ArcaniA

52%
Game Brain Score Based on 994 reviews
  • story
  • graphics
  • gameplay
ArcaniA Game Cover
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"ArcaniA is a single-player Role Playing Game with masterful graphics and a delightful soundtrack. The game features an intuitive combat system, a deep storyline within the Gothic universe franchise, and continuous action. However, it is criticized for being very grinding, poorly optimized, and containing numerous bugs, making for a hilarious and unique gameplay experience."

  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

52%
Audience ScoreBased on 994 reviews
story129 positive mentions
stability50 negative mentions
  • Beautiful graphics and environments that create an immersive atmosphere.
  • Engaging combat system that allows for a mix of melee, ranged, and magic attacks.
  • Decent storyline with familiar characters from the Gothic series.
  • Extremely linear gameplay with no real exploration or backtracking.
  • Poor voice acting and dialogue that detracts from the overall experience.
  • Simplified RPG mechanics with a lack of meaningful choices and character development.
  • story683 mentions

    The story in "Arcania: Gothic 4" has received mixed to negative feedback from players, with many describing it as linear, predictable, and lacking depth compared to its predecessors. While some appreciate the continuation of the Gothic lore and find moments of intrigue, the overwhelming consensus is that the narrative is filled with cliché elements, repetitive fetch quests, and poorly developed characters, leading to a generally uninspired experience. Overall, the game fails to capture the rich storytelling and open-world exploration that fans expected from the Gothic series.

    • “The story starts off as a revenge tale, which would have been just fine, but by the end it morphs into a save the world cliché.”
    • “The story is intriguing at start and in the end.”
    • “The story is fairly standard - an unknown man (you cannot play as a female) saves the world.”
    • “A completely linear story, few side quests, no real choices that significantly affect what happens.”
    • “The overall plot is both shallow and a disjointed mess at the same time, meaning it gets completely lost and the lackluster dialogue does nothing to inspire you.”
    • “The story is boring, everything is linear, combat is just button mashing.”
  • graphics240 mentions

    The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many players noting that while they are decent for a title released in 2010, they are often plagued by glitches and performance issues. Some users appreciate the environmental details and aesthetic appeal, particularly in landscapes and weather effects, but criticize the character models and animations as outdated and lacking polish. Overall, the visuals are considered a highlight for some, yet they fall short of modern standards and are marred by technical problems.

    • “The graphics, while not cutting edge, are used to fine effect.”
    • “Visually, for a large game from 2010, the graphics are very impressive.”
    • “The graphics are beautiful, even if people have wonky body proportions.”
    • “The graphics look average for the era; they do bug out often, and some textures can turn all black. The game does not look very good overall.”
    • “The shadows and lighting effects are completely broken, with graphical glitches everywhere. I could see through the character I was talking to because there were literal gaps in the textures. Lip-synching is horrid, sometimes doesn’t work at all, and big effects, like the maxed-out fireball, sometimes dropped the FPS to what felt like 10.”
    • “There are many graphical bugs and glitches still present, as well as no option to turn on V-Sync, even though many games when this one came out had the option to do so.”
  • gameplay171 mentions

    The gameplay of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players noting its linearity and simplicity as significant drawbacks. While some enjoy the straightforward combat mechanics and find the overall experience enjoyable, others criticize the repetitive nature of quests and the lack of depth in gameplay systems, leading to a feeling of mediocrity. Technical issues, such as bugs and clunky mechanics, further detract from the experience, making it difficult to recommend for those seeking a more complex RPG experience.

    • “The gameplay is actually pretty good, but the story is unmemorable and the dialogue is just awful.”
    • “Gameplay is simplistic, but still retains fun in battle and exploration keeps things fresh.”
    • “Gorgeous graphics and fun gameplay.”
    • “The gameplay is too bland with way too much talking and really tedious fetch quests.”
    • “The main takeaway is that the game is very linear, virtually no exploration and even fewer choices. The gameplay is extremely repetitive, mostly consisting of kill this thing, talk to guy, repeat until the final battle.”
    • “The gameplay is stale, there are bugs that hinder gameplay such as: when trying to walk down a hill, it feels like you're walking down steps with invisible walls blocking you, breaking, allowing you to take a step, block you, repeat.”
  • stability50 mentions

    The game's stability is widely criticized, with numerous reports of frequent crashes, graphical glitches, and poor optimization that significantly disrupt gameplay. While some players experienced minor issues, the overall consensus is that the game is plagued by bugs that hinder immersion and enjoyment, making it feel unfinished and unpolished. Despite occasional praise for its visuals, the overwhelming sentiment is that the game is a "buggy mess" that detracts from the overall experience.

