I don't know where all the good ratings for this come from, Gothic is a horribly made game. I'm sure there is allot of game-play, and a decent story somewhere in there, but the horrible combat, disgusting controls and UI, and bad animations just ruined it for me. It would not have been so bad if it were an older game that wasn't expected to have those kind of things, but it isn't, it's a game that should have the conventions of a modern RPG like Morrowind or Oblivion. Not a CRPG, just a really badly made new RPG that should be avoided. Play some elder scrolls instead.
Baldur's Gate 2 is an absolute masterpiece. The game stands up even today through it's power of story and depth of gameplay, the graphics do show the game's age, but they are passable enough not to hinder the experience any. I cannot name any modern game, or any game for that matter, that has so perfectly balanced the excellent characters, storyline, and game system that Baldur's gate 2 has. You really get to know and care about the characters, the story twists and turns and always keeps you interested, and if that were not enough the depth of classes and gear and skill options and combinations give it an immense replay value. I could not recommend a game more highly. For $10 it is a no brainer, if you haven't played it you are in for a treat that will keep you coming back for years. You can even play the full game in online co-op with a friend! an amazing feature that modern games still can't seem to figure out.
