Gothic 2: Night Of The Raven is an expansion to the famous game "Gothic 2", which brought a whole bunch of new quests and missions, greater freedom in actions and movements, as well as some graphical changes. The expansion "Night Of The Raven" was released at the end of August 2003, and the localized version in Russia appeared in April 2005. This is quite rare, but the add-on received much higher ratings from gamers and authoritative gaming publications than the original itself.
According to the plot of the expansion, the ancient deity Beliar is trying to break into this world, and practically no one can stop him except for the so-called Circle of Water, a group of powerful mages possessing incredible power. But they need help that only the main character, whom we will play as, can provide.
"Night Of The Raven" is a fairly large add-on that contains a pile of various innovations. Firstly, a new area called Yarkendar has appeared in the game. Thus, the total area of the game world has increased by more than thirty percent. In the northern part of the area lies a deep canyon, where no human foot may step without fear of being bitten off. To the west is a coastal zone washed by the sea, where fierce and wild pirates thrive. To the east of Yarkendar, one can no longer feel the fresh sea breeze, as swamp stench and putrid vapors reign here. This is a land teeming with all sorts of creatures, and in the caves amid the swamps, knife and axe workers have settled down. Finally, in the south lies a mysterious area that was once the center of the oldest civilization, now long gone. It is here that artifacts of incredible power are found, endowing their bearers with unique abilities.
The expansion "Night Of The Raven" added as many as three new factions that the main character can join – the water mages we already know, bandits, and pirates. In addition, there are also new skills. Now the main character can engage in alchemy, mine ore, or hunt for hidden treasures. Furthermore, he can learn the language of the ancient people, which will allow players to translate various manuscripts and uncover the wisdom of the departed race.
Unlike the original, now there is less time to act in proud solitude. Players can recruit up to four companions who provide valuable support in battles against monsters and unfriendly elements. As enemies have become stronger and monsters more resilient, extra help is always welcome. In total, the game features over a hundred different characters, both old ones familiar from past games and completely new characters unknown to players.