Rating: 
Summary: Gothic truly is worthy of classic status
Review: I picked this game up on a whim. I had no idea what it was about or even what genre it fit into. All I knew is that it was old. After spending an hour or so getting over the counter-intuitive interface, I was gripped. This game beckons back to the days of open-ended consequence RPGs like the early Ultima's and the Krondor series. You are a nameless hero and have been thrown into this prison camp with only a message and a prayer. It is up to you to try to find a way out. Choose your allies, choose your martial path. Your are your own creator.
Gameplay:
As stated, getting used to the controls is tricky. The game was primarily designed as keyboard only. The mouse was only added in on the recommendation of a magazine, and it shows. This, however, is only a minor fault as a little gameplay will easily get past this design decision. The game is fairly open-ended, especially towards the beginning, when you spend your time learning who is who. It's also fairly challenging, in the beginning you can go anywhere, your only limitations being the strength of the wildlife around you. As you get stronger, your world thusly enlarges until you have free reign of the prison camp. This allows for hours of fun for those who like to wander and explore. The game also has little niceties that add to the worldly flavor like being able to cook your meat, mine ore, make stew, blacksmith some swords, etc. Days cycle, and they take their time doing it. The day-night cycle takes around 72 minutes, which is long enough to 'feel' right. The NPCs have daily routines, so at midnight, they'll be in their homes, while daytime will find them hard at work. This level of detail is hard to find nowadays. The only gameplay problems that occur have to do with the complexity of running a storied game in a freeform world. Since you can kill anyone you want, you might find yourself killing someone that advances the story. This problem is easily solved by the old RPG mantra: save now, save often. Graphics:
This game is starting to show its age. Sure there are low polygon counts, and sure the textures look bland, but hey - that's what 8x AA is for. This game is one that ignores the prevalent trend of graphics first, content second. The game's engine is still complex enough to allow for amazing vistas with its far horizon and sundry landscape. The 4 year-old graphics will be the last thing on your mind once you get into this puppy. Sound:
The sound is nice; it's your standard pre-EAX ditty. No noticeable environments, but again, no one is complaining. The ambiance is well thought out and I can swear more modern games have stolen Gothic's soundtracks as the music seems very familiar. Everything is voice-acted and done quite well. The weapon, magic and enemy sounds are varied enough to keep you interested and there was never a time when I ever wanted to play on mute. Overall:
I highly recommend this game to anyone and everyone who enjoys a good, well-thought, RPG. The decisions you make in the beginning and the sheer pleasure of the game will even allow for substantial replays as you go after the stories threads you had to pass on your first time through.
The only thing keeping this thing from 5 stars is the glitchy-ness caused by an engine at the engineering maxes of its time. But keep in mind, all other things considered, this game is perfect.
Rating:
Summary: Gothic truly is worthy of classic status
Review: I picked this game up on a whim. I had no idea what it was about or even what genre it fit into. All I knew is that it was old. After spending an hour or so getting over the counter-intuitive interface, I was gripped. This game beckons back to the days of open-ended consequence RPGs like the early Ultima's and the Krondor series. You are a nameless hero and have been thrown into this prison camp with only a message and a prayer. It is up to you to try to find a way out. Choose your allies, choose your martial path. Your are your own creator.
Gameplay:
As stated, getting used to the controls is tricky. The game was primarily designed as keyboard only. The mouse was only added in on the recommendation of a magazine, and it shows. This, however, is only a minor fault as a little gameplay will easily get past this design decision. The game is fairly open-ended, especially towards the beginning, when you spend your time learning who is who. It's also fairly challenging, in the beginning you can go anywhere, your only limitations being the strength of the wildlife around you. As you get stronger, your world thusly enlarges until you have free reign of the prison camp. This allows for hours of fun for those who like to wander and explore. The game also has little niceties that add to the worldly flavor like being able to cook your meat, mine ore, make stew, blacksmith some swords, etc. Days cycle, and they take their time doing it. The day-night cycle takes around 72 minutes, which is long enough to 'feel' right. The NPCs have daily routines, so at midnight, they'll be in their homes, while daytime will find them hard at work. This level of detail is hard to find nowadays. The only gameplay problems that occur have to do with the complexity of running a storied game in a freeform world. Since you can kill anyone you want, you might find yourself killing someone that advances the story. This problem is easily solved by the old RPG mantra: save now, save often. Graphics:
This game is starting to show its age. Sure there are low polygon counts, and sure the textures look bland, but hey - that's what 8x AA is for. This game is one that ignores the prevalent trend of graphics first, content second. The game's engine is still complex enough to allow for amazing vistas with its far horizon and sundry landscape. The 4 year-old graphics will be the last thing on your mind once you get into this puppy. Sound:
The sound is nice; it's your standard pre-EAX ditty. No noticeable environments, but again, no one is complaining. The ambiance is well thought out and I can swear more modern games have stolen Gothic's soundtracks as the music seems very familiar. Everything is voice-acted and done quite well. The weapon, magic and enemy sounds are varied enough to keep you interested and there was never a time when I ever wanted to play on mute. Overall:
I highly recommend this game to anyone and everyone who enjoys a good, well-thought, RPG. The decisions you make in the beginning and the sheer pleasure of the game will even allow for substantial replays as you go after the stories threads you had to pass on your first time through.
