Definite game of the year contender, fun, and beautiful game.
Pros:
*Very crisp and beautiful graphics. Be warned this game is very graphics intensive, and as always the min/recommended requirements for GPU are incorrect. I recommend at minimum a GTX270 for low settings and a GTX460 for high settings, or ATI equivalent.
*Good plot, several side quests. Plot decisions have a role starting in chapter 1.
*Revamped power/combat system. This is in some ways a downgrade, fighting multiple enemies on normal/hard difficulty is tedious as they gang you and block relentlessly.
*High replay-ability. Plot decision makes huge difference in chapter outcomes, allowing at least two very different playthroughs.
*Item crafting and recipes are cool, albeit useless as you are often rewarded gear.
*For a near hack n slash, you can make a surprisingly powerful and fun mage or hybrid build with the igni sign, helitrop, and the right gear (mage gloves, mage pants, ysgith armor).
Cons:
*Signs of strong consolization are prevalent. If you're a hardcore RPG player this may be annoying to you. Skill tree/weapon and armor upgrade decisions hardly affect overall gameplay as they are often awarded to you. Also arm wrestling and overall combat gameplay are catered to a controller, especially the power wheel.
*Seemed very short, only 3 chapters that are about 3 hours long for the first two, and over 2 hours long between the last chapter and epilouge.
*Bad ending in my opinion
*Upgraded Quen power allows for easy playthrough as a warrior. Even features massive dmg returned (great on hard) and a bonus parrying feature (enemies get knocked back when they hit you).
*Alchemy is useless, as you can only use potions before a battle via meditation, and i'm no psychic for when a fight comes up. Also, the alchemy skill tree is profoundly inferior to magic and swordsmanship pure or hybrid trees.
*Just like Witcher 1, all of the best weapons are unlocked in the last hour or so of gameplay. Don't worry, you'll probably be able import them to Witcher 3... so they'll be weak and on par with useless starter gear again.
**spoiler*: Operator sidequest is a ripoff even on lower difficulties ;)
Overall, fun game and definite GOTY contender. Blows DA2 outta the water. Buy if you're PC can handle it. As a sidenote, good luck console players as this games requirements are WAY above turdy console GPU. Even with consoles good upscaling capabilities, CDprojeckt will have a hard time getting it to run on 360 or ps3 at 30fps, even in 1280x720.