Velen's soundtrack makes the zone. its perfect

Velen immersed me in a sense of fear and dread that I haven't experienced from a video game before or since.

Another cool detail in velen, there are almost none young men from 16 to 30 years old, it's because they are either in the army or became bandit

Witcher 3 is one of greatest rpgs of all time. Love it when my subbox gets a witcher 3 upload.

Velen set the tone so perfectly for the war being a backdrop for the events of the game. This game is such a masterpiece. I could froth about it forever.

I will never forget when I glitched in a puddle whilst fighting a water hag, will never recover the twenty minutes of jumping and swimming to leave it, the puddle was half a Geralts size

Thank you for making the point that the people of Velen were not meant to be seen as in need of conquering, but rather were victims of that kind of mentality, caught up in war after the assassination of the Temarian King and due to their being located between the other warring empires. Landing in Velen early in the game provides context for the greater geopolitical strife and the consequences of it for those without power.

Velen is an essay in atmosphere. Out of all the areas in the game it tells us the more about the world simply through sight and sound

On my first playthrough while traveling through Velen at night i came across my first foglet and that scared the heck out of me. I saw the fog moving and was intrigued by it then this big ass monster popped up, i said no sir and turned off my Playstation. I came back to the game the next day but for a while i was afraid to travel in velen at night😂

Great to see this game still getting love. Quality games have no time limit. Skellige is my personal favourite, but Velen is beautiful. 200 hrs of consistent brilliance has me wondering if we'll see anything like this again anytime soon. Skyrim is good don't get me wrong, but it ain't no Witcher 3.

13:30 here as a Pole I have to slightly disagree, I think that Redania symbolises the Polish Lithuanian commonwealth (Poland's golden age) because of tiny details, like the scene with a redanian soldier singing the redanian anthem (which is a copy of the gaude mater Polonia), the crest of redania and the imperial ambitions are also reminiscent of polish imperial ambitions. Before 1795 Poland was an important player in European politics, and I think that the game is probably based on that.

I’m still playing this masterpiece and discovering new things

Such a well realised world. It’s a work of art really. When I read the books it’s this game I see in my mind.

A true masterpiece of a video my friend. Thank you for teleporting back in time to the time I first discovered velen. It was an incredibly transformative time in my life, and it felt good to revisit it. Keep doing what you do

even without exploring Novigrad and Oxenfurt, it has been so fun exploring Velen and just experiencing all the quests both marked and unmarked

Awesome video! I‘m always happy when someone makes a lovely video essay about my favorite game 🤝

Skellige is my favourite area, Velen is my second

Incredible video man. You should do more like these!

The ealdorman's line 'ye soon be leavin', and we must tarry on' within its context is possibly my favourite line in any video game. Even outside of its position in characterising Velen as a harsh land where those who live there have to make hard decisions to survive, it is such a powerful point and could only work within the video game medium. In games, we're so used to thinking in terms of numbers to find 'the best' decision. Should you obey the crones or not? You can weigh up the outcomes and make a choice, but at the end of the day you'll be leaving Velen for Novigrad. The peasants have to stay and deal with the consequences of your decision. In a way, it highlights the arrogance of being a video game protagonist, and by extent anyone in a leadership position from a place of privilege, making world-ending decisions that you won't have to live the consequences of. And only a game with as good a level of worldbuilding as the Witcher 3 could make that idea worth considering rather than just dismissing it as 'shut up it's a game it's just a bit of fun'.

Return of The King

The Witcher 3 is genuinely so good and so layered that you can actually apply post-colonial theory to it 😂 Cd project ted really hit a different level with this game

Yet it is humble White Orchard that I find most charming, especially in winter. My next favorite is Kaer Morhen, _home._ Velen, of course, is special. I love sailing down the eastern side with its large empty spaces, an area the game rarely takes you to.

Kinda wish they would have released a final version of Velen at this point with DOC. It’s clear south of fyke island has bones, but whatever quests were planned for down there got scrapped.

I played all three games first time at the start of this year and damn this game blew my mind. The contrast between even just the two previous games was huge. Though, if I hadn't played Red Dead Redemption 2 first a year ago and played this when it arrived in 2015, Witcher 3 probably would be my all time favourite.

If DLC counts then Toussaint is my favourite, if not then probably Skellige is my favourite.

Great video! Velen is also my favorite region in the game. Thank you for sharing your views on why it is good, some of which are also my thoughts, while also introducing me more reasons why it is so immersive.

Toussaint was mind boggling beautiful when I first played it. This game deserves another play through.

Velen was easily my favourite part of the game. It is such a rich tapestry of ambience, lore and game play that you can interpret much more about the world than any other part. I like to think that the area of Velen comes close to representing the fear and evil that real medieval people saw the world. Minis the monsters, it reflects the dark superstitions, war and famine of the times.

