Gothic - An Entire Series Retrospective and Analysis

An in-depth look at every Gothic game and the legacy left in their wake.
0:00 - Introduction
1:04 - Gothic
26:31 - Gothic 2
46:51 - Gothic 3
1:12:40 - Arcania: Gothic 4
1:25:00 - The true Gothic successor
1:40:41 - Conclusion and outro
Patreon - / neverknowsbestyoutube
2nd channel - www.youtube.com/@KnowsBestNev...
Channel update explaining taking a break - • Channel Update

[@fruhlingsbilder]

As a small kid growing up in Germany I spent so much time trying to survive the wildlife and learning the movement that it is etched into my brain to this day. I also played gothic.

[@akwaMartyna]

underrated comment lol

[@whiterabbit4945]

same,, King

[@Azog12]

@@akwaMartyna typical german humour i guess :)

[@bhaktapeter3501]

enter the black forest hehe

[@NotEvenDeathCanSaveU]

NSDAP Movement? xD

[@MarcelBWozniak]

When it comes to why Gothic was very popular in countries like Poland for example and not so popular in other countries is a fact that Gothic received a full Polish localization and at the time when it happened it was extremely rare to have a game fully translated (and on top of that voiceovered!!!) therefore it naturally gathered a huge following and became a widespread classic amongst Poles. It even sparked a huge Polish KZbin machinima scene with hundreds of people doing their own parodies/music videos/edits using Gothic :)

[@theRobson0908]

Just a question about the dialogs are they as gritty,raw with a passive aggressive I dont really care a shit about you but I'll help you after you did enough shit for me to ignore the full distrust for 2 minutes to help you

[@theRobson0908]

Just a question about the dialogs are they as gritty,raw with a passive aggressive I dont really care a shit about you but I'll help you after you did enough shit for me to ignore the full distrust for 2 minutes to help you

[@jakubromanowski1207]

@@theRobson0908 yeah the polish voice acting is a bit uneven but mostly really good and is now considered iconic by many

[@theRobson0908]

@@jakubromanowski1207 this sounds nice so i don't have to feel bad when i ask a polish friend to play narrator and translate it 🤣

[@karolinakuc4783]

​@@theRobson0908 Polish speaking English may sound impolite because sometimes it raising tone at the end of the sentence is indictor of trying to sound nice and Polish language doesn't have that habit and that makes speakers sound rude

[@Corrupted]

Playing Gothic as a kid probably was one of the main reasons I'm so into masochistic and frustrating games as an adult, there's just something special about a game breaking you down to pieces until you stop being frustrated, adapt and become part of the world. I love it. I hope you'll be back, long time fan of your work

[@Blox117]

most frustrating part is that the game crashes before i can play it

[@Coolerx2x]

@@Blox117 I feel you there, spent a whole day trying to get Gothic to work on Win10 and I still failed. Thankfully although its unorthodox, I just got a virtual machine of Win XP on my PC and there Gothic worked fine. Well, mostly fine. It still crashed occasionally like it always did.

[@LukeR1M]

@@Blox117 Where did you buy it? Always buy old games on GOG.

[@LukeR1M]

@@Coolerx2x I find all your issues perplexing. My G1 and G2 works perfectly fine and I bought it on GOG.

[@pokemon1666]

Great addition to the game was shapeshifting scrolls. You could overcome early obstacles by just using one of these scrolls.

[@MrMrMoped]

Friends and I started the fan website 'World of Gothic' shown in minute 4 back in 2000. It's crazy the site has still the same design today haha. The devs of the game were awesome, they invited us to their office pre-release to playtest. Thanks for reviving great memories!

[@CostantinoVercetti]

Legendary website, I spent many an hour browsing it. You have my respect for that.

[@Duckyou45_]

Thank you for the website from Morocco

[@wenchinatrenchcoat8459]

Man you and your friends are a legends. That website is so important to the gothic community. Vielen Dank Jungs. Dank euch ist Gothic noch so am leben und hat so eine geile Modding Community

[@emoforsen]

as half german half polish thank you for covering our most important cultural milestone. looking forward to watching that

[@gibby3767]

Ik its fucked but i think there was a much more important milestone for poland and germany in the 1940s

[@emoforsen]

@@gibby3767 nah

[@gibby3767]

@@emoforsen lmao💀

[@histhoryk2648]

@@gibby3767 yes creating uber-human race called Silesians, was a huge step forward

[@matemich01]

@@histhoryk2648 XDDDDDDDD

[@Reprobus]

Dear NeverKnowsBest, you will be sorely missed. Do what you have to. Thank you for you service. Looking forward to your triumphant return.

