 |
| OVERALL RATING |
3.5 |
| Presentation |
 |
3.5 |
| Control |
 |
4.0 |
| Gameplay |
|
4.0 |
| Fun factor |
|
3.5 |
| User Rating |
 |
4.0 |
 |
Posted: October 29, 2007
The Witcher: Crimson Trail is a mobile game based on the upcoming PC title that bears the same name. It’s a hack and slash adventure that introduces players to the world of Witchers – elite monster slayers who look to eliminate evil from their land.
Geralt is the latest slayer to prepare for battle and he has picked up on rumors from local villagers that lead him to a dark forest where beasts prey on the innocent. He soon finds out that the evil goes much deeper than he anticipated and stopping it will require all of his skills and cunning. Alongside that note, each decision he makes will also influence the outcome.
To defeat the monsters, he carries two swords, both of which are more powerful against different types of enemies and that can be wielded with more effectiveness as the game goes on. This is done so by learning new attack moves in combination with what is already learned and simply consists of following direction arrows to complete multi-hit combos. He also possesses four magical abilities that lend a helping hand and include Throw, Freeze, Fire Punch and Shield. These can be upgraded to more powerful spells between levels.
Being that the game is hack and slash, the action is fairly obvious as monsters attack and Geralt fights his way through to Boss battles that actually end up being slightly easier than the levels themselves. This might be because the fight controls and combo mechanics are pretty solid and easy to learn, which is quite nice. The game is hardly tough though, but there are a few enemy types that make things interesting.
The game has a coolness factor to its visual appeal with large characters and backdrops that would make a Goth kid drool. The animations however aren’t very smooth, but still fit in well with the overall theme. Throughout the entire game, different music is heard depending on the level, and while it is nice and lengthy it seems more “heroic” than “eerie” therefore doesn’t convey the full effect of the game’s morbid undertones.
The Witcher is played through 12 levels and has a good mix of fighting mechanics and power-up elements to make it a satisfying adventure. It also adds a Replay mode and Arena for continued play. The game is still a hack and slash however, and this might turn off some people since it’s not the most popular genre available anymore, but if you enjoy games like Castlevania, this one might be right for you.
