The Witcher 1 Taught Me the Importance of Attention

Soak Up All the Details

The Witcher 1 is by no means a perfect game. It’s janky with its weird combat system and complex UI, has stiff dialogue no matter the voice actor, and dated graphics especially in the character and monster designs; yet I found myself entirely wrapped up in it. This game is responsible for me stepping away from multiplayer titles as my main gaming experiences and pouring my time into more single player titles. It even convinced me to start this magazine with my best friend. You’re probably wondering why a game to which its problems I was immediately drawn made such an impact on me. Here’s the reason: I had to pay attention.

The first time I saw Kaer Morhen, I was immediately transported to another world. Its massive walls, the small crowd of Witchers speaking to me, and the bandits ready to overwhelm us had me instantly invested in whatever I was about to experience. However, after this battle, the game immediately slows to a halt. My first instinct was to pick up my phone to stave off the boredom as I talked through to the next exciting part. But then genius struck. Vesemir asked me a question for which I had zero context, nor did I know the answer. From then on, I placed my phone across the room and gave The Witcher 1 every ounce of attention it demanded.

Invest in What You Love

Games are inherently risky ventures. They often take lots of people and time to create and can take years to recoup their costs if they don’t sell gangbusters right out of the gate. But we the players, have the power, regardless of how popular a game is, to invest in the work of art someone has crafted. Vizima truly is one of those works of art waiting to be appreciated. Its medieval houses, bustling pubs, reactive NPCs, bubbling waterways, and shockingly present monster population are all there to experience as much or as little as you want. I am here though to tell you to explore places like this thoroughly. Because, like me, you may be surprised by what the game has to offer to you in return for noticing it.

The more I paid attention the more the world of The Witcher opened up to me. Random dialogue options made more sense, quests felt more impactful, and little details began to pop out like teeny flowers in a massive rolling meadow. Even with lackluster voice acting the words the characters were saying carried immense weight, and I became so invested in their fates and how the eventual story would play out. This investment showed me that a truly amazing game is not just one that is fun to play but also one that genuinely encourages you to become a part of an experience, not just watch it flash in front of your eyes.

“[The Witcher 1] is a well realized and detailed world with excellent music to fill in the mood.”

— Ban Adams, Reviewer for IGN.com

Attention Can Be Challenging

I don’t think every game deserves your attention, nor am I here to claim that providing your full attention is easy. I’m merely trying to say that a game that rewards your curiosity and provides you with a sense of immersion is truly special. Challenge yourself to put your phone down and just focus for even a short30 minutes. Read those extra lore logs, chase down optional quests and conversations, and react to things that impact you. I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised even just the first time something pulls you off the “golden path”. For me The Witcher 1 will always be a special experience in this regard. I hope in the future I am able to give more of my attention to games that want it and thus be transported to another amazing world. I hope you find a game that does that too and find yourself pouring over every stone in a cobbled street or gazing out over a vast landscape from the top of a mountain. Thanks again for reading and don’t forget about the things in life that crave to be noticed.