That's all there is to it. Buy it.
I'm so conflicted about this game, because it kept me playing for 45 hours and I don't regret the time spent with it, but I genuinely dont think I'd recommend it to most people. Be warned - this is the GOLD edition, meaning it comes with NotR's boosted difficulty which, for a new player like me coming fresh from Gothic 1 and having never touched G2 classic, was a shock to say the least. Like most "difficult" things in life, the difficulty comes more from being willing to hit your head against a wall, slogging and grinding away at the thing in little chunks, rather than from any deeper innate challenge. I generally don't like difficult games, and this game is an excellent example of why: you WILL beat it, but you just have to keep knocking away at it, which some people enjoy, but I find largely a waste of time and not rewarding at all. Add to that some of the most egregious jank I've ever experienced in a video game and you have a recipe for an experience that's so frustrating that, for me, it outshone the good and beautiful parts of the game (of which there are many). The jank actively works against the best part of this game (its progression) because it ensures that even after you're finally kitted out to the nines in gleaming plate armour, you never TRULY feel like you're on top of the world, because one poor targetting failure or invisible ledge that catapults you to your death is always waiting around the next corner. I kept pushing through and I'm glad I did, because the world is charming and the core RPG mechanics are so good (much like Gothic 1), but please do be aware of what you're getting into here. This game is a commitment that is simply not very rewarding.
This was my first time playing this game, and I went in completely blind. It also happens to be the oldest game I've ever played, so I was apprehensive going in after seeing some reviews talk about how much the game has aged.
This was my first time playing this game, and I went in completely blind. It also happens to be the oldest game I've ever played, so I was apprehensive going in after seeing some reviews talk about how much the game has aged.
A phenomenal experience that brings a classic many might otherwise have missed to the modern era without losing any of the obvious charm, joy and craft contained on display with the original. The only thing that I'd change is the price - for 8 hours, the asking price here is a bit steep, but it's absolutely worth it on a sale, so for that, I give it 5/5.
Fun puzzles and a pretty whimsical (and sometimes quite creepy) story. The game has a lovely artstyle and enjoyable voice acting. Strong recommendation from me!
The only thing that holds it back ever so slightly is an ending that doesn't quite match the very strong rest of the game. However, I did truly love my time with this one, and nothing expresses that more than the fact that this game marks my return to adventure games and has re-sparked my excitement for them. Fun no-need-for-a-guide puzzles, lovely graphics and a whimsical sense of adventure round out a pretty superb little experience here. Strong recommendation from me.
It's a little disgusting how good this game is. I played through the entire series before jumping onto this one, mostly because of all the good things I'd heard about it, and WOW did it deliver. This game is a bonafide masterpiece, and it feels like Techland finally made _exactly_ the game they wanted to make after the two previous attempts. I implore you - don't miss out on this game. It's short, but my God, is the ride something that you will never forget. From the gunplay to the stunning graphics to the reams and reams of historical tidbits, this game, like a cowboy of old that has finally conquered himself, rides singularly into a golden sunset and never looks back.
This game is quite possibly the most "fake deep" thing I've ever played. It wants so badly to be a profound take on the human experience, but really, it's just a fun RPG-lite-come-stealth-shooter experience with very little to say beyond "augmentation bad!?!?". Still a fun game and I do recommend it but I just wish I'd tempered my expectations a little more when it comes to the storyline and themes on offer here.
A spirited attempt at a western game that is ultimately held back by lots of technical issues and gameplay that can be very frustrating sometimes (the fist-fights specifically SUCK). Still, I did enjoy my time with the game, so I'd say that picking it up on a sale is worth it.