[@DonutSwordsman]

Lol, why did you write this

[@Carlossa-619]

@@DonutSwordsman bc of the end of the video

[@DonutSwordsman]

@@Carlossa-619 oh shit, thanks

[@TheAxebitten]

Love these videos. What is the 2nd channel? Link in the description is not working. Take care NNB

[@Reprobus]

@@TheAxebitten His second chanel here: kzbin.info/door/wQ_s_wmilldqBVZnBPcM5Q

[@makiimedia]

you have no idea how much your videos mean to me. i was in a horrible place in my life and stuck in my car for almost 2 years almost the entire day and I kept playing the audio of your elder scrolls videos whenever life got unbearable. I can honestly say they kept me sane. this might come across a bit weird, but I just wanted you to know

[@yggdrasil4986]

I've found that there is always that one KZbin voice that is calming during hard times. For me, who that is has changed throughout the years, but there is always one. My uneducated guess is that there is always a voice that resonates with us, because it reminds us of someone who once gave us as sense of security. Or we're just fkn weird people, I have no fkn clue tbh.

[@AC-hj9tv]

😢😢😢Is Bro ok?

[@makiimedia]

@@AC-hj9tv yes now he is

[@AC-hj9tv]

@@makiimedia yooo!! My man!!

[@mirceanicula9198]

What people don't understand about Gothic 1 is that a very important aspect of the game is the art direction, atmosphere and immersivity. This is what the rest of the games got wrong. The coherence in visual along with music and sound design really transports you in that world.

[@wilhelmschilling3105]

I do think the same way. In germany we have the expression "the atmosphere is so thick, you could cut it with a knife". I played Gothic 1 for the first time well after witcher 3 or dark souls 3 and others, but is was the thickest atmosphere I ever encountered in any game.

[@Bernard_Marx]

Different genre but Dead Space is also good between art style, enviroment immersion and a very atmospheric sound design.

[@wilhelmschilling3105]

@@Bernard_Marx Yes, you are right. I did not think about it. Dead Space also had immense tension and immersion. And a great ui decision. I never understood, why there aren't more games using something like it. But it was, as you said, another gerne, so I was mostly immersed in horror and fright. Not so much the world or its characters. Also more linear and did not have an interactable environment.

[@bizznick444joe7]

Looting many interactive items was what probably inspired Skyrim loose interactive items. There's items left there that tell a story and not there to really balance the gameplay out. Like a bow would be nice to have to fight a certain monster but there's no bow there but you find some arrows for instance. Not going to give you a weapon you really need at that point.

[@DamoBloggs]

Gothic 2 was without a doubt one of the most immersive games I've ever played. Such an under-rated classic.

[@lukebruce5234]

only gothic I played and finished

[@skullian12]

I picked up gothic 2 for $5 when i was a kid and had no idea what a pivotal game it would be in my life. Seriously one of the most immerssive game designs to date and still has that magic whenever i decide to replay

[@mehomuiki3886]

Under rated? Bs, everyone knows gothic

[@endlessstrata6988]

@@Nothingforever192 Risen 1 is a pretty good start. Too bad it was the only good one of the series.

[@WaddyMuters]

@@endlessstrata6988 I hate that Piranah Bites always tried to make pirates happen for some reason.

[@jansck3002]

As a central european myself, I've spent lots of hours of my childhood playing these games, especially Gothic 2. Thank you for covering it, it feels pleasantly nostalgic.

[@bizznick444joe7]

I still haven't fully explored Gothic 2 world that's how good it is.

[@damianziokowski8421]

Well, this was emotional. Gothic has been a huge part of my childhood and continues to pop up to this day. Thank you!

[@terrorinthesky1]

Can't even describe how proud I am of you for avoiding talking about Forsaken Gods.

[@Dr_Smash]

Man has me listening for almost 2 hours about a series I've never heard of due to his scripting and voice. Well play NKB.

[@weareallpoorinsomeway]

Play it!

[@matemich01]

you should give it a try

[@herczegmarton9972]

Definitely try it out.

[@keinname1896]

7,50 for the original trilogy on gog right now. Do it! And 2,50 for the first Risen. Get that also. :P

[@jebise1126]

@@keinname1896 wasnt that last week?

[@DevinBurton001]

I just want to say it here, I won’t speak for anyone else but I love your content here, it’s seriously fascinating to me hearing retrospectives. I hope, regardless if this is your last video or one of many to come, that no matter what you end up doing you enjoy it. I found this channel through the fallout retrospective and have watched it full through twice as a massive fan of the franchise and since I have watched almost every video of yours. I hope life leads you well. -sincerely, a random viewer

[@synecdochelloyd3825]

Singularly brilliant content. Agreed.

[@henrycrabs3497]

PatricianTV roasted the hell out of this dude wdym?

[@synecdochelloyd3825]

@@henrycrabs3497 I wasn't aware of that.

[@MeatSnax]

@@henrycrabs3497 oh well if another KZbinr thinks his channel is bad then it must be objectively true

[@henrycrabs3497]

@@MeatSnax Stan, why you so mad?

[@Anverto90]

There was a German interview with the developers of the Remake a few months ago and the things that they had to say regarding the feedback to the demo and the way they're doing things on the project now sound REALLY promising, so I'm looking foward to it! Also, Kai Rosenkranz, the original composer, is back on board, which is awesome! Good look on your future endeavours and thank you for this top notch video.

[@poilboiler]

"His last order was: COME! And they came. All of them. Even the dragons."

