Jashin on 13/6/2008 at 16:05
So I'm playing Gothic 2 again after a year. I first played this when I bought the core game years ago. I played that version 2 times. Then I picked up the gold version and played till I finished the expansion areas. Now I'm playing through it from start to finish.
And it amazes me.
The first time I installed the thing its controls frustrated me to the point where I was ready to delete it. I stuck it out and beat the entire game with forward slash and block - 2 moves. On the 2nd playthrough I discovered the left-right combination. Few days ago I started doing a backward dodge move to fight creatures and a circle-strafe dodge to fight the Orcs. These discoveries have modularize the way I play the game. Whereas I used to play it almost like a hack & slash title (stood there, took it as I dealt it), I now have a unique tactic for every type of enemy in the game. The controls, as convoluted as they are at first glance, are in fact very good at diversifying the gameplay.
It's simply criminal for the controls to be so under-documented as they are - twice in 2 games.
Matthew on 13/6/2008 at 16:08
Quote Posted by Jashin
The first time I installed the thing its controls frustrated me to the point where I was ready to delete it. I stuck it out ... The controls, as convoluted as they are at first glance, are in fact very good at diversifying the gameplay.
This is very good for me to know; I played it for a total of four minutes before quitting in disgust at the control scheme, but it's nice to know it might grow on me.
Rogue Keeper on 13/6/2008 at 16:12
I adored Gothic 1, because of that enclosed, self-sufficient enclave with it's own rules, and it was accurately big for my taste.
I even adapted to the controls and 3rd person view which I wasn't fond of - the atmosphere of that place owned me.
Then I tried G2... and it felt like a common open-ended epic RPG, so I quit... :erg:
Jashin on 13/6/2008 at 16:15
That's exactly it. The control scheme is absolutely well-designed, and yet it's so different from hack & slash and so under-documented nobody knows about it!
It blows my mind that it's taken me years to get the full benefit of it.
Rogue Keeper on 13/6/2008 at 16:19
Er, to be precise I am not really fond of the control scheme (holding USE and clicking attack buttons to fight is a pain), but like I said, the environment had such magical influence on me that it overshined all discomfort I had with the controls, I was just rolling on with exploration.
Jashin on 13/6/2008 at 16:24
You hold left mouse button (use) and click on the directions (W-A-D) to attack (S to block), that way there's a whole host of different attacks. 3rd-person is for world-awareness and "group combat."
You're probably like me, you don't know the full extent of the controls. Now that I do, it's become a deeper game because you can take on enemies MUCH stronger than yourself.
mrle01 on 16/6/2008 at 14:58
Both Gothic 1 and Gothic 2 (and NotR expansion) are great games. Too bad that most people didn't play it for more than 15 minutes and then quit because they didn't learn the controls.
Some fans made a whole movie of Gothic 1 using the games engine, it's pretty funny, you can get English version here: (
http://www.worldofgothic.com/dl/?go=dlfile&fileid=117) Gothic - The Movie
Rogue Keeper on 16/6/2008 at 16:51
Quote Posted by Jashin
You hold left mouse button (use) and click on the directions (W-A-D) to attack (S to block)
Yes, that.
Tomi on 17/12/2021 at 03:40
Interesting. I just thought about replaying Gothic 2 the other day too. Right now the game only costs €2.49 at GOG, so this might be a good time to do so. Thanks for the thread necro! :D
