My love of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is well documented at this point. I first played the game on PlayStation 4, where I fell in love with CD Projekt RED's sprawling open world RPG and proceeded to sink 100 hours into it. I then picked up the game again for Xbox One X to see all the shiny graphical and performance enhancements, before slipping and spending another 100 hours with Geralt.
Then, just a few months ago, I picked up the game for a third time on Nintendo Switch. Now that I can play The Witcher 3 on a train (of all places) I've invested yet more time into the world. According to my Switch... yep, over 100 hours. That's 300 hours I've put into one game across three consoles. Whoops. And yet, I'm not even sorry.
My point, which I think I've established, is that I love The Witcher 3. I love the characters, the world, the richly-designed quests and sharp dialogue. I love everything about it. But there's one moment in particular that leaves me grinning from ear to ear like a complete idiot every time I see it, to the point that I actually watch it on YouTube at least once a month. Yes, I am that sad.
Advert
If you haven't worked it out already, I'm referring to Geralt's infamous limerick. While journeying across a lake by boat with fellow Witcher and friend/rival Lambert, the two monster hunters share the following brief exchange:
Geralt: Fog's thick as curdled milk.
Lambert: Never took you for a poet.
Geralt: Oh, but I am one. Wanna hear a limerick?
Advert
Lambert: Sure.
Geralt: Lambert Lambert, what a prick.
Lambert:... Not bad.
It's such a stupid, throwaway scene that pretty much comes out of nowhere, but it's honestly become one of my favourite moments - not just in The Witcher 3 - but in gaming in general. You can see it for yourself below to get a better idea.
Simply written down, I'm prepared to admit that the brief back and forth might not seem that funny. But the 16-second YouTube clip above is pure gold. It comes down to a variety of factors, in my humble opinion.
Advert
The first, and most obvious, is that Geralt's "limerick" is about as far away from a limerick as it's possible to get. In fact, if you consider Geralt probably doesn't actually know what constitutes a limerick it becomes even funnier. Then there's the clear possibility that Geralt doesn't care what a limerick is and just wanted to slam Lambert. This works for me because Lambert is, quite honestly, a bit of a prick. It's funny because it's true, basically.
What really makes this joke come alive, of course, is Geralt voice actor Doug Cockle's note-perfect delivery. The deadpan manner with which he drops his Sick Burn is genuinely masterful. The timing, the cool sass of it all. Just... genius. Oh, and Lambert's apparent genuine appreciation at having just been called a prick by his mate? Heartwarming stuff.
I think that's what endears me to this scene, and why I keep coming back to it. It's an honest portrayal of two mates passing the time.
The Witcher 3 constantly deals with world-ending stakes and fantasy nonsense, but it's greatest strength often lies in its more intimate, human moments. Snowball fights between Geralt and Ciri. A night on the piss at Kaer Morhen with the Witchers. Taking a ghost to a wedding to experience one more night of fun.
The brief moment between Lambet and Geralt is objectively funny, yes. But it's also up there with the best and most human parts of The Witcher 3. It's a stupid, playful insult that makes absolutely no sense, delivered in a completely serious way. It's exactly how I talk to my friends, and exactly how they talk to me - and I'm sure I'm not the only one who can relate Geralt and Lambert the prick in this situation.
Advert
At least, I hope not. I mean, are you even friends if you aren't constantly insulting each other? I don't think so, and neither does Geralt. Clearly.
Featured Image Credit: CD Projekt REDTopics: The Witcher, CD Projekt Red