[@darinjohnson7176]

Long time lurker here, if this is your last video just know you've had a fan in me. Your videos and commentary were an amazing thought provoking experience and I've appreciated every moment.

[@4F6D]

haha he said lurker.

[@mariusaaen5327]

I’ve been watching your videos for around 3.5 years now and I’ve watched most multiple times. I hope that you keep making videos, but if you don’t, I just wanted to thank you for the many, many hours of entertainment and joy you’ve given me. Seeing a new video always brighten my day.

[@MelodiesForTheSoul]

You may be surprised that as a Canadian, Gothic was a HUGE part of my PC gaming upbringing. Gothic 1 had an extra special place in my heart as a novice PC gaming enthusiast

[@black64er]

Serbia here... Fell in love with Gothic (all of them) immediatly when i played it back in 2001...

[@vyrus2]

The end of the video absolutely wrecked me. You one of my absolute favorite content creators (and easily the best reviewer on KZbin) and I’ve watched most of your videos 4 or 5 times. You have an undeniable talent at what you do. There will be something missing from my life when you’re gone.

[@precisism1804]

He’s special

[@mamaslittleman6104]

Very much agree with your comment makes me really sad that I just recently discovered this channel I feel like I missed out on a lot which obviously have

[@precisism1804]

@John Spartan nobody gives a fuck

[@imatreebelieveme6094]

@@TheFreshTaker Is that bad? Were you trying to enter his comment into a spreadsheet of yours or why would this be an issue?

[@toastedt140]

​@@imatreebelieveme6094probably has a touch of the 'tism

[@user-km3pv5cl8u]

Gothic was very popular amongst post ussr countries. But at the time pirate copies was the only option for people to play. Growing up in the 90s early 00 in Russia gothic was everything people talked about, even in relatively small cities. Even today gothic is still an icon amongst many.

[@chelixon]

True

[@leohasfunonline4847]

Unfortunately everyone I know also played the pirate version of the game, incl me. They desever to be paid more than these modern micro transaction games that rip ppl off.

[@fistoftulkas7335]

Yep, got the pirate version too by chance back in 2001. Everyone was talking about this awesome but obscure RPG. Admittedly on PC it was normal back then to get most of your games in pirate version.

[@TG-ge1oh]

Same here in India. Before the launch of digital storefronts, getting retail version of games of really difficult in most parts. I've since purchased every entry of the series, but haven't found the time to revisit them.

[@MrFirefox]

i like how you guys have weird but good taste in things for random reasons

[@user-rk2xi7iw9k]

Your video reviews are some of the best i have seen on this site and i could listen to them for very long hours and im really glad to see you finally covering this series before your break from this channel, regardless i wish the very best for you in your future endeavors.

[@HypnoTox]

I have not seen your content before, so the algorithm has thought that i might like it at least. You've done a impeccable job of condensing the series and off-shoots into a surprisingly short, but also accurate video about the series and I'm very grateful for this. It brought up some memories of my childhood that i haven't though about in a long time, which was a nice experience. This is such a great video, thank you! I wish you the best on your future endeavors.

[@islar7832]

Gothic 1, 2 and Archolos are at the very top of my best rpgs ever made, even beating out recent titles. It is a testament to how good Gothic is when 20 years later some 40+ polish devs decide to band together and create a masterpiece. You rarely see that if ever and I am happy to have witnessed such a miracle.

[@ivarisalie8759]

How the fuck can you say Gothic 1-2 and Archolos are even remotely similar in quality is beyond me

[@JRUDK]

@@ivarisalie8759 can you explain?

[@kageakiminato8536]

I'd rather replay Risen 3 than any other modern open world game. Risen 3 is criminally underrated

[@bigdom9778]

@@JRUDK Archolos is better quality imo. Which isn't surprising, considering modders nowadays have better development tools and knowledge about the engine than the devs did. The English translation is also not perfect but it's good enough

[@ivarisalie8759]

@@JRUDK Archolos feels like a shitty fanfic that’s in universe, it has zero of what made Gothic special

[@pavlezoranovic1859]

I'm 29 and I've got a Gothic 2 CD box standing in my apartment to this day. Goes to show how endearing this game is to me. It has captured a true mythological atmosphere, dark, foreboding of an inevitable doom in the war, the knowledge that everyone is just being used as pawns of the three gods - all followed by truly immersive background music... That is a good artistic and narrative design. Gothic never had a good story per se, but it had a majestic way of telling that simple story through many little details. When it comes to mechanics, to this day I hold Gothic 2 as a benchmark for combat, level progression and map design. It has only been equalled and surpassed by the Witcher 2 and 3 and the Souls games when it comes down to those things. It's a simple, intuitive, easy to learn, easy to use design which makes your time playing the game enjoyable because of how hard actually the game is because of it. It is a gem of European gaming and just a beautiful game overall, both with and without the nostalgia points.

