In the computer gaming industry there are many games that go largely unnoticed - the games that do not generate the hype and anticipation to rival summer blockbuster movies. In many ways, such games are highly underrated and do not generate the publicity of the major titles, but serve an important role in the gaming industry. Gothic II is such a game. It is not a game that will dazzle you with the latest graphics or exhaust you with two hundred hours of play time. It is a game which will provide its player with a solid RPG experience with a developing story that has spanned two full titles.

Yes, the "II" at the end of Gothic invariably means there was a first Gothic. Gothic II is, as you would presume, a direct sequel to the events at the end of the first title. The main character was a nameless convict thrown into a prison colony, which is essentially a piece of land surrounded by a magical barrier. Fortunately for the convicts behind this barrier, they occupied the only section of land that contained a certain ore necessary for the making of weapons and armor to combat Orcs. Therefore, in order to obtain the ore, the King was forced to barter with the convicts. In the game, the main character had the choice of joining several camps within the prison colony, but regardless of which camp he joined, he would eventually destroy the barrier. Gothic II starts soon after this where you are the same unnamed hero who has since lost most of his skills from the first game. Necromancer Xardas from the first Gothic brings you up to speed on the recent events and sends you towards the nearby town of Khorinis, where you'll have to join one of three factions.

These factions are the Paladins, the Dragon Hunters, and the Fire Mages. The factions are as close as you get to a player class in Gothic II. Each faction is suited for a certain way to play the game, but you're allowed to deviate slightly. such as having a mage who happens to be rather handy with a two-handed sword. Choosing to join the Paladins will give you a mix of fighting, healing runes, and some of the best armor in the game. Join the Dragon Hunters and you'll show the world that magic runes are no match against a sword. Finally, the Fire Mages are like many other magic-using classes in other games. In the beginning they're fairly weak, but their spells later on are very destructive. In Gothic II, each guild starts you at the bottom of their (hierarchy), so to speak. Before you can become a Paladin, you must join the town militia. To be a Dragon Hunter, you must first be a mercenary. Finally, to become a Fire Mage, you must first join their monastery as a novice. Some people may not enjoy the limitation of having to join just one guild, but this factor greatly enhances the game's replayability. Because this is a sequel, there is no ability to change your character's basic appearance, which is usually considered a vital aspect to an RPG and may discourage some players. Players will have much to do in Gothic II as there are many side quests and sometimes more than one way to complete them. New side quests will continue to appear as the game progresses.

Gothic II's story progresses by chapters, but it essentially boils down to using the worn idea of orcs versus humans. The spin on this story is that dragons have come to lead the armies of the orcs and eventually the main character will have to go toe-to-toe with these beasts. Although the main storyline may seem to lack inspiration on the surface, there is surprising depth to the game. A vast majority of the NPC dialogue is voice acted and performed reasonably well. In fact, you even get to hear the main character say each dialogue option you've chosen. Players of the original Gothic will recognize many of the characters from the original game. Rivalries between the factions, and how others will react to you depending on which faction you choose are all nice touches as well. Only later in the game when you must hack through orc after orc do you feel like you have played this before.

The sequel is once again presented from a third person view and combat largely depends on striking and blocking at the right moments. Experience is gained from defeating monsters and completing quests, which in turn will allow you to gain learning points each time you level which can be distributed to various skills. Investing in combat skills, such as one handed, gives a much better result than simply doing more damage. Your character will actually hold his weapon and attack differently (and faster!). It is also possible to do small (combos) with such skills.

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Most encounters can easily be won by simply striking right before the NPC or monster attacks. The AI will try to change the angle of attack, but one on one most creatures can fall easily if your timing is right. The story is different if the monster has friends. Multiple creatures attacking you can be difficult and many times I fell easily to a circle of orcs slashing me to death. In these cases the standard save often and reload mentality is the recommended remedy. The world of Gothic II is big as well with lots to do and teleportation runes to get you around easier. In fact there are many objects with which your main character can interact with to add a little flavor to your roleplaying experience. Of course the sights and sounds of Gothic II are also vital to add to your immersion.

One of the primary criticisms of the first Gothic was its awkward controls. To do some of the easiest things in the game would require holding down control and pressing another key. Gothic II has largely simplified the control scheme, with most interactions simply require a keystroke or a click of the mouse. This makes the gameplay much more fluid & streamlined and is a welcome addition.

Compared to recent games and RPGs like Vampire The Masquerade: Bloodlines, Gothic II's graphics are somewhat lacking, but with the performance settings set to maximum, they are certainly sufficient. While the graphics engine is starting to show its age, the sound effects are very well done. Gothic II has many little sounds that some games seem to ignore. For instance, if you climb on top of a lighthouse overlooking the sea, you will hear the wind howl. In town, commoners will converse with one another and smiths will hammer and forge their newest creations. This ambiance is well placed in the world of Gothic II. However, the music (with the exception of the main theme) is rather standard and forgettable. Much of the time your ears are busy listening to the dialogue or sound effects rather than concentrating on the music, though, so it didn't bother me much.

Gothic II is a good RPG, there is no denying that. The large environments, quests, and characters all make it an engrossing game. The ability to pick different factions will no doubt make you want to play the game a second or possibly even a third time. Although the graphics pale in comparison to more recent games and the AI needs to take a few more combat lessons, Gothic II deserves a spot in any gamer's RPG library if they are looking for a unique fantasy world to explore. Since Gothic II has been out for awhile it is also less expensive than most games, which makes exploring the world of Gothic more accessible than ever.