The new game mode is the Arena, here you test your combat skills in challenging gladiator style fights. The rules are simple: kill or be killed. It's a fresh change to the Witcher series that has so far been restricted to a single game mode, so it adds some variety and extra re-playability.
You start off in the arena with next to nothing - your level 1, you have crummy armor and weapons and the first fight pits you against a team of enemies that wont your blood. This adds to the challenge big time, but also gives you a chance to try out abilities and powers you may not have used during your main story play through. With each win in the arena you will be rewarded with gold, XP, points and one of three items that you can choose from. You can sell your excess loot for more money, and buy supplies. There are also three mercenary characters you can hire to help you during arena fights. While it's not multiplayer there are leader boards and getting to the top would come with much prestige I'm sure.
The arena map itself is well detailed like any other Witcher environment, you'll need to avoid the fires whilst taking advantage of the far edge of the arena by using the Ard sign to knock enemies over the cliff (very satisfying tactic by the way). In most games that include an arena (that I've played) pay little attention to the crowd but CD Projekt RED have done a great job. It's invigorating to hear the crowd roar with excitement as I slaughter one enemy after another, then boo me if I start running away like a coward. There are also plenty of spectators watching, some of them with a big mouth too, I swear I heard dwarf say he wonted to marry the Witcher after a particularly gruesome kill!
The update was simple and problem free, the game prompts you at the lunch menu and from there will download and install. Easy, just the way we like it. I'd give this update a 10/10 but one thing bothers me about it, when it comes to scoring points for the leader boards, players may find that dieing and so preventing the acquisition of more points bit of a turn off. Personally, it don't bother me as I don't intend to compete with others, but I can understand it may affect other players. Although it dose add to the challenge I think I'd rather see a penalty in the form of a point reduction instead.
It's easy to see why gamers have such high respect for CD Projekt RED, they give DLC for free and listen to their fans, and most of all produce a sold and true RPG.
PC Gamer Guy's Score: 9/10
