DCS: Black Shark Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)There are Survey Sims and there are Study Sims. For example, Microsoft FSX albeit very detailed and allows you to learn aviation in a profound way, it is a "Survey" simulator. DCS Black Shark is a "Study" simulator. This means unless you already know the Black Shark, it is highly doubtful you will be able to jump in and start flying in real simulation mode like you can in FSX. However, Eagle Dynamics provides an accommodating game mode, which will allow anyone to take off with the Black Shark and enjoy a military chopper. Nevertheless, you can easily keep adding real features to the game mode step by step to make it more real as you strengthen your skills. That's the big picture. Now for the review...I have played this Sim for hundreds of hours and every single time I get into the Ka-50 Black Shark I just absolutley love it. I broke up my learning process into fully understanding the startup procedures, then basic flight procedures, then targeting and using the weapons, then shutdown...and on to advanced. I recommend a similar method. The graphics and modeling of the Ka-50 are stellar. The cockpit is stellar just for the fact that EVERYTHING works unlike FSX aircraft. The terrain and other outside eye candy are not really the focus but they are very nice as well. This Sim is foucsed on a real Ka-50 experience and is extremely credible for that point. It is an awesome means to learn to fly a military helicopter. It is absolutely worth every dime in regards to a well crafted simulator. And if you get frustrated, Eagle Dynamics has an excellent forum to help you along the way. This is an absolutely incredible simulator, and I recommend it.

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It also includes a new mission editor including a powerful electronic mapping system that allows user to easily create missions and campaigns, and a campaign system that allows the front line of the battlefield to move back and forth according to your mission success or failure. the Black Shark World DCS: Black Shark operations are based in the western Caucus region and include portions of Russia, Georgia and a small part of Turkey. With Russia, special attention is paid to the Krasnodarskiy, Karachayrvo-Cherkesiya, Kabardino-Balkariya and Stavropol'skey regions. Some of this area will be recognizable from Flaming Cliffs, but DCS: Black Shark has added a considerable new amount of terrain, particularly much of Georgia. the DCS: Black Shark map is approximately 330,000 sq. km of ground and sea area. Comprehensive Access to Kamov-50 Avionics Systems DCS: Black Shark comes packed with a wide range of piloting, navigation,targeting and defensive systems avionics for the Ka-50. Game copies includea detailed flight manual covering these, which include, but are not limitedto: traditional electromechanical cockpit instruments, multifunction advancedmoving map system AMMS (ABRIS), the "Rubicon" targeting-navigation system,the I-251 "Shkval" antitank targeting system, countermeasure dispensers,a head-up display (HUD) and helmet-mounted sighting (HMS). Artificial Intelligence (AI) Aircraft the primary innovation regarding AI aircraft in Black Shark isthe inclusion of a new and improved flight model (FM) system. In previousEagle Dynamics products such as Lock On, the AI-aircraft FM didnot reach a high-level of realism, relying sometimes instead on animationsto supplement flight dynamics equations. This absence of detailed angleof attack modeling and the influence of cross wind led to problems during advancedmaneuvers. To remedy this Black Shark features the same standardflight model (SFM) that was used for player-controlled aircraft in LockOn. With this advancement in AI aircraft flight dynamics it is nowpossible for the AI to conduct more advanced flight maneuvers and combattactics. Ground Vehicles, Ships and Weapons Ground vehicles, ships and weapons such as bombs, rockets, missiles andcannons have been significantly improved in Black Shark. Improvementsinclude: an expanded roster of available active ground vehicles, the abilityof each ground vehicle to use multiple types of weapons simultaneously,an overall increase in the level of detail and the inclusion of infantryunits. Key Game Features:
Advanced helicopter and ground force AI that creates a realistic combat environment.
Twice the ground detail of previous TFC simulations, featuring detailedmodeling of 330,000 sq. km of the western Caucasus region.
Head-to-head and cooperative multiplayer.
Powerful mission editor with advanced scripting capability.
Campaign system with a moving front line that depends on mission results.
Highly-detailed six degrees of freedom cockpit featuring Mouse-clickable instruments.
Unrivaled flight physics system featuring realistic damage model,system cascade effect and more.
Detailed modeling and control of engine, fuel, hydraulics, electrical,navigation, radio, fire suppression, sensor, and weapon systems.
Two gameplay modes: "Simulation" or "Game Console."
Advanced weapon physics for missiles, rockets and cannon rounds including ricochets.
Supports TrackIR, Matrox TripleHead2Go for multiple screens, D-Box motion platform.

