Strangely I haven't seen any topic or many mentionings of this before but I think the Gothic series and Witcher 2 are really like relatives.

I played through this game once now and I am in my second playthrough at the beginning of chapter 3 and the game it really compares to is the old gothic series (gothic 1 and 2).

A small, but very detailed, characteristic world, filled with intersting places and persons. A rough language and tone, very dark atmosphere and of course it is based on european medieval folklore.

There are many other parallels as well, both are action oriented, very quest driven.

Any of you old gothic players find some other parallels?

Well, for me CDPR is the best european RPG dev since piranha bytes.

Also Risen, Gothic's spiritual successor.

But the games are too different to be compared to eachother.

I think comparing Witcher to Gothic/Risen makes much more sense than comparing Witcher to Dragon Age.

Gothic was being given free on preorders of Witcher 2. But Saying that German and Polish are cousins is an Oxymoron.

To be fair, they got pretty close in 1939. Not willingly, of course, but close is close regardless.

So you just read this thread's title and seem to live in the past.

Well, if you drop to read actual GOOD Polish Literature you will find Heinrick Sienkewieckz books base don historic facts on how well Poland and Germany have gotten along through history. He wasn't a Nobel Prize when it actually meant something for no reason. History has a nasty habit of repeating itself. Specially when ignored. Just like you seem to do. I'm just saying. Calling those two games cousins shows no reflection upon it. And btw, I'm not even thinking about WWII.

Since when Gothic is an RPG?

I agree. I also happen to like Gothic (excluding the horrible 4th game), Risen and The Witcher games a lot more than either of the Dragon Age games. I thought DA:O was a well made game, but it just didn't hold my interest. I also prefer solo rpg games over party rpg games. Unless we're talking about the Baldur's Gate and Icewind Dale games...I thought those were brilliant party based games.

you didn't even read the first post mate. Nothing was being said or mentioned about germany or poland.

games are so similar that they could be called cousins... while sequels are brothers/sisters...
but in case deus ex 2 he was half brother to deus ex 1. I bet the mother, SS2 had an affair with Sin...

Thanks for actually taking time to read my post and not only the threadtitle.

Many old gothic fans feel that witcher 2 is the best RPG since Gothic 2, which really has something to do with both games being quite similar. :)

I agree with you. Actually I had the exact same thought as you: This is very similar to Gothic 2.
Only better in some aspects. Not as good in others. Remember the frying pan?

On the other hand in my opinion one should be careful to call Polish and German cousins. Because the past history the two countries have I wouldn't. I will call them brothers to elicit they're very similar as you elaborated in your post. Cousins feels to me like trying to be brothers but not quite. Anyways, I'm sure there are many Germans who have Polish cousins. It's inevitable. ;)

Also, where the developer comes from is actually very important. There's no way an American or Japanese developer could pull any of these two off.
Duke Nukem, Yes. The Witcher or Gothic 2. NO.

They both feel similar, but different.

I agree. It's a comparison I've seen thrown about and to be honest was one of the first things I thought when playing.

The first few times I got involved in combat in W2 I was expecting W1 and could effectively button mash a bit to get through them... Then I promptly got my ass handed to me.

After a moments thought my brain generously reminded me of another game where I walked down a pretty mountain path, button mashed 3 or 4 monsters and then walked straight into a pack of wolves.

I thought 'play the combat like I would play gothic' and I grinned...

(lol, then the forums reminded me how many people sucked in gothics combat too)

The OP wasn't refering to the countries, some may want to not only read but also comprehend before commenting.