Gothic Classic Review (Nintendo Switch OLED)

by Jim Smale · Published October 6, 2023 · Updated October 5, 2023

For this Gothic Classic Review, we return to Myrtana as the Nameless Hero in Gothic Classic, the award-winning RPG that shaped and inspired countless roleplaying games. Experience it now for the first time on Nintendo Switch. War has been waged across the kingdom of Myrtana. Orcish hordes invaded human territory and the king of the land needed a lot of ore to forge enough weapons, should his army stand against this threat. Whoever breaks the law in these darkest of times is sentenced to serve in the giant penal colony of Khorinis, mining the much-needed ore.

Gothic Classic Review

Gothic Classic Review Pros:

Decent graphics.
3.6GB download size.
20 save slots.
Game settings – subtitles, animated windows, gore and how much, text language, and voice language.
Motion control support is complete with an animated tutorial.
Controller settings – Invert axis and sensitivity sliders.
Cutscenes are a mix of FMV and in-game.
Powerful and impactful voice work.
Action RPG gameplay.
A full 3D world with 360-degree camera control.
Multiple choice encounters.
You can fast-forward text conversations to speed them up.
Full player stats screen showing all your stats like strength, dexterity, skills, exp level, etc.
Proper old-school adventuring gameplay.
Can save and load when you want.
Handy loot all button.
Full inventory management system.
The jumping animation is hilarious to watch.
Interaction points highlight.#Its a game that strangely keeps dragging you back in.
Text pops up over items etc.
The equipment lets you have two weapons equipped at once with a quick trigger press to swap them.
Loadout consists of two rings, armor, an amulet, and your two weapons.
Handy quick select items set to the d-pad.
Does have a quick save and load using a button combination.
Hack and slash combat.
EXP earned pops up as you earn it.
Play how you want.
Despite a few hiccups, the controls are good considering the original game was mouse and keyboard.
Main quest line along with many side optional quests.
Your playthrough feels unique because you have so many options and opportunities to take a variety of paths.
3rd person view.
Has a fantastic atmosphere with things like getting told off for trespassing, and guards getting arsey because you have a weapon out.
At times you can get to watch the world live out.
A great trip down memory lane.
The world is a thing to behold for it has beauty and drudge all mixed in.

Gothic Classic Review

Gothic Classic Review Cons:

Cannot rebind controls.
Remember that games this old didn’t get tutorials.
Clunky controls that take some getting used to like you have to put your weapon away in order to pick up items and loot.
Over-the-top fall damage.
You need to be in an exact precise part in order to interact or pick up items.
Dying doesn’t trigger a menu to start again instead, you go into the menus and find the new/load game option.
The game is not smooth in performance terms, when loading in assets etc. the game will either stutter or full-on lock up for a few seconds.
Actions like opening chests or climbing ladders require you to hold down the action game and there is no way to change that.
Glitches through walls a few times and the game struggles with you jumping into assets like fences.
The camera goes a bit weird in places usually when in close quarters.
Looking at the sun or having a fair bit of it on the screen will blow the color out.
Aside from the occasional bit of magical world-living moments, enemies will just stand there waiting for you to hit the trigger so they move towards you.
It is very slow-paced.
Item management is a chore and not as slick as it needs to be.

Gothic Classic Review