Gothic Universe
by Dreamcatcher Interactive
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Category: Video Games
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Product Summary
Brand: DreamcatcherRelease Date: 2007-10-16
Platform: Windows 2000, Windows Vista, Windows XP
Model: DVD55841MB
Publisher: Dreamcatcher Interactive
Product features:
- Follow an incredible story over the course of three intense games
- 3D action adventure with over 300 hours of exciting gameplay
- Immerse yourself in the most realistic and fascinating game world possible
- Liberation or annihilation - the fate of the world of Gothic lies in your hands!
- Huge living and breathing environment reacting to the player's actions and creating endless choices of interaction
Video Game Reviews of Gothic Universe
Customer Review: Another 'Flawed CRPG Masterpiece' from European Developers
Summary: 4 Stars
CRPG is not exactly prospering at the time buried amongst overflowing amount of console action games and MMORPGs. Even Japanese RPG and console RPG, although have fared better so far, are not looking so optimistic right now. Such fate is not all too unfamiliar in the world of RPG. CRPG has never been fully accepted as a mainstream video game genre for its obscure in-game mechanics and time consuming level-building. 'Final Fantasy' series put Japanese RPG on the map, 'Oblivion' saved face for CRPG but also critisized for selling out to console counterparts. While the current trend in American game developers leans toward selling out or making MMORPGs, it's ironic European developers are picking up the slack and making old-fashioned CRPG out of passion for the genre. 'Two Worlds', 'The Witcher', and 'Gothic' Trilogy are all created by fellow CRPG lovers across the Atlantic. Too bad none of them have received the critical and commercial success they achieved in Europe here in the United States. Although negative reviews and poor sales are not totally unwarranted, things have been overly critical for these games I think because people these days are not too fond of CRPG in the States. People want Diablo-esque action RPG or Diablo's biggest legacy, MMORPG.
'Gothic Universe' is a collection of all three 'Gothic' games, and the second one 'Gothic 2' is the extended cut called 'Nights of the Raven' that contains more quests and expanded storyline. Each game in the series all have multiple endings. Each game is all non-linear, free-formed game that you can go just about anywhere, talk to just about anyone, and take any quest in any order except main quest. Each game offers about 100 hours of gameplay if you decide to do absolutely everything there is to do.
What is unique about the game is how each NPC acts and reacts in the dynamic game world. They have their own schedules and they spend their days according to their schedules. They go to work, they eat, they rest, they drink, they hunt, and they sleep. The animation of their daily routine is very detail too. You, as a avatar in the game, can also perform these routine. You approach any of them with your weapon drawn, or if you enter their private property without permission, or if you touch their private possessions, you will be emphatically warned with deadly force of their own. If they don't like you, they won't talk to you. They remember your action. These simulation of the living, breathing dynamics of the world is specifically scripted, unlike 'Radiant A.I.' used in 'Oblivion'. And this is one thing the series do much better than 'Oblivion'. Although random events and interaction among NPCs are not possible like the one by 'Radiant A.I.', this is indeed very impressive achievement. No other game has given you this much illusion of the living gaming world yet.
The gaming world in the first one was big, the second one was very big, and the third one is huge. All three of them are very well detailed and well drawn.
Magic, weapons, armors, and items are plenty and you can learn new techniques to make potion, cook meal, upgrade your own weapons and armors, do trade, and even harvest plants. There are plenty of things to do beside taking on quests and fight enemies.
What stops 'Gothic' series from being excellent game overall is in-game technical shortcomings. First of all, character design is ugly, very jaggy and unpolished. Next, there are plenty of bugs even after multiple official patches and several unofficial community patches. But worst of all is how the games handle combat.
The combat control in first two games are handle exclusively with keyboard. And the way they implemented the buttons are so clunky, you will have arthritis. The third one doesn't fare much better either even with mouse. It would have been forgiveable if combat mechanics are better, but they are not. Enemies in all three games are mighty and strong enough already, but put you in this situation with clunky control design is downright mean-spirited. Only thing you can do beside getting squashed in the early stages is drawing them to the nearest allies for they seem to be all expert fighters and mages except you. Combat mechanics are very uneven and awkward even when you level enough. You are constantly struggling with enemy not because they overpower you but because you are not expertly able to handle yourself in combat.
In the end, 'Gothic Universe' is a terrific package that offers you obscene amount of open-ended RPG gameplay with tons of quests to take and things to do in this wonderfully vivid living world at a bargain price of $30. If you are CRPG lovers or who is interested in getting into old-fashioned single player CRPG, get 'Gothic Universe' along with 'Oblivion: GOTY' ($50), 'Two Worlds: Epic Edition' ($20), and 'The Witcher: Enhanced Edition' ($40). That's $140 you spend and your social life is finished. We're looking at 300 hours for 'Gothic Universe', another 100 hours each for 'Two worlds' and 'The Witcher', and minimum 150 hours before all the free downloadable contents for 'Oblivion'. Add 'Morrowind: GOTY' ($20) for minimum 200 hours and you are officially *$#@%^!&. You have been emphatically warned.
Description of Gothic Universe
Three critically acclaimed RPG games create the whole epic story of Gothic, now in one amazing package. Begin your journey as a prisoner of the King, who must find enough magic ore to forge weapons for his army in defense against the Orcs. The mines are set in a large magical sphere and inside this sphere you will start exploring Myrtana's mysteries. Once you've managed to burst the bonds of imprisonment, you will need to explore the island of Khorinis. Willing to do whatever is necessary to banish evil once and for all, defend the people against the Orcish threat and venture deep into subterranean temples. After your escape from the island you didn't find safety: The Orcs have finally conquered Myrtana and enslaved the humans. Barbarians of the icy north and a few fearless rebels are the only resistance. You can either support their efforts or join the Orcish occupation forces - but whatever you do - the destiny of Myrtana is yours to forge! Hundreds of weapons, items, spells and artifacts to equip and use ESRB Rated T-M ( Teen to Mature )Role-Playing Games
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