Summary
THQ Nordic has announcedGothic Classic, a Nintendo Switch port of Piranha Bytes’Gothic. The iconic 2001 RPG was only ever released on PC, although the game amassed such a cult following thatTHQ Nordic greenlit aGothicremakeback in early 2020 after putting out an extremely popular—if somewhat polarizing—playable teaser for the game.
Piranha Bytes' first-ever game influenced a wide variety of hit RPGs, includingThe Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. In a 2018 documentary, a CD Projekt Red official labeled theGothicfranchise as a “legendary” series, adding that the studio’s “dream” forThe Witcher 3was to mirror the atmosphere and select gameplay elements of Piranha Bytes' seminal RPG. And though the German studio does not appear to be interested in revisiting the franchise,Gothic’slegacy continues to influence Piranha Bytes' gamesto this date.
RELATED:Gothic Remake Reveals Creepy New Gameplay
In the meantime, Piranha Bytes' parent company seems keen on reviving the series, having just announced that a Nintendo Switch version ofGothicis scheduled to release on September 28. While the publisher is referring toGothic Classicas a port, the game will also include some notable improvements that wouldn’t seem out of place in a full-fledged remaster. Namely, the Switch version ofGothicwill launch with a new control scheme and hundreds of fixes targeting everything from known AI issues and quest bugs to graphical glitches such as missing textures and incomplete animations. The publisher said thatGothic Classicwill also include some new dialogue and loot placements.
Much like howtheGothicremake is being handled by Alkimia Interactive,Gothic Classicwas presumably developed without Piranha Bytes' involvement. However, THQ Nordic did not reveal which of its nearly two dozen subsidiaries was tasked with porting the classic CRPG to the Switch.
Gothicowes its cult following to a unique combination of an oppressive atmosphere, hand-crafted open-world, and immersive mechanics like a 24/7 NPC schedule that were way ahead of their time. One of the game’s most notable innovations is its realistic skill system; players start out with a complete weakling that can barely use a weapon, but as they gain experience and pay for training, their proficiency in a given class of armaments increases, unlocking new combos and faster animations. The same goes for using magic, making potions, and hunting, as well as sneaking, lockpicking, pickpocketing, and bartering, among other skills.
While that approach to leveling makesGothican extremely punishing experience in the beginning, the RPG’s design allows players to create a wide variety of overpowered builds that can steamroll enemies during endgame, thus offering a uniquely rewarding experience. The only modern title that successfully replicated such a realistic approach to character leveling was Warhorse Studios' 2018 hitKingdom Come: Deliverance. Coincidentally,Kingdom Come: Deliverancewas also been announced for the Switchback in mid-2021, but seeing how that port is still without a release date,Gothic Classicnow seems all but certain to beat it to the market.