[@ilicdjo]

He didn't include us, but Gothic was pretty popular here to. Also in Russia, but now,now, we don't wanna spoil the party

[@ThePreciseClimber]

> "When it comes to mechanics, to this day I hold Gothic 2 as a benchmark for combat, level progression and map design. It has only been equalled and surpassed by the Witcher 2 and 3 and the Souls games when it comes down to those things." Whoa, whoa, whoa. :P Witcher 3 commits the same design sins as Ubisoft RPGs. It has arbitrary enemy levels and a map filled to the brim with question marks. You start the game fighting lvl.5 drowners and lvl.5 griffins and you end the game fighting lvl.50 drowners and lvl.50 griffins. It's a pretty mediocre system.

[@bartholomewjackson6534]

Ooooh! Gothic is my jam! ❤️💀🦖 Want to add. Found Gothic in 2002. Dad said I could get a game, I was in middle school discovering my love for goth girls. I got Gothic. Shared it with my nerd friends and we all loved it. Thing is we had never heard of it! There was just zero advertising for the game. *Southern US

[@SpookyBoogie7]

Thank you for all the hours of content you have made, it has been a pleasure to hear you talk about all manner of things. Please take care and I wish you all the best in your future endeavours

[@kairatzharkynbay1359]

I highly appreciate that you keep on creating Gothic-related content of such high quality! Words cannot express how much I love this series and want its ideas to thrive in the mainstream.

[@istnrdstnd]

Gothic was also big in Eastern Europe. Some very fond childhood / teen memories. Thank you and looking forward to the remake.

[@90chestnut]

Thank you for this awesome recap of the series. What i find emblematic of how popular this series in Germany still is, is that often in online forums and social media, someone will make a quote of the generic stuff the NPCs would be talking about, or lines the main character used, and it would evolve into a chain of Gothic quotes.

[@Skaitania]

Aw, that ending was so somber. I am glad that a year later your channel is still growing and you are still making videos. Have only recently found you and been watching your reviews slowly but steadily and with increasing appreciation for all the work and time you have poured into them. Thank you for everything.

[@sleepy_chronotype]

As a German, gothic was my first action RPG and entry into what became a lifelong appreciation for the genre. What a perfect christmas gift to enjoy while wrapping myself into a blanket. Thanks for the nostalgia NKB

[@Transgender-ProphetMohammed]

Iss mal ne Wurst, Bruder!

[@henrycrabs3497]

@@Transgender-ProphetMohammed German = 卐

[@Transgender-ProphetMohammed]

@@henrycrabs3497 You are a strong & independent woman.

[@henrycrabs3497]

@@Transgender-ProphetMohammed projection

[@savagedonut]

Great game mate! Great series - Successor is Risen from what i know, that one is nice too, the first one at least.

[@btarczy5067]

Before even watching I have to express my appreciation for NeverKnows covering these games. They were a big part of my life in my teenage years and just hearing the soundtrack again brings me joy.

[@kingdavey90]

I cannot express how much I love these retrospective videos. I even enjoyed the bit on Gothic 3 comic sans font. Thanks, Never Knows Best!

[@Recrofne]

I only just discovered your channel and absolutely loved this video and others, thank you for the time and effort you've put into everything. In the end though you have to follow your heart and do something because it is what you want to do, not just to appeal to an algorithm. That kind of honest content will always be the best. Take all the time you need, and if you don't come back, then you owe us nothing. Us viewers are the ones who owe you for the hours of fufilment you've added to our lives. Again, thank you. As for me, I'll be hopping over to that second channel now!

[@gibbyg2001]

Not going to lie, hearing you are taking a break legit upset me. You are my absolute favorite KZbinr ever and it's not close. Good luck with your new projects and I hope everything works out! Love you man

[@AlkonKomm]

holy crap, thank you for bringing attention to this series, these games were my childhood and I still have very fond memories of gothic 2. there is just something about these piranha bytes games that makes them very enjoyable. I know they're often called "euro jank", and they are certainly clunky in a lot of ways, but the world building and atmosphere in these games is fantastic. (edit: I know he also mentions elex, but I do want to mention that it's the most I've enjoyed a piranha bytes game since Gothic 2, I highly recommend it)

[@TheDeppertLasseVogt]

Wow, you have earned yourself a new subscriber with this video. Very glad I found your stuff and I am wishing you all the best for whatever next project you do. Thank you for this awesome work.

[@archyzz]

I have never heard of you, NeverKnowsBeast, but this video was absolutely stellar. The (almost) 2 hours it took to view this went by so fast, I never would've guessed it was 2 hours if I couldn't see the runtime on the KZbin-player. As strange as it may sound, I'm sad to see you step away from this channel, but be sure that I will follow you over to the other one (as well as sub to this one). The quality, love and care you've put into just the one video I've seen so far from you is just radiating, and I would love to see more. :)

[@Kookiebiskit]

