Arcania: Gothic 4

[JayK47]

Figured I would start a dedicated thread for this game since it comes out on PC, 360 and PS3 Oct 12.

I was able to check out the demo on Steam today. To be honest, it does feel a little rough around the edges. I feel Risen was more polished. Here are my first impressions:

-Looks good on my 3 year old PC. That is until moving around exposes the pop in and pop out of the vegetation in the background.

-Animations are a little stiff and don't sync very well during conversations.

-Mouse sensitivity is way to sensitive. Turned all the way down it still seems jumpy.

-Combat is pretty good so far.

-Skills have been almost oversimplified. Especially compared to Gothic 3 and Risen.

-Enemies so far seem very dumb. I was up on a cliff and a goblin down below didn't seem to care that I was hitting it with arrows. Just sat there and took 2 arrows to the head.

-And speaking of arrows to the head, I didn't notice a difference in damage depending on where I hit an enemy.

-Since Two Worlds 2 has been delayed, and nobody even knows about Risen, how else will you get your RPG fix? You are going to have to buy this game.

-Quests during the demo were not very exciting. Go to a cave and fetch me some shrooms. Yeah, thanks. Sure.

The demo didn't scare me away, nor did I run out and preorder. Not even a preorder bonus of Gothic 3 swayed me. I'll do a wait and see. I hope to see some impressions here, otherwise I will wait for reviews.

http://image.gamespotcdn.net/gamespot/images/2010/147/939672_20100528_790screen003.jpg

[BigJonno]

Where were you? We've already been discussing it in the Arcania demo thread! :D

[JayK47]

I saw that. I thought this underdog game deserved more than a demo thread in the news department;) I hope some people pick this up and discuss it beyond the demo.

[Mung Beans]

Oh yeah!

I can't wait for this game! After finishing up Risen recently, and a mate of mine have been talking about this game, at first I though it wasn't coming out till next year, wohoo can't wait for it :).

Man too bad about two worlds 2, well atleast this will keep me going till that game comes out.

The funny thing is people don't give these games enough credit, I feel that they have finally got to the point where they have almost perfected these euro-action RPG.

The thing that impresses me the most about these games, is that there is no instance loading for caverns, or major towns. Once the game loads up its this living and breathing world, when you enter a cave, there is no icon to click on the cave to load the instance of the cave, you just walk straight in, and that goes the same with walking into houses.

[Narradisall]

I'm tempted to get this. Yet I don't know why... I didn't play Risen and my backlog is massive, yet somehow Gothic just calls to me.

I'll be interested to see what people enjoy in this thread. I found 3 took some time to get off the ground.

[Drayven]

Played the demo on the 360 and after a rough start i actually rather enjoyed it. If it came out at like $30 I'd pick it up but this is not a $60 game in my mind.

[Mung Beans]

I'm tempted to get this. Yet I don't know why... I didn't play Risen and my backlog is massive, yet somehow Gothic just calls to me.

I'll be interested to see what people enjoy in this thread. I found 3 took some time to get off the ground.

Yeah Gothic 3 was hard to really start off, I always end up playing 10 hours into it, and then leave it and never come back, I guess it had to do with the combat system, it seemed they were tyring to figure out a good combat system and trying something new. I always thought Gothic 2 had a pretty good solid combat system.

[menage]

I tried the demo. Crappy framerate and voice overs. Was bored from the get go so I switched it off after 5 minutes.

[Zecon]

I tried playing the demo.
The combat felt alot better than Risen's, but overall I just couldn't like it enough to finish it.
I'm saving my money for Fable 3.

[Drayven]

I tried the demo. Crappy framerate and voice overs. Was bored from the get go so I switched it off after 5 minutes.

I do recommend giving it another try, it does get quite a bit better.

[Narradisall]

I actually rather enjoyed it, played the demo the whole way through. The tired start of being a nobody in a small town was a bit of a drag. Why most of these types of games have to have the most mind numbing tutorials I'll never know.