I love the melancholic atmosphere that the soundtrack creates in harmony with the landscape unfolding in front of u while exploring.

when I was reading the books, I pictured Velen and other regions very close to the game depiction. CDPR did an amazing job, a perfect mix of intricacy and horror.

Would love videos like this on all the regions in the game!

I really love the stories you tell with your videos. Thanks for making this amazing content!

This was an incredible video. Would love to see more videos of yours on The Witcher 3

That was a great showcase of what makes Velen and why it is appealing in-game, but I'd like to also see now a comparison of Velen and the other regions (including Touissant), and what makes Velen better than any of them!

Velen has great landscape. I cant never argue with that. But it flows with numerous of sad stories, and deep stories which scars me every time I go there. The Crones, the Baron Quest line, for me they are too heavy and dark emotion. Dont get me wrong, it is a good thing for a game when player feel the depression behind those wonderful landscape. But once Im done with Velen quest line for the first time, I can never look at it with the same eyes before. It brings me of depression. At least Novigrad get me the crowded atmosphere that helps me forget of those awful things behind the wall.

the ambient score from Witcher 3 is just the best I've ever heard. I haven't encountered any other game ever that came close to establishing the same moods with its music. Velen also has what I've come to think of as "starting area syndrome", where the first 1/3 of the game is infinitely more fleshed out and developed than the rest of it, because it makes a good first impression so that by the time you've done your eighteenth fetch quest in the later game, you're more forgiving.

Velen was always my favorite region in Witcher 3. It feels like you are in a brothers Grimm fairytale

I won’t lie sometimes I go there and fight monsters just so I can hear that dope soundtrack. The fight soundtrack in Velen and the main soundtrack in skellige just sound so beautiful.

I got that after my first playthrough. Started my second one, and boom realize i missed this REAL hard

The Witcher 3 is the best game ever I have everr played. It combines everything perfectly from the soundtrack to the gameplay, characters, lore etc. And because of the graphics it will not age very soon. Just can’t wait to play the next part !! Avarti you re doing a great work making these videos. The re very interesting and your voice and you re style of narrating is keeping it up!!

My God he's back! And with another Witcher video!

Welcome back

when ever I wonder in Velen, I always feel that I am weak, alone, and surrounded by danger. you will value any helping sword or friend.

Bloody Baron questline was amazing

Been my favourite since I played at release: enjoy exploring it more than any other region.

velen is my fave area of the witcher 3. its massive, the world is so detailed and feels alive, plus its terrifying!!

Well said!

I’ve had 3 playthroughs of W3 so far. I still get goosebumps if I ever travel south in Velen.

I've always thought so!

It was always my favorite zone of all the zones well except Kær Morhen of course. :)

Just started the witcher 3 for the first time and I'm so happy I waited

Novigrad has always been my favorite followed by toussaint, but all of them are great I think.

man i love the witcher 3

glad someone agrees. honestly kind of underrated

Bought it for ps5 again and I love it so much

I found the game boring at first and couldn't get into the story but after doing the Barons quest i was hooked into it one of the best mission quest in the game and absolutely fell in love with Witcher 3.

Skellige is probably the most beloved, but Velen has layers to it that you come to appreciate over time

I remember watching the gameplay trailer from E3 of TW3 and I couldn't believe my eyes, than I played the game when it was released and everything was jaw dropping, insane graphics for 2015.

Not any other game is such emotional, realistic, and story telling masterpiece 😊

i really like velen but skellige is *so* good for me. the feeling when you get to kaer trolde and look up to see the castle nestled in the mountains, and the whole difference in culture its just amazing. also sailing to random marker spots or smaller islands and finding cool text or quests. maybe the water and boat combat, if better, would attract more people too, but i think its fine

Now I wanna replay witcher so bad !

This game was like a breath of fresh air.

I think you were meant to type "It Took ME 8 Years...." as the title of this video, after you renamed it.

By far the best part of the game’s map, truly gives you that monster hunter feeling

I only feel safe in Velen because I'm directly over the shoulder of Geralt. It boggles my mind that the peasants and peons of Velen can carve out a life there.