This was an incredible watch. Growing up in Germany, Gothic was a household name here - friends in school played it, we'd compare things we'd discovered back in those early internet days before every puzzle was solved, every item found, every quest completed. I played the first two games (plus NOTR) for hundreds, if not thousands of hours, and you've brought up almost every point I've ever made about the series. The hype and then disappointment of Gothic 3's release. The outsourced follow-ups (we do not speak of them). The incredible community, with modders keeping the games alive well after their use-by date. Your video was emotional to watch, which is something I never expected from a retrospective of a game I really like. There are a few things I'd like to add. I've always had trouble recommending the games to friends who only speak English, as I find both the translation and most of the dubbing unbelievably bad. The localisation feels like it was done with no direction in an afternoon. This ties into the characters you found unmemorable, as I think this is a place where voice talent goes a long way. The four companions in particular are carried by their VAs in the original dub, along with their dialogue being more subtly tailored to them than in the half-baked English translation. I'm glad you addressed the gender representation in the games as well. Unlike many of my fellow gamer dudes I don't think representation in video games is a bad thing, but Gothic 1's setting as a penal colony is particularly male-focussed. In Gothic 2 many of the women you meet are clearly downtrodden and unhappy with their lot, but there are also shrewd and cunning women who have clawed their way up the social ladder and attained positions of privilege and power. There are nurturers, free spirits, master thieves, ruthless informants, influential merchants and more. Female representation in Gothic 2 is not perfect, but it's varied and believable. So seeing that representation so drastically slashed in Gothic 3 rather than built on felt like a step in the wrong direction. I found you through your video on Lovecraftian games and watched every one of your other videos in short order. If this turns out to truly be your last one, I think it's fair to say you've done what Piranha Bytes didn't, and ended on a high. So as you say "thank you for watching", I reply: Thank you for the videos.

[@AlkonKomm]

I unironically remember being on the phone with a friend and talking about loot we found in Gothic 2 (and where we found it) for like hours, good times. Due to the handcrafted nature of piranha bytes games, somehow their "tiny" worlds (compared to modern open world games) still feel subjectively "bigger", like, there is always something actually new to discover right around the corner. When I play modern open world RPGs I already know what is right around the corner: the same bandit camp I've already cleared 35 times, and it is marked on my map (along with 250 other point of interests that are also just copy & paste shit that gets boring after an hour)

[@ThePreciseClimber]

> The four companions in particular are carried by their VAs in the original dub Same goes for Polish & Russian dubs.

[@86thosepatties]

Whatever you decide to do in the future, I just want to thank you for your contribution to the medium. You are my favorite videogame analyst/reviewer hands down, and your videos have brought me a great deal of joy. Even if the callous tendrils of KZbin keep you from making a living doing this, your essays have been eye-opening and fascinating in a way they wouldn't have been if you had compromised. I hope for your success and happiness, and I will follow you no matter what you decide to make.

[@ug2254]

I have just discovered your Channel as this video popped up in my feed and it has already got me hooked. The message at the end is gut wrenching, but I hope that life will bring all that's best for you. For now, I'll just continue the binge of your content. Sincerely, another random viewer.

[@OfficialChronicle]

I discovered my love for CRPGs through your channel, and your DA retrospective got me to play the first and second games and fall in love. I'll be hitting up the second channel for sure, hope life treats you well in the coming years Never.

[@ivanik8]

You will be missed and I really hope you're coming back someday because your videos are something else. I watched pretty much all of your videos and loved them. Thanks for the good time.

[@lukehoward3179]

I only just recently found your channel and was heartbroken by the news at the end. I've been binging your videos for a week and absolutely love your content! I sincerely hope you find the passion to continue, though if not, I wish you the best, and I thank you for what you have contributed to the world.

[@Downloadguy1995]

As a native german speaker i hae to say i played all 3 gothic games and the german voice acting is where it really shines.

[@Snow-sx5ev]

I'm not a long time fan, I saw your exorbitantly long Skyrim video and I've been hooked ever since. But I am really thankful for what you have done. These past few months have been incredibly hard and your voice has kept me company through a good chunk of it. The work you put into researching, editing, and voicing these videos is astounding. If you're gone for good, then good. Enjoy your life! Have fun and feel rested. If you're ever back, we'll all be here to listen together again.

[@ProtoZealott]

As someone who enjoys games, studies game design, and aspires to make a great one, I just want to say I genuinely appreciate deep dives/video essays like these.

[@wigotho]

I'm happy to see people like you who still take so much out of their time to make a comprehensive overview of this old series!

[@ZeBear]

I really hope you keep making these. Whenever i would get a notification from a new video it would literally make my day better. I've always have trouble falling asleep and watching let's say 30min of your video before going to bed would without fail calm me down, also with the length of these i would always have multiple days of content. Thank you very much for the entertainment you've provided.

[@Skullybot]

This style of video is certainly the best on the platform. There are very few people who make full length movies about video games in the same way you do, and i hope that you make a return at some point. Best of luck man, been a slice, love your videos!

[@cynxtv]

You don't know how much this video means to me. Gothic was a huge part of my childhood and youth 20 years ago and still is as an adult. Still love the first two games and Risen. And although Piranha Bytes hasn't quite managed to fuel my hype with their latest games, I still hold them in high regard. Greetings from a German Gothic fan :D And also: if this really is your last video on this channel, thank you for all the videos and all the hours of content you provided me and everyone else. Especially with this one very special video (at least for me). May you find joy and happiness in whatever you decide to do!

