Bought Raven. It was the only game in this promo that I didn't already have in my GOG account, so... :)

No Jack Keane (1)? :S

Before coming here, I wasn't even aware of the Gothic series. But from what I have gathered so far, its seems like a very solid RPG with a big world and compelling mechanics.

However, I'm really not sold on the fact that you play as a fixed character. I tolerate this in J-RPGs because they have a different approach and style. But in western RPGs I like to make my own character, to actually role-play. I know this sounds like a rather superficial nitpick, but I prefer to play as a female character for instance. Sue me. :p

So! My question is: how does the main character hold up personality-wise, and how's the overall story in the Gothic series? If I'm going to spend many hours with a pre-established character, I'd like him not to be a bland white male everyman (*cough*Desmond Miles*cough*), and I'd like him to have a compelling backstory and motivations.

I can of course watch a let's play video or two, but you can only get so much from those while avoiding spoilers, and I'd really prefer the opinion of someone who enjoyed the games in their entirety. :)

Oh, and another question: do you have to play all the Gothic games, story-wise, or are they stand-alone? If the latter, which would you recommend first?

Thanks in advance!

Anyone have any thoughts on Panzer Elite: Special Editions? I'm interested in tanks, but not really sold on what the game actually is or focuses on besides realism.

I was wondering about that too. Turns out a different publisher (Kiss Label) seems to hold the rights to Keane the First.

hmmm...decisions, decisions.....Gothic? no.... Panzer Elite? no...

Hey! I know!

Commander Keane 2: Insomnia of the Vorticons!

Great, now I'm picturing Jack done up as Ace Frehley.

Excellent weekend promo; fantastic games at fantastic prices!

Barrow Hill is actually by Matt Clark, not Jonathan Boakes (though they do know each other, and I think Boakes does some of the voices in Barrow Hill.) I made the same mistake myself initially - the games do feel very similar. I do hope Shadow Tor Studios eventually decides to release their games here - they've got a new game coming out that I've had my eye on.

I'll second Johnmourby's recommendation of the Dark Fall games, especially for anyone who likes the moody, atmospheric horror shows that came out of Britain in the 1970s (A Warning to the Curious, Sapphire and Steel, Beasts, etc.)

Jack Keane.

It's the Bad Rats of GOG.

I would go from the beginning. The characters stay relatively constant across the series, so it helps with context, and it's nice to see who joins up with what groups.

Ah Beasts, that's a brilliant show. And yes those M R James TV shorts are great. So great that I got the complete box set for Christmas. Mystery and imagination (What's left of it) is also great. Have you seen it?

Thanks for the correction about Barrow Hill. I'll confess, I got it as part of a triple pack with Dark Fall 1&2. though the subject matter is different the style is near identical

Ooh, shiny! I'm not seeing any mention of an NTSC release, though, which probably explains why I didn't know about it. Not yet; I'm currently working my way through what's left of Out of the Unknown.

Speaking of the Gothic series - does anyone know why Gothic is under a different publisher?