The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings was easily one of our favourite RPGs of 2011. While The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim snagged most of the plaudits, we think CD Projekt RED's game provided a more satisfying, adult narrative coupled with enjoyable combat. (It subsequently made our Top 11 Underrated Games of 2011 list, despite rating quite well.)
If you missed out on The Witcher 2 first time around, you now have a chance to make amends. The Special Edition of the game will be hitting PC and Xbox 360 on April 17, boasting an all-new interface for console players, four hours of additional quests and 33 minutes of new cinematics (including more of those infamous bodice-ripping sex scenes, for people who like that sort of thing).
An assassin, yesterday.
The bulk of new gameplay content will take place in Loc Muine, with a new underground chamber and forest to explore. Rather than being an extra dungeon grind, the new content will include all-new characters, quests and cut-scenes. The ending has also been given a complete overhaul, with some significant changes to improve the narrative.
We were shown one of the new missions at a preview event earlier in the week, with Geralt of Rivia assisting a noblewoman ensnared in some Game of Thrones-style court plotting.
We also got to see the Xbox 360 version in action, which benefits from an improved camera system and targeting to assist in combat. While there's no mistaking it for the PC version with maximum settings enabled, the game certainly looks pretty amazing on Microsoft's ageing machine.
Dame Brigida Papebrock: one of the new faces in the game.
But there's also good news for gamers who previously bought The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings. In honored CD Projekt RED tradition, the developer is offering the PC version of the Special Edition as a free download to anyone who purchased the previous version. This offer will remain indefinitely, meaning you can download the extra content at any time.
Serious Witcher fans can also pick up a boxed, ultra-deluxe version of the game called the Dark Edition. Retaiing for $99.95, it comes with a world map, CD soundtrack, making of DVD, quest handbook, wolf head medalian and a 200-page art book.
The new 'Dark Edition' comes with a treasure-trove of extras
The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings Enhanced Edition will land on Xbox 360 and PC on April 17.
