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Thinking of getting Gothic this week. Part of me wants to get it because I like open ended RPGs, and the dialogue seems decent.
On the other hand, after playing 5 minutes of the demo, I cannot find anything that would compel me to buy it. The controls are strange, as they keep resetting themselves even though I've rebound them over and over again. I can't get a hang of the combat. The world also seems quite constricted as compared to Morrowind.
So, would you guys say Gothic is worth getting? If it is, sell it to me! Good promotions get reps :)
Well I am not Gothic expert, so I will simply give you my thoughts.
First, I do not think Gothic is open ended; it is completely story driven and you need to follow the story to play the game as intended.
Second, I too found the controls very odd at first but I quickly got use to them and they never seemed to get in the way after a short time playing.
Third, overall it was an enjoyable game and worth the price of admission. It is not always easy, in fact Gothic is a very unforgiving game at the start, but gets much, much easier as you progress.
Well, these are my thoughts on this game as one who never played it before seeing it on GOG. ITts not prefect by a long shot, but it is a fun RPG that warrants playing.
So how linear/open-ended would you say it is? I don't need to have something as sandbox as Morrowind, but I'd like the freedom to explore, do side quests, and maybe once in a while gape in awe at a secret hideout or something, like Baldur's Gate.
Also is the game as buggy as it is in the demo? I don't even know if I'm doing combat right. I press Action, followed by Forward, and my character does a stationary punch. I run, then press Action, then Forward, and my character does a flying kick. Following that, I can't do a stationary punch anymore, as my character always does a flying kick. I have to turn off and on Combat Mode again in order for my character to stationary punch again
Post edited August 08, 2009 by lowyhong
Gothic is much harder than Morrowind. Unlike Morrowind, where you're more-or-less free to travel as you please, Gothic will always torment you with boundaries of monsters who are too strong for you to kill. There are definitely places you cannot go (forests, some dungeons, that beach full of fire-lizards, the swamp...), mostly because going too far off the path will get you killed.
The combat system isn't like other RPG combat systems, either. Fighting in Gothic requires a good sense of position and rhythm. Once you get used to the controls, it's doable, but combat will always be a challenge.
If you can muscle through the opening bits in which you are a useless wimp with no fighting skills and worthless equipment (I think there's a Beginner's Guide on the Gothic board of these forums...), you may find the game enjoyable. However, if you're looking for a truly "free" free-roaming experience, Gothic ain't gonna give it to you.
Well I'm not really looking for a medieval GTA or Morrowind clone. Sandbox isn't on my priority list, but it's a nice thing to have. What I'm looking for is really a solid CRPG that can entertain me with good writing, dialogue and a sense of being part of the game (I refuse to use the word 'imershun'), as long as everything else like the combat isn't as clumsy as what I've experienced in the demo.
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lowyhong: Well I'm not really looking for a medieval GTA or Morrowind clone. Sandbox isn't on my priority list, but it's a nice thing to have. What I'm looking for is really a solid CRPG that can entertain me with good writing, dialogue and a sense of being part of the game (I refuse to use the word 'imershun'), as long as everything else like the combat isn't as clumsy as what I've experienced in the demo.

Sounds to me like the demo is based on the very beginning of the game, which, admittedly, it pretty harsh. If you stick with it through that though, the game really picks up.
To me, it really felt non-linear. Sure, you follow the basic story, but I always felt there were choices to be made, and wondered what would happen, had I done things differently.
The issues you're experiencing with combat are due to low skill levels. Unlike most games, you actually have to learn the combat system, and leveling up your skill with a specific weapon completely changes the way the character fights, rather than just making you hit harder.
A tip for early on, which I learned the hard way... Pick up everything you can see without getting in trouble, and sell stuff that's useless. You'll have a hard time progressing unless you're willing to shell out some dough. This was a big hurdle for me, as I'm typically a hoarder. I'll hang on to items that would make a situation extremely easy, just for fear that there's something bigger ahead.
I'd strongly recommend the title, I finished it a few weeks ago, and was itching to start up a new game right away. one of the better non-jrpgs I've played.
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lowyhong: Thinking of getting Gothic this week. Part of me wants to get it because I like open ended RPGs, and the dialogue seems decent.
On the other hand, after playing 5 minutes of the demo, I cannot find anything that would compel me to buy it. The controls are strange, as they keep resetting themselves even though I've rebound them over and over again. I can't get a hang of the combat. The world also seems quite constricted as compared to Morrowind.
So, would you guys say Gothic is worth getting? If it is, sell it to me! Good promotions get reps :)

