Big news has come from CD Projekt Red about one of their Witcher projects: It turns out Canis Majoris is the code name for a remake of the first Witcher game. This is a good move on the developer's part as many find the original awkward to play. While CDPR has said they want to take the time to do it right, a remake may still be prone to change to make it more like the other games. This could mean missing out on some great features that weren't included in later entries -- ones that should remain in the original.
The Witcher was CDPR's first big game, and despite some of its awkward animations and gameplay, it was a gem. With a remake, it's likely that these issues will be ironed out, and we may get some cut content or at least improved dialogue and scenes. Instead of discarding some of The Witcher's unique features, it would be nice if they were instead enhanced. Some of them could even be included in the other new Witcher titles in the works.
The First Witcher Title Had Much More In-Depth Alchemy
Alchemy is a big part of The Witcher series, as potions and oils greatly help when fighting monsters. In the sequels, players need only select the potion, oil, or bomb they want to make, and it's done. However, alchemy goes much deeper in The Witcher than in the later games. Players can still make the item they want, but they can also combine components to add more effects. For example, adding an ingredient with Nigredo to the Swallow potion formula will add a damage increase on top of healing. Players can master alchemy by understanding ingredients and can make stronger potions, oils, and bombs. It's something that didn't carry over to the other games that should remain part of the remake or be enhanced to take it even further.
There Were Gorgeous Artwork Transitions Included in The Witcher
Unlike later games, houses, taverns, and other locations were separate areas that had to be loaded, which meant loading screens. However, they were made better by the various artworks. Every location had its own beautiful artwork on the loading screen that kept it interesting. A tavern's artwork in Vizima wasn't the same as the one on the outskirts, each representing its own look and feel. This essentially went away with the other games, although the third entry did have some black-and-white concept art for going between regions. However, it just wasn't on the same level. While there will likely be fewer loading screens in the remake, it would be great to see this unique art showcased in other ways, and for the colored story art to return as well.
The Witcher Gave Fans the Chance to Make Their Own Adventures
Mods are a big part of the gaming sphere -- so much so that modding tools being made or included by developers are becoming more common. The Witcher was ahead of its time in this regard. It came bundled with a tool called the Adventure Editor. This allowed players to create their own stories and quests involving Geralt using the game's assets, levels, and characters, and then share them with others. The game even came with a few premade adventures for players to try out, including a Christmas-themed one. It was a neat tool that should be remade for the modern version. With the modding scene more popular than ever before, it would be great to see what adventures fans come up with using a modern version of the Adventure Editor.
The Witcher Made Drinking Into a Gameplay Component
Alcohol is present in most modern RPGs, but for some reason, no one has been able to really find a useful purpose for it, other than making the screen blurry. However, The Witcher had long ago found a way to add it into gameplay. While drinking for fun or to add challenge was still an option, there were also skills and gameplay based around it. There are quests where Geralt can enter drinking contests with characters to gain information to progress the story or win items. There are also two talents that can aid Geralt in this path and give him a boost in combat while drunk. It was a fun bit of unique gameplay that should remain in the remake or even have more added to create a drunken Witcher build.