Gothic - An Entire Series Retrospective and Analysis

[@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

[@lorddarki9936]

Thank you and your buddies for creating the site.

[@savejeff15]

Absolutely legendary website. Still go to it when replaying gothic

[@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.

[@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

[@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

[@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.

[@guysome3263]

If I remember correctly one of the lead art directors died of leukemia after Gothic 1, the series never really recovered from that loss.

[@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.

[@damianziokowski8421]

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

[@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.

[@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!!

[@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?

[@terrorinthesky1]

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

[@_r4x4]

Yeah, but he discusses Arcania, so he lost point there.

[@СаярГабитов]

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.

[@landorix]

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

[@julianc691]

I grew up in Romania 🇷🇴 and Gothic was a big part of my childhood. It still represents the benchmark for RPGS

[@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

[@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

[@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.

[@mrivarv17]

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

[@JRUDK]

@@mrivarv17 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

[@mrivarv17]

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

[@serawasnever8661]

As someone who has worked plenty of 24 hour shifts I just wanna say your long videos have been a godsend, your smooth as butter voice has a very ASMR feel and makes the hours fly by. Thank you for all the work you put in and take all the time you need to enjoy your break!

[@xwizitrod]

It’s the voice honestly 😂 it’s just super listenable and chill.

[@antipsychotic451]

24 hour shifts? are you working in the ore mines of khorinis or something?

[@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.

[@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.

[@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?

[@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.

[@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

[@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

[@imatreebelieveme6094]

@@toastedt140 I have a touch of the 'tism myself and I still have no clue what their problem is.

[@black64er]

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

[@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.

[@TML0677]

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.

[@chrishayes7677]

Whether you come back or not. Your videos have always been and will remain top quality and absolutely worth the time. Thank you and good luck.

[@part-time-warrior1001]

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.

[@tajniak4335]

A lesser known fact than that Gothic was somewhat of a cultural phenomenon in Poland, is that in Poland this game laid ground to quite a huge machinima scene. Engine of Gothic 1 and 2 is fairly easy to mod and it's very easy to manipulate the gameworld to create any scenes you want. First it were Germans who created "Gothic Der Film" in 2006, basically an in-game movie potraying the story of Gothic 1. In following years it exploded - mostly in Poland. Started with silly YT poops and parodies made with voice synthesizers, and then progressed to complex stories filmed entirely in Gothic 1 and 2, some of them hours long. With amateur voice acting, some stories in the world of Gothic, some completely original stories. You can find it all on KZbin, unfortunately - to most - in Polish. Some of it quite impressive.

[@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

[@rdrn6010]

Love from Korea. Whenever your video was uploaded, it was an event for me, i would make time to watch em. Thank you, thank you.

[@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.

[@eduardoborges506]

Its hard to thank you enough for these video analysis. Some are games that i never played or will play, but watching these i feel like i am part of a legacy i never actualy lived. We know how much the algorithim hates these long videos. Huge respect for always doing what you like and what you are passionate, and specialy how you are not afraid of spending countless hours on relative "niche" games. Good luck on whatever you embark on. If you ever return i am certain there will always be an audience waiting.

[@widedtho]

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!

[@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.

[@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.

[@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.

[@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.

[@AuralAzure]

Wasn't ready for that ending, and this is the first video of yours I'm watching. *Thank YOU* for all you've done. Gonna do myself a favor and put your whole channel in my watch later, and chip away at it over the next while.

[@istnrdstnd]

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

[@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.

[@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!

[@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.

[@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.

[@SoftNapkins]

1. I loved this video 2. I love your old videos 3. I hope you find a balance between algorithm/passion 4. Thank you for all you've done, your videos made me and many others happy. I hope you find joy in what you do, NKB!

[@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

[@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!

[@Legicorn]

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

[@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.

[@dbapple]

That’s awesome ! Music wasn’t just an icing on a cake, it was Gothic’s soul

[@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.

[@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

[@TheIrisCZ]

Dude tries to see some big goth tiddies and ends up buying one of the best games ever, which coincidentally contains like 4 women from whom you'll never hear anything but: "Shh. You are not allowed to talk to us!" Never saw the goth girls, but I bet you still gained unforgettable memories and heaps of fun nevertheless.

[@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.

[@RichardMaassen]

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

[@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.

[@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!

[@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.

[@bendakstarkiller1270]

I'm Polish and Gothic 1 and 2 were loved by all the gamers from my neighborhood. Thanks for your analysis!

[@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

[@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. :)

[@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)

[@jamesbrincefield9879]

I’ve been watching you off and on since your Rimworld review. You were like the only person back then who was willing to actually make a scripted, structured video about it and other hard to talk about/review games like Dwarf Fortress and I respected that. I hope you find success in whatever else you do.

