GAMETECH: Witcher 3 still casts its spell

THEY say wine gets better with age. Maybe that’s why teenagers drink cider. The same, however, can’t be said about games. For the most part, games become quickly outdated, left behind by the industry’s obsession with improving on the past.

The Witcher 3: Blood and Wine is one of those rare cases (of wine) where a game gets better with age. It’s the second expansion for one of 2015’s highest scoring releases, but it’s a far more fun and light-hearted version of the game, brighter and more colourful than what came before and, frankly, less of a slog. The Witcher 3 created an amazing world, but it often felt like a game trying to be a TV show (albeit a well-written one) instead of an experience written specifically for gaming. In Blood and Wine, the developers have a glint in their eye, adding some much-needed humour and self-reference to the series. Depending on your preferences, that’s either a welcome move or a disappointing divergence from the main game.

It’s a fitting change, considering Blood and Wine sees Geralt in ‘retirement’, finally recognised as a hero and taking on a quest in the province of Toussaint, where he also buys a vineyard and villa in which to live. Toussaint is another reason why Blood and Wine is an improvement over The Witcher 3 — if you’ve never been to the south of France on a perfect day, then Toussaint is the next best thing. It’s a stunning location of rolling hills and a picturesque castle sitting high on a mountainside. Many gamers are comparing it to a fairytale come to life, and that’s a fitting comparison.