[@guitaroso]

Was one of the most underrated and surprising games I ever played - found Gothic 2 randomly on a shelf in a second hand shop - loved the hidden stuff everywhere and the progression to specialise in different skills - especially loved the music

[@Agon1stt]

I hope this is not your last video, but i want to just say that i've enjoyed all the critiques and retrospectives you released and i always want to hear your insight and thoughts because they are very interesting to me, you really do go in depth and talk about everything. Take how much time you need for yourself man, but know that i will surely await your return because i consider you to be one of the best critiques of video games out there period. I wish you all the best!

[@RichardMaassen]

Thank you for your vulnerability and showing so much emotion in the end of the video. I could really feel that! 🤗

[@Thrinduil]

We really should mention Kai Rosenkranz's incredible music for the Gothic series. The soundtrack is amazing.

[@LN.2233]

I loved Gothic, there was a lot of potential for Gothic 3 that was never realized but still I liked the way they were trying to have an even more in-depth faction system in such a varied world. There still aren't many open-world games with deserts like it.

[@kopicat2429]

In 1 and 2 I still feel that the factions matters. They are really unique and stand out. The Brotherhood will always be my favorite, though the New Camp has the coolest armor, and by extension, the mercenaries in 2. Dragon Hunter armor with the cross bow looks great. Was never a fan of the Paladin armor, despite being the best in the game iirc. But in 3, the factions to me just felt too generic and irrelevant. Not to mention how it played out pretty much exactly the same each time. Do enough quests for either the Orcs or the Rebels, finish it with a big battle. Repeat a LOT. And it certainly didn't feel like anything changed at all whether you wiped out the Orcs or the Rebels. And in the south, it was the exact same thing, just different names. The druids in the desert were clearly unfinished, in fact, the whole desert felt unfinished. The north was either the same, or always meant as a pure hack and slash zone. I like the south and the north zones. But I think I would have preferred it if they instead picked one, and focused on making that solid and believable. The world of g1 & 2 felt both more alive and realistic. I still enjoy g3 now and then to be sure. Simply because it's so massive. And I like the exploration aspect of it. Always have. So I won't say they didn't try. But I wished they hadn't, because they failed miserably.

[@misterkefir]

I actually like Gothic 3 tbh.. even if it's clearly the worst one out of the three mainline titles.. something about the exploration in that game hits me just the right way. Combat is clearly it's worst part but still.. It's fun to play.

[@mcsmash4905]

yeah they really managed to pull off the desert feel of varant , i really liked exploring that place

[@derianardor]

Edit: Just heard the outro wishing you the best and hope you find joy in whatever you do! You know id adore seeing you do a video on volitions wayward Freespace series. it rarely gets the love it deserves and to this day I lament the lack of a third game and the support for it is still going strong

[@KR-976]

Thank you for all of your perspectives on these games and all of the entertaining, informative, and thought-provoking videos you have created.

[@and3rs]

If this really is the last video you make here, then I'm personally glad it was Gothic. A great game series covered by a great game retrospective KZbinr. Hope you'll return eventually, but in the meanwhile best of luck!

[@Legicorn]

You just made my evening A LOT better. Love it, gonna enjoy this

[@blinkymon]

Sad to hear you're taking a break as I've been very much enjoying your content for the last 3 or so years. But you do what you must! If you'll ever come back, though, I'm certainly here for it :)

[@henrik1743]

Hey Never, I have supported you since around march of 2020 when covid just hit and you were below 30k subscribers, I loved your mellow tone in your videos and thought you used amazing game clips and did some reasonable takes on the games you did. I will full heartedly support your decision and understand it fully since I've been here as well on another channel many years ago, but I never came back, but I hope you will. Your content was something I really looked forward to and even though they are lengthy videos, I always make sure to watch them as soon as possible and enjoy them. Thank you for all the content you've given me and us, and you deserve a break nontheless. PS. I will keep listening to your videos when trying to fall asleep, as you are one of the few game analasyis that has a comfortable and soothing voice enough to do this. Much love from Sweden

[@rusty7448]

It's obvious you put your heart into these, so as much as it pains me to hear the news, I'm glad you follow your passion as it always manifests into a better content. Wish you THE BEST and see you on Knows Best Never.

[@Mike55690]

You're one of the channels and creators on this platform that have gotten me into watching retrospectives as a whole and this was a genre of videos i never really liked or even cared for really say 4-5 years back, however the quality, depth, enjoyability, scripting that you always deliver in with each video makes your, well videos all the more fun to watch. Whatever your choice is, if this really is your last video, thank you for all you have done NeverKnowsBest and i genuinely wish you all the best! I've seen so many creators struggle on this platform cause KZbin is less than pleasant so it's definitely understandable.

[@javisohel]

I started this video when it came out and only finished it today many months later. This has been my favorite game critique/analysis channel on the site and I'm glad to see you're still uploading. I still admire how you bring attention to games I haven't heard of before such as Gothic and make me care about them even more than some of the games I've actually played through just one video. I really hope you keep going and find the results you're looking for. On to the next one.

