The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt - Blood and Wine
| The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt - Blood and Wine | |||
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| Original title | Wiedźmin 3: Dziki Gon - Krew i Wino | ||
| Studio |
 CD project RED
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| Publisher |
 Bandai Namco Games Warner Bros. Interactive Spike Chunsoft 
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| Senior Developer | Konrad Tomaszkiewicz (Creative Director) | ||
| composer | Marcin Przybyłowicz | ||
| Erstveröffent- lichung |
May 31, 2016 | ||
| platform |
Windows , Xbox One , PlayStation 4 , Nintendo Switch |
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| Game engine | REDengine 3 with PhysX , HairWorks (on PC), SpeedTree and Umbra 3 | ||
| genre | Action RPG | ||
| Subject | Fantasy | ||
| Game mode | Single player | ||
| control | Mouse and keyboard , gamepad | ||
| system advantages preconditions |
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| medium |
Download , DVD-ROM (GotY version), Blu-ray (GotY version), game module (Complete Edition) |
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| language | Multilingual | ||
| Current version | 1.31 | ||
| copy protection | differently | ||
| Age rating |
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The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt - Blood and Wine ( Polish original title: Wiedźmin 3: Dziki Gon - Krew i Wino , German: The Witcher 3: Wilde Jagd - Blut und Wein ) is the second and final expansion of the Polish developer studio CD Projekt RED for Action RPG The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt . It was released on May 31, 2016.
Like the main game, Blood and Wine is based on the Witcher novel series by Polish writer Andrzej Sapkowski . Like the first expansion, Hearts of Stone , it tells its own story independently of the main game.
action
In Velen the witcher Geralt von Riva is asked by two knights from Toussaint to talk to Duchess Anna Henrietta, because a monster is making the streets of the capital Beauclair unsafe and is now known throughout the duchy as the "Beast of Beauclair". Following this invitation, Geralt travels to southern Toussaint, a wealthy country known for its vineyards and wines, olives, knights wandering in splendid armor and a mild climate. As a vassal state of the Nilfgaard Empire, Toussaint was spared war and destruction and thus represents a strong contrast to the Northern Kingdoms.
Duchess Anna Henrietta is an old friend of Geralt. After the death of her husband, Duke Rajmund, she once had an affair with his friend, the bard delphinium, until, to her annoyance, she left him again. The young Duchess, Base of the Emperor of Nilgaard and Cirillas great aunt, is considered popular among the people regent. Anna Henrietta tells Geralt to investigate a series of murders. Two respected knights were murdered, presumably by a monster. As it turned out, shortly before Geralt's arrival, the body of a third knight was discovered. Geralt is supposed to solve these murders and bring down the "Beast of Beauclair". The unsuccessful investigation has so far been led by Damien, the captain of the duke's guard, who is suspicious of Geralt.
Geralt investigates the series of murders and finds that each of the victims violated one of the five knightly virtues that every knight in Toussaint subscribed to. As a result, there should be a fourth victim soon. The fourth victim is a knight who accompanied Geralt to Toussaint. Geralt places the beast in a warehouse. This demands of Geralt not to interfere, since she is not his enemy. Since the witcher cannot be dissuaded, a fight ensues. Geralt is in distress, but then Regis appears and brings the beast to retreat by his intervention. Regis is an old friend Geralt thought was dead. He explains to Geralt that the beast is Detlaff van der Eretein, like himself a higher vampire. Unlike lower vampires, who appear like bat monsters, higher vampires are ancient, powerful and almost immortal beings who appear in human form, but in rage take on more monstrous features. These came into the world through the conjunction of spheres. Regis explains that Detlaff found his remains, then regenerated him with his blood and brought him back to life. A remarkable gesture among vampires, which connected the two vampires through their blood. His friend Detlaff is basically not angry, not a beast. He doesn't know his motives, but there must be a good reason for Detlaff's behavior.
Regis supports Geralt from now on in discovering this secret. Regis brews Geralt a potion with which Geralt can explore Detlaff's thoughts and past. Detlaff's severed hand serves him for this purpose. This was previously in the possession of a bruxa, a vampire who killed Geralt and took the hand with which he could not do anything at first. Detlaff shows this past with a young shoeshine boy in Beauclair. To Detlaff's surprise, another customer stood up for him and treated him very kindly. However, this very customer was the third victim that Detlaff invited into his mill. The visibly doubting Detlaff finally kills him with his claws, but disgusted by himself and his deed, he cut off his own hand.
