Note that I wasn't referring to RPG Watch when I mentionned people bashing the game solely because it isn't from PB - but it is an attitude fairly common at some other places, notably in Gothic forums when you have people constantly saying how Arcania is gonna suck ass and how Risen is the true Gothic 4 and so.
I was as dissapointed as any one by PB's losing the Gothic license but I'm trying to look at the bright side, rather than one potentially great Gothic IV from PB, we had a great Risen and a potentially good Gothic 4 - that's two games rather than one, so it's all for our benefit I think.
- Very different art style
- Non-continuous world and may not be able to return to old areas!
- Combat I've seen looked very hack'n'slashy, like Two Worlds or Divinity II
- Mini-maps and quest markers
- Lack of convincing information, such as empty "atmosphere" trailers
I sorta disagree about the art style... again the early videos and screens felt different, but I do feel the latest feel Gothic-ish. Also there were obvious different in style between Gothic I/II and Gothic III and G3 still felt Gothic-ish to me so it's not that much of an issue if it feels a bit different.
Regarding the continuous world, from what the IGN preview says, it appears to me that the area that get closed off is just the "turorial island" and that the rest of the game is one big continuous world comprising of two Islands. That sounds ok to me.
I'll admit my skepticism about combat though - however it can't possible be worse that Gothic 3's clickfest IMO.
I'm not saying Arcania is gonna be a great game for sure, and I have my doubt about it being as good as Gothic I&II were in their time and with a new developper at the helm it is bound to be somewhat different anyway - but it looks like a
good game, which I feel it the most important.
My hope is that it end up being better than Gothic 3 - if it is it'll be enough for me even if Arcania is not an instant classic.
-Sergorn