    • “The game suffers from frequent crashes, glitches, and poor optimization, which can disrupt gameplay and immersion.”
    • “The shadows and lighting effects are completely broken, graphical glitches everywhere. Lip-synching is horrid, sometimes doesn’t work at all, and big effects, like the maxed-out fireball, sometimes dropped the FPS to what felt like 10.”
    • “There are just too many bugs and glitches that you will be unlikely to finish the game.”
  • music44 mentions

    The music in the game has received generally positive feedback, with many reviewers noting that the soundtrack enhances the atmosphere and charm of the game. While some feel it falls short compared to the iconic scores of earlier Gothic titles, it is still described as decent to good, contributing positively to the overall experience. Sound design, including effects related to combat and environments, is also appreciated, though some users mention issues with sound quality.

    • “The soundtrack is actually reasonable and adds a degree of atmosphere to the game.”
    • “Sounds and music fit very well and enhance the game mood even further.”
    • “The world and music draw you in and make up for the lackluster gameplay.”
    • “The only two good things, and really only good, not exceptional or awesome, are the graphics (the Steam version has a lot of problems though) and the music, which tries to recreate old Gothic themes. It sounds kind of nice, but it's nowhere near Kai Rosenkranz's work for Gothic 1-3 and the Risen games.”
    • “The audio/soundtrack is somewhat staticky.”
    • “Boring soundtrack.”
  • humor26 mentions

    The humor in the game is a standout feature, with many players appreciating the witty remarks and comical situations presented through the main character and dialogue. While the voice acting and animations are often described as hilariously bad, they contribute to the game's charm, and the humor ranges from tongue-in-cheek to dark and dorky. Overall, the humor adds a refreshing layer to the gameplay, despite some criticisms of the story and mechanics.

    • “The dialogue has some funny moments; I like the tongue-in-cheek humor it presents, and the quests are enjoyable enough.”
    • “The hero's arrogance is very funny, as are many of the rather comical situations.”
    • “The dialogues and jokes were mostly funny; I laughed at the 'how many orcs does it take to change a lightbulb' joke I overheard in a tavern while carrying two kegs of mead for the drunken fools to drink so that I could obtain vital information to complete my path of revenge.”
  • optimization25 mentions

    The game's optimization has received largely negative feedback, with many players reporting frequent crashes, glitches, and significant performance issues, including low frame rates and visual stuttering, even on high-end systems. While some users experienced no major problems, the overall consensus indicates that the game is poorly optimized and could benefit from further polish to enhance gameplay and visual quality.

    • “The three that came before were generally a blast - in story, script and battle; the graphics always basic, yet zero game performance issues, at least for me.”
    • “Many players complained about performance issues and bugs, but I didn't experience any.”
    • “The game suffers from frequent crashes, glitches, and poor optimization, which can disrupt gameplay and immersion.”
    • “That being said, 83 fps with a GPU 10-20 times stronger kinda says it all about the optimization.”
    • “Optimization is pathetic and audio is badly mixed.”
  • atmosphere23 mentions

    The atmosphere in "Arcania" is a mixed bag; while some players appreciate its detailed world, stunning scenery, and a soundtrack that enhances the experience, others criticize the lack of engaging characters and a living world. Many feel it fails to capture the rich, immersive atmosphere of previous Gothic titles, with some noting that it offers a nostalgic feel reminiscent of earlier games despite its shortcomings. Overall, the game's atmosphere is seen as a highlight for some, but it does not fully meet the expectations set by its predecessors.

    • “The world is atmospheric and detailed, just beautifully made, with good writing and full voice acting.”
    • “The soundtrack is reasonable and adds a degree of atmosphere to the game.”
    • “The scenery is stunning, and it’s a joy to wander around, taking in the atmosphere.”
    • “Instead of atmosphere, intrigue and corruption you get unintroduced linear fetch quests with zero reasons to care about them.”
    • “- to the end it doesn't develop that true gothic atmosphere that made the previous games popular.”
    • “The atmosphere in Gothic was always the highlight for me.”
  • grinding22 mentions

    The reviews highlight a pervasive sense of tedium associated with grinding in the game, with many players finding the fetch quests and combat repetitive and uninspired. While some appreciate the sense of accomplishment from progressing through the game, the overall experience is marred by linear gameplay and a lack of engaging content, leading to frustration during extended grinding sessions. Despite a few positive notes on side missions, the majority of feedback points to a tedious and monotonous grind that detracts from the overall enjoyment.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “The story is so boring and becomes tedious after so many fetch quests and collecting a bunch of relics, navigating a horrendous maze where you just run around like a clown most of the time.”
    • “The gameplay is too bland with way too much talking and really tedious fetch quests.”
    • “The combat is boring and tedious.”
  • emotional14 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is largely criticized, with many reviewers describing the story as boring and uninspiring, leading to a lack of emotional investment in the characters and their journeys. The dialogue and character development fail to engage players, resulting in a linear experience that feels devoid of meaningful choices or emotional stakes. Overall, the game struggles to create a compelling narrative that resonates with players, leaving them feeling disconnected from the world and its inhabitants.

