The Witcher 3 Songs of the Past Gamescom demo shows the Lettenhove region

CD Projekt Red just dropped its Gamescom supercut for Songs of the Past, the upcoming third expansion for The Witcher 3, and it's absolutely incredible. Graphically, it's just insane, and every time we get new gameplay for this expansion it looks better than the last.

Lettenhove Manor looks gorgeous, and I love the art direction

The demo opens in a new region tied to Dandelion. A developer from CD Projekt Red describes it as "a fully realized open world comparable in scope to Blood and Wine," packed with new quests, characters and monsters. The developer also says the remastered update adds advanced ray tracing and improved lighting, and that the region is heavily inspired by the Polish and English countryside. Geralt travels to Lettenhove, Dandelion's homeland, to help his friend with some family matters, and the black banners at the manor are a sign of mourning.

My reaction was pure excitement. You can pet the dog, Roach is back, and the NPCs look great going about their routines. When Lettenhove Manor appeared, I said it "just looks gorgeous," and I love the art direction. Just soak it all in: we're about to be playing this next year.

The Garden of Thorns and my suspicions about Lila

The demo then jumps to a darker side of Lettenhove, where Geralt and Lila, Dandelion's cousin, investigate an old family legend at the Garden of Thorns. The new Witcher senses look different, and I love them. I also noticed a couple of frame stutters.

As for Lila, I'm suspicious of her. She's romanceable, but I'm pretty suspicious all the same. Note that name down too: the Garden of Thorns.

The chain and the Swarmion

Geralt gets a new tool, the chain, which he uses against the Swarmion, a new monster that shields itself with a swarm of hornets. Geralt looks like Kratos with those chains, and that combines two of my favorite things. From what I can tell, you can only use the chain with adrenaline, so you have to use it correctly, and the meter seems to drain pretty quickly. The chain also has a weak point system, which I think is great.

Why I'm not worried about Fool's Theory

Songs of the Past is coming out next year. I'll be replaying the game entirely, both expansions included, to prepare. "I really do feel like CD Projekt Red is cooking here."

There were some concerns about Fool's Theory, but Fool's Theory is made up of a lot of people who already developed The Witcher 3, and the project has CDPR's seal of approval, so I'm not concerned. Maybe, just maybe, this expansion could be up for game of the year next year. If Shadow of the Erdtree could get a game of the year nomination, whenever that was, The Witcher 3 can too. In my opinion, Blood and Wine was the best game of 2016 and the greatest expansion ever made. Will this one top it? We'll have to wait and see, but regardless, I'm looking forward to it.

Could Songs of the Past live up to Blood and Wine?