Ciri is the lead in Witcher 4 and I’ve never been so happy to be dead wrong

Ciri is the lead in Witcher 4 and I've never been so happy to be dead wrong

As a tech enthusiast who has been following the Witcher series since its inception, I must admit that my jaw dropped when Ciri was revealed as the protagonist of The Witcher 4 during the Game Awards 2024 livestream. I had anticipated a fresh start with a fully customizable player character, perhaps even a new Witcher school. But, oh well, I was wrong and I couldn’t be happier!

In the upcoming large-scale, solo adventure role-playing game from CD Projekt RED, Ciri serves as the primary character.

The reveal trailer for The Witcher 4, shown during the Game Awards 2024 livestream, made it crystal clear – something I didn’t anticipate at all: She will be our playable character in the upcoming Witcher trilogy. It’s not usual for me to miss the mark so significantly, but I’m genuinely thrilled about this unexpected revelation.

Previously, my thoughts centered around Ciri being incredibly potent, which made me consider that since CD Projekt RED was aiming to initiate a fresh storyline, creating a player character fully tailored (possibly founding a new Witcher school?) would’ve been fitting for a blank canvas. However, it appears this route wasn’t chosen. Instead, I’m eager to delve deeper into the Continent as Ciri. Throughout the saga, she has served as a secondary protagonist, and assuming the role of a new Witcher seems appropriate, allowing her to follow in Geralt’s footsteps while carving her own path.

Ciri is the lead in Witcher 4 and I've never been so happy to be dead wrong

I’m eager to understand how CD Projekt RED has approached balancing Ciri’s character, but based on the reveal trailer, we can guess a few things. In this new version, Ciri appears to fight and move like a typical Witcher, avoiding the dimensional jumping she used in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, which enabled her to effortlessly travel between dimensions.

In her battle against the gigantic Bauk, she resorts to using the Quen sign, much like Geralt does frequently. Yet, she also draws upon a mystical energy source, which is beyond the reach of ordinary Witchers. This undeniably suggests that she retains some magical aptitude. This intriguing distinction raises questions about how it will be reflected in the gameplay mechanics.

According to a conversation with IGN, game director Sebastian Kalemba reveals that Ciri has successfully completed the Trial of the Grasses. This is significant in several ways as Ciri would be the first female character in the universe known to have survived this trial. Her lineage being Elder blood may play a role, but more importantly, it implies that there’s someone left who can carry out this procedure.

After the significant attack on the Wolf School, no one remaining knows the method for crafting more Witchers, despite the mutagens still being accessible. This leads us to wonder if Ciri’s abilities were affected by her experience with the trial, and who bestowed this trial upon her in the first place. I can’t wait to uncover the solutions to these intriguing mysteries!

Ciri is the lead in Witcher 4 and I've never been so happy to be dead wrong

Above all, I’m thrilled about the opportunity to embody Ciri, as it promises something unique. CD Projekt RED highlights that although there are likenesses, she isn’t like Geralt; she’s not as hardened, making her less inclined to stay neutral when confronted with two wrongs. This opens up numerous possibilities for crafting Ciri’s legend, and it’s these prospects that have my thoughts buzzing.

I’m already looking forward to uncovering more about Ciri in The Witcher 4 over the coming months and years. What can we expect in terms of new beasties? How will the battle and adventure mechanics develop? Which magical abilities does Ciri retain? Are there tough decisions on the horizon that we’ll need to face? Could Ciri have a group of sorceresses to pursue, much like her father Geralt did? In other words, it seems that Ciri might follow in her father’s footsteps!

At the moment, The Witcher 4 is being crafted with Unreal Engine 5. As of now, there’s no set date for its launch.

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2024-12-14 16:09