IMO all three The Witcher games are must play / must complete.
TW1 runs on beefed up engine used also in NWN. There is probably no other game out there I despise so much like NWN. The reason is probably getting disappointed everywhere in that game while originally expecting a blast.
In normal case, I should hate TW1 too. However:
- you *must* collect all possible different cards, and gain nothing (pokemon!)
- you have to impress the landlord granny (she so sexy!
) in order to meet Triss
- Triss? yea… getting to know her in TW1 will influence your choice in TW3
- you can run past almost all respawned mobs who won't chase you all way
- grabbing one for the road pretty much everywhere
The difference between TW games and the rest of stuff out there is whatever you do, you just can't stop the war nor can be a miracleworking Jesus who'll turn the world from a disaster to a paradise. You're basically a bystander who is just trying to survive through all that crap. You're not a godlike creature and you won't save the world from it's doom.
You're killing monsters. Don't we play our games just because of that?
Add an intriguing story and great characters and what you get is rough gems 1&2 that end with a masterpiece 3.