System Requirements:

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Crysis Warhead Review

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(More customer reviews)Crysis is simply amazing, and I expect Warhead to be excellent also. I've waited for this release, but sadly, I will not be buying it. The DRM in this game is a deal-breaker for the following reasons:
1. Securom 7, the DRM scheme, installs itself on your computer and is as hard as a computer virus to uninstall. It requires making registry edits, and is far outside the realm of what most people are comfortable with Securom 7 causes possible security issues, system failures, and some legitimate software to stop working. It can prevent legitimate programs that burn cds to stop functioning correctly. It does not install when you uninstall the game. EA doesn't disclose these facts on the game's packaging, or in the game's EULA.
A very similar program was deemed illegal by the Supreme Court. The FTC's previous ruling against Sony can by found here: [..]
"Installations of secret software that create security risks are intrusive and unlawful," said FTC Chairman Deborah Platt Majoras. "Consumers' computers belong to them, and companies must adequately disclose unexpected limitations on the customary use of their products so consumers can make informed decisions regarding whether to purchase and install that content."
2. The game has limited activations (5) meaning that you can only install the game a total of 5 times. I think I rebuilt my computer 4 times just in life span of the original Crysis (always chasing more frames, new graphics card, then two of them in crossfire, new processor {quad core} etc... With this new DRM I would have run out of installs in only 6 months or so! I will not pay $30.00 for a game rental, which is what 5 installs effectively makes this game. Even the version available for download through Steam comes packaged with the install limit and Securom, really calling into question the purpose of both: Steam by its very nature prevents piracy, so why would the Steam version need additional DRM OR an installation limit???
3. DRM doesn't stop piracy, it only hurts honest consumers like myself (I own, and have paid for, literally hundreds of games). Spore is a perfect example of how DRM doesn't stop piracy. It is now the most pirated game in history, despite this same invasive DRM. Pirates don't care about DRM; they crack it and then happily play their DRM free version. It is those like myself who buy the game retail that get stuck with all the crumminess of DRM.
4. DRM means you can never re-sell your copy. This potentially violates the doctrine of first sale, which has been upheld by the Supreme Court on more than one occasion. Basically, if you buy this game and don't like it or finish playing it and don't want it any more, you will never be able to sell it to someone else, because there is no way to demonstrate to them that there are installs left on your version. You can read about first sale law here:[..]
In conclusion, the game itself is not the issue here. The issue is that a really excellent game comes packaged with an invasive, draconian DRM scheme that cannot be uninstalled, has ring 0 access to your computer, limits your installations to three, and can potentially crash software you have installed, or even your computer itself.
This would not be acceptable in the case of a DVD or CD, so why would we as consumers accept it in a game? I honestly feel bad that Crytek got hooked up with EA and their malware DRM, as I love their games. I hope that by not buying this one (unless they change the DRM scheme) I and others will influence EA games, or at least Crytek, to steer clear of DRM that only hurts me and you, their honest, paying customers. If you want to learn more about DRM, here is a useful guide: [..]
***UPDATE***
YES I HAVE READ THE FAQ PUT OUT BY CYRTEK. Their FAQ fails to answer or even address many of the concerns with DRM:
1. How is this DRM expected to prevent piracy since all DRM (even Securom 7x) gets cracked almost immediately? (Take a look at Spore which was cracked in HOURS, not days)
2. Why do we, the paying customers then get stuck with DRM, while pirates, who pay nothing, get a superior copy without DRM?
3. I have problems with any DRM that installs in the background, is virus hard to uninstall, and has ring 0 access to my system. I am the administrator of my computer NOT Securom 7x, and any program that takes that control away from me is unacceptable. It is also well known to cause conflicts with legitimate software, and even cause some user's computers to crash. The FTC shot down Sony's similar DRM a couple years ago; this seems like the same thing all over again. Securom 7 utterly fails in its stated purpose, to prevent illegal copies of the game. So why is it still being used considering all of it's negatives?
4. Why is this DRM necessary on the Steam version? Steam, by its very nature, prevents illegal copies from being made.
5. Is the number to get new activations toll free? Also, EA has deplorable customer service (check out the fiasco for those of us with Vista 64-bit who purchased Crysis online and were forced to play at 32-bit, all while EA insisted it was our computers that were the problem, when it was their garbage software installer) and I frankly don't trust them. What assurances are in place that if making a call, someone will be able and willing to help us in a reasonable amount of time?
If they get back to me with answers, I will happily modify this review as necessary.


