Gothic is a fine game, but it is no way remarkable. It does a rather commendable job of establishing atmosphere, but the mediocre gameplay mechanics prevent it from obtaining true timelessness. It is by no means a bad game, but it is only worth the grind if you are really desperate for a role playing game fix.
The are direction is acceptable, but the really standout aspect is the musical score. I found the orchestration and ambient sounds to be very compelling. A soundtrack is included with your purchase, so that is most certainty a plus.
In short, it packs more than enough content to justify a $9.99 USD purchase, but it will most likely not hold your interest for any amount of time. I'd suggest looking elsewhere for a really stellar open world role playing experience.