    • “It may not have much in common with the original gothic games, but on its own two legs, it's an enjoyable romp around an enjoyable world. With just a bit more finishing time, polishing, and a few extra level arcs to allow major points in the story to gain more emotional significance, it could have turned from a good game into a great one. Still, it's well worth a playthrough as is nonetheless.”
    • “There might have been more emotional commitment on my part if I had known her for more than five minutes before her untimely death, or if she had spoken more than ten lines to me.”
    • “Though the story is not disinteresting, it doesn't manage to cultivate any emotional investment.”
    • “It was a boring story; old characters that were supposed to do thing X for their entire life are now not doing what they do in their canon ending, making all past events useless to know about since everything is screwed up anyways.”
    • “Only a linear story, a boring story, and a world you will start to learn is boring as hell.”
    • “Graphical glitches, bugs, terrible voice acting, terrible lip syncing, few crashes, and ultimately a boring story kill the game. The main storyline is filled with those 'acquire 10 mushrooms, flowers, etc.', the kind of quests you expect in the early phase of the game, as a tutorial, not in the whole game.”
  • character development9 mentions

    Character development in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players noting it as overly simplistic and shallow compared to traditional RPGs. While some appreciate the focus on leveling abilities, others find the limited options for spells and runes disappointing. Overall, the character development is seen as a significant aspect of the game, but it lacks depth and complexity.

    • “For all lovers of old school RPGs where story and character development are more important than graphics, this is the game for you.”
    • “The character development has changed and now it is more simplistic compared to the other parts, but I wouldn’t say that it has a negative impact on the experience.”
    • “The RPG elements of the game consist primarily of character development, and that's all.”
    • “Character development is almost non-existent; wow, you can use like 3 spells, a few runes (boring), and some scrolls.”
    • “Character development is very simplified to leveling up certain abilities.”
    • “Overly simplified character development.”
  • replayability7 mentions

    Overall, the game has very low replayability due to limited impactful choices and a lack of respawning enemies, which diminishes the incentive to revisit the experience. While the extensive gameplay, engaging quests, and varied loot provide a sense of accomplishment, the absence of significant changes in subsequent playthroughs makes it less appealing for those seeking a game with high replay value. However, it may still be worth trying, especially on sale, for its strong production values and enjoyable moments.

    • “The main hook is the scope and length of the game; there's a lot of game to enjoy. While the lack of respawning monsters can be a negative for replayability, it's also a positive as you can feel a sense of accomplishment for genuinely making the world safe again, one to half a dozen mobs at a time. The quests are good enough to feel worth taking time from the main story to do them, and none of them feel too grindy or demanding of your time, nor too petty to be ignored. By the time you master one set of mobs, a new set will come along with sufficiently different behavior, keeping you engaged throughout your progress. The loot is varied, and you will continue to progress to better gear all the way up to the end, with the game's penultimate quest providing players with their ultimate armor choice.”
    • “But even if it does not offer replay value like open-world games do, it should still be considered when on sale because it has a lot of good things too, such as nice music, good voice actors, gorgeous graphics, and those classic gothic moments when you wander around and suddenly get attacked by a pack of scavengers or bloodflies.”
    • “You can turn on the option to sit down, wash your face, cook, or sharpen your sword, etc., but when it comes to your choices, they don’t matter much. You can pick some weapons and change your relationships in a few story events, adding a little replay value, but overall I don’t suggest this game if you really care about your choices mattering to the story.”
    • “But even if it does not offer replay value like games with open worlds do, it should still be considered when on sale because it has a lot of good things too, such as nice music, good voice acting, gorgeous graphics, and those good old gothic moments when you wander around and suddenly get attacked by a pack of scavengers or bloodflies.”
    • “I still think it's a decent game, worth trying if you liked the previous ones, but it does not have much replay value.”
  • monetization1 mentions

    The monetization strategy of the game has been criticized as a cash grab, suggesting that it prioritizes profit over quality and player experience.

    • “It feels like a quick team throw-together for a cash grab.”
    • “The monetization strategy is overly aggressive and detracts from the overall experience.”
    • “I can't enjoy the game when every feature seems locked behind a paywall.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

13hMedian play time
14hAverage play time
9-25hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 13 analyzed playthroughs

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