Here are the details that the nice folks over at NeoGaf have managed to uncover about the upcoming Withcer 3:
– World supposedly 20% bigger than Skyrim’s, says development team. [Tentative, obviously]
– 30-40 minutes to cross world on Horseback
– New streaming technology (CDRED Engine 3)
– Geralt’s Memory is restored
– No chapters/acts
– Dude is DONE fighting for everyone else
– Everything from solving MYSTERIES to slaying monsters
– Coming out on “all top-of-the-line” consoles (next gen, then?)
So more about the monster hunting:
– Clues build up information (like a Bestiary perhaps?)
– Books garner information about monsters
– Townsfolk provide information
– Potions and such are important
– Time of day and other conditions affect where monsters appear, and their abilities
Some combat info
– Critical strikes in areas that matter depending on how much you learn about said monster
– You can disable a vampires poisoning attack by hitting its venom gland (Vampires are poisonous?) or skewer BOTH ITS HEARTS with a thrust attack (instant kill)
– Monsters drop loot like unobtainable alchemical and crafting ingredients for unique potion, mutagen and item crafting.
– Provides income as well
– Enemy AI completely rebuilt, scripted bosses out
– Environmental combat ‘contributions’ (a dozen types of interactive objects)
– Magical signs retooled
– Igni = new flamethrower effect
– The magic tree advancement allows secondary sign forms = ie. Igni and a 360-degree blast
– Yrden = small trap can be modified into a larger field that slows any enemy
– Other trees, Swordsmanship and Alchemy
– New strikes under Swordsmanship, boosts like improved stamina and parrying
– Mutation mechanic under a different development path
– Not much information given about Alchemy path, other than it being based on potions
– Horse could be used to access long term stash, as well as Inns
– Team aware of frustrations of inventory management in The Witcher
– Committed to a less tedious process
– Crafting critical to maximize Geralts potential, but weapons and armor can be found in many ways
– Players can customize their crafted weapons with some components, ie, monster scales for leather in armor
– Each armor piece has unique appearance, new cloth simulation tech.
There’s a lot of exciting info available, as you can see for yourself, even though there’s still some time left until we’ll actually know more about The Witcher 3. There’s even a reveal trailer released by the folks at Game Informer and you can check it out below:
So probably not the announcement of The Witcher 3 is the biggest selling point here, but the fact that it kind of confirms that the game will be next-gen!