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Take on the fight as the volatile Sergeant "Psycho" Sykes in a new parallel story taking place during the events of Crysis. Psycho's secret mission will take him to the other side of the island on a ruthless pursuit of a North Korean general hell-bent on obtaining powerful technology. With the versatile powers of his Nanosuit and an arsenal of fully customizable weapons & vehicles at his disposal, Sykes will do whatever it takes to carry out his top-secret objective. Action on the other side of the island is more intense, the battles are fierce, and the mission protocol is no longer "Adapt to Survive". As Sergeant Sykes, now you must adapt to dominate the battle. Twin SMG's blazing, seizing new vehicles, or going stealth, the action and the victory is on your terms.

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Crysis Review

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(More customer reviews)I played the first crysis and absolutely loved it. Amazing graphics, interesting/fresh gameplay, open levels etc. I was then disappointed to learn that crysis warhead had a limit on how many times you could install on a different machine. Since I am constantly upgrading my computer this would mean that after changing out 5 components I would need to buy a new game. I then decided not to purchase the game.
When I found out crysis maximum edition was releasing I checked the forums and discovered that EA had added a workaround to the authorization allowing me unlimited installs as long as I used the tool correctly. I hurried out and purchased the game as it gave me a backup version of crysis and in addition crysis wars. I began playing through warhead and was just as happy as I was with the original crysis title. Probably the best game I have played this year. However, I discovered that some programs of mine were not working (for example, daemon tools) and other games were crashing frequently. I went on the interwebz and found that this was probably caused by the securom 7 that installs with crysis warhead. This securom installed without my knowledge, is not able to be uninstalled without advanced knowledge of your operating system or with a 3rd party uninstaller that was rather difficult to locate (the one provided by the securom company does not work well) Needless to say I did not want malware on my PC so I ran the uninstaller and rid myself of it. This rendered warhead, which I was only halfway through, unplayable but imo it was worth it. I do not need securom deciding what my computer can and can't do.
I learned my lesson, from now on I will check and see what kind of drm a game has before purchasing. If it uses anything as intrusive as securom 7 I will not even give it consideration, its not worth the hassle and I refuse to give money to a company for a game which knowingly puts malware on my computer when hackers who did not pay for the game get to play malware free. Save yourself a headache and skip this game. Tell EA with your dollar vote that excessive and intrusive drm is not the answer for piracy.

