I didn't play any of the games in the series until this mont hactually, AND NOW I CAN'T STOP! Bought the second one first, when it was cheap, saw it had a lot of potential but also saw that it depended heavily on the first one so i got that one as well. And boy was i amased! Now I've played both game SEVERAL hours (sadly havenä't compelted any of them, will do them in correct order). And What I like about them is the feeling. You are always relaxed when playing them but not in a daunting way, i could compare it to playing an mmo, they are actually wuite similar. On the other hand, gothic is better, it's made for one gamer and therefor more storybased (and what a story!!) and there a a lot oc choises to be made, whether you will join one faction or antoher (which will really change the gameplay) and how to complete wuests. Therefor I find it very modern in a way, and very rewarding. So you who played it; what do you think defines this game? And you who haven't any questions?:)

Too be honest i tought it was too hard at the start and i disliked the controls so i quit playing it when the game came out, then gothic 3 came out I skipped 2 for the same reason, i heard it was easier so i started to play 3 wich was unplayeble at that time since my pc was too slow again it bitet dust in my closet. Few years later i heard there were new patches so the game was more stable so i tought why not try again and i had also a new pc and i had a blast with the game but i tought it was shameful that i loved 3 and not played 1 and 2 ans i heard its gets easier when you train your char. When i saw gog and the cheap prices of gothic 1 and 2 i couldnt help myself buy and try again this time i trained most of the points in 1h weapon and tried battling weak monsters again and again and noticed that the game became easier and i noticed you got a map and then suddenly it hit me this game isnt as hard with controls as i tought and with the new armour and weapon it becomes what easier and i am in chapter 2 now and having a blast i cant wait to continue my session and what happens next.

One of the greatest feelings I've ever experienced in Gothic II was finally being able to go toe-to-toe with an orc warrior and win. Seeing as chapter 2 revolves around sneaking past them and generally avoiding confrontation with the bastards at all costs, finally being able to kill them outright feels like a huge achievement.

The start of chapter 4 felt great. When I went back to The Valley of Mines, instead of going the usual way through the abandoned mine, I carved my way through the ten or so orcs guarding the main pass and actually succeeded. Bloody hell that felt great.

Welcome to the club!
I remember when I first got the original Gothic: I came down with a bad case of flu, but still had some errands to run, so out I went, headache and all in a cold February morning and, while returning home, passed by the local videogame store and noticed the box (one of the few in english that were released outside of Germany). Remembering having read a couple of previews, I picked it up and went home.
Of course I could not play right away, given that it turned out that flu and winter climate don't mix well together and I ended up spending a couple of days unable to get out of my bed.
On the bright side I did get to play Gothic for the next few weeks I was stuck at home after my foray into the cold.

I can understand all of you! I think it's strange with games, that get such overwelming praise by a lot of people and still is pretty much unknown to the world. and gothic seems to be one of the games thats drives this phenomena to its limits! But perhaps this is another thing with gothic that maeks it even more enjouyable, the hard core, and anti-main stream apporach it has. I've made my way into the temple of chapter 5 in Gothic 1 after having spent A LOT of time with the game, doing all side quests and killing pretty much every monster in the game. AND IT IS STILL AMAZING!

What? Without trying the other clans? :)

After reading this thread I definitely have to replay Gothic 1 and Gothic 2. Still have a couple of exams and Witcher 2 to finish, but afterward I'm gettin back on the Gothic trail.

I think Gothic 1 is the only game I've actually played start to finish more than three times... Soon I shall do battle with The Sleeper once more!

Of course I'm gonan try out the other factions, just have to play gothic first, cant wait:P which factions do u like the most? And which game has the coolest faction? I've heard that the third one is quite awesome with orcs right?

I prefer the mage route even though frustrating. In G1, unless you are in a hurry to be one, both merc and old camp routes seem about the same. Just because of its uniqueness, I liked the Swamp Camp route the best. In both games, I had a hard time role playing as a bad ass (merc), though. However, one can become a white mage after being kicked out as a member of the old camp. In 2, I also liked the mage path but the in-monastery tasks are a bit dorky. You do get to go into the northland on a task a lot sooner, though and with not so good martial skills and not well developed magic skills.

Can't say about G3 - haven't played it. Waiting for GOG to pick it up or for the price to drop. I still have Witcher and Oblivion to try, after all.