The trail leads Geralt and Regis to Detlaff's hiding place, in an abandoned toy store in Beauclair. There Geralt finds out that Detlaff is apparently being blackmailed. His human lover was kidnapped and the kidnappers force him to commit these murders if nothing happens to his loved one. Geralt reports his findings to the Duchess and Damien. The duchess' sommelier can identify a wine stain on a letter from the blackmailer as valuable wine reserved for the ducal family. Geralt goes to the ducal winery with Henrietta and Damien. There they find out that the bribable chief secretly sold this wine on. Another of these wine deliveries is then intercepted by Geralt and Damien's troops. A survivor of the band of robbers who carried out the transport tells Geralt that the unknown buyer is the "Cintrier".
Geralt attends an elite evening party with Henrietta in disguise . The Cintrian should be found at this celebration. Orianna, the organizer and owner of the property, then catches him trying to steal a piece of jewelry. She pushes him to death out the window. Henrietta recognizes an old family heirloom in the piece of jewelery that has been lost for years. Orianna claims to have bought this from a young woman. Because of the wine and the piece of jewelry, Henrietta suspects a connection to her older sister Sylvia Anna, called Syanna, who has been missing for years. Although still a child, Syanna was always considered a difficult character, moody, violent and sometimes cruel. This was justified with the fact that she was born in the "sign of the black sun", a bad omen that was interpreted as a curse. During the conversation between Geralt, Orianna and Annarietta, Regis and Detlaff unexpectedly join them, who seems to get on well with the Duchess, who of course has no idea of the murderer's identity. Orianna introduces Regis as an "old friend". Geralt talks to Regis in private and asks him to keep Detlaff out for the time being. The thief's knife refers to the nearby castle of a nobleman, where Syanna is believed to be a hostage. The very sociable Detlaff expresses his interest in helping Geralt. He wants to save his dearest Syanna and let the blackmailers atone.
Damien's men attack the castle, supported by the witcher, Regis and Detlaff. However, the lord of the castle and his gang of mercenaries are surprised and seem to have nothing to do with the kidnapping. Geralt runs into Syanna in the keep. It turns out that Detlaff's lover and Syanna are one and the same person. She faked her own kidnapping. She made claims on the wine and the jewelry because of their origin. She saw the powerful vampire Detlaff as a useful tool for a campaign of revenge. Detlaff feels betrayed, his love has been betrayed and disappears with the threat of destroying all of Beauclair if Syanna does not meet with him within three days and explain herself.
Henrietta does not believe Geralt that her sister is behind it all. However, for her own safety, she has them locked up. When he also confesses to her that Detlaff is the "Beast of Beauclair", she reacts irritably and demands that he kill him, despite the objection that a higher vampire can hardly be killed by a witcher. However, Geralt cannot find Detlaff. After the deadline, Beauclair is attacked by innumerable lowly vampires. The city threatens to sink into chaos. Devastation, numerous civilian casualties, while the soldiers seem to be powerless against the vampires.
Geralt only sees two options. He can find Syanna and free her so she can meet Detlaff. Or he can seek out the “invisible” so that Detlaff can force Detlaff to appear. However, this is very risky, because the "invisible" is one of the oldest and most powerful of the higher vampires, aggressive towards everything and everyone. However, through his rank he can also impose his will on other vampires.
If Geralt decides to find Syanna, he explores the sisters' old playroom with Regis, where Syanna is said to be locked. There he finds an enchanted book of fairy tales. This serves as a portal into a fairy tale world in which the sisters played as children and where different fairy tale characters lead a life of their own. But the once harmless fairy tale world has changed, has become cruel and dangerous. The girl with the sulfur sticks works as a drug dealer, for example, the lonely Rapunzel hanged herself by her own hair in her tower after her prince fell to his death, the wolf was tired of playing the villain and drowned Little Red Riding Hood and the hunter in the well and is now sinking into depression. Geralt travels through the book to this world to find Syanna. She explains her behavior to Geralt. Although she was just a difficult child, the ministers urged her to be passed on to her inheritance as she was allegedly cursed. She was also banished from the empire. The four murdered knights were the ones who led them into exile, abused them, sexually abused them and finally left them naked, freezing and starving to supposed death. She only survived by joining a band of robbers who treated her more decently than the supposedly "noble" knights. Bitter and vindictive, she finally saw Detlaff as an opportunity for revenge. Both leave the fairy tale world together.
