Review Gothic 2 warms up DEN

Tags: Gothic II

<A href="http://www.gothic2.com">Gothic II</a> get a fairly positive <A href="http://www.dignews.com/review.php?story_id=1974">review</A> from <a href="http://www.dignews.com/">Digital Entertainment News</a>, despite the <b>7.6/10</b> score it recieves. The main complaints would be the keyboard controls. There's also this:
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<blockquote>Well, that depends on you; Gothic II offers more than one path to achieve the same goal, though some are quicker and riskier while others are longer and more assured. Unlike RPGs where you have to decide how you want to adventure before you even enter the game, Gothic II lets you put off that decision. In the first chapter of the game, you’ve lost a lot of your memory and forgotten most of your skills — a convenient way of explaining why you’re the same character but not already a Level 25 paladin after the first game — and you don’t have to decide what you want to be until you’ve tried things on for size for a while. </blockquote>
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I can't say I'm a huge fan of that whole, <i>You're the same guy, you just forgot everything due to magic!</i> method of starting you over.
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Spotted at: <A HREF="http://www.gengamers.com">GenGamers</A>

 

I didn't have time to play much of the game, but I really liked that I could do quests in different ways. I don't mind the amnesia part. The graphics though made my computer steam and hang every few minutes despite heavy cooling.

 

Gotta admit that the beginning indeed was a bit "forced". They could've easily put you down as a recently convicted guy that just showed up and has no idea what happened when the barrier came down.

Would've allowed them to make some cool anecdotes about that unnamed hero that pulled down the shield and disappeared.

Overall the game was pretty neat though.

 

The Ultima series Avatar is the ultimate Mr Amnesia, that's for sure. I wonder how many levels you put him trough in total?

And G2 rocks, no matter the easy copout they did with using the same guy - it's rather fun meeting familiar faces - it helps the IMERSUN factor or sumfink, ehum. And considering it's technically a two year old game on a five year old (at least) engine I'd say it's purdy darn impressive. Best outdoor mileu in an rpg ever.

 

The avatar always reminded me a lot of the hero of "the chronicles of Thomas Covenant" by Stephen Donaldson.

They did really well by having a guy from our world being sucked repeatedly into the Brittania universe. Gave them a good excuse for starting the levelling all over again.

Still haven't seen an rpg that was as immersive as the old ultima 7's though.

 

Whooa. Haven't read the unbeliever books in years... damn those things were GOOD.

Real world = couch potato causes lvl loss?

Amen, brother! But as we all know, Ultima is as dead as dead can be.

 

Stephen Donaldson's other great series "The gap" books really are worth looking into as well. If you can stand SF that is. I really like the depth he puts in his characters.

Yeah, something like that. I always put it down to being put into another reality. Like the unbeliever series (in our world he's a leper, in the other a great hero)
Though I kinda dig the couch potato idea.

Too bad about Ultima, perhaps for the better as you see the direction the series was taking. Great nostalgia though.

 

I'm a total SF buff, so I've already read the gap series - of course. as well as Mordant's need. Although none of them are as good as the unbeliever series, unfortunaty.

 

Never read Mordant's need. Guess it's time to delve into the good old library again.

Really dig the Fire and Ice series from George RR Martin at the moment. Busy in number 3 b and wondering how that Tyrion will fare.

Peter F. Hamilton's night's dawn trilogy was great as well. Too many good books and too little time......

 

Fuckin best piece of space opera ever written. I got my hand om a preview copy of his next series - the commonwealth saga. Due out in february sometimes.

And as I always recommend - go read friggin China Miéville! Perdido Street Station, the Scar as well as upcoming The Iron Council. Steampunk, high fantasy and Chthulhuoid horror all wrapped up in one mighty fine burrito.

Mebbeh we shouldn't highjack this thread, but considering this is the codex, chances are noone cares...

 

Shit, is China Mieville working on a new one? I loved Perdido Street Station, best piece of fantasy/steampunk I ever read! Didn't like the scar as much as that one, though it still was pretty good.

So how'd you like the commonwealth stuff? I figured it be pretty hard to come up with something that could equell the night dawn's books.

