Hi, Selam, guten Abend und herzlich Willkommen. On CodingLifeMindfully we try to do things a bit differently. We focus on original postings, filled with personal experiences and most of all: no boring AI-generated content!! [Übersetzt mit DeepL.com (kostenlose Version).]
We also want to differentiate ourselves from generic lists like “WatchMojo Top 10” or “10 things you need to do, when…”.
We are not like the rest of them, we are…better - Homelander (2022).
So with no further adieu:
My Top 5 of most underrated things in the Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Yeah, you got me—it's a list again. But this one is a little different. In this blog, I'm trying to highlight the rather extraordinary elements that made my time with The Witcher 3 so special... and the 2,416 other playthroughs as well. Let's start with:
5. An Amazing Fantasy Soundtrack
As gamers and consumers, we often don’t fully recognize the amount of time, artistry, and craftsmanship that goes into the music of our favorite games. This soundtrack, created by the Polish composer Marcin Przybyłowicz & Co, features the violoncello, an instrument I am personally very familiar with.
Even though I did not enjoy most of the practicing, in 7 years I learned to play this instrument, and I’m happy about it as an adult. To be honest, playing the cello didn't increase my interest in music, but it gave me some tools to understand the intricacies behind it.
The deep notes and harmonies of The Witcher 3 Soundtrack create a very thrilling atmosphere and always manage to fully immerse me in this dark, beautiful world. Together with Celtic-sounding female vocals, it develops a very good mix of medieval tones and captivating fantasy action genre. I personally like the soundtrack of the second DLC Blood and Wine the most, especially the Main Theme.
Wolves asleep amidst the trees, bats all a-swayin' in the breeze, but one soul lies anxious, wide awake, fearing all manner of ghouls, hags, and wraiths.
4. Gwent
Let’s face it: we keep talking and talking about the main game, which is good—great, even, most of the time. But the real jewel is right under our noses, and it is called Gwent.
I collected them all, the whole set. Even the stupid, useless cards from some dude in some stupid village in Velen. And I also got the one from the auction in Oxenfurt, and YES, I used save games to my advantage.
I don't know why, but this card game is better than it should be. Every quest I faced, I was excited about a new monster to fight, sure. But the more important questions always were: "Can I play Gwent? Can I win a new card?"
Which is your favorite faction? Monsters, Scoia'tael, Nilfgaard, the Northern Realms or Skellige? And have you played the standalone Gwent game? Let me know in the comments.
3. The Bloody Baron
Hm, I am not sure why this is on the list. Because it is a widely renowned quest, honored for its dark depiction of, well, fucked up shit! And it definitely is NOT underrated. Let’s be real: If you played The Witcher 3, you know this quest.
So let’s talk about the other obvious clickbait I just produced: UNDERRATED. What does that even mean? I mean, we all know what it means, but I don't know when this word has been used correctly the last time. I just see it for what it has become over the years: cheap clickbait.
Also, ratings vary so much based on personal taste. So if someone says something you like is underrated, of course, it activates some triggers. Sadly, it works most of the time to get people to read articles or watch videos with sometimes completely different messages... like this... sorry.
Is there a moral? Maybe. My tip: YOU know YOUR taste and what you like, and you should always stand by it. Find people who share the same interests and turn 'underrated' into 'extraordinary.' And don't fall for clickbait.
But back to arguably one of the best quests/characters in the game: the Bloody Baron. Alcoholic, Gwent, daughter, wife, violent, escape, Oxenfurt, Umaaaa, the Botchling, The 3 Crones—no good ending!?
My ending was the one where his wife turned into Gollum just before she entered her unpaid and permanent vacation in the land of the dead.
Do I have to tell you anything else? Ah, yes.
This f***ing fast travel point right outside the entrance of the castle. It’s like if you want to go to bed, but first, you have to lay down in another bed, then it teleports you 50 meters away from your actual bed and you have to walk there. Why? Put the fast travel point at the dwarf, THE DWARF, so I don't have to walk every time! I wish there was a portal. All the f***ing time walking… Oh, they fixed it? Thanks, CDPR! ᕕ( ᐛ )ᕗ
2. Portals
The universe of The Witcher is set in a dark medieval fantasy world, with monsters, Dandelion, and feisty witches. And all of the witches swore to each other in the witches' guild (formerly known as The Lodge) that they would never walk more than 100 meters a day. They even made a WhatsApp group for this challenge and posted their (lack of) progress on Finstergram.
But unable to declare a winner for hundreds of years, they kept up the challenge until they finally invented The Portal. This way, they can travel in style and still look like they had only Verbena for breakfast.
Anyway, Geralt doesn't like portals, and his stomach doesn’t like them either. He repeatedly complains about them: in the game, in the books, and in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt fandom forums. He just hates them. I mean, really? It’s not like he would apparate or something. Avada get over it already!
You know who don't need portals, because they can just teleport? Horses!
1. Detective Roach (Plötze)
Do you remember this beautiful horse? Aaahhh, it feels like yesterday when Roach and I were riding through Velen, occasionally stopping for some villagers, earning that tiny shiny bling bling. Or speeding up, swinging the silver sword, and giving high fives to wolves and ghouls. Somehow this horse movement felt just right. Just like in real life, I think—if in real life, this is what riding a horse would feel like. Just magic! Which brings me to the mushroom quest. At least that's what I call it.
“Equine Phantoms” is one of those quests that has stuck with me until now. Not the name—I had to research that. And not the “who customer” or “what monster.” But because of the way the quest suddenly turns into Mario World.
As a mutated Witcher, Geralt is pretty used to popping some pills here and smoking some J there. But he mostly consumes his own brewed naturopathic medicine (potions). The shroom, though, offered by some crazy lady in the wilds, didn’t make Geralt grow bigger. It gave him this insight:
ROACH CAN TALK! Whaaaaaat???? Who knew!? And why isn’t this a bigger deal? I mean, we see cats that speak on the internet daily. But a horse? Incredible!
Not only does Roach prove to be a real detective, finding tracks, clues, and leading Geralt to the monster's hideout, but she also shines with intelligent thoughts and meta humor about the game.
Remember when I said the horse movement is fantastic? Well, I lied. As Roach points out herself: Sometimes the slightest leaf of grass turns out to be the biggest obstacle. At other times, she can teleport over insurmountable destinations, which remains a mystery to gamers all over the world.
In my opinion, Roach is a real visionary and should consider working part-time as a psychiatrist. It would be hard for a horse to get a license, but she could at least try it as a guiding mentor. Or, in the words of Roach:
A horse walks into a tavern, and the innkeeper says: why the long face?
10/10 Horse!
BTW: Geralt actually owned many horses and named all of them Roach. Ufff. Consume responsibly! 🍄