If Geralt decides to visit the "invisible", he meets with Orianna, who offers him help, but first demands a favor. Geralt is supposed to kill a lowly vampire who threatens the orphanage she cares for. Geralt complies only to find that Orianna is a higher vampire too. She only receives the orphanage because of her thirst for children's blood, whereby she keeps the children as cattle, but tells him not to kill the children. Geralt threatens to make her atone for it, but is still dependent on her. Together with Regis he seeks out the "invisible", whom they can get after some adversity to call Detlaff. (Orianna's death at Geralt's hand was featured in the 2015 "A Night to Remember" trailer.)
Depending on the decisions made and the paths taken, different courses and ends will appear from now on. Liberate Geralt Syanna from the fairy tale world, meet Detlaff at the dilapidated vampire fortress Teshum Mutna. If he has previously given her a magical ribbon from fairy tale land, it will protect her from Detlaff's attack. The mad Detlaff is now fighting Geralt. Although Geralt manages to defeat Detlaff, as a witcher it is not possible for him to kill him. Regis is torn, but eventually kills Detlaff. Regis and Geralt can find out, if they wish, that the planned fifth and final murder victim was to be Henrietta herself. Syanna couldn't forgive her for not standing by her and for tolerating the banishment. Geralt is awarded the highest order by the Duchess for his services. Henrietta then confronts Syanna about her actions. Depending on the course of the game, the sisters can forgive each other and Beauclair celebrates the reconciliation. If Syanna is still vengeful, she only fakes the reconciliation. While hugging, she stabs Henrietta with a hairpin, but is then shot by Damien with a crossbow. The whole country sinks into mourning over the death of the beloved Duchess, Geralt is no longer welcome in Beauclair.
If Geralt did not give Syanna the magic ribbon, Detlaff confronted her with accusations and her actions. In anger he kills them. Geralt can now fight Detlaff, or let him go. Henrietta is angry about the death of her sister. Angry, she lets the witcher be thrown into Toussaint prison. After a while, Delphinium uses his influence on the Duchess to get Geralt out of prison. However, he is no longer wanted in Beauclair.
He's seeing Regis one last time. By killing Detlaff, he violated the vampire code never to kill one another. Since all vampires would hunt him as a traitor from now on, he has to go on the run. Geralt visits the winery that Henrietta gave him at the beginning of the game. Depending on the decisions made in the main game as to whether and how Hearts of Stone was played, he receives a visit and a special ending.
synchronization
| Role name | Voice actor |
|---|---|
| Geralt of Rivia | Markus Pfeiffer |
| Anna Henrietta | Daniela Bette-Koch |
| Syanna | Katja Liebing |
| Regis | Bernd Reheuser |
| Damien | André Beyer |
| Detlaff | Nils Kreutinger |
| Barnabas-Basil Faulty | Gerhard Fehn |
| delphinium | Oliver Schnelker |
| Yennefer from Vengerberg | Katrin von Chamier |
| Ciri | Katrin Hess |
| Triss Merigold | Vanessa's wish |
| roach | Uke bosses |
Development and publication
On April 7, 2015, before the main game was released, the development studio CD Projekt RED announced two extensive expansions. Hearts of Stone should appear first , followed by the even more extensive Blood and Wine . This was originally planned for early 2016, but the release was postponed to May 31, 2016 when it was released as a download.
Like Hearts of Stone , a limited version was sold in Germany exclusively at Media Markt and Saturn in a box which, in addition to the download code, contained two decks of cards from the popular “Gwint” card game. With the card decks from the limited Hearts of Stone box, all cards and decks of the main game were also physically released. The Game-of-the-Year version released on August 30, 2016 also contains Blood and Wine , like all other downloads and extensions, on disc.
Blood and Wine is not embedded in the plot of the main game, but offers an independent plot. It can therefore be tackled during or after the main game at the player's request. However, a minimum level of 35 is recommended. Regardless of this, Blood and Wine can also be started and played alone, with the player then being assigned an adapted character. The playing time of the game is estimated to be at least thirty hours.
The rich Toussaint should deliberately represent a counterpoint to the barren, war and misery plagued Northern Kingdoms of the main game. Visually it is based on the south of France and Tuscany . Blood and Wine introduced another Gwint faction, Skellige , which was originally planned for the main game. The game should also suit the lovers and connoisseurs of the novel and thus shows numerous allusions and well-known characters.
