Gothic 3 Review
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As the nameless hero gains experience and levels, he is awarded skill points which can be allocated over various skill sets. Some skills can be advanced by other means; lecterns improve alchemy or ancient history, stone tablets also advance ancient history and fighting opponents in each city's arena increases strength as well as reputation. Apart from these, as with earlier Gothic games, trainers must be found for advancement through skill sets to be possible. In Gothic 3, these are readily available with some cities specializing in certain skills. Three of the skill sets relate to combat which, when sword or axe wielding, have been described as a (button mashing fest). Yet this is not a true reflection of how fights are conducted. The game uses a combat system where the player is required to react and respond to the monster/enemies body language. If the player gets this wrong, the monster/enemy will pound the nameless hero into an early grave. Naturally, get this right and it is the monster/enemy that's pulped. On the easy setting, there's a time delay which assists this process, whereas on the normal or hard settings correct timing is crucial. Timing is also relevant to spell casting techniques as the monster/enemy can interrupt the spell caster, but hunting skills differ as accuracy in how you position the shot is the key to a successful kill. It can be argued the game favors distance attacks with arrows and spells rather than melee skirmishes, as a hit and run technique is very effective and easier to master. In practice though, all of these skills are required as different tactics are needed for the variety of monsters and enemies the nameless hero encounters. Music and Sound
Gothic 3's musical score seeks to be evocative of the game's various regions and is very expressive in this respect. When the nameless hero dies, it is reflective and emotive. The downside is that it works like a soundtrack to an action movie. Every time a monster or enemy decides to attack the nameless hero, the loud swell of (duh-dah-duh) and accompanying drum roll functions as an early warning system. If left on the initial setting after loading the game, the music tends to overpower the ambient sound effects which are fantastic and generate far more atmosphere than the music ever could. If you turn the music off, you can enjoy such sounds as the wind blowing up a sand storm in the desert, rain falling, leaves rustling, and wolves howling. These all add to the sense of immersion in the game world generated by the graphics and their seamless flow.
Conclusion
Gothic 3 engages the player on a vast, epic journey through stunning terrain which has enough variety to avoid any sense of repetition. Which faction the nameless hero joins naturally influences how the main quest sequence is resolved and which of the three endings is appropriate. Although none of the factions can be identified as specifically good or evil - they all contain a mix of both - the central storyline in Gothic 3 is described by one of the NPCs as a (war between the gods). Therefore, the alignment of the Orcs and Hashishin with the dark god Beliar, the Rebels with the god of light, Innos does indicate how the cookie crumbles in the arena of good verses evil. Nonetheless, when developing the nameless hero's skills, spells from both gods are available, which perhaps reinforces the combination of good and evil that resonates throughout the game. The responsiveness of all the factions to choices made by the player adds a welcome dimension despite the hinderences this can cause in respect of side quests, as does the gameplay required to survive skirmishes and battles. Over all, there is a good combination of quests and skill sets to choose from. A further welcome dimension is the underlying current instilled by the political intrigue the nameless hero encounters. The technical issues of the game will present problems for many but, despite the frustration of these, Gothic 3 is hugely enjoyable, challenging and rewarding to play.