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Finally, gamers can get their hands on the entire Crysis world in Crysis Maximum Edition. The 2007 PC Game of the Year is packaged along with the critically acclaimed parallel story, Crysis Warhead, and the explosive multiplayer combat of Crysis Wars. For newcomers to the Crysis world, Crysis Maximum Edition gives players chance to don the Nanosuit in three different games for one low price. Whether they're saving mankind from an alien apocalypse or fighting alongside friends in online team instant action matches, there is something for everyone in Crysis Maximum Edition.The Games Earth, 2019. A team of US scientists makes a frightening discovery on an island in the South China Sea. All contact with the team is lost when the North Korean Government quickly seals off the area. The United States responds by dispatching an elite team of Delta Force Operators to recon the situation. As tension rises between the two nations, a massive alien ship reveals itself in the middle of the island. The ship generates an immense force sphere that freezes a vast portion of the island and drastically alters the global weather system. Now the US and North Korea must join forces to battle the alien menace. With hope rapidly fading, you must fight epic battles through tropical jungle, frozen landscapes, and finally into the heart of the alien ship itself for the ultimate Zero G showdown. Key Features
A unique three-act structure forces the player to use real-time armor and weapons customization to adapt constantly to an ever-changing world.
Encounter a frightening and totally original alien species—they use their senses intelligently and work together to present the most challenging enemy yet in an FPS.
Control of a variety of land, sea, and air vehicles including trucks, tanks, boats, and helicopters.
Explore a living, dynamic world where earthquakes, breaking ice, landslides, and tornados pose an ever-present threat.
32-player multiplayer with real-time armor and weapons customization, plus an all-new multiplayer mode that combines player modification and tactical objectives.
Emergent gameplay means that in-game actions affect future outcomes and give each player a unique experience.
Highly robust and easy-to-use mod toolset allows players to create their own expansive levels for both multiplayer and single-player modes.
The CryENGINE 2 engine delivers the most realistic environments, spectacular special effects, physics game engine, lighting system, and enemy Al.
Take on the fight as the volatile Sergeant "Psycho" Sykes in a new parallel story taking place during the events of Crysis. Psycho's secret mission will take him to the other side of the island on a ruthless pursuit of a North Korean general hell-bent on obtaining powerful technology. With the versatile powers of his Nanosuit and an arsenal of fully customizable weapons & vehicles at his disposal, Sykes will do whatever it takes to carry out his top-secret objective. Action on the other side of the island is more intense, the battles are fierce, and the mission protocol is no longer "Adapt to Survive". As Sergeant Sykes, now you must adapt to dominate the battle. Twin SMG's blazing, seizing new vehicles, or going stealth, the action and the victory is on your terms. Key Features
Fight as the volatile Sergeant Sykes on a secret mission to stop the enemy from obtaining a weapon that threatens humanity.
Discover what happened on the other side of the island in a campaign that takes place at the same time as the events of Crysis.
Never play the same way twice- experiment with going stealth or with guns blazing in over-the-top action.

System Requirements:

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Dead Space Review

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(More customer reviews)Went to Best Buy to buy a new Wiimote yesterday and saw this game. I bought both.
Came back and install it on my Dell Dimension 9200, which is about as pre-built as you can get right? No vista driver problems for me, right?
WRONG. 2 + 2 = giraffes WRONG.
First I had to tell my antivirus and spyware software about a BILLION times to let secure-rom install.
Second I installed it and rebooted.
Third my dvd drive no longer works.
I am not sure what changed between Bioshock and this game cause I bought Bioshock and had no problem with secure-rom back then. I bought bioshock full price and don't regret a single cent because I ACTUALLY GOT TO PLAY BIOSHOCK. I finished bioshock without even cracking it (although I eventually did for a second play-through, cause who wants to find the dvd everytime right).
REVIEW UPDATED :
Funny thing. I never did install Dead Space again on my system. I just can't risk having SecureRom on it again since I actually do tons of work on it. So here is a review of a cracked version of the game, as opposed to the boxed copy which now sits next to other games I don't play anymore (poor HL2). I think EA should have an option when you insert the disk that lets you chose between installing their DRM version or downloading a cracked one. I am joking but I totally am not.
The game runs nicely on my Dell Dimension 9200, which ran Bioshock and COD4 on high just fine. If you compare it to PC exclusive titles you can tell the textures in this game is low quality. Nevertheless, it has a nice, polished look.
The controls are fine. I tried it with my xbox 360 control but just can't bring myself to play any kind of fps without keyboard/mouse. The game forces the mouse turn rate so your character can't magically turn 180 degrees in half a second. This didn't bother me, and I actually think it's a nice way to add some realism into the controls.
The overall experience is effective and addictive, if not for the reason the developer stated. They said it was mostly about psychological fear, with help from shadows and music. The game is actually mostly about enemies popping out or dropping down from ceilings. They said it's about strategic dismemberment. It's strategic the first 5 times, by then it's more like habitual dismemberment. Shoot limbs for maximum damage doesn't require more IQ than boom headshot.
Nevertheless, the game just flows very well, and lots of little things are put into it to keep you in the game world 99% of the time. It's obvious the developers put a lot of thought into the interface and controls. It's something new to the genre that future games can learn from.
So now having played the game (I plan on replaying it on Easy so I can just wack the enemies to death, and then on Hard to give myself more of a rush) I think it's worth the money. However, a big part of the reason I think that is cause I played a cracked copy put together by the pirates which installed the game and not secure rom. So I'm very conflicted about the whole thing. I definitely don't want any more secure rom nonsense but at the same time I'm happy I bought the game (to support more games like this on my PC). I guess I'll continue to buy games with secure rom if it's good enough like this one or bioshock, but I'll still be playing the vastly superior pirated copy instead. Everybody wins, I guess. At least everybody who is honest enough to buy the game, and then smart enough to download a cracked copy too :/

