Stepping Into An RPG Legend
In 2001, a lot was going on in the world. Yet away from world-changing events, there was a game called Gothic, an open-world RPG that appeared on PC. Critics and players adored it, and it was even going to be ported to the first Xbox until that version was cancelled. I never got to play the original game, but had heard about it in hallowed terms, and now, 25 years later, a remake has come to us in the form of Gothic 1 Remake.
So, when I ventured into the game, I didn’t know what was going to happen, but I had high expectations. Did the game live up to the hype? Let’s find out.
Full Of Unforgettable Characters
Playing Gothic 1 Remake reminded of how this small team of German developers must have influenced games like The Witcher and even Crimson Desert of more recent times. You play a nameless hero, who starts the game in a design of your own making. You wake up in a river after being dumped into a sort of open prison colony that is surrounded by a magical barrier.
It doesn’t give you much of a story to start with, except that the citizens of this world are in political revolt. There are three different factions, each with different philosophies and views on the world. The Old Camp is a large, corrupt organisation with all sorts of problems, but it is the most interactive with the world. Then you have the Swamp Camp, which is made up of weird, cult-like groups praying to a strange god. The New Camp is a group of outsiders who don’t want to be involved with the other camps. You choose one to pursue your own goals in the game.
Of course, getting into these camps requires you to meet a lot of people and go on a lot of side quests, each with its own narrative and immersive world-building. I loved this world and the grimy, despicable group of people I met along the way. Early on, there is a character called Mud who follows you; talking constantly. The only way I found to get rid of him was by violence, and then I felt like a horrible bully. It’s these encounters that make the game what it is.
Every Victory Has To Be Earned
The overall arc of the main narrative is okay, but as I got lost in the world, I kept forgetting what it was about. I don’t think that really matters though and whilst some of the writing is very good, some of the other, more lore-based sections can feel a bit heavy-handed at times.
Gameplay is, at first, as hard as nails. Even in the early moments of Gothic 1 Remake you will feel like a useless hero wandering around without money, purpose, or any stats. For example, when you first set off from the starting point, you can find a weapon in the form of a pickaxe. Then you might have to fight some badger-like creatures which, if they overpower you, will kill you very quickly.
You can use ranged or melee combat. It’s all quite basic and, as I said, extremely hard at first. But you will meet people who train you, and soon you level up your stats, get access to better weapons, and better armour. It’s not sophisticated fighting like you might expect from a modern-day RPG, and it took me a long while to get used to the clunky nature of the fights. But when it clicked a bit later, and I got stronger, it all started to become more interesting.
Patience Is The Greatest Weapon
The same goes for the game as a whole. It’s a grower, especially once you get used to its little foibles. Dialogues can feel a bit stilted, and there are some laggy points and bits of jank in the game. But it reminded me so much of Crimson Desert, which also got its hooks into me and didn’t want to let go after many hours. Be patient, and you will be rewarded.
The Unreal Engine 5 remake is on display here, and it doesn’t disappoint, especially if you compare it to the original game. I did have some frame rate dips here and there, but nothing that annoyed me. There are some great landscapes to explore, and the camps feel like lived-in places with some great character designs.
Audio effects throughout the world are strong, giving you a real sense of place, whether you’re on a path through the mountains or in one of the camps. The soundtrack is solid as well, giving you some good music that has been updated too. The voice cast has been fully remade from the original, which was always criticised for not being very strong in 2001.
An RPG That Rewards Commitment
Gothic 1 Remake is the best way to play Gothic today. Purists might not agree, as they will always prefer the old version. But for me, coming into it for the first time, it felt like a modern game most of the time, except perhaps for elements of the combat and some dialogue choices.
For the most part, though, this is a game that will grow on you, slowly, surely, until you fall in love. And from there, the world of Gothic 1 Remake is your oyster.
Important Links
One Of Gaming’s Most Influential RPGs Is Back – Gothic 1 Remake! – https://www.thexboxhub.com/one-of-gamings-most-influential-rpgs-is-back-gothic-1-remake/
Buy from the Xbox Store – https://www.xbox.com/en-GB/games/store/gothic-1-remake/9NBRLCPW4ZGV/0010