Random encounters mod makes it even better

Personally I like Skellige the most in Witcher 3, but I can't deny that Velen is good

I love velen because of how much I want to leave it. You feel isolated, the music is sombre or straight up sad, its grim, dangerous and by far the most poverty stricken of all regions. It perfectly captures a land destroyed by war, plague and famine. Leaving Velen for Novigrad is so surreal. Just crossing the Pontar and its greener, cleaner and again, the music is more idyllic. Even though its only like 2-5 min on horseback from Velen to Novigrad, the stark contrast makes the journey seem grander and help The Witcher 3 feel more grander and alive

I definitely think the soundtrack makes up for a lot of what is great about Velen. Going into Crookback Bog, meeting the crones whilst the Ladies of the Wood plays is one of the greatest moments I've experienced in gaming. CDPR absolutely smashed it with creating the atmosphere of a war torn forsaken cesspit of swamps and death. One thing I dislike though is the map layout with the islands, the river seperating Velen and Novigrad is meant to be the Pontar, one of the most important rivers in the universe, going from the sea all the way to Flotsam, and Aedirn and Kaedwen, yet the river doesn't feel big, nor can any boat or ship actually pass through it because of all the islands, but that's my only dislike.

Velen has the most character, but I like the vibe of skellige the most

If i would start witcher 3 run one more time, it would be because of Valen. White Orchid also - great starting zone.

5:53 Up until this day I was convinced the Baron was voiced by Mark Addy (King Baratheon in the first season of Game of Thrones)

Well, looks like it’s time for me to replay the Witcher 3 again

Tower of Mice set the mood...

Played the games and read the books Toussaint my favorite followed by Velen and Skellige. I would've enjoyed Velen if we could've visited more book areas. Velen's best area for me is Noivgrad. Bloody Baron is best quest in the game pre dlc.

Velen would've been even better if they didn't cut the Plague quest with Iorveth and Gaunter O'Dimm (a first version , different from what seen in HoS) and Lara Dorren's grave

Regarding the anecdote from someone else saying Velen "needing" to be conquered by civilisation and an educated elite. As you mentioned yourself Velen is between empires and has historically belonged to Temeria without any noticeable development in the region. Meaning, Velen remains untamed because the powers that be in the region are either unwilling or unable to develop and/or provide for Velen stability, instead it is shown that Velen can only be exploited by the powers that be, creating a population that rely on themselves being relatively free from their oppressors. Velen is a place where people like Kiera Metz, Strenger and others can live undisturbed and out of reach from the watchful eyes of Nilfgaard or Radovid, but it also enables local opportunists like the Crones for exploiting the precarious environment of the local populus. In the end, Velen would only be able to prosper when left alone and untouched by the powers that be, letting the people shape their future themselves, potentially even developing to such a degree that they can break free from the Crones or even Strenger, who's men are free to do whatever they want in the name of "protection"

In my 2nd newgame plus, cat eyes crossbow build with combat skills ,synergy and flood of anger for magic. No witcher gear or fast traveling quests. Its something else. Its super easy or super difficult against the same monsters. Instakill monsters or they instakill you.

You know a game is one of the best when you can say any of the lands in it are the best and everyone will say "yeah that's fair."

I really REALLY hope that in the new Witcher saga they keep the same dreadful, mature atmosphere that shows the horrors of living as a peasant in a medieval dark-fantasy world. No other games before or since have captured that atmosphere that could be experienced in Witcher 3

Velen definitely.

I just wish they made like 5 or 6 more locations. DLC that bad boy.

Not only does sparing the spirit in the tree result in the deaths of the Baron and his wife, it also kills the nearby village (which also contains children). I would say the least evil option is to let the crones eat the children, monstrous as it sounds

My favorite thing is going from the grey and depressing land of Velen to Novigrad. Such a contrast

Comparing Redania to Russia and Nilfgaard to Prussia also makes sense to me, with Prussia being a modern, highly cost-effective and well-organized military state. One thing must considered: Prussia never went on to literally enslave conquered people, although it is true that local culture suffered, where Prussia made geopolitical gains. Could another fitting analogy be Ottomans vs Serbia/Bulgaria?

