11.11.2007

The Witcher Censored

You won't find any naked Dryads in the US Version of The Witcher.

I've been wanting to get a copy of The Witcher ever since its release weeks ago. Although time have been my enemy as of late, with my schedule and all barricading my way to the nearest game retailer. However, I found out that the US version of The Witcher is censored. The nudity and violence were removed, and even the dialogue had also been cut short. Here's an example of that:

(Original)

Elf Bandit: What do you seek here, witcher?
Geralt: Murderers.
Elf Bandit: Then visit the city. It’s inhabited by a criminal race. We fight to survive. Humans only comprehend force and thus will we talk to them.
Geralt: I doubt you’ll live long.
Elf Bandit: You threaten us, dh’oine, but know six ape-people, including women and children, remain inside the crypt… with the ghouls…

(published English version)

Elf Bandit: What do you want?
Geralt: Murderers.
Elf Bandit: Visit the city. It’s inhabited by a criminal race. We fight to survive.
Geralt: I doubt you’ll live long.
Elf Bandit: You threaten us, but six ape-people remain inside the crypt… with the ghouls…

So now, I'm thinking of getting the European Uncut version of the game. I don't mind the missing nudity and violence, I can get those two using other mediums. But if they removed the strong language, then that makes The Witcher less grittier. Censorship sucks. I guess this is a marketing move to earn an "M" rating instead of an "A", raking a bit more consumers.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

crap I may have to get the UK version now as well...how does one go about doing this?

Skron said...

I actually don't know how or where to get the UK version. A website probably but I gave up and got the US version.

An Enhanced version of the game will be coming out next month though. It'll have lots of goodies and it's fixed. I don't know if it's uncensored, however.

Anonymous said...

You can download it from atari's uk site I think, for around $50USD at the moment, http://www.atari-store.co.uk/pc-games/buy-download-The_Witcher_Enhanced_Edition.html

This is the one intended for the uk audience, so I assume it's uncensored, but of course, they don't advertise it as such.