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Dead Space from EA is sure to please any action-adventure gamer looking for a bloody battle against deadly aliens. Dead Space for PC begins when a massive mining ship, the USG Ishimura, comes in contact with a mysterious alien artifact and suddenly loses its communications with Earth. Engineer Isaac Clarke is sent to repairthe Ishimura's communications, but arrives to find a floating vessel that has become a complete bloodbath. The crew is mutilated and infected with an ancient alien scourge. Clarke's repair mission is transformed to one of survival as he fights to save himself and return the artifact to the planet at any cost.
Fight with Weapons and Telekinesis The alien hordes are incredibly resilient. You'll have to find creative ways to neutralize the attacking enemies by shearing off limbs with powerful weapons. And when the ammo runs out you'll be thankful that you can use your telekinetic powers to pick up objects (even the aliens' own severed arms and legs) and hurl them at your advancing enemies.
Graphics, Effects, and Sound Increase the Horror EA delivers an incredibly frightening experience with state-of-the-art graphics and effects, an audio system that will have you jumping out of your seat, and a truly horrific atmosphere that is permeated with death, mutilation, and despair. You'll have to be resilient to slash through the alien onslaught and stop this virulent scourge. As you explore the ship, the tragic story of the USG Ishimura will unfold in gory detail as you discover frantic logs from the hideously transformed crew in their final days.
True Zero-G Effects You'll be able to take full advantage of zero gravity in Deep Space. Battling enemies and solving puzzles takes on new challenges and present ingenious opportunities with the Zero-G game play. You can use zero gravity to create your own path around obstacles by walking on walls and the ceiling. Leap across vast distances or change your perspective to gain a strategic advantage over your enemies.

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Red Faction Guerrilla Review

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(More customer reviews)The game runs excellent on my pc (Q6600, 9800GT, 6Gb RAM, Vista x64), and I have not encountered any major bugs. Sometimes the destruction effects can be a bit awkward, like when a huge building is being held up by one little pillar, but that doesn't happen too often. I turned off AO because I really couldn't see a difference in image quality and it was making me lose a few fps. The 5.1 sound thing doesn't bother me because I play with crappy headphones, so it didn't hurt my personal evaluation of the game. However, I believe it IS a problem that needs to be adressed by the developers.
The graphics, while good on a technical level, aren't very inspired. I feel like they wasted the Martian setting. It looks like Arizona with futuristic cars. They could've had more outlandish landscapes.
Other than the somewhat mediocre presentation (mediocre in terms of art direction, not technical design), I love the game. The protagonist is a likeable guy, and the story missions so far have provided nice variety. The destruction is not just a gimmick. It's extremely satisfying and never gets old. While the missions usually focus on destroying a structure, there are just so many way to do it. Also, other than the limits placed by the environment, there really is no set path anywhere. One mission asked me to track a marauder through some buildings. Instead following the winding rooms and hallways, I just smashed a straight path through with the hammer.
Overall I think it's an excellent purchase for the price, and hopefully the sound issues get patched up for those of you who want to enjoy it in 5.1.