Velen is not no-mans-land, except with regards to the current situation with the 3rd Northern War. I think what is difficult for most players to understand about Velen is that not being wealthy is not a curse and that many people live all their lives under such circumstances, and would never trade it for living in a city - full of filth and crime and unsocial, despicable people. I grew up near Detroit (absolute suburbia), but not even an hours drive and you were in deep woods and rural communities that thought you were nothing but spoiled and without values to live by. One of the starkest things I noted was that people would patch and extend their houses with whatever materials they could readily get their hands on--preferably with little to no cost. Other than in larger towns, hardly a house could be found without corrugated steal or fiberglass roofing and/or partial walls. It was never pretty, but it got the job done--and everyone heated with wooden stoves through the winter--and Michigan always has COLD winters. This is how I see Velen. Remember, on Fike Isle there was a lord over all the land, who fled only when the war came, which was very recently. That is not to say he was a well loved man or ever present in the minds of the people. On the contrary. Nobody even mentions him being missing--IIRC he fled to Redania. What the game fails to ever express--which is left to the player to recognize--is that the further away from Crookback Bog you are, the more normal it appears life must have been before the war. The most stark contrast is right across the Pontar in Redania, which is practically no different than Velen with regard to geography, only Velen is less developed. The idea that people in Velen could have no idea of how things worked elsewhere seems to me to be far fetched. The Ealderman of Downwarren and the man with whom Ciri speaks on Bald Mountain seem to want to fight that their "plight" is impossible to escape without the Crones, while obviously everywhere else they live without the Crones just fine; in fact, far better, for there are no constant threats of starvations and plague. They have turned themselves into a cult so heinous, they give their own children to cannibals', whom they warship. !!- Spoiler -!! I have heard over the years so many pleadings, oh, the poor people of Downwarren, when the freed Spirit causes them to kill each other, without a thought to how they are the power-base for the Crones. They provide the ears with which the Crones hear what is happening in Velen, and the children--their own children--to be cannabalize by the Crones, which gives them power and pleasure. No, there is no reason to feel the tiniest bit of pity for the Downwarren villagers. They kept the Crones in power and never lifted a finger to change anything. There is not a single report of them seeking help from the lord on File Isle nor elsewhere. They accepted their situation and liften not a finger to change it. Crying for them is like crying for Nifgaardian soldiers who fought and died in the Nifgaardian wars of agressoin. Nee, not a bit.

I let the whispering hillock go free and still got the ending where the bloody baron takes his wife to the mountains though

Even tho it's very unpopular, I put Skellige above Velen. Velen is great and I can understand everyone putting Velen at 1 but for me Skellige gives me kind of Skyrim vibes. The music, the clans, the landscape, I just love it

Honestly; ever since I played the witcher 3; no RPG (except cyberpunk maybe, which is also made by cdpr coincidentally) has hit so hard and was nearly as immersive and interesting.

My personal favorite area is Skellige. I have a soft spot for Touissant but it doesn't feel as immersive as the other areas.

A funny thing that made me almost miss out on the now well over 1000+ hours of game play is this!! I really didnt like the witcher at all when i 1st started gaming again after 25 years without playing a single game.. So why didnt i 1st like it?? I only wanted fast paced shooters and this is witcher 3 not... How did i finally notice what a great game it was?? Several months later i think it was and had no connection to the internet n played all call of duty and battlefield games so the only new games i had installed was witcher 3 and skyrim.. It took about 1 to 2 hours to really get into the game at that point and after that i never stoped playing the witcher 3 game.. Warning 'Witcher 3 game is higly addictive and if u finaly reach the end you will just load up and start it all over again and again(This is how great this game is)

As a Masurian, I would like to comment on the inspiration of the architecture of Velen - while red brick is mostly associated with Prussia, it's commonplace in northern and even central Poland (historically, that is). I wouldn't call Velen Masurian in any shape or form, the village houses are more similar to eastern Poland. As for your comparisons to real states, I wouldn't disagree with you more, but the thing is, there are so many influences in the Continent's countries you can't equate any kingdom to a real life country. I can just as easily compare Nilfgaard to Nazi Germany, because of the clear WW2 callbacks, like their army structure, but I can also compare it to the Roman Empire, because of their practice of latifundia style slavery, or, again, army structure. But, it's also similar to HRE, because of their government structure... You get my point. Also, I don't understand where you get the Redanian - imitating of the west analogy of Russia, in the lore, Redania is one of the most advanced Northern Kingdoms. It is authoritarian, people compare it to Poland because of their flag and the names of the kings, but while there are witch hunts on a massive scale in Redania, Poland was a haven for religious minorities. But again, that's the beauty of the lore - you can argue for hours about the real life influences to the kingdoms, not to mention the in world history of the Continent.

Best zone in the game

I've never played this game and I can say, 'of course it is'.

Witcher 3 is definitely a top 3 game for me it’s just so fucking beautiful the only games I’ve probably played more is assassins creed 2 and brother hood

Been saying that for a long time lol

Toussaint is my favourite place.

Yeah i agree with you man but the thing is witcher 3 haven't dangerous monsters like witcher 1&2 it's a shame i think😪

Velen is the essence of the witcher, Bauclair was a fariy tale, but i love that too ^^

I would posit that Geralt himself is the counter to Ciri's indignation. He understands that in life you have to do what you have to do. Geralt is often forced into positions where he has to make far less than ideal decisions. he may have his bound against "evil", but nothing here shows the peasants being evil, such as engaging gratuitous harm or anything like that. Geralt rarely judges the villagers, saving his judgment for the Baron whose harm is doled out in fits of cruelty and rage.