I was looking for a believable world only Pirana Bytes could achieve, like they
did in the first Gothic games and Risen, where even the mechanics drove the plot
(like the main hero being a nobody and having no way to improve without others -
hence looking for a camp).
I was expecting much more populated cities.
I was alienated by weird cutscenes that took control of my character (it proved
to be only two of them, or something, both at the very beginning).
And I dropped the game after several hours. Then I tried to do it again.
This time, I forbade myself to use the quest markers all the time, and tried to
use teleporters only from other teleporters, not from random map points. This
made me explore more. After a very slow start (almost 10 hours), I upgraded my
weapon (bow) for the first time and was able to travel much more freely. And it
started to kick in. The communities started to feel the right size. The
companions, although being follower-puppets, engaged in the main plot in
interesting and unexpected ways (treason, sacrifice, love, main plot tools).
Also the plot was leaking intriguing details. The world had new locations for me
to discover until the very end. I've completed almost every quest there was. I
even starting to use the markers and teleporters, it didn't hinder my pleasure
any more.
Then I completed the end battle, saw the end credits. And it still continued! I
had another hour of gameplay with the ability to see how the world changedwill
change because of my actions. And then the second round of credits. And I still
had the ability to play, but I want my sequel now!