After playing tw1 and tw2, I can honestly admit that I have never played such enjoyable games! Tw1 with the enhanced director's cut graphics is way ahead of games realeased over a couple of years AFTER tw1's release. Like all games, there are always minor diffficulties that can be worked around. However, the fact that the game does not shy away from real life sexual situations further ehances its appeal. The ONLY complaint I have with tw2 is that Shani, my "girlfriend" from tw1, was omitted from tw2. I really hope a future dlc will bring her back!

I agree, it is one of the best games i ever played.

Not finished yet but I thought TW_1 Directors cut was a much better experience then this one so far. I would rate it One point below The Witcher 1!! for its implementation of alchemy and potions and considering the awful UI menus and map it falls short of original!!

Just finished Chapter 2, and ya, I agree it's one of the best I've played, even out of non rpg games. Well done CDPR, can't wait to see the ending(s).

It's really a matter of taste, imho. I thought W1 was very good in that it gave you options for fighting, what other game did that? W2 is weaker in that respect, it seemed to me to have one fighting mechanic (unless I missed something?).
I just finished it and watched the entire credits roll (like I do every game) and I'm very impressed, one of my fav parts of the game were the flashbacks with the animated 2D screens. Once the next patch comes in I'll give it another spin with different decisions. Thankyou CDPR.

I have played through TWEE and TW2 and i say TWEE is so superior to TW2 that i feel slightly cheated for my 50 dollars US. I expected a better game that fixed some broken elements like inventory and left the cool stuff like alchemy and combat alone. Instead they did not fix inventory choosing to break alchemy and combat, fucking brilliant.

The game is only good because it is better than alot of the other trash that was released around this time which is hardly an endorsement. So TW2 can claim that at least we dont suck as bad as the rest of the stuff out there, is that the new bussiness model. BANG!! the race to mediocrity has begun.

Asai

TW2 has a number of advantages over TW1EE:

1. The combat system is much better for those who love action games (when the controller keys work
2. Way better graphics.
3. Refined Alchemy system
4. More explicit sex scenes (for those who go for that sort of thing)
5. Cool sneaking sequnces
6. Ability to learn about monsters by reading
7. Direct rewards for paying attention to spoken details (like adventure game which was a cool touch)
8. Making stuff was cool

But for me that is where the advantages end. TW1EE on the other had has better...

1. More compelling story which has MUCH greater character depth/exploration
2. More meat on the bones of the story
3. More compelling moral choices, and you get to see the consequences better
4. Better Music
5. Much fewer bugs (obvious I know...)
6. Much better fist fight system (Tw2 arm wrestling and fist fights are kind of a dodge imo)
7. More attached to the characters you work with
8. Choices more morally/personally compelling
9. A LOT more quests
10. bigger world.

I think I understand the reasons: TW1 was using Bioware's engine which while it had some limitations, forced the developers to really focus on the world and the character development. This time they made their engine, so the focused on having "all the power in the universe" and let the story take more of a back seat to smooth graphics' refinement. Kidda of a shame considering the amazing work they did with the story in TW1. in the end I think the story always wins over nice graphics. so overall all, I still like Tw1 more (ironically I paid less for it...) That said.. the DLC does give some opportunity to expand but...some of the expansions need to happen earlier in the game (chapter 1, and Chapter 3 needs a LOT of expansion). Reviewers are right: it leaves you a little irked as your choices feel a bit inconsequential compared to tw1.

TW2 is the best CONSOLE game I ever played on my PC! Please don't insult it!
CDP RED is a cheating whore though. They should be dragged through the slime and the mud. :)

3. You call it refined, I call it dumbed and flawed.
6. That was present in TW1 too, though you had other options.
7. Similar was present in TW1 too, though not that obvious.

Witcher 2 to me was an evolution on everything that was good about The Witcher, while fixing what was bad about it. Not saying its a perfect game by any means, but its a game I love.

I can understand people being disappointed by the fact that alchemy ingredients only had one characteristic, or the UI, but those are really minor points.

The gameplay was better and much more fun (Combat in TW1 was boring)
The design was excellent
Every quest was amazing and well thought-out. Even what was before a fetch quest had interesting elements thrown in.
RPG elements were much better. The skill tree in TW1 was bad.
The environments are unparalleled in this game. No other game has given me an experience similar to exploring Flotsam's forests.
The choices you make are much more interesting.
The presentation is great.
The dialog was better written and the story was amazing.