The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings 'Hardcore' Mode Features Permanent Death

26
Speaking with Eurogamer, CD Projekt gameplay designer Mateusz Kanik revealed that the upcoming RPG, The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings will feature an "Insane" difficulty that carries with it the threat of zero ability to respawn after death.

Like Diablo 2, Steel Battalion, and a handful of other games before it, dying while playing The Witcher 2's "Insane" difficulty will permanently kill your character. Kanik explains that players will be able to save their adventure, but if they die that Witcher career will no longer be available for reload.

Hardcore? Absolutely; however, the dev does plan on adding a "resurrection scroll; maybe DLC or something." Players can expect an achievement to be tied to completing the game's most unforgiving setting.

According to Kanik, the decision comes from the team's admiration for Demon's Souls--known for its brutal difficulty, which puts those who completed it in an elite class of people we'd want by our side when we venture into demonic regions, like the snowy tundra of Northern Canada.

The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings launches on the PC in May 2011.

Xav de Matos was previously a games journalist creating content at Shacknews.

Filed Under
From The Chatty
  • reply
    December 17, 2010 11:13 AM

    As someone who played a lot of HC in Diablo II I find this a strange addition. It's a single player story based game for crying out loud!

    • reply
      December 17, 2010 11:43 AM

      When I used to play Minecraft, on single player I enforced hardcore mode on myself. It is a fun and palpitating experience with many games.

      • reply
        December 17, 2010 11:49 AM

        You're a madman. Those Creepers already scare the piss out of me, and all I have to do is a corpse run if I die. I can't imagine losing my whole empire!

      • reply
        December 17, 2010 2:35 PM

        I don't think I could do that... creepers blowing my precious constructions to bits was enough to make me rage quit a few sessions lol

Hello, Meet Lola