Still, I though Divine Divinity 2 was ugly, never played Risen, and Two Worlds dialogue was just fucking painful, so I may have to get this for my Euro RPG fix.

I'm just a bit miffed after the ending of 3 that now I'm a new unknown hero, what the fuck happened to my other guy!

[Mung Beans]

I actually rather enjoyed it, played the demo the whole way through. The tired start of being a nobody in a small town was a bit of a drag. Why most of these types of games have to have the most mind numbing tutorials I'll never know.

Still, I though Divine Divinity 2 was ugly, never played Risen, and Two Worlds dialogue was just fucking painful, so I may have to get this for my Euro RPG fix.

I'm just a bit miffed after the ending of 3 that now I'm a new unknown hero, what the fuck happened to my other guy!

I think they kinda hinted at what happened to the protagonist in Gothic 1,2,3 at the end of the demo.

I played the demo right through, and had a lot of fun! The thing is if you have played the previous games you would most likely like this game, and understand where it came from, I personally think that they have come along way since Gothic 3, Gothic 4 for me seems to be their peak, they finally got a good solid combat system, and the game actually runs pretty well compared to Gothic 3.

The only thing I notice is they really toned down on the magic, there doesn't seem to be any passive skills or magic, maybe they took it out off the demo, I am hoping there is more things, and where is the weed man! They have to have the Rhubarb weed in the game, although I wouldn't be suprised if they took out because Australia might band the game.

[JayK47]

I can see why Two Worlds 2 decided to go with a later launch. Had this game come out a few weeks ago, I would be playing it right now. I plan to pre-order and play Fallout Vegas as soon as I can get my grubby hands on it come the 19th. If I pick this up in a week, I won't get far until I shelve it for a few weeks or months. Fable 3 is right around the corner as well. Timing is everything. It will probably go largely unnoticed. I could probably pass on Fable 3 for a few weeks, but I really want to play Fallout as soon as I can. I can't complain. Or is having too many decent games to play reason to complain?

[Narradisall]

I think they kinda hinted at what happened to the protagonist in Gothic 1,2,3 at the end of the demo.

I played the demo right through, and had a lot of fun! The thing is if you have played the previous games you would most likely like this game, and understand where it came from, I personally think that they have come along way since Gothic 3, Gothic 4 for me seems to be their peak, they finally got a good solid combat system, and the game actually runs pretty well compared to Gothic 3.

The only thing I notice is they really toned down on the magic, there doesn't seem to be any passive skills or magic, maybe they took it out off the demo, I am hoping there is more things, and where is the weed man! They have to have the Rhubarb weed in the game, although I wouldn't be suprised if they took out because Australia might band the game.

I missed that. I walked forward, and just as the names popped up above the heads of those guys the demo ended. Diego was about on the island, so was that lot all the original guys?

Last I knew the old hero chased whathisname through a portal.

Yeah, I did notice 16 levels and a lack of much in the skill tree. Still, Gothic is one of the VERY FEW games that makes being a ranger, shooting arrows and then pulling your blade out to finish the monsters as they rush you, FUN.

Most games I usually go mage and just blast everything to bits, but in the demo I found I was constantly rocking out with my bow and picking off monsters (although I did laugh at how bows 'track' round corners when mobs turn).

[menage]

I do recommend giving it another try, it does get quite a bit better.

Yeah maybe, not this month though, maybe in a dry season I'll just pick it up for 10 bucks.

[JayK47]

What game has you paying full retail? What does it take? I tend to want fun for a certain amount of time. I feel this game will deliver. I picked this up today on steam. After some steam BS, I was actually able to play and have so far enjoyed it. I bet it will easily be worth my $50. Much more than I can say about so many other games. So lets hear some common complaints. Oh, the lips don't match the voice. The translation isn't good enough. I expect the game to actually launch. I demand perfection. Well son of a ... You all sound like a bunch of pampered babies.

