Ok, so picking out any combat encounter, drunken bar fight or boss throughout an entire game on a high difficulty may be kind of cheating, but given the weight that every moment on The Witcher 3's Death March mode carries, it'd be remiss to exclude it. There is a grandness to playing The Witcher 3 on Death March, because every decision you make needs to be much better planned. Each encounter - however seemingly trivial - can lead to your death, and you can forget about wantonly disembodying drowners 'just for the lolz'. Death March ratchets up the intensity of travelling the dark, hostile world of the Witcher to the kind of level that you wander it with similar trepidation as you would in real life (if you had the appropriate sword and magical skills). Death March isn't a difficulty that people inexperienced with The Witcher will be able to deal with, but for experienced players it makes each choice between putting your life in danger and walking away that much more significant. It makes the world more accurate to the Witcher's tone, in that it's one that only the most hardened individuals will be able to withstand. Tough though Death March is, at no point does it feel unfair thanks to the game's excellent combat mechanics. If you still haven't got The Witcher 3, then a) Why the hell not? and b) PC gamers should pick it up DRM-free at GOG.com. Which moments caused you the most anguish last year? Let us know with a comment, or get yourself read by millions of readers by writing for WhatCulture yourself!
Gamer, Researcher of strange things.
I'm a writer-editor hybrid whose writings on video games, technology and movies can be found across the internet. I've even ventured into the realm of current affairs on occasion but, unable to face reality, have retreated into expatiating on things on screens instead.
