Can't say I really agree with a lot here - but each to his own. I'm not really sure which is the better game overall but…

- the diverging paths are far more diverging than almost any other game. I realise you can't appreciate that yet but I think you're chasing shadows to ask for more.

- the skill tree? Are we honestly saying the pathetic, non-existent character differentiation in the first game is better?

- I don't understand the desire to run an "out of the box" condition at all - they improved things for a reason.

- Political machinations - this is a definite plus for me, but I understand it's a matter of taste. I haven't read Sapkowski's original work but I imagine he set up these complex state interactions for exactly this reason.