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The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings Review

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(More customer reviews)(NOTE: I am reviewing only the Witcher 2 and not the software security protection (DRM). The version I purchased was DRM free, therefore I can't discuss any issues with its implementation. I know many PC gamers, have strong feelings about DRM, and I understand the attention the subject garners as strict DRM can be very aggravating for game owners. If this issue is important to you, be aware that avenues for obtaining DRM-free copies of this game can be readily available. Now, on to the game review.)
**SPOILER FREE**
**Updated** 5-19-11
5-23-11
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I gave this game 5 stars, and I feel it easily deserves each one. Plain and simple, I like this game. It may not be 100% perfect but it's engrossing and vastly pleasurable. There are several PC game sequels of late, which have been more concerned about their playability and reception on home console systems than being true to the original quality that won them acclaim (I'm glancing at you Dragon Age and Crysis).Thankfully, the Witcher 2, feels like a glossy more gracile version of the first incarnation, while still hitting the spot for the PC crowd.
The Witcher 2
The Witcher 2 is an exceptional game. The pacing is better than the first iteration and the story is arguably more engrossing. If you are new to the Witcher games, you may feel a little lost during the first 30 minutes, but you will soon be acclimated and well on your way to becoming a deft monster-slaying machine. If you are reading this review to see if your child will enjoy this game, you can stop right here. This game is made for adults. The language, violence and intense sexual themes lend themselves to a mature audience.
The Graphics
The character models in the Witcher 2 are far better looking than the Witcher original enhanced edition. The characters feel alive and their movements look fluid and natural. The skin models are more realistic than ever, with the lead character showing the deep skin gouges and scarring one would expect from such a dangerous profession. However, the real graphical achievements in this game might be the structures and environments. Some are simply stunning, while others lend themselves to the mood of the area whether it's a dark damp cave or a dimly-lit forest. Unlike, some of the console-friendly sequels that have come to market lately, this game allows the user to adjust a myriad of graphic settings such as : texture scaling, texture memory, shadow quality, LOD distance, bloom, light shafts, blur effects, anti-aliasing, depth of field, rain and wet surface effects, motion blur, resolution etc. This is a great game to show off your high-end graphics card, or to simply revel in PC-superiority in terms of gaming visuals. I have a pretty decent gaming rig (my system specs follow my review at the bottom), and I was pleased that I was unable to play the game at the maximum graphics settings without my system sputtering a bit.
The Sound
Wow. The sweet sounds of the Witcher 2. The music is fantastic adding to the mood and excitement of each moment in the game, it's a soundtrack worthy of a $40 million dollar summer blockbuster film. The voice acting is a bit better this time around. You still encounter the occasional character who sounds a little less than natural, but there is not much to complain about overall. The main characters (such as Geralt) sound believable, sinister and downright cool.
The Gameplay
Combat Control
The gameplay in my opinion is vastly improved. In the original game I occasionally had issues making Geralt perform the action I wanted, or hit the enemy I intended. That issue has been remedied and instead the player is left with an obedient avatar slaying and playing the way he/she intends. The combat system is more dynamic, too, no longer do your spells take up their own mouse button- nor is switching between spells a cumbersome task. In the first game, I disliked the idea of having to switch to a fighting mode, whether it be group, strong, or fast. I also grew bored timing my attacks to the hit indicator (like a constant and repetitive mini-game)in order to string longer combo's together. I wanted the fights to be more fluid without me having to tinker with what "mode" I was in. Thankfully, the developers seem to have agreed and replaced the system with a more seamless combat