Relatively early in the game, Geralt gives you a dilapidated winery. This stable or garden, also belonging to it, can be renovated, expanded, decorated and individualized as desired. For example, a herb garden or a stable can be built, which gives Geralt's mare a bonus to her stamina, paintings, armor and swords can be exhibited or an alchemy laboratory in the cellar can be used. Also new is the mutation system, with which the player can wrap up various unique skills.
Although Blood and Wine tells its own story, there are connections to the main game and the first add-on Hearts of Stone , which can be seen in different dialogs, dialog options and the end, depending on whether and how the player chooses the main game or Hearts of Stone has completed.
Reviews
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While the main game and the first expansion, Hearts of Stone , received rave reviews from critics, this also applied to Blood and Wine , which was praised as a worthy and splendid conclusion to the Witcher saga.
“Huge, beautiful and motivating: CD Projekt makes Geralt a great farewell present. (...) Blood and Wine turns out to be one of the best add-ons I've ever played. From the lavishly designed new world to the motivating main quest, to the full scope, CD Projekt shows what a proper expansion should look like. (...) We experience so many memorable things in Blood and Wine that one can only congratulate CD Projekt authors. Fancy spoiler-free examples? In our 30 hours of play, we had dinner with a monster, competed in knight tournaments, played the theater, stole unicorns, lifted curses, posed, reconciled ghosts, looked for A38 pass and had a disturbing encounter with Rapunzel. And that's only a fraction of what to expect! In addition, CD Projekt has taken the motto “The best comes at the end” to heart: Blood and Wine has two great final acts to offer. Yes, that's right: two! Depending on our decisions, we experience completely different stories, places, characters and consequences in the last few hours, including plenty of blood, sex, murder and atonement - CD Projekt is firing all over the place here. "
“Blood and Wine exceeds [...] all expectations. CD Projekt RED serves up no less than the most substantial expansion I've played so far. It doesn't feel like it has been saved and added, but like it has grown and matured. In this Toussaint you feel as if someone had pointed a fantasy glass at the late Middle Ages - the setting is fairytale-like pompous, almost too ostentatious, so that the frame rate kneels down on consoles. The director succeeds exceptionally well in giving this Neuschwansteinian artificiality with murder, terror and philosophical questions about virtue or evil the necessary depth. All of this without mushy pathos, always with the necessary subtlety or humor. (...) That is a grandiose farewell that Geralt of Rivia is given here. When the Poles approach Cyberpunk 2077 with this service and this passion, role players can only be thievingly happy. "
“Blood and Wine is not just a huge expansion, it takes the world and game mechanics of The Witcher 3 to a whole new level. (...) Here women are still women, men are still real warriors and even the poorest farmers have so many supplies in the pantry that they do not have to go hungry. The developers have managed to give the principality its very own atmosphere. Even from a distance, the manor house of Beauclair catches our eye, a gleaming white fairy tale castle that even Neuschwanstein's landlord, King Ludwig II, would be jealous of. In short: It is a beautiful country that we have toured with great pleasure and enriches The Witcher 3 with completely unused stylistic facets. Despite all the splendor, there is still plenty of variety. Blood and Wine is a master class on how to expand and improve even a great game like The Witcher 3 in a meaningful way. Witcher of all stripes get their money's worth here: There is a huge new land to explore, more lively than ever before. A story at the best Witcher level and full of interesting and ambiguous characters. New monsters that challenge even experienced hunters and that are designed more nasty than some bosses in the main game. And on top of that, there are enormously useful improvements to basic game elements such as character development or the interface. "
Web links
- Official website (English, Polish)
Individual evidence
- ↑ Youtube - The Witcher 3 Wild Hunt GDC Snippet
- ↑ thewitcher.com
- ^ Daniel Krupa: 2 "Massive" Expansions Announced for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. In: IGN. April 7, 2015. Retrieved February 25, 2017 (American English).
- ↑ metacritic.com
- ↑ metacritic.com
- ↑ metacritic.com
- ↑ gamestar.de
- ↑ gamepro.de
- ↑ gamepro.de
- ↑ gamespot.com
- ↑ pcgamer.com
- ↑ pcgames.de
- ^ Witcher 3: Wild Hunt review - a rich adventure born in literature
- ↑ pcgames.de
- ↑ 4players.de
- ↑ gamestar.de