[The Sarge]

Hi,

As with the original game, I'd been holding back playing The Witcher 2 until the Enhanced Edition came out. After eagerly updating my boxed copy with the 10GB patch I was about to start playing when I spotted a story on Eurogamer which kind of stopped me in my tracks. It's the update to their excellent 'tech analysis' piece on Digital Foundry in which they update to say: "We've now updated our PC build of The Witcher 2 and note that many of the 360 enhancements - specifically pad support, lighting and visuals - appear to be unchanged based on an initial playthrough of the Prologue. We've approached CD Projekt RED for comment." I was really looking forward to playing the game with a joypad. I know I can do this anyway as it's already an option, but the X360 Enhanced Edition has tweaked controls which I was hoping to enjoy on the PC as well. Can we expect this, and the improved lighting effects in a patch soon?

[Hotnels]

This is pure speculation on my part but I think they didnt add the 360 controller enhancements because they are different from the PC controller inputs. For instance both the attack buttons are tied to one button (X) Im not sure what (Y) does. But I do know that if I had to get used to playing the game wiht different button layouts I would not be happy. Having got the Witcher 2 when it first came out(along with the othesr 1.1 million who bought it over the past year) I am very comfortable with the inputs for the controller and I'm sure many other use controllers as well. IF they had changed it for PC it would have kinda been a slap in the face to all those who bought it when it was first released and have been playing it for the past year. I always play on dark mode and I know I'd be frustrated to no end trying to relearn the controls while I'm getting my butt handed to me by nekkers.

As for the lighting "enhancements" if you have the PC version you have the best lighting period. Read any published review of the game they all say the PC version outshines the 360 in every possible way in terms of graphic fidelity. If the lighting was in fact "better" then at least one of the 40+ reviews would mention it. I'll agree there are a few screen shots that look very nice (Geralt in the siege tower in the prologue) but they also remove a light source from that scene in the 360 version (a lantern) so its not really an enhancement just different for the 360 hardware

[bcheero]

I'm afraid people who play on PC would call it a consolized game. It's not in the least, but it's probably the backlash they fear (which shouldn't be the case if they updated the PC controls to be much smoother in combat). Unfortunately, this is the one reason why I like playing the Xbox version more. The camera system and targeting is much better, but visuals are amazing on PC.

[WrATH72]

Some people might actually like the flat bland lighting in the 360 version. The PC version does have the option for bloom, which can make the scene look over exposed in some cases.

I don't know exactly what CDPR changed in the 360 version but it seems more design than ascetics. The depth of field is more stronger in the PC version so maybe that's one thing they adjusted for the 360 version.

[The Sarge]

I understand what Hotnels is saying regarding having re-learn the new joypad controls if you've already played through the game using a format you're familiar and comfortable with. That said, it'd be great if there was an option to play with the tweaked 360-style joypad controls - particualrly if they've been fine-tuned for an improved gameplay experience. I don't think it'd be too hard to get used to a few new button presses. Horses for courses, I guess...

[Luc0s]

bcheero said:

I'm afraid people who play on PC would call it a consolized game. It's not in the least, but it's probably the backlash they fear (which shouldn't be the case if they updated the PC controls to be much smoother in combat). Unfortunately, this is the one reason why I like playing the Xbox version more. The camera system and targeting is much better, but visuals are amazing on PC. ›››

WOW, a PC gamer who owned the PC version of TW2, says he prefers playing it on Xbox360? This is a mad world indeed.


No but in all honesty, I really wish I could try the PC version with an Xbox360 gamepad to see what all the fuzz is about. I personally am a console gamer (my PC sucks) so I also have TW2 for console (Xbox360). My PC gaming friends always bitch and moan about the controls in the PC version, but the controls in my Xbox360 version is just near perfect. The Witcher 2 plays as smooth as an oiled machine on my Xbox360. Always 30fps (never any lower) and the controls work perfect.


What is the gamepad button layout on the PC version? I saw it was a little different than the gamepad button layout on the Xbox360.

[Luc0s]

WrATH72 said:

Some people might actually like the flat bland lighting in the 360 version. The PC version does have the option for bloom, which can make the scene look over exposed in some cases.

