E3 2014: The Witcher 3's Exciting New Gameplay Trailer

Microsoft had a great showing at their E3 conference this year but one of the standouts was definitely the beautiful Witcher 3. The gameplay demonstration started off with one of the most exciting features coming to The Witcher 3: monster hunting. With a whole new open world to explore, Geralt started tracking a monster with his heightened senses, examining the surrounding until he finally came up on his target, a gryphon. It was quickly tagged with some crossbow bolts, allowing players to keep tracking it through its blood trail. Shades of Monster Hunter games came to mind as the sequence played out. Tracking and hunting various monters seems like the perfect way to waste time and explore the world at large. Some open world monster hunting in my Witcher game? Yes, please!

As Geralt chased the gryphon he eventually came upon several bandits terrorizing a rundown woman, a sequence that highlighted The Witcher's hopefully improved combat. While decent, I always felt there was something a little off with the combat in Witcher 2. The targetting system was always a bit wonky at times when fighting multiple enemies. Thankfully it looks like they fixed it up in the sequel. Up against four poor souls, the combat showcased Geralt's new repertoire. Geralt's dodge has been changed, probably for the best, from rolls to side and back lunges.  He quickly jumped from foe to foe, blocking, throwing out magic at a faster pace, and even parrying an arrow back at an enemy until he finally dispatched the last bandit with a stun and a gruesome finishing move. Overall the combat looked more fluid and fun then in previous games and there seems to be more ways to take out enemies rather then just roll dodging and slashing them with your sword.

The climax of the trailer has Geralt finally catching up with the gryphon. Fighting on top of hill, Geralt traded blows with the gryphon as he tracked it back to what seemed like its lair. Combat with the gryphon didn't last long enough to tell just how varied or good the monster AI was but what we did see looked interesting. Only time will tell if monster hunts will actually be as exciting as they are in Monster Hunter, but unlike Mo-hunter, The Witcher 3 doesn't seem to be a one trick pony. It was an exciting gameplay reveal and I only hope we'll be in for more amazing footage throughout the week. I know I'm not the only one from the 4player community that needs more.

Never played a Witcher game and I kinda want this one. #4PNE3

— Frank Hartnett (@Seisan9) June 9, 2014

The Witcher 3 is scheduled to be released on February 24th, 2015 for PC, Xbox One, and PS4.