Gothic 1 Remake Review

The original Gothic titles were certified cult classics back in the early 2000s and were lauded as some of the most influential RPGs of the time. Despite not being introduced to original developer Piranha Bytes until 2009’s Risen, I dove into their back catalogue and spent countless late nights with the Gothic series. Nights that I should have been doing university work, but I just couldn’t tear myself away from these engaging — albeit janky — RPGs.

Now, new developer Alkimia Interactive has dusted off this dormant franchise and breathed life into it again in the form of Gothic 1 Remake. Is this remake as faithful as it claims to be on its store page? Let’s take a look at this legendary dark-fantasy title born again!

You are a nobody (not you personally, you’re wonderful!), a criminal, a “Nameless Hero” sent to a penal colony called The Valley of Mines, also known as simply “The Colony”. With a magical barrier surrounding the area, escape is seemingly hopeless. Almost immediately upon arriving, some of the residents introduce you to a swift beatdown, which pretty much sets the stage for the type of harsh world you’re about to enter!

The Valley of Mines is occupied by three major factions: Old Camp, New Camp, and Swamp Camp. Not the most exciting names, are they? You’ll soon be required to join one of these groups, with the plot and quests changing depending on which one you go for.

If you’ve played the original, then there aren’t too many surprises in store when it comes to the main quest. The script has been reworked to modernise the dialogue, which in turn expands certain characters’ backstories, as well as the overall plot. It’s entertaining enough, even more so if you’re new to the series, although not a blowaway adventure, even by 2001 standards.

The most instantly noticeable change comes in the updated graphics and audio. Focusing on the audio first, as it relates to the previous paragraph, there have been drastic improvements here. New voice actors do a great job with the refreshed script (mostly), although I didn’t love the new actor for the protagonist. They’re not bad, just a bit… whiny-sounding. Other than the voices, the orchestral score is simply wonderful, and complements each environment really well.

As for the visuals, Gothic 1 Remake looks rather nice! It’s obviously a huge step up from the original, although it thankfully still retains the unique style. The lighting and weather effects in particular impressed me, adding to the already detailed environments. Overall, it’s leaps and bounds above the classic version. That said, it isn’t all good news on the presentation front…

Aesthetically, this isn’t a cutting-edge title. Therefore, it’s very disappointing to have so many technical issues. The frame rate can get very choppy, and when it’s only running at 30fps, that’s a big problem. Coupled with some rough-looking animations, characters talking over each other, or even the audio cutting out entirely, Gothic 1 Remake feels poorly optimised. As of the time of writing this review, these issues are still prevalent in the PlayStation 5 version, although I’m hopeful Alkimia Interactive will fix them eventually!

If you’re a series veteran, then you’ll know that Gothic 1 does not hold your hand, especially in the early game. Similarly, Gothic 1 Remake likes to constantly remind you how weak and insignificant you are in this world. Something I play videogames to try and avoid thinking about, but no such luck here! Having said that, there is a genuine sense of accomplishment when you beat an enemy to death that one-shotted you a few hours prior. It’s very slow progress, but when your protagonist finally starts learning more combat and magic skills, the game opens up so much more.

Both ranged and melee combat feel much improved over the original, but it’s still far from perfect. Swinging a sword is still clunky and lacks the polish of many modern titles. Whilst you will get better as you progress, fighting never really gets any more complex. It’s a simplistic system that can often verge on frustrating, especially in the opening hours of the game where you’re incredibly vulnerable, but once you get some experience under your belt, it can be very rewarding.

Of course, this is an immersive RPG, so it isn’t all about combat! A lot is thrown at you, with little guidance to help you on your way. This is a world that almost feels like it would exist perfectly fine without you, as NPCs go about their daily lives. There's plenty of dialogue and optional quests with multiple ways to complete them; hell, you can even steal everything that isn’t nailed down.

It’s got all the classic RPG goodness you could want; you will get lost, you will die (often), and you’ll forget who you need to speak to. But overcoming these hurdles was half the fun. I’d say it reminded me of gaming in the 2000s, but Gothic 1 Remake is essentially just that, albeit spruced up quite a lot.

Gothic 1 Remake won’t be an RPG for everyone. But, for those of you who loved the original and want to return to The Valley of Mines, or gamers who are looking to be challenged, then this remake has you covered. Just be wary of the performance issues and bugs, although these didn’t dampen my fun with the game all that much.

If you’re not familiar with RPGs of the early 2000s, this may feel a bit too outdated for you. For those of you who fondly remember getting lost in these rich, detailed worlds (jank and all), you’re bound to have a good time with Gothic 1 Remake.