I don't know exactly what CDPR changed in the 360 version but it seems more design than ascetics. The depth of field is more stronger in the PC version so maybe that's one thing they adjusted for the 360 version. ›››

From experience I can tell that the Xbox360 version is less saturated and has more contrast in some scenes. While the PC version has more light sources, and things like light-shafts, the Xbox360 version manages to create better focus points I think. With "focus points" I mean that the few light-sources that the Xbox360 version has, are used to exceptionally well that they really create a strong and effective light-set e that emphasizes the mood and atmosphere of the scene.

Take the siege tower in the prologue for instance. With the new lighting-set in the Xbox360 version, the tower really feels like a heavy but kinda weak construct. You see the sunlight shining from the outside through the wood, reminding you that you're in a weak wooden construct on the middle of an open area. You really feel that this wooden siege tower can be destroyed any minute with a well-aimed ballista shot (and the tower is indeed almost destroyed when you get to the castle walls).


I also prefer the shader-effects in the Xbox360 version. While the shader-effects on the Xbox360 version are obviously tuned-down, it actually doesn't make the game look worse. I for instance prefer the tuned-down bloom in the Xbox360 version over the bloom in the PC version. The bloom in the Xbox360 version feels more subtile. Same with the SSAO (ambient occlusion). I think the SSAO is too present in the PC version, too overdone, which makes it look fake instead of realistic. The more subtile SSAO on the Xbox360 version is less distracting and less fake in my opinion.

[bcheero]

Luc0s said:

WOW, a PC gamer who owned the PC version of TW2, says he prefers playing it on Xbox360? This is a mad world indeed.


No but in all honesty, I really wish I could try the PC version with an Xbox360 gamepad to see what all the fuzz is about. I personally am a console gamer (my PC sucks) so I also have TW2 for console (Xbox360). My PC gaming friends always bitch and moan about the controls in the PC version, but the controls in my Xbox360 version is just near perfect. The Witcher 2 plays as smooth as an oiled machine on my Xbox360. Always 30fps (never any lower) and the controls work perfect.


What is the gamepad button layout on the PC version? I saw it was a little different than the gamepad button layout on the Xbox360. ›››

PC layout can be modified but move each button's function one button clockwise (A is dodge and B is sign usage) except the circular sign menu is used by pressing the left trigger button with targetting on LB. Combat is quite clunky now that I think about it. It would take me a couple of seconds to switch to another sign, whereas the xbox version is virtually instantaneous with the joypad stick moving quickly through signs. Combat is fun and much more varied because the camera system and targetting system are
MUCH better. I actually use all my signs now lol, whereas I would mash quen all the time when I played with the joypad on PC for two playthroughs. It was always damn clunky on the PC because I always hated that terrible way of switching signs.

[WrATH72]

Luc0s said:

From experience I can tell that the Xbox360 version is less saturated and has more contrast in some scenes. While the PC version has more light sources, and things like light-shafts, the Xbox360 version manages to create better focus points I think. With "focus points" I mean that the few light-sources that the Xbox360 version has, are used to exceptionally well that they really create a strong and effective light-set e that emphasizes the mood and atmosphere of the scene.

Take the siege tower in the prologue for instance. With the new lighting-set in the Xbox360 version, the tower really feels like a heavy but kinda weak construct. You see the sunlight shining from the outside through the wood, reminding you that you're in a weak wooden construct on the middle of an open area. You really feel that this wooden siege tower can be destroyed any minute with a well-aimed ballista shot (and the tower is indeed almost destroyed when you get to the castle walls).


I also prefer the shader-effects in the Xbox360 version. While the shader-effects on the Xbox360 version are obviously tuned-down, it actually doesn't make the game look worse. I for instance prefer the tuned-down bloom in the Xbox360 version over the bloom in the PC version. The bloom in the Xbox360 version feels more subtile. Same with the SSAO (ambient occlusion). I think the SSAO is too present in the PC version, too overdone, which makes it look fake instead of realistic. The more subtile SSAO on the Xbox360 version is less distracting and less fake in my opinion. ›››

Pretty sure the XBox360 version is as it is because it just cannot do the intensive effects. Fine if it's a design choice but I have to question why such effects were done like that on the PC in the first place. Bloom looks nice on the PC version in some instances because in real life, the sun can look over bright on objects but like a lot of devs, they just over doe the effect.

SSAO is not a fake effect anyway and it's less apparent on the 360 because it's a cheaper quality effect. Also, if this was on a XBox720 it would probably look the same as the PC, it's just people seem to think there flat shader Xbox effects are more real, probably because they are used to effects being fake or not there.