[@Evamme534]

One of the main reasons I'm very excited for the gothic 1 remake is that its been confirmed by the developers that they have gotten SureAI to help work on the game! The same people who made Arktwend, Nehrim and most notabley, Enderal: forgotten stories. All of which took huge inspiration from the gothic franchise and are incredible games so with a team like that helping, my hopes are high!

[@malmckerchar1049]

Thank you Never for everything you have given us - while analytics are important to know if you're growing, you can never really quantify how many people you have touched the lives of with your loving and deep-diving retrospectives. Seeing a new video from you was like getting a warm hug, I always knew I could find some solace for an hour or two. I wish you all the best, truly, and while I wish you wouldn't go, Never DOES know best after all. Thanks for everything

[@menhirmike]

24:10 That's pure poetry right here, describing the key difference between Gothic and RDR2! And it's probably something that an NPC in Gothic would say. Thanks for making this, the Gothic series is still so special because despite being medieval fantasy, it has such a different vibe and grit than e.g., Witcher 3 or Elder Scrolls.

[@LordKeram]

As a die hard Gothic fan (I love all 3 of the original games to bits). It's pretty sad to see Piranha Bytes and their new games. It reminds me of the stereotype of that person that used to be the cool guy back in highschool, but never moved on. As you come back to your hometown every year visiting family he slowly ages, never matures. Until he is endlessly stuck doing an impression of the Steve Buscemi how do you do fellow kids meme. I tried playing Elex, tried playing Risen, but that just can't capture the magic of the early Gothic series. Once again people outside of central europe will probably never understand, but this was THE series for a long time. This was Witcher 3 before Witcher 3 for most of us...

[@alesdrobek2512]

Mostly agree, except for me Risen did capture the magic of early Gothic. And I did like Elex 1. But I recently finished Elex 2 and the sense of someone stuck in the past, like in an endless loop, was extremely strong. It's like all heart and creativity is gone from PB and they only go through the motions now.

[@SlizzardHDx]

Risen 1 was pretty good I think, there will never be another game like Gothic 2 (my favorite), but I think we need to accept this..

[@jaikee9477]

Elex 1 and Risen 1 were great, but Gothic 1 and 2 remain unsurpassed.

[@alesdrobek2512]

@@jaikee9477 I recommend Archolos, a giant Gothic 2 mod.

[@TheXell]

Ironically, the same goes for the audience. Instead of moving ón to a different subgenre of games or a different hobby altogether, people try to compare everything PB does to Gothic istead of seeing the games as their own entities which are being made for a new generation of gamers. Everything modern looks worse when compared to a vision of the past seen through nostalgia-goggles.

[@nickalos44]

Thank you for all the great videos. I have watched a good number of them multiple times in my free time and while working. I appreciate all the hard work and wish you the best!

[@ApiksLive]

When I played the first game for the first time, I was so confused on what to do due to the lack of handholding, that I immediately fell in love with it. Nothing beats figuring things out yourself. Thank you for covering this series. I haven't always agreed with your opinions on some games or aspects of them, but you are the first specific game/series essay type of KZbinr that I could get into it and haven't stopped since the day I found you. Sometimes I might disagree with your critiques, but I've pretty much always agreed with you about the good parts. If you need a break or to stop altogether, then I'll be sad, but ultimately understanding. You should put yourself first.

[@connorsimpson9423]

Time always goes by really fast when I watch these videos. They're always really enjoyable to kick back and listen to/watch. Thanks for the work you put into them!

[@alistair3588]

I look forward to anything you decide to make in the future. Without exaggeration, you're my favourite ever game reviewer, and through your channel I've been introduced to plenty of games I'd never heard of and would never have had the chance to play otherwise. Wish you all the best and thank you for all the videos you've made.

[@Sornemus]

A little correction to Gothic 3 story - the war against orcs developed so badly because Xardas destroyed all rune magic in the world using the absorbed power of Undead Dragon. The magic in the subsequent game was either scrolls-only, or more ancient kind of magic that requires Ancient Knowledge and your personal devotion to a certain god. So magic became much more limited in its capabilities, and distribution. Paladin runes, in particular, were crucial for paladins and their military capabilities.

[@JonSquid]

How can one man never miss? Every video is a banger

[@blaarfengaar]

Thank you so much for consistently delivering such high quality content. I am sorry that you have grown disillusioned with KZbin, but I do not blame you and I wish you the best.

[@diszydreams]

Oh noooo! I loved your videos, they were always a treat. Thank you for all your really hard work! I hope to one day see more of your stuff!

[@lukapitkanen3333]

I’ve played less than half of the games you cover in this channel but I still watch most of these videos. Seeing a new upload from you has always been exciting. So thanks for all the content so far and hopefully you’ll find the motivation to upload here again some day (no pressure tho lol)

[@osaasd8018]

One of my favourite video game essayists covering one of my favourite games, thank you so much NeverKnowsBest!

