New Gothic: Remake gameplay looks like fans are finally getting the game they deserve
It’s been a rough couple of decades for fans of the Gothic series, but a new gameplay trailer for the first game’s remake looks like we might finally be getting somewhere.
The Gothic games are cult classics, beloved RPGs that essentially pioneered some of the more systems-heavy mechanics we see in lots of games today. First released in 2001, the original title is looking a little worse for wear these days, and the couple of sequels that followed never truly lived up to the heights of its inception.
A rough-looking playable teaser from 2019 also worried some fans, causing THQ to take the project back to the drawing board.
Now, however, the publisher is dragging Gothic into the modern day once again with a complete remake built from the ground up in Unreal Engine 5. Developed by Alkimia Interactive, it looks to recapture the elements that fans loved about the original title, with a gunge art style and slower-paced combat than we’re used to in today’s gamut of fantasy games.
With a brand new gameplay trailer revealed at THQ Nordic's 2024 Digital Showcase, the future is looking much brighter for the decidedly dark RPG.
Back to the drawing board
Click to enlargeWith the Kingdom of Myrtana split up into three factions, you’ll be tasked with exploring this section of a fantasy world, uncovering its secrets and defeating plenty of orcs in the process. However, this isn’t a game that will hold your hand. You’ll need to make sure that you’re eating, sleeping, and pulling your weight in the working ecosystem of the settlement you live in.
Gothic features life simulation mechanics, intending to give the impression that this is a living and breathing world that could exist without you in it. As such, everything you do in Gothic will have consequences on the world and story. In true RPG fashion, you can complete quests in any order, and choose how you accomplish your goals.
Much of this was present in the original game, and the team is keen to retain a level of authenticity in the remake. However, it has also added a fair few quality-of-life features to make it feel more ‘2024’. For example, if you have the right abilities, you can now climb and swim in certain areas to reach new heights and locations.
The combat has also been modernised in a big way, but in a way that forces you to be deliberate with your attacks. From the brief gameplay we saw, it looks like it will gel more with a hardcore crowd. That’s echoed further in an extremely minimal UI, which the developer says is done intentionally. It wants you to really connect with this world, and find your own way within it.
There’s still no release date for Gotchic: Remake, but we do know that it’s coming to PC, Xbox Series X|S, and PlayStation 5. The game will also be playable on the show floor at Gamescom.
