| I remember the first time I played Gothic 1 and it | | | | Gothic is a true medieval RPG, the world is gritty and |
| wasn't a good first impression. The controls felt | | | | dangerous; the inhabitants of the few towns are |
| awkward, the buttons were all over the keyboard, | | | | mercenaries or ex-soldiers willing to get their hands |
| and I really wanted Diego's sword. After numerous | | | | dirty for a few gold. Some become your friends and |
| attempts to knock him out bare fisted, I finally gave | | | | allies, like Gorn, Diego, and Milton, while many more |
| up and headed toward the town. I realized pretty | | | | will become your enemy. The world of Gothic just |
| quickly that this game would not be a walk in the | | | | beckons to be explored, but you have to be |
| park because I was instantly killed by some | | | | prepared, because this isn't some turn-based RPG, if |
| scavengers, a weak, low level monster. Finding | | | | you make a mistake in battle, chances are you'll have |
| shelter within the walls of the town, the world of | | | | to load your game. |
| Gothic instantly came alive. Nearly everyone had a | | | | Gothic 2 took everything from the first game and |
| name and you could interact with them. The | | | | added new elements that made it even more |
| inhabitants went about their day sitting by the fire, | | | | exceptional. My absolute favorite part of the game is |
| sparring with one another, walking around, and going | | | | getting to the first town, going into every building, |
| to their respective homes to sleep at night. The AI | | | | talking to every person, and completing every quest. |
| had a similar feel to Shenmue, in the fact that you | | | | You aren't allowed in by the guards standing watch |
| felt like a visitor in their world, observing the lives of | | | | the the gate, you can either help out a farmer and |
| these people, as opposed to some games where the | | | | deliver his goods, or you can search for a lowered |
| CPUs just stand their, waiting for you to interact with | | | | section of the town wall. Not only are the graphics |
| them. They reacted to you and to their surrounds as | | | | greatly improved, but the area is huge and populated |
| you would to them. It had taken me a while to warm | | | | with dense forest, mountains, rivers, and caves. |
| up to Gothic, but it was turning out to be an | | | | Gothic games have a uniquely difficult element to |
| interesting game. | | | | controlling the character which actually makes the |
| Gothic starts your character out weaker than I had | | | | games more strategic; going head to head with a |
| every seen before, you can barely survive in the | | | | much stronger enemy will most likely get you killed, |
| beginning, and that's what makes it so great. Every | | | | you have to use some cunning in attacking more |
| gold coin, item, or weapon you pick up feels like | | | | powerful enemies. Using long range weapons along |
| treasure and I couldn't wait to sell items to buy a | | | | with close ranged are the most effective ways to |
| weapon and some decent armor. Certain characters | | | | defeat creatures like the shadowbeast or troll. The |
| in the game can train you in certain skills, like swords, | | | | idea of factions come into play, just like they did with |
| axes, hunting, and magic but you can't have | | | | the first game; you can choose to become a paladin, |
| everything in Gothic, picking what you want to | | | | a hunter, or a mage, with each class sporting their |
| specialize in is key, because skill points are few and | | | | own strengths and weaknesses. |
| far between. | | | | |