Where are the actual impressions ?
I think most of us are too busy playing.
I'm at my GF's house for the night though, so no more gaming until tomorrow for me. It gives me time to talk about it though.
The first thing that comes to mind is how polished it is. I've noticed a few minor things, like foliage clipping through solid objects, and creatures occasionally getting stuck on something in the environment, but overall it's been surprisingly problem-free for a new release.
It also runs very smooth on my mid-high range system with every option set to max.
As I've mentioned in other threads, I don't think highly of the English voice acting. It's a subjective thing though, and it's certainly not a deal-breaker. I've also noticed that they re-used the same faces for multiple npcs.
Combat is pretty rough, but I'm not sure if that's due more to the game mechanics or the fact my character is still rather unskilled. I think it's both.
The music is just "ok" imo. It's not bad, but it doesn't stand out like it did in the Gothics.
Exploration seems very strong and reminds me more of Gothic 1&2 than the Risen series. The map is huge, but I've everywhere I've been so far has been rewarding. There's no empty buildings or caves like in Gothic 3. Every area has something to find, and there's so much to explore it's almost overwhelming.
Most of the sidequests I've done so far had
at least 2 different ways to complete them, and some of them connect in one way or another. There are also quite a few opportunities to use skills during dialogue which is a first for PB.