Get Gothic 2 instead (also available on GOG). Same thing, but better and more open-ended. If you beat that and really liked it, get Gothic 1 or 3.
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lowyhong: Thinking of getting Gothic this week. Part of me wants to get it because I like open ended RPGs, and the dialogue seems decent.
On the other hand, after playing 5 minutes of the demo, I cannot find anything that would compel me to buy it. The controls are strange, as they keep resetting themselves even though I've rebound them over and over again. I can't get a hang of the combat. The world also seems quite constricted as compared to Morrowind.
So, would you guys say Gothic is worth getting? If it is, sell it to me! Good promotions get reps :)
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cioran: Get Gothic 2 instead (also available on GOG). Same thing, but better and more open-ended. If you beat that and really liked it, get Gothic 1 or 3.

That kinda ruins the story...
I started Gothic 2 initially, before 1, and I gave up very early on, as I had no idea what was going on.
One word, Yes.
It does have a bug with some video cards where the inventory is invisible.
It seems to effect a certain range of video cards. But the the game is playable even without the inventory pics.
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dreadcog: One word, Yes.
It does have a bug with some video cards where the inventory is invisible.
It seems to effect a certain range of video cards. But the the game is playable even without the inventory pics.

Inventory objects are invisible, not the actual inventory. The descriptions still show up fine. so it's really no big deal.
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LBartley: Inventory objects are invisible, not the actual inventory. The descriptions still show up fine. so it's really no big deal.

They work fine on my Radeon HD 4850. It seems to be a certain range of cards.
I prefer to play games in chronological order, so I guess I'll either get Gothic 1, or not at all.
How does Gothic's gameplay (not combat) compare with Baldur's Gate?
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lowyhong: I prefer to play games in chronological order, so I guess I'll either get Gothic 1, or not at all.
How does Gothic's gameplay (not combat) compare with Baldur's Gate?

No game compares with Baldur's Gate gameplay. However Gothic's quest and experience systems are OK, Inventory system is awful though.
Gothic is a good game, as you experienced it controls are weird but you get used to it. The story is quite linear, but addictive it's one of the rare games I played all my free time during a few days until completion, the thing failed with Gothic 2.
What I like in this game is that it's not about battles with fireballs everywhere and ninja-warriors but more something that looks more realistic you've to find ways to deal with different opponents in combat and adapt your tactics so you've a chance to survive in this harsh world. You also have story-wise to not trust everyone and not be like a D&D paladin or you'll get nasty surprises, you're in a penal colony after all.
Roaming is also nice, you've to buy maps which are hand-drawn, so you've to figure out a bit and play to explore the quite small countryside instead of having a kind of radar that points you exactly where you are. Another good thing is that you have an actual freedom of movement which is equal to first tomb raider, you can climb everywhere (quite useful to attack ennemies from above if you play an archer or mage).
In the end I will say that this game isn't a masterpiece but it's worth to invest in for 20 hours or more, it is a refreshing experience.
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Narakir: Gothic is a good game, as you experienced it controls are weird but you get used to it. The story is quite linear, but addictive it's one of the rare games I played all my free time during a few days until completion, the thing failed with Gothic 2.
What I like in this game is that it's not about battles with fireballs everywhere and ninja-warriors but more something that looks more realistic you've to find ways to deal with different opponents in combat and adapt your tactics so you've a chance to survive in this harsh world. You also have story-wise to not trust everyone and not be like a D&D paladin or you'll get nasty surprises, you're in a penal colony after all.
Roaming is also nice, you've to buy maps which are hand-drawn, so you've to figure out a bit and play to explore the quite small countryside instead of having a kind of radar that points you exactly where you are. Another good thing is that you have an actual freedom of movement which is equal to first tomb raider, you can climb everywhere (quite useful to attack ennemies from above if you play an archer or mage).
In the end I will say that this game isn't a masterpiece but it's worth to invest in for 20 hours or more, it is a refreshing experience.

Nice. I'm sold on it. Thanks for the review!
Post edited August 08, 2009 by lowyhong