The world is in upheaval, and the source of the world’s power has been taken over by the very souls sent there to keep it safe. It is virtually a prison compound, and you have been condemned to live there. But the king, in his ‘kindness,’ makes you an offer. Deliver a message to those in charge and you can reap the rewards.

This is the basic structure behind Gothic, a huge RPG from Piranha Bytes and Xicat for the PC. But there are some deficiencies in this game – most notably, how to equip a weapon without jumping through all the hoops the game has to offer.

This is a laborious undertaking, requiring a time and patience to get it down because it is not an intuitive or single-keystroke process.

The game begins by relating the story of a battle between the goodly king and an unscrupulous band of orcs. All those who have committed crimes against the realm have been sent to the orc mines to dig for the very elements that will allow the kingdom to survive. Magicians have erected a barrier around the mine, but it goes foul, and now the prisoners are in charge. They have divided into factions.

Diego, the central character to the theme, has been condemned to join the ranks. But upon the reading of your sentence, the king appears and asks you to deliver a message to the magicians still within the barrier. Then, you are summarily cast into the compound.

Saved from a pummeling, you are introduced to the first interactive character in the game. Through the selected questions, you can find out much you need to know – like the factional concept behind the game. But there are key elements omitted. The manual can help you pick up items and the in-game menu options can modify the controls, but it is very tough to figure out just how to equip the rusty old sword you first pick up. If you rely on your fists, your first encounter with aggressive, bird-like creatures will be short-lived.

Other than this minor setback, the game itself is well-paced. There are numerous things to explore to build up your inventory, and the game offers its share of intrigue along the way.

For example, when you first arrive, you must find Gomez, and in order to find Gomez, you have to avail yourself of quests designed to prove your worth and allow you to join his clan. This is a nice twist on the RPG genre. There are three camps in the game, each with its own personality, and each brimming with quests to be fulfilled.

Graphically, the three-dimensional look and feel is nicely done. If you have played games like Rune, you will recognize the graphical structure of the game. The player interface takes some getting used to, but once you understand how to call up the inventory, and cycle through it (therein lies the key), it becomes quite manageable.

Because this game is built on the idea of intrigue, you will receive a lot of information from characters you encounter. The game does provide a journal, which stores that info, making easier for you to deal the aspects of playing the game, and not writing down your own notes.

The sound of the game supports the video well.

As mentioned, the controls are not intuitive, though you can reset them to your liking.

Gothic has brought some new elements to the RPG, and is a well-rendered game. Is it extraordinary? Perhaps not, but it is entertaining, and that is the essence of a solid game.

Install: Medium
This is a two-disk install, which can take a little time.

Gameplay: 8
Once you bypass the cutscenes, which set up the storyline, you will find yourself in a world that is intriguing, and where life end quickly if you are not prepared.

Graphics: 7.8
This program features the tight-fisted, angular polygonal characters familiar from other games (such as Rune), but the world is wonderfully animated. Some of the environmental elements could have featured better detail, but still the artists responsible manage to convey the realm for this tale well.

Sound: 7
Some of the vocal characterizations seem a little stiff, but overall the audio does a nice job of supporting the video. Judged on its own, the sound is only average. The game also features a pop-up menu of the questions you can ask characters, which will disappear if you wish it to or when you run out of questions.

Difficulty: 8
The keyboard controls are not intuitive, and the player interface will take a little time to get used to. The game does not feature difficulty levels, per se, but if you use your wits, and learn as you play, success is within your grasp.

Concept: 8
Gothic features intrigue, quests, and challenges player’s loyalties, often. If you join a camp, will you stay, or will you turn your back on your clan for a better offer. The wrong choices can certainly haunt you.

Overall: 7.9
Gothic could use a better control system, which is the main obstacle this game has to overcome. However, the game makes up for it with a nice tale, solid quests, and character interaction. This is a good role-playing game.