Much better than I ever expected.
I had never played the original Gothic games, so this remake was my first introduction to the universe, and I was completely captivated. The studio has done an incredible job.
This might be one of the best examples of a true zero-to-hero story. The brutal difficulty during the first few hours where almost everything can one-shot you, and you actually have to change your route when you see a dangerous enemy feels incredibly rewarding once you start getting stronger, finding better items, and learning how the world works. The difficulty is challenging without feeling pointless, and overcoming it gives you a great sense of satisfaction.
The game can be a little cryptic at times, but honestly, I preferred it this way. It doesn't hold your hand. It basically tells you to go out, explore, investigate, and enjoy the world. And if you really can't figure something out, you can always look it up online after you've spent some time trying yourself.
I especially loved how the different camps interact with each other, and how even the most insignificant NPC seems to have some kind of purpose or meaning. As you progress, you gradually understand how the systems work and how all the different pieces fit together. This isn't an island that was randomly created just to give you a playground. Everything feels deliberately designed.
The combat is incredibly difficult and frustrating at first, but once you start developing your skills, it really begins to click. I particularly enjoyed playing a mage build. Of course, since the foundations of the game come from a much older RPG, the combat can feel a little clunky and isn't as fluid as modern games. But it's still very satisfying.
By the time I reached the last two chapters, I had become pretty OP because I had spent so much time exploring and finding important items. As a result, the final dungeon didn't give me too much trouble. And honestly, I liked that. You can actually feel how far you've come and see the payoff for the 45 hours you've put into the game.
I also really liked the final boss fight. It wasn't generic, it fit the overall design and atmosphere of the game, and it was challenging enough.
The characters, music, and environmental design were all excellent. There is probably another 10 hours or so of content that I could have played, but I feel like I completed around 85–90% of the game, and that was more than enough for me.
Hopefully we get to see a Gothic 2 remake someday.
