Eleven years after its initial release, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt remains a titan of the open-world RPG genre. After witnessing an hour-long gameplay demonstration of the upcoming expansion, Songs of the Past, at Gamescom, it’s clear that CD Projekt Red is committed to delivering more of what fans love.
A Familiar Yet Fresh Experience
Mechanically, Songs of the Past feels instantly familiar. It follows the same winning formula as Blood and Wine: a brand-new region to explore (Letten), countless quests, fresh enemies, and a compelling narrative that weaves in both returning characters and intriguing newcomers.
While not reinventing the wheel (and why would it?), Songs of the Past introduces Geralt’s new chain weapon. This versatile tool allows him to pull enemies closer, breaking their defenses and opening up opportunities for brutal finishers – one particularly gruesome example saw the chain sever a foe’s head clean off! The expansion also brings Geralt’s trademark dry wit to a story that delves into the history of one of the game’s most beloved characters: Dandelion.
In the demo, we see Geralt encounter a man by a dock who has somehow come into possession of Dandelion’s lute. Naturally, Geralt uses his fists to retrieve it. However, after visiting Dandelion’s childhood home and meeting his cousin, Lilla, he uncovers a much larger mystery.
This sets Geralt and Lilla on a treacherous journey into what is known as the “garden of thorns.” Here, we witness Geralt battling two brand-new enemies: the Thornbloom, a tall, sprouting plant that shoots acid from afar; and the Swarmion, a ghoul-like humanoid foe protected by a cloud of hornets. The chain weapon proves invaluable in these encounters.
A boss fight against an undead knight follows, with each combat encounter interspersed with exploration through the maze-like, slightly unnatural garden of thorns. It’s classic Witcher 3 gameplay at its finest.
Furthermore, it seems that Lilla may be a new romance option for Geralt, offering players another choice in their romantic pursuits within the world of The Witcher. This adds another layer of depth to the already rich narrative.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt — Songs of the Past is slated for release in 2027. It’s available to wishlist now, so get ready to return to the Continent!
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