Btw, I've never seen a thread here that didn't got hijacked. We just keep in the general spirit here.

 

I didn't figure the Scar was as good as PSS, but considering how good an author Miéville it still makes it kickass. The Iron Council is reportedly set in New Crobuzon again, and is about the ruling council and the militia ( or so I heard)- so expect more deep intrigue.

The commonwealth book was good. But not as good, as usual. Too bad he didn't choose to set another book in the confederation universe - pre Night's dawn.

Oh and on a thread related issue, a cut and paste from the ole dot on this here G2 review I found rather funny. Is the codex rubbing off on Dhruin? Man, socializing here isn't good for your internet health...

http://www.rpgdot.com/index.php#25231

 

I care!

Well...... okay..... maybe not really.....

 

Well, we know he's lurking in these boards so I wouldn't be amazed.

Personally I don't care that much about bioware. They make some fun games, some not so fun ones. All the hype they get is pretty boring though. The last couple of years have shown a new interest in rpg's, something I partly contribute to them and the late Black Isle. They at least contributed in that. Just glad that the rpg empty 90's are over.

Looking forward to see that new mieville book, couldn't find any info on his site though... Have you got a link for me?

 

Damn right! It's a great book! So many wonderful ideas!
I have to order his other books by Amazon because they didn't get to be translated yet. Anyway, if you like PSS, read Jeff Noon's Vurt or Nymphomation. Needle in the Groove is also very good. Pixel Juice is an anthology of short pieces, best read after the above books.

 

The 90's were RPG empty? :shock:

 

Well, I remember not that many good rpg's coming out in the mid 90's. Maybe because I was too busy trying to handle my teenage hormones though.

Ultima was great, and I kinda liked Buck Rogers but other than that not much else stands out, till fallout arrived in....uhm 1998/1999?

 

As a matter of fact... Noon is my fav authour! Read about everything of his. His latest - Falling out of cars is one interesting semi-apocalyptic fever dream. LOVE it. Was all giddy after putting it down and totally sad at the same time...

... I'm such a book nerd.

[Edit] My nick is even ripped from Noon's Automated Alice. Misspellt, but yeah. Well, I like it better than Whipoorwill, the talking parrot.

 

hmm, i remember spending hours stealing my way through the towns in ultima 7 part 2 , i loved that game, they even made magic a comodity because of the reagents, my version was dubbed to spanish tho, scary thing

 

Gothic 2is pretty neat, I'm looking forward to the international release of Night of The Raven. But the combat controls can be a real thorn in the foot.

If the enemy is in numbers greater than one, they use swarm tactics. That's all swell, but the auto targetting system that makes you stick to one foe cost me tons of health potions. Sure, it can be changed, but the other one is even worse.

 

Mid 90s are about 94-96, i'd assume, let's see what Moby lists as RPGs...

1994
Advanced Dungeons & Dragons Collector's Edition
Advanced Dungeons & Dragons Collector's Edition...
Alien Logic
!!Ancient Domains Of Mystery!!
Breath of Fire
Breath of Fire II
Captive 2 - Liberation
Complete Ultima VII, The
Crusader of Centy
Crusaders of the Dark Savant
Crystal Dragon
Dark Legions
Dark Sun 2: Wake of the Ravager
Disciples of Steel
Dragon Knight 4
Dragon Lore: The Legend Begins
Dungeon Master II: The Legend of Skullkeep
!!!EarthBound!!!
Eye of the Beholder
Fantasy Fest!
Final Fantasy VI
Genghis Khan II: Clan Of The Grey Wolf
Heimdall
Heimdall 2: Into the Hall of Worlds
Hell: A Cyberpunk Thriller
Hexx: Heresy of the Wizard
Illusion of Gaia
Ishar 3: The Seven Gates of Infinity
Jagged Alliance
Kidou Keisatsu Patlabor
King's Field
Knights of Xentar
Lands of Lore: The Throne of Chaos
Legend of Zelda, The
Liberty or Death
Live a Live
Mad Paradox
Majin Tensei
Might and Magic: World of Xeen
Mystic Towers
Nobunaga's Ambition
Obitus
Ogre Battle
Operation Europe: Path to Victory 1939-45
Phantasy Star IV: The End of the Millennium
Pirates! Gold (Okay,okay, not really an RPG..)
Realms of Arkania Vol. 2 - Startrail
Rings of Medusa
Robinson's Requiem
Romance of the Three Kingdoms III: Dragon of De...
Romance of the Three Kingdoms IV : Wall of Fire
Shadowrun (Genesis/MegaDrive)
Shadows of Cairn
Shin Megami Tensei
Shin Megami Tensei If...
Shin Megami Tensei II
Space Adventure, The
Superhero League of Hoboken
Syndicate
Tales of Phantasia
True Love
Ultima VII: The Black Gate
Ultima VIII: Pagan
Ultima VIII: Pagan - Speech Pack
Ultima: Runes of Virtue II
Uncharted Waters 2: New Horizons
Westwood 10th Anniversary
Wizardry V: Heart of the Maelstrom
Worlds of Ultima: The Savage Empire
Yendorian Tales Book I


