Gothic is a great game with too much bug. The history of this game is already known in gamers' community. Producers realize this game in a hurry. So in particular during the second part the plot is just linear. But the first part is a real masterpiece. In Gothic I lived the best experience in a single player crpg. The world of Gothic is alive, npcs live during the days, move from a place to another. So the sensation is to be in a dynamic scenario. Controls are not so user friendly, but after a bit of practice there will be no trouble. In my opinion the combat system is too action-oriented for a rpg, but skill grow with experience. Maybe there are too bug, but they can be tolerated. The idea of an open air prison is fine and create a small world, where the plot can develop through tree guilds. Our avatar can choose one of these guild on order to go to the final goal: escape from the prison.
The spirit of “Die by the sword” lies on his control system. Any other side of the game is a bit poor. The story is just simple: hero's girlfriend is kidnapped, and taken into a great dungeon under the control of a powerful sorcerer. Our avatar has to follow the great quest to find, liberate her and defeat the evil sorcerer. Also his inventory is just poor, along his way the hero will find some power up and potions of healing. He can also take some part of his victims and use them as a weapon, but nothing will be as useful as his sword. So the core of the game lies in the fighting system and in particular in the complex system of using the sword. The one who will dominate this control system of the sword, will prove great satisfactions for realism of fighting and the spectacular duels that will be granted. Novices of action games will find this one difficult and a bit frustrating.
