Gothic II is a role-playing game released in 2003, developed by Piranha Bytes. The publisher was JoWood. It is a continuation of the game Gothic released in 2001.
The events of the game begin two weeks after the death of the Sleeper and the destruction of the magical dome over the mine valley at the end of the first game. The necromancer Xardas resurrects the nameless main character and tells him about a new threat – dragons, which the Sleeper has awakened with his last cry. Now the Nameless One must find an ancient amulet, fight against the dragons and their terrible lord, and save the world again. The game takes place on the island of Khorinis, which features the mine valley from the previous installment (where players will also visit), the city of the same name, the Fire Mages' monastery, and numerous farms. The player can join one of the three major factions of Khorinis – the mercenaries (later – dragon hunters), the paladins who arrive in Khorinis, and the Fire Mages. Each faction has its own advantages and disadvantages – for example, magic is available only to Fire Mages, while dragon hunters have the best armor, etc. The life simulation, a distinctive feature of the first part, has also carried over into the second. Each NPC in the game has their own activities, their own day and night cycles – the blacksmith forges swords, the alchemist brews potions, the guard patrols the city, and in the evening, before going to bed, they all enjoy a pint of beer at the tavern together. This makes the world of the game even more alive. The game’s role-playing system is unique in its own right. For each level, the player receives 10 experience points, which can be spent to improve the character's parameters (strength, agility, health, mana reserve), combat skills (melee weapons, two-handed weapons, bows, and crossbows) and special skills (theft, alchemy, blacksmithing, etc.), as well as acquire a new skill (for example, the ability to brew a specific potion or create a rune with a spell). It should be noted that the only way to increase a skill or learn a new skill is to find an NPC who can teach you.
The combat system in Gothic II is also unique. Instead of typical 'spamming' attacks, players are offered three different types of strikes and a block. Strikes can be combined into spectacular combos that change and become stronger each time the character reaches a new level of weapon mastery. Moreover, battles against humans vary greatly from battles against monsters, each of which needs a unique combat tactic – you cannot just rush through the game. Additionally, the game is famous for its soundtrack composed by Kai Rosenkrantz. The solemn, slightly gloomy melodies convey the atmosphere of the game world perfectly – dark, but beautiful and alive. After its release, the game received many rave reviews from specialized magazines. It remains a cult classic among RPG enthusiasts, especially in Russia and Germany. Furthermore, many modifications have been created for the game since its release, some of which, due to the amount of additional content, can be considered unofficial expansions.
The game was fully translated into Russian and voiced by the company "Akella."