[@Caspenar]

Just as I am finishing my Chronicles of Myrtana playthrough one of my favs drops a super long Gothic video. Oh this is going to be such a treat. Thank you for all the fantastic content over these four years. All the best in whatever you will be doing from now on. Truly, thank you.

[@peteryost6770]

Woah! I moved from the US to Germany about ten years ago and until now I never understood why everyone talked about gothic. Thanks:D

[@andyandarius]

As someone who played Gothic 1 and 2 very early on after their releases and having played modern games as well I can say that will insist that this is one of the best Open World / Adventure RPG of all time. The atmosphere, the sound design, the day and night cyrcle, I could go on. The controls were indeed strange back then but I'd like to argue in favor of them is that they are VERY intuitive after you get used to them, especially since you can remap the keys in the original.

[@shade0636]

You're one of the favorite content creators. No one else does video essays like yours. If this is your last video, then sincerely thank you for the work you've on this platform.

[@anargyroskouvlis]

Hope the very best for you and wish for a triumphant return in the very near future. Your videos are such high quality content and so thought out that I sincerely hope to hear from this channel again soon. Take care 🙂

[@PanaMethul]

You’re one of my favorite content creators, i wish you all the best and thank you for all the amazing content you’ve created.

[@benvos2458]

I'm going to miss having new content, but I have thoroughly enjoyed the videos you've made and will continue to do so. I hope you can find that enthousiasm again, no matter where or how. Thanks for the vids!

[@Beenkman1997]

If this is really the last video, I just wanted to say thank you so much for your thoughtful essays on these niche and underrated games, you'll be sorely missed.

[@trissdv1]

I've really enjoyed much of your content, the quality and effort of which is self-evident to anyone. It's always been an extremely pleasant surprise when I see something new. Unfortunately the algorithm and the average viewing habits of KZbin do not favor longform video essay formats, and that will probably never change. Just know that your work has been appreciated by many people regardless.

[@HadesWTF]

Thanks for all the great content. You gotta do what is best for you. Hope you come back one day, but if you don't, know that what you did was appreciated.

[@m.g7408]

Although it makes me sad but thank you for the content you have provided us, this channel is possibly my favorite youtube channel. Its just different. Hope you do get back to it sometime and get the recognition you deserve.

[@LeagueofScreaming]

Thank you and best of luck to you and your channel. I appreciate all the hard work for this and every video you make. Please keep making content

[@TrillCozby]

I have watched most of your videos, and many of them 4-5 times at this point. I think the MMO related videos you made were incredible. Always one of my favorite creator's to see pop up in my subscription feed, so I will be sad if this is really it, but will always be extremely happy with what has been made up to this point.

[@hakosaari]

I understood form your comment about the progression that there are games that are equal or even better than Gothic. I'm curious to know some examples. I've just started the series a few months ago, and I've never seen anything near the greatness of Gothic when it comes to progression. I'm not a huge gamer though, and haven't played a lot of similar titles so I'd love to know more games that shine on that aspect.

[@filipkyselica8041]

I've been playing games for cca. 24 years now, mostly rpgs, and I have to admit that from the top of my head I also can't think of any title that did character progression better than G1-2. Maybe Kingdom Come: Deliverance comes close? I've actually come to hate the fact that in 99% of rpgs you invest skillpoints into melee combat and the game keeps telling you that "you are so much better at combat now", but your character still swings their weapon the same way, from the start of the game to the very end. Kind of makes it hard to believe that your character underwent this massive journey of self-growth if they do everything the same way as always...

[@hakosaari]

@@filipkyselica8041 Yeah I agree! I love how even the walking animation with a weapon changes accordingly :D

[@Cirelion]

I just finished the video and I am honestly going to miss your retrospectives. They're one of my favourites and you should be more popular than Salt if I'm being totally honest. Loved your work throughout the years and I hope you have fun with the videos on the other channel!

[@aslag94]

Oh my god, your goodbye was like a gut punch. I've loved every project of yours. Thanks for all of the work you've done.

[@Skymen75019]

I genuinely hope you rest well. I've been watching and enjoying every videos you've made for the past year or so. You will be missed, but by all means do take your time.

[@Mirthstrider]

Thank you for all the fantastic videos, they have brought me immense comfort and I hope this isn't the last upload I see from you on this channel. Your potentially last video here being my first love in the gaming space feels very bittersweet. I'll make sure to give your other channel a chance. Best of luck NKB

[@greyplague3092]

Gothic has had a large amount of fans east of the area that you've highlighted. Get this - there's a fan mod to Gothic 2 ( one of many ) that expands the game like 3x in size and amount of content, and some madlads actually paid the original russian language VA to voice the Nameless in their mod, too! I, unlike them, had a version from another CD, with exclusively German voiceover. 20 years later, there's an angry pirate's voice complaining in my head : "Ich brauche Gold, Ich brauche Waffen, Ich brauche Proviant!". Never spoke German in my life. Good thing there were readable subtitles. Most of the time, sometimes they were in German too. Still, the game was such good times for me, even with a bit more mystery to it. Forever 10/10.