Gothic 2 has mediocre graphics (even for its time), a clunky interface, and a control system that takes getting used to. It's also very difficult at the beginning, and you will likely die before you even get to the first tower. It is also one of the greatest RPGs ever made. The world-building, the sense of true progression (none of this "scales to your level" business), the replayability, and the true sense of exploration have rarely been equalled by any game before or since. If you truly love RPGs, you will love this game.
This game is much better than Risen 2, which was a huge disappointment. It has its issues and some jank, but if you've played Gothic or Risen, then you know what to expect. I would have given this 3.5 if that were possible. Not a masterpiece by any means, but recaptures enough of that old Gothic feel to have a lot of fun with.
I docked this game one star, so let's get the negatives out of the way first. This game can be buggy (map taking a bit too long to open occasionally, weird hitboxes during combat, occasional camera issues), the animations are not the best, and the voice acting is hit or miss. With all that, I still gave this game 5 stars because it is so FUN. In true Piranha Bytes/Gotic style, you start out weak as a kitten. You barely have enough stamina for 3 attacks in a row. You do virtually no damage. You spend the first part of the game running away from random low-level mobs that can easily kill you. Slowly, as you explore the wonderfully realized game world, you get stronger and stronger. You return to those places and monsters that owned you before and wreak your terrible vengeance. There are multiple characters and factions in the game, and the game is HUGE. I've played 20 hours and still haven't even joined a faction. Your choices matter - characters will remember your actions, and will sometimes come seeking revenge for past wrongs. You can't do everything in one playthough. Forget Risen, this is the true successor to Gothic and Gothic 2. If you liked those games, which means you can overlook a little bit of Eurojank, then I can personally guarantee you will love Elex. I haven't enjoyed a game this much in a long, long time. PS - the jetpack rules
