Gothic

This is my first real PC RPG, and I'm glad this was the one. Never played before until it came to GOG, and I can't recommend it enough to others. Two things first: the graphics looks much better than the screenshots you see here, particularly if you use the resolution hack found in the forums. Ages pretty well! The other thing is the controls: a lot of people complain about them. I couldn't get into the game after FIVE TIMES of trying the demo because of the controls, then I had them explained to me. Once I figured them out (in a matter of minutes for the basics), it was smooth sailing. Basically you use the left mouse button and the WASD keys for a lot of stuff (to attack, hold left mouse button and use the keys to swing your weapon in a given direction or cast magic, for example). It feels really "interactive" and I grew to love it. That stuff aside, Gothic is a really classic RPG in every sense of the word, in terms of that old gritty feel, all the staple elements (quests, open world, magic, weapons, etc), and is just an overall great package...there's a lot of things that can't be explained, only experienced. On top of that, it does a lot of things very uniquely (again, can't really be explained) which will make this a game you reference often when talking about RPGs. The dialogue is very funny at times, and personally I found the story pretty innovative. Some of the voice acting is really good, some really bad...the bad doesn't hurt the game much, but I did find myself wincing a bit at some of it. Combat is very fun -- I played as a mage, a very satisfying experience. Be sure to tweak the config and crank the blood to 3. ;) There's also great music (don't forget the In Extremo patch!), lots of quests, routes to take, etc. Just try the demo and you'll likely be hooked. It gets a whole lot worse after that. ;)

Gothic - stern but fair the german way Five hours into the game and I was planning on a scathing review, six hours into the game and I went crazy. Crazy in the sense that I LOVE the controls, are they the worst german roundabout controls ever made or so on point and advanced lesser races simply do not understand them? Same goes for the combat, it' so intense! This game reeks of german "flow", its so horribly unhuman and unintuitive it somehow ends up being the best ever. Same goes for everything in this game, you will hate it until you love it. Use a guide to get 60 fps, use a guide for the first few hours to get your bearings with the controls, quest and "feel" of the game. This game is also a good way to gauge your add-levels brought on by modern games, this is a proper RPG not an Arpg. Play accordingly or suffer the consequences. Game also has beautiful 3dgraphics, no shitty bloom bullshit shat on everywhere by some affirmative action sjw last minue employee. Yes, in this day and age this is an issue you need to adress when reviewing a product people spend their money on and if you don't like that fact well too bad for you, buddy. The game does however feature a very "diverse" cast of characters, it is after all a prison game. The story is kickass, the world is inhabited and it is fun to explore and not once did I feel I was "wasting my time", both in game and irl, doing seemingly mundande things. That is a great achievement for a game to pull off. Paramount but often overlooked and ignored. In summary, this is a game made by autistic white germans for autistc white males, the golden age of gaming the way it should be. And if you don't like these kinds of games, good games, then why are you here reading this?!? As for me, I'm currently playing Gothic 2.

Tried to run after install, nothing. So then tried to verify and system hung on 94% had to reset computer. Attempted again and eventually did verify to 100 % but still doesn't run. Read about some players patch that solves this, downloaded and it does start the game somewhere in the background according to task manager, everywhere except on your screen. Gave job up as a bad do, uninstalled. At least it was in sale really cheap as if i'd paid £9 i'd be narked to put it politely.

In Gothic 1 you are useless walking bag of meat, disrespected, despised, you are worthless worm, every living creature including the humans in the 'home' area wants you dead, sometimes just for a laugh. And this can be changed through hardwork. The feeling alone when you overcome all the odds to be the hero is so fulfilling, never felt that in a game for years! And the true challenge you need to work through is patching the game until it works! It's worth it. If you want a 'similar' experience to Gothic skip the Witcher and play Kingdom Come: Deliverance.

Gothic is an early 2000s action RPG that stood out by putting the player at the very bottom of the food chain as an anonymous prisoner in a mine colony sealed off by a magical barrier. Inmates control the colony, forming factions with their own rules and hierarchies. Early on, most NPCs are stronger than you, making reckless fights costly. The game encourages patience. You must earn trust in one of three camps, each with distinct culture, ideology, and skills. And the choise also add to replayability, since seeing the story from another point of view, might also be interesting. Instead of a destined hero, you're just another survivor clawing your way up. NPCs are often hostile or manipulative, which makes eventual progress and payback feel satisfying. Progression is even shown in animations: a beginner swings a sword clumsily, while a trained fighter handles it with fluid precision, a rare touch that makes development tangible. Exploration is open but dangerous. The world is accessible from the start, yet enemies like orcs for example are nearly unbeatable early on. There are no quest markers or minimaps, information comes from NPCs, and quests are tracked only loosely in your journal. This lack of handholding strengthens immersion but demands patience. Controls, designed without mouse support, feel clunky today: attacks and interactions rely on combining action and movement keys. Graphics are dated, with blocky models and short draw distance, yet the atmosphere remains unique. Muted landscapes, desolate ruins, and the glowing magical barrier create a painterly almost romantic mood. Gothic is rough, but its grounded world, social rules, and unforgiving progression make it stand out even now. The first half in particular offers a brutal but immersive sandbox where survival and social maneuvering matter more than simple enemy clashing. Later it gets unfotunatly a little bit too linear but despite the quirks, it's a memorable RPG for those willing to adapt.