Witcher 2 not for faint of heart

'The Witcher 2' mostly looks terrific on Xbox 360, but it's even better if you have a PC that can run it

Even though the world is full of M-rated video games deemed suitable for players 17 or older, it’s rare to find one that feels like it was not made with children in mind.

Sex scenes in games are tamer than what we see on network TV, for fear of offending parents groups. Profanity is avoided or used so liberally you get the sense developers are trying to seem cool to a young audience that still finds swearing novel.

Not so in “The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings,” a blockbuster-quality role-playing game from Polish studio CD Projekt Red. The game’s gritty, medieval fantasy world is a far cry from family-friendly fare like “Lord of the Rings.” Its kingdoms are ruled by tyrants who openly talk about slavery, racism and sexual subjugation.

Your place in the game, which was released last year on PC and came to the Xbox 360 in April, is as Geralt of Rivia.

The titular witcher, more anti-hero than hero, is a human who’s been infused with magic and the ability to quaff toxic potions. He’s typically tasked with the unpleasant job of eliminating gruesome monsters for coin. Instead of being looked at as a hero, he’s greeted with wariness and suspicion, no doubt due to his yellow eyes, deep scars and gaunt frame.

Early in the game, Geralt, suffering from amnesia about much of his past, is essentially framed for the murder of a king he’s been protecting. In part to clear his name, he sets off in search of the shadowy figure responsible, and begins to unravel a complex plot full of mystery and political intrigue.

As Geralt completes quests and kills monsters to level up, the game encourages players to build up Geralt to suit their play style. You can choose for Geralt to focus on “signs,” essentially low-grade magic spells; swordfighting; or the creation of potions and traps. The specialization you choose will greatly effect how the game’s somewhat difficult combat plays out, and because Geralt’s level is capped at 35, you can’t maximize every ability. Players may want to revisit the game to explore alternate combat styles.

Also encouraging repeated play-throughs is that “The Witcher 2″ is a rare game in which choices matter greatly. Near the end of the first act, Geralt must choose one of two factions to ally with as he pursues the kingslayer. The rest of the game plays out differently based on your ally.