Throwback Thursday: The Witcher Series’ Forgotten Fighting Game (VIDEO)
The Witcher is considered one of the most popular series in modern gaming, with CD Projekt RED‘s trilogy sporting a glorious open world, epic story, and beautiful characters based on the works of author Andrzej Sapkowski. Of course, an expansive world such as this presents a welcome opportunity for spin-offs, and the series currently features a popular one with Gwent and its upcoming standalone Thronebreaker game. However, not all have had the same longevity, as evident by a now-defunct fighting title called The Witcher: Versus.
Debuting in 2008, ‘Versus’ was created as an official browser MMO for the Witcher series, where players would match-up and face-off in duels as either a Witcher, Sorceress, or Frightener. Unlike traditional fighting games, gameplay revolved around players arranging a sequence of attack/defensive moves, and putting these strategies head to head in rock-paper-scissors style combat. The last one standing collected the riches and unlocked new levels, skills, and access to Witcher-themed weapons and other items.
The Witcher: Versus’ simplified and community-driven gameplay proved at least popular enough to land a mobile iOS release in 2011. Additional platforms such as Android were seemingly set to release soon after, but those plans were never able to fully pan out. By mid 2012, Versus was officially discontinued from both browsers and the iOS App Store, effectively ceasing all fights from there on out. Those hoping to at least visit the game’s original website won’t be greeted by much as it currently results in a blank page.
While a game disappearing from the internet is always a bummer, the fighting genre wouldn’t be one to leave The Witcher behind forever. The Witcher 2 provided a taste of this kind of gameplay in a gladiator-style Arena mode, but while challenging, never went as far as to offer PvP multiplayer. A more traditional return to the fighting genre would happen with SoulCalibur VI, the game featuring The Witcher’s Geralt of Rivia as a sword-carrying playable fighter.
What do you think? Do you remember The Witcher: Versus, or is it best left forgotten? Should CD Projekt RED totally make a new fighting game? Let us know in the comments below and be sure to follow Don’t Feed the Gamers on Twitter and Facebook to be informed of the latest gaming and entertainment news 24 hours a day! Also, be on the lookout for the next Throwback Thursday where we’ll highlight yet another piece of trivia from gaming past. For entries from previous weeks, check out these next few news stories:
Eric Hall2712 Posts
Phone-browsing Wikipedia in one hand and clutching his trusty controller in the other, the legendary Eric Hall spreads his wealth of knowledge as a writer for Don't Feed the Gamers. Be sure to catch his biweekly "Throwback Thursday" segment for a nostalgic look at trivia from the past.
