Arcania: Gothic 4 Reviews

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Written by BuckGB on October 14th, 2010

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Arcania's systems may be shallow, but I still became completely hooked. The game transitions effortlessly from open areas to claustrophobic dungeons, from mountain ranges to tightly packed towns. I fell easily into the rhythm of exploring, fighting off a mob, rounding the next corner and exploring some more. Arcania's greatest strength is its comforting sense of rhythm and its gorgeous, gradually unravelling world. The expert pacing had me rocketing through the 15 hours or so it took to complete the main quest.

Gothic veterans may be left cold by this uncomplicated outing for the series, but for those looking for a good old-fashioned fantasy romp, Arcania has its charms. It's predictable and shallow, with horrendous voice work, but if you go in expecting no surprises, there's some incredibly addictive adventuring to be had.

Your reaction to ArcaniA will vary widely depending upon what pair of glasses you are wearing. If you are a new or casual RPGer, then ArcaniA is a fun game that you will enjoy greatly. Even for classic RPGers it will be a nice game to have if you can afford it for when you do not have the time for a more immersive RPG. At the other extreme, if you are a fan who hopes to continue the Gothic series with the same game mechanics and experience you had back exploring Myrtana and Nordmar, then you will be sorely disappointed with ArcaniA -- for it is a very different game than you would expect. As a classic RPGer somewhere in the middle, caveat emptor.

Pros: The graphics, environments, landscapes, game smoothness, stability, and dungeon design

Cons: Depends heavily upon what pair of glasses you are wearing!

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