Having recently finished a play-through with a plan to immediately start NG+, I luckily was faced with the prospect of delaying that for a month till the remaster comes out. Which I am very excited for, make no mistake.
But I was still totally wowed at the visual prowess and artistry in display in the base game, I was constantly just putting my controller down and taking it all in. The seamless day and night cycle, changing the mood of cutscenes and cinematics in real time. The unified and cohesive art style, unique for each region and faction, all while feeling part of the same world. The incredible lighting work, making interiors feel loved and homely, while capturing the wide and vast scope of the forest and mountains of the game.
There is a popular talking point circulating around many new releases, namely the argument that art direction is more important than graphical fidelity, and “high quality” visuals. This is a game which I think bares this argument out, and that fact that 11 years after it release, this game is still a benchmark. Still an example to look up to. That it still stand alone in many ways. Is a credit to the folks at CDPR, the work they have done, and the work they will do.