[@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.

[@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

[@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!

[@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 :)

[@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.

[@wesołameduza]

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.

[@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

[@AmericanSpyFox]

With an ever-growing library of shorts & an entire population losing it's attention span by the second, I'm happy to see a channel still putting in the work to make long, informative videos.

[@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.

[@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!

[@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.

[@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)

[@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.

[@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!

[@نونيم-ي4ح]

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.

[@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...

[@alexDD-j6e]

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.

[@alexDD-j6e]

@@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.

[@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!

[@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

[@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.

[@agalusca91]

I usually do not post comments, but had to stop to say I have watched all the content and enjoyed every minute of it. Your dedication and writing skills are incredible. I played the gothic series 7 years ago the first time when I was 23 years old and despite the graphics I had an amazing time and really loved the experience, but the way you described it was perfect. Congrats

[@silverkir]

thank you for everything you have done content-wise, I am very grateful for the entertainment and ideas you worked so hard to put into your videos. do what you need to do, and you know there are many folks that will be happy to see what new things you put together.

[@roykong7024]

I really hope you found what you were looking for, I'm just a single digit in the algorythym, however I have spent hours and hours rewarching, admiring and anticipating your videos. You might not be getting the big numbers, but for your efforts you have amassed a following that would gleefully watch, your hours long video essays.

[@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.

[@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.

[@JonSquid]

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

[@Griffmode]

Aye bro. I’m a truck driver and just wanted to say I appreciate your videos a lot. The long form content is pretty perfect to listen to, and your voice brings about a calming nature to an otherwise pretty stressful work environment. Stay gold king

[@Thrinduil]

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

[@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.

[@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

[@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.

[@misterkefir]

also massively popular in ua and ru this masterpiece of a game. should have highlighted it on the map! all in all i was not expecting this at all, so huge shoutouts and appreciation for you, brother. legendary.

[@cyberninjazero5659]

Hello, friend

[@misterkefir]

@@cyberninjazero5659 Cheers, my man.

[@JeanLucMG]

You've done some of the greatest videos on this platform, we will all miss you and wish you well on whatever you decide to do next :(

[@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!

[@FireOnMyPocket]

The open world of Gothic is unparalleled. It feels so vivid and worthy to explore.

[@ShadowAngel-lt8nw]

Because it was handcrafted, unlike the copypasted nonsense of for example Crapthesda, were ultimately every cave, every interior and large landscapes look the same.

[@PacisJusticia]

@@ShadowAngel-lt8nw Gothic 2 came out 4 years before Oblivion. At the time I could not believe how much people were praising Oblivion when the world it presented was so unbelievably bland and copy/paste compared to Gothic 2.

[@Schpeltiger]

​@@PacisJusticiaaaAaaaaaaaaaaaaàààÀàQ

[@igorignaz5319]

Y'all know how hard it was to have Gothic be your first rpg you played as a kid? Other games in the genre felt stale quickly and it took years and years to find games that come close to this first impression. You could say ofc, it was your first game and nostalgia is to blame, but no it was actually a hidden gem of game history, and by that time those were the standarts I kinda measured everything else with - rarely to my satisfaction... Thank you for this video it stirred up quite some memories

[@WaddyMuters]

Yeah I got Morrowind after gothic 1 and it just wasn’t the same. Like morrowind felt dead in comparison. Something like learning how to skin animals and finally earn some money, was more impactful then most skills you can learn in most rpgs to this day. Like in the beginning that is a valuable skill. And how many games have live bands playing an awesome song out of nowhere.

[@WikkeSchrandt]

Very happy to see you cover Gothic! The series was never too popular here in the Netherlands, but it absolutely shaped my childhood. Also, thanks for the tip about Union! All these years, I've installed it all manually, including the System Packs etc. Never knew this was a thing. Regardless, the normal control scheme is actually pretty nice, it just takes some getting used to. I hope you manage to relax and enjoy what you're going to do. Your videos are absolutely top tier, and I hope you'll consider returning at some point. Either way, all the best, and thanks for the great content you've made over the years!

[@Schwenne1994]

As always it is sooo extremly weird to hear the english voices for these games. gothic 1 and 2 will forever be embedded in my brain with the fantastic german voices

[@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.

[@tomwol]

using Oblivion as a "standard of polish and quality" really speaks volumes about Gothic 3

[@Dailyisolated]

I remember replaying Gothic 2 a few years ago. I wasn't sure whether pickpocketing would be worth going for, so I googled it and found an old forum entry on WoG, describing exactly what I was looking for. Then I noticed and recognized the signature at the end, I realized that I had just read a post that I had created and completely forgotten about. That's how long this game has been in my life.