The Witcher franchise kicked off with a few short stories by Andrzej Sapkowski, before releasing a full novel series. However, one might argue that the series truly kicked off in a grand manner after the release of The Witcher games. While the first two games might’ve not attained a huge level of traction for the franchise, everything changed with the release of The Witcher 3 — one of the landmark titles in gaming history that is influencing modern video game development to this very day.
CD Projekt Red did a commendable job of bringing the book’s characters to life, with Geralt being a notable mention. The protagonist of the tale has been faithfully adapted from the books… for the most part. There are still a few major changes that CD Projekt Red has made to the beloved witcher for a bevy of reasons. Whether it be to make him more relatable, powerful, handsome, or anything else along the same lines, one can’t deny that some of these changes are completely out of character. Keeping this in mind, here are five ways Geralt feels like an entirely original character in video games, coupled with five instances where he was faithful to his book counterpart.
10 ACTED OUT OF CHARACTER: He’s Deathly Pale In The Books But Has A Healthier Complexion In The Games
Witchers in the books look absolutely nightmarish, with Geralt being no exception to this golden rule. A large source of their scary look comes from their pale skin, making them look downright sickly all the time.
However, CD Projekt Red decided against giving their witchers pale skin, leading to Geralt and the rest of his Kaer Morhen buddies looking almost human… well, save for their cat-like eyes.
9 JUST LIKE IN THE BOOKS: His Body Has A Ton Of Scars
A big part of why Geralt looked so haunting in the books was due to the fact that his entire body was covered in scars, to the point where one could call him a mass of sinews and be somewhat right.
While video game Geralt isn’t a scar-ridden fleshling, one look at his shirtless self will be more than enough to detail out the numerous battles he’s faced as a witcher.
8 ACTED OUT OF CHARACTER: He’s Just Way Too Handsome!
Making most characters from the books somewhat more visually appealing in the video games is a running theme in The Witcher 3, with pretty much each and every character mentioned in the books getting beautified to some degree.
This holds true for Geralt as well. While book Geralt might have his own charm, there’s no way one could call him good-looking. Meanwhile, the Geralt shown in the video games is downright gorgeous.
7 JUST LIKE IN THE BOOKS: His Combat Prowess Is Incredible
Regardless of which medium Geralt is featured in, his background of having excellent swordsmanship skills is common throughout. So, regardless of whether we’re talking about book or game Geralt, it must be said that his skills with a sword are to be feared.
However, that being said, video game Geralt is just a tad bit more powerful when it comes to his physical strength… but one can give that a pass. Although, it’s not just his physical strength that’s bolstered in the game.
6 ACTED OUT OF CHARACTER: His Signs Are REALLY Powerful
In the books, the Signs that Geralt uses are more of a desperate means to an end, as opposed to a powerful force that can alter the tide of battle.
Meanwhile, the games have turned Geralt into a mage of sorts, letting him unleash attacks that would decimate waves of enemies without so much as breaking a sweat.
5 JUST LIKE IN THE BOOKS: Mostly Reserved, Unless He’s With Friendly Company
While the personalities of both Geralts might differ in several aspects, there’s no denying the fact that this character has a tough and unwelcoming exterior across these mediums.
However, that doesn’t mean that Geralt is unable to interact with people — on the contrary, Geralt can actually be surprisingly friendly and emotional if he’s around people whom he’s comfortable with.
4 ACTED OUT OF CHARACTER: He Is Way More Stoic In The Games
Speaking of emotions, it must be said that book Geralt is more prone to experiencing feelings of rage and disarray, leading to uncontrolled outbursts that — more often than not — show Geralt in a bad light.
This is not the case in the games at all. The character featured here has a rational and calm mind that always thinks before he speaks and never lets his emotions get the better of himself… well, for the most part.
3 JUST LIKE IN THE BOOKS: Nailed His Bond With Ciri
The bond that Ciri and Geralt share is truly beautiful in every sense of the word, showing us that even a witcher who’s reviled by everyone around him can form an endearing father-daughter bond with someone close to him.
This relationship is masterfully shown in the games — something that would’ve been a major challenge, given the fact that Ciri was introduced in the last game of an established trilogy.
The lengths that CD Projekt Red have gone to sell this bond is truly admirable, and the efforts have definitely not gone to waste at all.
2 ACTED OUT OF CHARACTER: He Can Choose Sides Instead Of Staying Neutral
As a witcher, it’s important for Geralt to stay neutral when it comes to most matters in the world — especially when it comes to politics.
However, this rule is completely thrown out in the games. Geralt is constantly incentivized to pick sides in major conflicts and play a pivotal role in shaping the land with his decisions.
It’s the complete opposite of what the unspoken code of the witcher entails.
1 JUST LIKE IN THE BOOKS: His Amorous Personality Is Common In Both Mediums
We’ve already touched upon the fact that Geralt is not exactly the most handsome man in the books… and yet, he manages to enter some pretty raunchy relationships over the course of the series. It’s clear that looks don’t matter if you’re sleeping with a man that can just nonchalantly cleave heads and slay monsters for a living.
In the games, people are well aware of just how much of a magnet Geralt is when it comes to members of the fairer sex. The combination of his looks and charm make him a stud in the eyes of most women on The Continent.
NEXT: The Witcher 3: 15 Things To Do After You Beat The Game