1995
Another Bible
Anvil of Dawn
Atmosfear: The Third Dimension
Blind Justice
Breach 3
Breath of Fire II
Caverns of Xaskazien
Celtic Tales: Balor of the Evil Eye
Chrono Trigger
Conqueror: A.D. 1086
Defcon 5
Dragon Quest VI
Druid: Daemons Of The Mind
Dungeon Master II: The Legend of Skullkeep
Dungeons & Dragons Ultimate Fantasy
EarthBound
Entomorph: Plague Of The Darkfall
Exile: Escape from the Pit (Jeff Vogel's start, yay!)
Eye of the Beholder Trilogy
Fantasy 5
Footy Fanatic
High Seas Trader
Ishar Trilogy
Jagged Alliance
Jagged Alliance: Deadly Games
Lords of Midnight
Magic Knight Rayearth
Majin Tensei II: Spiral Nemesis
Master of Magic
Megami Tensei Gaiden: Last Bible III
Princess Maker: Legend of Another World
Quest for Glory IV: Shadows of Darkness
Ravenloft: Stone Prophet
Realms of Arkania Vol. 2 - Startrail
Romance of the Three Kingdoms IV : Wall of Fire
Romancing SaGa 3
Secret of Evermore
Seiken Densetsu 3
Shannara
Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner
Shining Wisdom
Space Adventure, The
Stonekeep
Suikoden
Syndicate
Tactics Ogre
Tengai Makyou Zero
Trial by Magic
Ultima VIII: Pagan
Uncharted Waters 2: New Horizons
Warhammer: Shadow of the Horned Rat
Westwood 10th Anniversary
World of Aden: Thunderscape
Worlds of Ultima: The Savage Empire
Ys V: Ushinawareta Sunano Miyako Kefin

1996
Advanced Dungeons & Dragons Masterpiece Collection
Airs Adventure
Albion
Azrael's Tear
Bahamut Lagoon
Beyond the Beyond
Birthright: Gorgon's Alliance
Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain
Das Schwarze Auge - Schatten über Riva
Deathkeep
Defcon 5
Diablo (Ugh)
Dragon Knight 4
Dragon Lore 2: Der Drachenkrieger
Elder Scrolls: Daggerfall, The
Entomorph: Plague Of The Darkfall
Exile II: Crystal Souls
Exile III: Ruined World
Fallout
Gold Games
Harvester
Help Charity Compilation
King's Field
King's Field II
Kingdom O' Magic
Lands of Lore: The Throne of Chaos
Lufia II: Rise of the Sinistrals
Megapak 5
Megapak 6
Meridian 59
MissionForce: Cyberstorm
Nemesis: A Wizardry Adventure
Ogre Battle
Persona
Princess Maker 2
Quest for Glory Anthology
Realm, The
Romance of the Three Kingdoms IV : Wall of Fire
Rudra no Hihou
Science Fiction: The Ultimate Collection
Spycraft: The Great Game
Star Ocean
Story of Thor 2, The
Suikoden
Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars
Tecmo's Deception
Ten Nights of Killing and Mayhem at F.J.B. II
Terranigma
Tobal No.1
Towers II: Plight of the Stargazer
Vandal Hearts
Warhammer: Shadow of the Horned Rat
Wild Arms
Wizardry Gold
Yendorian Tales Book I: Chapter 2



