Gothic 3 - Shipping to NA

[Dhruin]

Gothic 3 is on its way to North American stores. Here's Aspyr's announcement:
AUSTIN, Texas – November 14, 2006 – Aspyr Media announced today that its epic RPG Gothic 3 for the PC has shipped to retail stores in North America. Featuring a stunning, massive game world, a fascinating story, hundreds of quests and more than 40 hours of gameplay, Gothic 3 will keep RPG fans glued to their PCs for months to come.

Gothic 3 is rated T for Teen by the ESRB and carries a SRP of $39.99. To learn more about Gothic 3, and to enter for your chance to win a high-end gaming PC, go to gothic3.aspyr.com. Contest ends November 30.
More information. (http://www.rpgwatch.com/show/newsbit?newsbit=2716)

[Thaurin]

I for one are very curious about the American reviews. I've always read Gamespot's reviews and I'm looking forward to what they've got to say about the game.

[Acleacius]

I wonder what the status of the repairs are in the US release.

[ToddMcF2002]

I'm guessing the reviews will be one collective comparison to Oblivion. That will get old fast.

[josephwatson]

If the game is patched to 1.09, I'm guessing the reviews will average around 80%. And Oblivion will be the main comparison, unfortunately.

[txa1265]

I have two reviews to write for this one ... keep telling myself "don't compare to Oblivion, don't compare to Oblivion" :D

Yes, I believe that it is 1.09 patch that is shipping to NA - I preordered through my local EBGames, and their system shows it 'available' but not in stock ... hopefully that means I get a call this morning ...

[doctor_kaz]

Wow. Only $39.99. Incredible value. Reminds me of why I love PC gaming. :)

[ToddMcF2002]

What remains to be seen is if any reviewer has the balls to call the game inferior to Gothic 2 Gold (NoTR). I predict none of the reviewers will have played that one though - while all will have played Oblivion to some extent.

[txa1265]

What remains to be seen is if any reviewer has the balls to call the game inferior to Gothic 2 Gold (NoTR). I predict none of the reviewers will have played that one though - while all will have played Oblivion to some extent.

Well, since my Gothic 2 Gold review (http://www.gamerdad.com/detail.cfm?itemID=3080)awarded it 5 stars, Gothic 3 will have to be pretty masterful to equal that task. My reading to date indicates that isn't likely ...

[ToddMcF2002]

Realistically I predict the game will be reviewed at around 75% in NA.
Most will note that true system requirements are outrageous when comparing visual quality to the obvious benchmark (insert Oblivion comparison). The controls will be declared "fixed" compared to its predescesors (all true fans roll eyes at this one) but combat is still lacking (insert Oblivion melee comparison). Most will like the bow however (insert Oblivion comparison) but will fail to even evaluate the magic system at all. The bugs will be a pretty substantial point hit (insert Oblivion comparison). Even with the current patch the game has stability issues, quest bugs etc.

Most will conclude, of course, with a final Oblivion comparison as well as a recommendation that you play Oblivion instead - at least until all the bugs are fixed and performance is substantially tweaked.

[txa1265]

Most will note
Heck, you should sell that template - sites could save thousands on freelancers ;)

[LordRac]

NA reviews will summarize with something like this:

"Now Gothic 3 is a great and deep RPG. Buuuut....Oblivion had Patrick Stewart!! And, um.......pretty landscapes! So we give Gothic 3 - 79%." :p

[txa1265]

NA reviews will summarize with something like this:

"Now Gothic 3 is a great and deep RPG. Buuuut....Oblivion had Patrick Stewart!! And, um.......pretty landscapes! So we give Gothic 3 - 79%." :p

Sorry, I like Todd's template better - and it mentioned Oblivion more! I give your post 66.25% :D

[LordRac]

OK we can use Todd's template.

Can we just use my review for 1up.com? :)

[txa1265]

Can we just use my review for 1up.com? :)

So long as your score is between 4-6 (the new 7-9 scale) ;)

[ToddMcF2002]

My template is public domain - as we shall see!