system. Gerald can now fight a group of enemies, without having to change the fight style or account for what armor the enemy is wearing. The fighting is not easy, you will have to block and evade in order to overcome enemies. So, if you are like some, and wanted to stand in the middle of a group of enemies and swing your sword like Conan to slay them all in one swoop, this is the wrong game. It requires, technique, something a master-swordsmen would likely possess. Be wary of some of the comments others are making about the combat system, it's obvious they have not progressed far enough into the game to have unlocked some of the more deadly and impressive fighting techniques. Those techniques will come in due time and Geralt will become significantly more deadly, easing some of the normal battle encounters.
Game Path
On the cerebral, emotional side of things, the dialog choices the Witcher2 forces the player to make are ambitious. The consequences of choices bear real weight. I often paused to reflect on my dialog options before settling on a response knowing that the outcome could shape my entire experience. Occasionally when you pick an option in the dialog Geralt will surprise you (normally by being overly aggressive or confrontational) while this might be against the players intentions, it's often rather entertaining.
Game Difficulty
When the game prompts you to choose your difficulty, take it seriously. If you are a skilled RPG player and you choose EASY you will likely still die a handful of times through your journey. If you choose NORMAL, you might die within the first 10 minutes of gameplay depending which dialog options you chose (as this may give you a difficult initial sequence). Choosing HARD, will make battles seem at times laborious and incredibly challenging, you will die often. Now, if you choose INSANE (and my hats off to you brave witcher), it's just that, insane. Should you die in this mode its game over, there is no re-loading and trying again. Cool option to have though, right?
In fact, if you are not a hardcore gamer I would recommend you put the game on easy. If you read some of the negative reviews here on Amazon it is often due to difficulty, which then the reviewer blames on the game- when they could just opt for an easier setting.
Game Length and Size
The game is rich and weighs in about 15.9G of data (take that SSD!). The game lasts about 40 hours, per the developers claim. Yet, the replayability is quite high, as there are a variety of different endings and paths to take.
The Bottom Line
If you are hungry for an RPG with rich graphics,challenging combat, a gripping non-linear story and a level of polish rarely seen in games, purchase the Witcher 2. The development team behind the Witcher 2 is arguably one of the coolest around and obviously poured their hearts into this project. In fact, they provided some of the best free downloadable content for their original game long after most of the sales were finalized. If you have a question about the game, feel free to leave a comment. I will try to answer ASAP. Happy hunting.PRO:
- Great Graphics
- Fun Story
- Dialog is well-written and inventive
- Multiple endings
- Rewarding system for leveling
- Downloadable content
- Designed for adult audiences
- well-developed characters
- engrossing world to explore
- excellent story-telling devices
- developer support
CON:
- Difficulty may be out of scale, easy is not easy.
- Occasionally unresponsive controls (button presses every once in awhile will not elicit a response)
- (very)Minor story flubs (Elf character spares a defeated enemy, the next scene he swears to kill him once he finds him)
- Some users report bugs(not me, but I have seen enough people mention them to validate the claims)
- Not for Children (Strong sexual content and language)
- Endings feel abrupt, rushed and non-climatic, there are great moments in the game, the endings are not one of them.
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MY System Specs While Playing The Witcher 2:
CPU: Sandy Bridge Core i5 2500k, Overclocked to 4.4ghz, Antec Kuhler 620 H2O CPU cooler.
Motherboard: Asus Sabertooth P67
GPU: (2x SLI) MSI N560GTX-TI Twin Frozr II/OC GeForce GTX 560 Ti (Fermi) 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card
MEMORY: G-Skillz 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory (overclocked)
PSU: Antec Truepower 23754 TP-750 BLUE LED 750-Watt PSU NVIDIA SLI Certified 80 Plus Bronze Advanced Hybrid Cable Management Power Supply
CASE: Silverstone Raven-02EW

