Hats off to those of you who prevailed in getting through this fight. You are true gamers, young and steadfast, and with an undying love for the challenge. I, on the other hand, am simply too old for this kind of frustration... frustration born not out of a good challenging fight, but rather the horrible implementation of the game mechanics. I swear I'm going to have a heart attack with this particular gaming situation.
It takes a good 4 minutes (4 f#$%ing minutes!!!) for this scene to load... mind boggling frustrating when all you want to do is get right back at it and try again. Then comes the long cut scene... further infuriating - at least after the first time you see it. (That was a damned good cut scene!) Then, with nowhere to save, I'm dropped into the fight, surrounded, weapon sheathed (I could of sworn he unsheathed it in the cut scene) I wouldn't mind it so much if I was able to employ the different tactics you guys talk about, but after the cut scene, when the fight starts, I'm plagued the first few moments with mind numbing stutters because of all the loading. By the time I finally get my weapon out, I'm being nipped at all around and stunned, my guy just stands there taking a beating, regardless of my commands. He won't dodge or attack. And then I'm dead, never even aware of what appalling fate befalls that poor witch I failed so miserably. The crushing blow is that now I'm faced with another long reload and cut scene playthrough. God, give me strength. I swear I would try and try again and beat it sooner or later... if I didn't have to face the injustice of that humungus load time and the re-viewing of that long cut scene. But screw that! I just can't take it. It's just too much to ask of an old man's heart. Again, hats off to you guys with nerves of steel... and fast computers!
I'm highly insensed at not being able to save just after the cut scene. What a poor implementation of game mechanics herein in what really is an awesome game otherwise. I could pound somebody's head overthere at CDProjekt!
Thanks for letting me vent. I needed to get that out of my system.
God help me... something tells me I'll soon try again. If you don't hear from me soon, send the de-fibulator stat...