And for giggles, let's take a gander at 2003:
.hack//ABSOLUTE ENCIRCLEMENT - Part 4
.hack//INFECTION - Part 1
.hack//MUTATION - Part 2
.hack//OUTBREAK - Part 3
A-Sock-Ellipse Now!
Anachronox
Anarchy Online - Shadowlands
Arx Fatalis
Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance
Black & White
Black & White Deluxe
Brave Soul
Breath of Fire IV
Breath of Fire: Dragon Quarter
Cabela's 4x4 Off-Road Adventure III
Castlevania: Lament of Innocence
Casual Romance Club
Chrome
Cold Zero - The Last Stand
Dark Cloud 2
DemiKids: Dark Version
DemiKids: Light Version
Diablo II
Disgaea: Hour of Darkness
Divine Divinity
Dragon Ball Z: Legacy of Goku II
Dungeon Siege: Legends of Aranna
Dynasty Warriors 4
Elder Scrolls III: Bloodmoon, The
EVE Online
EverQuest Online Adventures
EverQuest: Lost Dungeons of Norrath
EverQuest: The Legacy of Ykesha
Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles
Final Fantasy Origins
Final Fantasy Tactics Advance
Final Fantasy X
Final Fantasy X-2
Final Fantasy XI Online
Finding Nemo
Fire Emblem
Freelancer
Gamers Pack
Geneforge 2
Gladius
Golden Sun: The Lost Age
Gothic II
Gothic II: Die Nacht des Raben
Harbinger
Heroes of Might and Magic IV
Heroes of Might and Magic IV: Winds of War
Intellivision Lives!
Kingdom Hearts
KnightShift
Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness
Legend of Zelda Collector's Edition, The
Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, The
Lionheart
Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, The
Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, The
Lost Kingdoms II
Magic Pengel: The Quest for Color
Mega Man Battle Network 3: Blue Version
Mega Man Battle Network 3: White Version
Midway Arcade Treasures
Mistmare
Neverwinter Nights
Neverwinter Nights Gold
Neverwinter Nights: Shadows of Undrentide
Phantasy Star Online Episode I & II
Pirates of the Caribbean
Pokemon Ruby
Pokemon Sapphire
Prince of Qin
Pro Race Driver
Shadowbane
Shenmue II
Shin Megami Tensei
Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne
Shining Soul
Silent Storm
Skies of Arcadia: Legends
Star Wars Galaxies: An Empire Divided Collector...
Star Wars: Galaxies: An Empire Divided
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
Street Legal
Summoner 2
Sword of Mana
Temple of Elemental Evil: A Classic Greyhawk Ad...
Tengai Makyou II: Majinmaru
The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind: Game of the Y...
Ultima Online: Age of Shadows
WarCraft III: Battle Chest
Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos
WarCraft III: The Frozen Throne
Wild Arms Advanced 3rd
Wirtschaftsgiganten
Xenosaga: Episode I: Der Wille zur Macht
Yu-Gi-Oh! The Sacred Cards
Yu-Gi-Oh!: Duelists of the Roses
Yu-Gi-Oh!: The Eternal Duelist Soul

Gothic 2, ToEE, Silent Storm and GeneForge 2.

 

warcraft 3 a rpg .... and whats black & white and diablo II doing on a 2003 list ?

edit: and cold zero its a freaking third person shooter not a rpg

 

and btw, a lot of those old games you posted also deserve to be bolded, like the darksuns, lands of lore, the wizardries, knights of xentar , master of magic (hey thats not a rpg thats a strategy game), the warhammers (again strategy), the might & magics and so on

 

most of those games are either on the wrong year or not rpgs -_-

 

Since when was Syndicate an RPG?