pretty much the same spacing games, but at least has a bunch of different tools of offence and defence for different ranges and situations. I swear, Savage 2 (haven't played first one) and latest Aliens vs Predator games got it better than TW, even though they belong to genre that is supposed to have its focus elsewhere and melee in those is based on simple "rock-paper-scissors" system that was everywhere back then, it's not that they are some Soul Calibur games or whatnot

But speaking of focus, it's just what TW is: you simply beat the drum to hear its tale, no complications

[Swift]

Cor, all this talk about the combat system. I haven't played it yet, don't put me off now.

[Commissar Vocaloid]

Rolling Simulator, the Game.
But seriously, outside of the combat, everything else about the game is enjoyable. I'm like grudgingly continuing on with the game, but it shouldnt disappoint you in all other departments.

[BaptismByLoli]

'should?' XD

[Commissar Vocaloid]

'should?' XD

shouldn't. My bad.

[Barrogh]

'should?' XD

Some people love e-rolling.

EDIT: Nvm, wasn't reading carefully.

[BaptismByLoli]

E-Rolling ?

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[Barrogh]

E-Rolling ?

I wanted to type just "rolling", but somehow it reminded me of a guy who was making fun of e-sports and "e-athletes" other day, so for some reason I decided to type, well, that.
Nevermind, just black bugs of mine.

[BaptismByLoli]

Nope, I understand friend. Don't worry ^^

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[Swift]

I don't mind it being Rolling Simulator, doesn't faze me at all.