OpenCritic
Steam
A fantasy action RPG developed by a debuting Piranha Bytes studio, founded by ex-employees of Greenwood Entertainment, a company that prospered in the 1990s. You take on a role of a nameless hero, who, with a group of others, gets incarcerated in a penal colony on Khorinis island. As it turns out, he is not a mere criminal, but a champion of gods who aim to clear the realm of evil forces lead by a mighty demon called The Sleeper.
Gothic is the first game in the portfolio of Piranha Bytes, a company set up in 1997 by five former employees of Greenwood Entertainment. However, the work on the title began a year earlier. The project was based entirely on proprietary technological solutions, including the ZenGin graphics engine
Story
The game takes the players to a fantastical kingdom of Myrtana, ruled by King Rhobar II. The player takes on the role of a Nameless Hero who ends up in a penal colony on the island of Khorinis. It is surrounded by a magical barrier, penetrable only from the outside, which was created by arch mages. Unfortunately, during the incantation something went wrong. The range of the spell turned out to be bigger than expected and the entire area of the Valley of the Mines was surrounded by the barrier, trapping the mages as well.
The main character is one of the convicts in the penal colony. Soon, however, it turns out that he’s not an ordinary prisoner but a messenger of god Innos, and his goal is to overcome the evil lurking within the magical dome...
The story of Gothic, although linear, was made with great flourish and dynamic plot twists. The game world, while not too extensive, includes quite diverse locations such as the Old and New Camp, Sect Camp, Bandit Camp, several mines, and even an orc village. In the course of his adventures, the Nameless Hero may encounter more than 200 NPCs and join a dozen guilds (e.g. Diggers, Shadows, Temple Guards, Mercenaries), each of them guided by different motives. Standing in his way are also a few dozen types of monsters – from meatbugs and scavengers to demons and skeletons.
Gameplay
As befits a title combining elements of action and cRPG, the combat is an important aspect of Gothic. The arsenal of weapons, armor and artifacts (charms and medallions) is sizable, although access to some of the items is sometimes strictly limited (we have to craft them ourselves or beat our opponent to get them). Depending on the player's preference, the Nameless Hero can wield swords (one- and two-handed), axes, maces, hammers, crossbows or bows.
The game uses a simple system of coefficients and skills. The main character is described by attributes: strength, agility and maximum health and mana. Once we level up, the Nameless Hero receives 10 points, which the player can then spend on raising coefficients, or learning new skills. Apart from skills related to combat (wielding one- and two-handed weapons) and magic, these are also abilities useful in everyday life (e.g. lock picking, sneaking, skinning animals). Learning and improving existing skills is only possible after finding the right teacher.
Technology
The game is distinguished by its level of audio-visuals. Zengin graphics engine generates a high-quality (at the time), richly detailed image. The climate is enhanced by the lighting changing in the day and night cycle. The animations of the main character, whose actions we watch from a third person perspective, look smooth and natural.
Last updated on November 19, 2015
Videos and Screens
[4:28] Gothic Nintendo Switch launch trailer
[1:56] Gothic Nintendo Switch trailer
Invision Community: 6 / 10 by Adam Ligocki
Gothic Classic immediately receives points for software preservation. Being able to play old games on modern systems without hoops to jump through is always a plus. Whether or not you enjoy Gothic Classic is another story entirely. Outside of the enhancements, it’s still the same game, for better and worse. Fans of Piranha Bytes games, and the Gothic franchise, will undoubtedly be over the moon while everyone else may need to take it with a pinch of salt.
Cubed3: 7 / 10
Tired of RPGs were you become the chosen one after the intro? Then check out Gothic. This cult classic gem by Piranha Bytes might not be the most polished one, and its purposely "hardcore" mind-set might not be for everyone (especially if spoiled by modern representatives of the genre), but few titles can claim to be as immersive as this is.
GameOnly: 7.5 / 10 by Daniel Kucner
The main pros of the game
- Immersive World and Atmosphere: Many users praised the game's atmosphere, describing it as dark, captivating, and filled with detail. The world feels handcrafted and alive, making exploration rewarding.
- Engaging Story and Characters: The narrative and character development received high marks, with players finding the story compelling and the characters well-written and memorable.
- Unique Gameplay Mechanics: The game features a distinctive control scheme that, while initially clunky, becomes intuitive with practice. The combat system, though criticized, is seen by some as rewarding once mastered.
- Freedom of Playstyle: Players appreciated the freedom to choose their playstyle and the impact of their decisions on the game’s progression.
- Nostalgia Factor: For many, Gothic 1 is a beloved classic that evokes strong memories, contributing to its charm.
The main cons of the game
- Clunky Combat and Controls: The combat system is often described as abysmally clunky, requiring a learning curve that not all players enjoy. The controls can be frustrating and unresponsive at times.
- Technical Issues: Users reported various bugs, crashes, and performance issues, particularly with the Steam version. Some missions were noted to be broken or difficult to complete.
- Outdated Graphics: The graphics are considered old and could benefit from modernization, which some users feel is necessary for a remake.
- Lack of Content in Later Stages: The game reportedly becomes less engaging towards the end, with some players noting that the final missions feel bare or repetitive.
The features or elements that are missing from the game according to users
- Quality of Life Improvements: Users expressed a desire for enhancements such as better controls, more user-friendly interfaces, and modernized graphics.
- Expanded Content: There are calls for additional quests, items, and crafting options that could enrich the gameplay experience, particularly in the later stages of the game.
- Final Summary or Closure: Some players noted the absence of a conclusion or summary conversation with key characters at the end of the game, which could provide closure to the story.
- Bug Fixes and Patches: Many users recommended community patches and mods to improve gameplay, indicating that official updates or fixes are lacking.
Summary
- Overall, while Gothic 1 is celebrated for its immersive experience and storytelling, it is also critiqued for its outdated mechanics and technical issues, leading to a strong desire for a refined remake.
Summary generated on:
GAMERS Score
Average score from 27290 votes. 33 players anticipated the game.
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9
GAMES
in Gothic Game Series
Game Series
Gothic Series
A cult series of action RPG games set in a fantastic world. The series was created by German studio Piranha Bytes but over the years other development teams have also worked on it, such as Trine Game Studios, Spellbound Entertainment and Alkimia Interactive.
9 video games
Gothic Summary
Platforms:
PC / Windows March 15, 2001
Switch September 28, 2023
Developer: Piranha Bytes
Publisher: Egmont Interactive
Age restrictions: 12+
Gothic System Requirements
PC / Windows
Recommended: Pentium II 350MHz, 64MB RAM, graphic card
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