[Arhu]

And the Nostradamus Award for Clairvoyance goes to... sorry, will go to ToddMcF2002.
Realistically I predict the game will be reviewed at around 75% in NA.
Most will note that true system requirements are outrageous when comparing visual quality to the obvious benchmark (insert Oblivion comparison). The controls will be declared "fixed" compared to its predescesors (all true fans roll eyes at this one) but combat is still lacking (insert Oblivion melee comparison). Most will like the bow however (insert Oblivion comparison) but will fail to even evaluate the magic system at all. The bugs will be a pretty substantial point hit (insert Oblivion comparison). Even with the current patch the game has stability issues, quest bugs etc.

Most will conclude, of course, with a final Oblivion comparison as well as a recommendation that you play Oblivion instead - at least until all the bugs are fixed and performance is substantially tweaked.

I usually refrain from quoting entire posts and usually I don't like QFT-posts, but this time.. this simply must be The (Ugly) Truth (tm) and deserves being stressed.

[Corwin]

You're all probably correct, but I wish WE got some of the thousands being paid for reviews!! :)

[txa1265]

Me too! I wrote more than a dozen this week ...

[Maylander]

You mention a very important thing Todd - all reviews fail to mention the magic system, even in comparison to Oblivion. Playing characters with at least a bit of magic, such as healing, light and a few summon spells, makes the game so much easier and more enjoyable, so I find it hard to believe all those who "reviewed" the game actually completed it without ever coming across magic..

[Corwin]

Well, if you don't bother discovering AK, which takes a 'little' initial effort, you'll never experience magic, will you. Perhaps they were raised on D&D where the 2 rarely mix!!

[txa1265]

I can't imagine playing Gothic without *some* magic use.

[Corwin]

Neither can I, but then I always play a mage!! :)

[txa1265]

Neither can I, but then I always play a mage!! :)

I play as either mage or Paladin, this first time with G3 my early staff and ancient knowledge investments has pointed me the way of the mage ;)

[ToddMcF2002]

I'm interested whether your mage route is the most difficult like G1/G2. You said you are using a staff for melee right? Did they implement weapon rage (reach) like the previous games?

[txa1265]

I'm interested whether your mage route is the most difficult like G1/G2. You said you are using a staff for melee right? Did they implement weapon rage (reach) like the previous games?

Yep - it is very nice to have 'greatsword' like striking ability, and because of the staff technique, you get good 'collateral damage' - I was in a cave full of wolves near Montera and was getting my killing blow on one wolf and then took nearly half of the life off the other wolf nipping at me ...

[ToddMcF2002]

I think I'll follow in your footsteps since I'm not in love with the melee to say the least. BTW, I'm guessing you'll be having a review of G3 eventually? You will really stand out from the crowd if you delve into the magic system!

[txa1265]

BTW, I'm guessing you'll be having a review of G3 eventually?
Two, actually - my usual GamerDad and a follow-on to my preview at AceGamez (http://www.acegamez.us.com/reviews_pc/Gothic_3_Preview_PC.htm). Of course, in the ~500 word GamerDad review (incl. Kid Factor) there isn't much room for 'delving', but I typically do ~2000 words in my AceGamez stuff.

[curious]

yes it is great to be able to play classes in this game. in prior gothics it was choosing different guilds to play not so much a diffinitive characterb for me at least. i can actually play a mage who never learns and fighting, hunting, or smithing skills and can put down the sword after the first battle. staff fighting is still strength based, but i have close to 200 without spending any lp in it.

[ToddMcF2002]

A good read - thanks for the link. Nice to know tablets are still around.

[curious]

lecterns too, but sadly no books. which is painfully funny beacause there is a slot in the inventory for them. this is one thing that oblivion has over gothic 3 at least. there really should be a lot more history to learn about in the mainland. there are lots of isolated places in the game too, that with no npcs and nothing but ruins/destruction would have been great to find journals about their lives...

[ToddMcF2002]

It does add some nice depth to a game - even Doom 3 was made a bit more interesting with all those email logs lying around.

[curious]

yes an area 51 had you scaning corpses for information, added something that unspectacular game.

i'm looking forward to the 'phono' logs, i think thats what they are, in bioshock.