DeVuego

I would like to emphasise the word talent in my previous paragraph as there is a lot of it on display here. The Count Lucanor is a game that doesn’t achieve true greatness, but it brushes up against it so many times that it is definitely worth the price of admission. Any fan of horror will be well served well here.

Overall, what Sword of the Necromancer may lack when it comes to a unique visual design and level variety, it makes up for with the narrative hook and satisfying monster-summoning combat. Whether you’re hacking your way through your foes using weapons or a carefully selected menagerie of monsters, combat feels good and you’re only ever one boss away from more story content. With player-assists now available for those who would prefer a tough hack-and-slash experience, and several upgrades that improve the flow of the roguelike experience, it’s easier to progress without long slogs between new narrative beats. Make no mistake, it’s still a tough game that’ll punish you for reckless play, but the gameplay now feels more in line with the developers narrative ambitions.

Gothic 1 Remake is a rare breed that actually respects its source material instead of trying to reinvent itself. It’s not perfect, and it definitely won’t suit everyone, but it delivers exactly what long-time fans wanted — and that’s something a lot of modern remakes fail to do.