Setitimer

So I'm playing through HoS after having finished the main quest for the first time. I absolutely loved the main game, but HoS just isn't doing it for me.

The main quest starts out interesting but quickly starts feeling pulled by the nose. You're forced to do the bidding of an omniscient and evidently omnipotent character, with no way to evaluate whether it's a good idea or who might be right or wrong. Meanwhile, the side plots force you to fight with humans and give you no way to talk yourself out of it.

It's also lacking game mechanics wise. There are just too many cut scenes, and the plot feels like it's on rails. The added loot looks silly and doesn't appear worthwhile. I do

I know I'm not the first to say this, but I really frellin' cannot stand fist fighting in this game. Nothing ruins a good sit down to play like having to do a fist fight and getting pummelled because of poor game design.

I understand how to do it properly: wait for them to wind up a punch, hit block, parry, follow up with a strong attack, back off, rinse repeat. And this strategy works, too -- sometimes. The problem is, some of their punches give you no warning, and some just blow through your block anyway. And if you do get hit, you get stunned, and if you get backed against the wall and the camera loses sight of you, you die.

It would be OK if it was just difficult, but it'

Not sure if anyone has mentioned this before, but it leapt out at me: during the fight that occurs when Geralt and Yennefer step away from the wake in Skellige, Yen will exclaim "That's one less!" sometimes when Geralt slays one of the beasts. That's exactly what Miranda shouts throughout Mass Effect 2 when she or Shepard kills an enemy.

I suppose it could just be a coincidence, but given some of the similarities between the two characters I think it's kind of a wink on CDPR's part. I haven't been in any other battles where Yen was present so I don't know if this is something she always says, but I thought it was funny.

I finished my light-side female Sentinel/Watchman playthrough yesterday evening. This was my first playthrough of TSL, ever. Overall, it was a fantastic experience. Here are some random thoughts about it.

As I posted a few days ago, I think the game's greatest strength is its handling of characters. This continued right up until the end; I loved all of the interactions, and I found all of the characters' motivations consistent and interesting. Kreia in particular was one of the most interesting villains in any game; the dichotomy between her love for the Exile and what the Exile represents, and her using the Exile