The only thing keeping this thing from 5 stars is the glitchy-ness caused by an engine at the engineering maxes of its time. But keep in mind, all other things considered, this game is perfect.
Rating:
Summary: A RPG marvel with some downsides
Review: I sat at a friends computer one night and checked out his games, the next day I was at the store buying Gothic. This is a great game, the storyline is well done allowing you to pick a fairly non-linear path. And in picking your own directions you can sometimes make mistakes that cost you in the end. The NPC characters are interesting (if somewhat annoying ie. MUD) but they help you along and you get some limited interaction with them. The interface was hard to learn in some instances, combat was difficult till I customized and changed my keys, after that it was smooth and easy to maneuver and fight. The problem I found with is is a result of the translation of German keyboard layout to english. The graphics are very well done with attention to small details, when you roll on the ground the little tuff of grass/dirt that you kick up, the current of the water, the lighting changes etc. The sound is like the graphics showing attention to small things, not overwhelming to the ears and with a decent speaker system you can hear movement and nature distinctly. One problem with the game is that if you circumvent some areas (ie. not walking in the front gate of the swamp camp and walking into huts talking to people). It is possible to have unfinished quests and other things to do. As of now I have played the game for my third time and I have not "locked" myself out of the end of the game. And I made quite a few shortcuts in the last time I played.
Rating: 
Summary: Fabulous role-playing game
Review: I spent waayyyyy too much time playing this game, but I just couldn't stop - the variety of quests, the choices one must make, the combination of fighting and magic...it's just a great game overall. I'm a fan of the RPG genre in general, but there are a few really awful games out there. This one truly doesn't disappoint. The beginning is a bit slow, because there are only a very few creatures you can kill to gain experience. But, once you get a few levels under your belt, and obtain a decent weapon, all is well. There are an unbelievable number of weapons available, and a nearly equal number of magical items and spells. The storyline is complex and very interesting, and is neither too short nor too long, though I was sorry to see it end. I'll assuredly run through it again sometime soon. The true charm of this game lies in being able to shape-shift, though. Through scrolls and other magical means, you're able to take on the forms of many different animals, and you gain their abilities; you can fly, run faster, slash with teeth and claws, and jump higher. The number of different creatures in the game is really nice, too; it's definitely not boring. One downside is having to run back and forth long distances between camps, until you're given teleportation runes. Apart from that, though, it's nearly flawless. It didn't crash often, the music was very nice, and the graphics excellent. I recommend it without hesitations!
Rating:
Summary: Gothic Surpasses most other games...
Review: I think that this is one of the best games I've ever played, because the game has everything that a game needs.
The only thing you have to get used to is the controls but after you master them its just FUN FUN FUN!
Rating:
Summary: Enjoyable Single Player Adventure
Review: I won't rehash what all the others mentioned. I agree with their assessment on this games ability to "draw you in". I'd also look into Gotic 2. IMO, it's even better. I just wanted to inform those who might like to purchase this game, that you can buy it at eBay for thirty-fifty% cheaper than what's being offered here(..I paid sixteen bucks). If you can't find a manual, look for a good walkthrough to explain the controls etc.
Don't pass on this game. Do due dilligence and you can find a reasonably priced copy and free walkthrough.
Rating:
Summary: Gothic is the best RPG made to date
Review: It is a pity that Amazon no longer stocks it! Gothic is the best RPG I have ever played. Somehow it gets under your skin and the fear of death during combat becomes real. It may have a few quirks but it is somehow real enough to exite the imagination.
Rating:
Summary: The next level of RPG
Review: One complaint many RPG'rs have about RPG's is the lack of interactivity between the gamer and the action. Not so in this case. Gothic expands upon the classic vision of what a role playing game should be by allowing the gamer to actually engage in the battles which ensue throughout the fantasy world created by Xicat (the company). You are a messenger from outside the realm, which is inhabited by mercenaries, thieves, wizards, and monsters, who have taken over their magically induced prison. Who do you trust? Which camp do you join? Which path will you follow: warrior, magician, necromancer? All of these variables come into play when you must decide who to speak with, where to venture, and who to kill. There are limitless possibilities in this world and many different ways to conquer it. The only negatives: sometimes the game hangs on a pertinent decision and if you choose incorrectly, you have to start from scratch (which could be construed as a parallel to real life, some decisions cannot be fixed after they are made). Big positives: Incredible story line, innovative game play, tons of weapons, numerous magic spells, and incredible graphics. This game is one of the best I have seen in this genre. A must own for the die-hard RPG-er. Five stars.
|
