14 DAY TRIAL // A recent developer diary for The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings brings some interesting news for the series' fans. Apparently, players will be able to import the saves from the first Witcher game, just like in Mass Effect 2. The choices made there will have consequences in the new title, ranging from the way people will react to you to what characters appear and don't appear during the course of the story.
Another Mass Effect 2 influence is the fact that there will be key moments in the story of The Witcher 2 where there will be a short time to decide if Geralt of Rivia, the protagonist, should perform one action or another. Geralt will also have the ability to have companions joining him in his adventures this time around.
Unlike in BioWare's games, here, these characters will not be controllable by the player and no option will exist to actually determine the development and actions of the companions. Moreover, in-game situations can pan out differently, depending on what characters are beside Geralt at that time.
Their presence or absence can affect the narrative in many ways, the Polish developer, CD Projekt RED, promises. The story will be non-linear and shorter, but more intense, ‘choice’ being the defining word here. Also, good and bad will be harder to discern and the world will contain more characters to interact and have dialogues with.
New players can breathe easily because the story will be self contained and there will be no need to read the books the title is based on or play the first Witcher. Amorous relationships are treated more maturely by the writers and they will be part of the drama, not just some awkward mini-game or fun distraction. The release date for The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings is aimed at the first quarter of 2011 on the PC, with console versions to follow at a later point.