Just completed the game on death march difficulty with all quests completed. I have three little issues with TW3 so far:
1- The scaling of enemy difficulty (mobs 6+ levels above you receiving an insane buff of attack power+hp)
2- Too little xp received from monster kills and levels depending too much on quest completion
3- The ability of mobs magically breaking free of your well timed barrage of attacks and delivering rage counters
These are still only minor issues. I guess 1 and 2 are necessary to not break the balance, but I still believe monsters should be a better source of experience. Unless the mob in question is around 5 levels higher than you, you get something like 1-5 xp, which is way too little. There are already two endlessly respawning monster spots, I know, but it feels like cheating when you abuse them. And probably number 3 is a little inevitable flaw in the otherwise great fighting system. I can live with that.
Aforementioned small issues aside, I can easily say this has been one of the most immersive rpg experiences for me so far. The game had an overall Gothic vibe, which can only be good. The atmosphere and world around you is absolutely spectacular. As it rarely goes with games nowadays, the world of TW3 has a truly alive feeling to it. The story is indeed captivating, which is thanks to the valuable work of Sapkowski being successfully reflected through the game. I never wanted to skip those lengthy dialogues. These two aspects were present in the first and second games as well, but they peak and shine here.
Yet the most notable experience is that you actually feel like the game world doesn't revolve around you. Although you are this superhuman mutant with superb fighting prowess and wits, you are just a daytrader. Not everything is about you. The world is not there to cater to your heroism. It is stunning to see how your little and cheap attempts of chivalry lead to unexpected results. And you eventually learn to make both little and big decisions as if it were your real life. Sometimes you remain indifferent. Sometimes you are humble and at other times you deliberately choose to be as arrogant as can be. Sometimes you know it is for the better to go for the seemingly harsher choice. Sometimes you just don't care and have to get yourself in obvious trouble. It is fantastic.
Also, I got the positive ending, the positivity of which was not apparent right away. It was a nice little twist. Though the very final moment was a bit dull, it was still touching nevertheless. Once everything was over and the ending sequence was left behind, you stumble upon a group of villagers with a broken cart and deliberately ask them if they needed any help not once but twice, because you know very well that you are now back to doing people's foul work for a few coins. You had your moments of glory and it is definitely over now. That also felt so real. It was a nice touch.
And Vesemir... Damn old man... Damn bastard... He broke my heart there.