[Narradisall]

Was that aimed at another thread? There's none of those complaints here...

[menage]

I don't get it either.

[muddi900]

http://www.worldwidejeb.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/whiskey.jpg

[JayK47]

Was that aimed at another thread? There's none of those complaints here...

That is because nobody here is playing besides me;) They are common on the jowood boards. My only complaint so far is not being able to use sleep as a fast forward. They have a day night cycle and the ability to lay in beds, but they are pointless besides. But I won't let that ruin my fun.

[Narradisall]

Ah ok.

Well, I'm backed up with other stuff at the moment. I won't be picking up any games till Nov/Dec. So this'll have to wait with the likes of New Vegas, Enslaved, Castlevania etc etc.

[MagGnome]

I played the demo right through, and had a lot of fun! The thing is if you have played the previous games you would most likely like this game, and understand where it came from, I personally think that they have come along way since Gothic 3, Gothic 4 for me seems to be their peak, they finally got a good solid combat system, and the game actually runs pretty well compared to Gothic 3.

Keep in mind that Gothic 4 is from an entirely different developer than the previous games. The original developer (Piranha Bytes) lost the IP and went on to make Risen instead of Gothic 4.

That said, I'll likely pick it up eventually. I have a soft spot for these Euro-RPGs. Gothic 2 is a particular favorite of mine. This and Risen are on my list of games to get eventually.

[JayK47]

So far I would say Risen is a better game. Both games I think are good, but Risen felt more polished. This game feels like a lot was edited out, in particular, abilities that were in Gothic 3. Like having meaningful interactions with the world. Like sleeping in a bed, making stew in a pot, and making potions on a alchemy bench. Things that are present in Risen. Leveling up is pretty limited as well. At least looting is in tact. It is fun to simply explore and find new items.

[JayK47]

Gamespot gave this game a 5.0. It sounds like the guy went in with high expectations. I think on a 10 point scale, this game is easily a 7.0. Game Rankings would agree with an average in the low 70s.

I suppose with New Vegas out, nobody will waste their time with this. I may be just as guilty once my copy arrives in the mail.

[MagGnome]

5.0? In gaming land that rating is reserved for crap. I have a hard time believing this game is that bad.

[Narradisall]

It's not Mag. It's rough around the edges, but still a fair decent game.

It's landed in a *really* shitty window though. I'm going to be picking itu p, but Oct and Nov are busy months it seems. I can see this fading into the mists of time under the likes of Fallout, Enslaved, Castlevania, Assassins Creed etc.

[MagGnome]

They really did pick the worst time this year to release the game.

[JayK47]

So has anybody besides me played this? After some dust collecting, I decided to wrap this up. Enjoying the world and some of the combat. The combat can be fun once you figure out how to exploit the clipping into enemy issue. Essentially as you attack, you clip into your enemies. So they may miss you once you wind up behind them. It can look bad or cool depending on how you do it. It can be fun plowing into a group of enemies, but it gives you an unfair edge. The story may as well not exist. I am running around enjoying my surroundings and the combat when it works. I swear my character is also making fun of the story and missions. He seems to be just as annoyed as me. Glad I am not alone. All the more reason to skip this game and grab Risen for $15 on Steam right about now.

[Narradisall]

For some reason Amazon says it isn't out in the UK at present. I will pick it up over the holidays but I have so many games in my backlog I'm only just working through Torchlight!

I personally enjoyed being an archer on the demo, it was nice to play a gameplay mechanic on one of these that makes archery fun, and then you can switch to your sword when they get close and wade in.

[JayK47]

Finally wrapped this game up. The end was ok. A lot of combat and I had a sweet sword, so I had some fun. The final battle was decent, but then the end cinematic didn't really wrap up the game very well. Not that I was paying much attention to the plot. But an award ceremony for the hero would have been nice;) Not worth full price, but for around $10, go for it.