The Witcher 3 Remastered: List of all combat changes
The Witcher 3 Remastered does not completely change the combat system we already know.
The basic idea is still the same, but quite a few things have been adjusted to make fights feel smoother and less awkward.
All combat changes in The Witcher 3 Remastered
Improved combat camera
The combat camera has been changed quite a bit in the Remastered version.
When Geralt is fighting one enemy, the camera stays closer to him. When several enemies surround him, it pulls back so you can see more of what is happening around you.
The camera also gets different angles while Geralt is riding Roach. If you do not like the new setup, you can switch between Modern and Original options in the Gameplay settings.
Smoother gap closing
Geralt now handles the distance between himself and an enemy more naturally.
In the original game, attacking an enemy from slightly outside sword range could sometimes result in a big lunge or an awkward movement. It worked, but it could look a little strange.
The Remastered version smooths this out. Geralt moves into range without making every attack feel like he suddenly launched himself across the battlefield.
Improved lock on
Target locking has also received some attention.
When you lock onto an enemy and move the camera around, switching between nearby targets should feel more reliable. This matters quite a bit when several enemies are attacking Geralt at the same time.
You can still play without locking onto enemies, of course, but if you prefer using lock-on, the new system should feel less clunky.
There are also Modern and Original options for target locking, so you can use whichever setup feels more comfortable.
Updated enemy behavior
Enemies have not been left exactly as they were in the original game.
Non-boss enemies now have updated behavior during fights. Their attack patterns, counters, movement, reactions, flight behavior, and interactions with status effects have all received changes.
Smoother combat animations
Geralt's combat animations have been adjusted to make his movement feel more connected.
Attacks, direction changes, movement, and recovery animations have all been improved. The idea is not to completely change how Geralt fights, but to make the actions flow together better.
New Finisher animations
Geralt also gets new finisher animations.
The basic finisher system remains familiar, but there are more variations to see during fights. Some of the new finishers also involve Witcher Signs.
This does not change how you actually fight, but it gives combat a little more variety.
Easier combat escape
Getting away from a fight is also easier now.
If Geralt is locked onto an enemy and you want to break away, you can hold the Dodge input to unlock from the target. You can then press Sprint and run away.
This is one of those changes that sounds pretty basic, but it can be useful.
Better movement around obstacles
Geralt can also move around the environment more naturally during combat.
There are new animations for dealing with ledges, uneven ground, fences, ruins, and other objects that can get in the way during a fight.
Updated witcher signs
All five Witcher Signs have received updated visual effects in the Remastered version.
The Signs are:
- Aard
- Igni
- Yrden
- Quen
- Axii
Reworked skill tree
The skill tree has received one of the bigger changes in the Remastered version.
The progression system has been redesigned, with changes to skill requirements, ranks, and effects. Because of this, some builds that worked in the original game will not work exactly the same way here.
There is also something returning players should know about old saves.
If you load an existing save, your skill points are refunded. You will then need to rebuild Geralt using the new skill system.
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