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In Brief The second instalment in the RPG saga about the Witcher, Geralt of Rivia, features a thoroughly engrossing, mature storyline defining new standards for thought-provoking, non-linear game narration. In addition to an epic story, the game features an original, brutal combat system that uniquely combines tactical elements with dynamic action. A new, modern game engine, responsible both for beautiful visuals and sophisticated game mechanics puts players in the most lively and believable world ever created in an RPG game. A captivating story, dynamic combat system, beautiful graphics, and everything else that made the original Witcher such a great game are now executed in a much more advanced and sophisticated way.Brief Story Description After helping to stop the rebellion undertaken by the Order of the Flaming Rose and saving King Foltest's life, Geralt became one of the central figures of political turmoil in the Kingdom of Temeria. Geralt continues to protect the King in the monarch's mission to bring peace to his state. The last bastions of the Order yielded to the royal army. The only remaining task is to pacify the rebellious castle of Baroness La Valette, who announced separation from the Kingdom. It's been a month since the attempted assassination of the king, when his army arrives at the gates of Baroness La Valette's fortress in preparation for the final battle. In the meantime, Geralt, stuck with Foltest, cannot begin his personal quest - to discover the origin and identity of the mysterious witcher-like assassin responsible for the attempt on the king's life - a quest that would answer many questions... Key Features
A truly epic, intense, emotionally charged adventure with non-linear game narration. Three independent plot lines with several alternative events are dependent on the player's choices and lead to multiple different game endings and several additional plot forks. This time gameplay time will be shorter than The Witcher 1, but more intense and packed with events.
A complex, realistic and mature story touching upon subject matter seldom seen in other RPGs, told in a manner that is understandable and attractive to contemporary gamers. We investigate the assassinations of the rulers of the Northern Kingdoms and follow Geralt's personal theme, in which he's looking for his own identity. Gradually we learn how powerful forces influence our situation and what role they order us to play.
Rich, mature dialogue as found in Andrzej Sapkowski's book series and The Witcher 1, presented in highly filmic cutscenes and dialogues sequences, thanks to a new game engine.
New, improved system of flashbacks. Now the reminiscences of Geralt, in which we observe the link between our past choices with current actions, are realistically and smoothly woven into the gameplay.
Sex and eroticism will be introduced in a much more realistic, involving and mature way, thanks to which sexual relationships are presented more credibly than in TW1.
Unique, deep, consistent and rich game world established in a series of best-selling books by A. Sapkowski and recreated in the game to provide an incredible, believable story-driven experience.
Believable, true-to-life characters with their own motivations and goals. During our journey we meet ordinary men, soldiers, rebels, powerful mages, rulers and their assassins. Depending on our decisions we meet different game characters, and our relationships shape further actions in the game.
Highly varied, breathtaking locations, which thanks to the new engine create a cohesive, fully accessible world!
Rich, living world in which every character has their own way of life and unique occupations. Our actions modify the relationship with the game-world population and, in the case of the main plot line, open or close the possibilities of interaction with the game world.
Greater freedom of exploration to provide increased game realism and a wider range of new tactical options. Geralt will surmount barriers, jump over fences, scale walls and ascend rock formations.
Premium Edition Contents GAME DVD The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings game DVD. MAKING-OF DVD All the cinematic materials related to game - trailers, dev diaries, gameplay footage, interviews and making-of exclusive video. OST CD Audio-CD with in-game music. ETUI Box with all the contents of The Witcher 2 Premium Edition. WORLD MAP A map of the game's world. GAME GUIDE The Witcher 2 strategy guide for both novice and experienced role-playing fans. GAME MANUAL A rulebook and interface explanation to help you get started. PAMPHLET AND COIN A physical representation of one of the in-game items. PAPERCRAFTS Two papercraft dolls - Geralt and one random character for collectors. DLC Extra in-game feature for download: The Ultimate Swordsman Suit System Requirements Minimal Requirements: CPU: Dual-Core, 2,2 GHz. RAM: 1 GB (Windows XP), 2 GB (Windows Vista / Windows 7) GPU: nVidia GeForce 8800 / 512 MB OS: Windows XP / Windows Vista / Windows 7

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