Today I was reminiscing about games that left an indelible impression at the time, seemed like a glimpse from the future, and undoubtedly one of the most important titles was Gothic 2.

I remember my first impressions of the game, and they were simply amazing. It was a game that captivated you with its atmosphere, deep gameplay mechanics, and beautiful graphics. I spent hours playing it, and every time I returned to it, I found something new and exciting.

For me, Gothic 2 was the best game of its time for many reasons. First and foremost, it was a game that gave you the freedom of choice, which no other games of that time could offer. You could choose your path in the game, complete quests, fight enemies, and develop your character. Every step you took mattered to your character and to the story of the game. This gave players a sense of freedom and allowed them to create their own stories in the game world, which was incredibly rare at the time.

Unlike other games of that time, which were dull and monotonous, the game world was dark and dangerous, but at the same time beautiful and captivating. Every corner of the game world was meticulously crafted, and you could enjoy beautiful views and unique characters. The game's sound design was also excellent, and you could enjoy the sounds of nature, combat, and character voices.

But perhaps the most important thing for me was that Gothic 2 was a game that made you think. You had to consider your actions, choose the right answers in dialogues, and make decisions that could affect the story of the game. This was what made me come back to the game again and again, and every time I found something new and exciting.

In terms of depth of development, only The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind and Fallout 2 could compare to it. However, Gothic had a soul - it was intimate, small in size, and this played to its advantage - every character from the game world was recognizable and familiar, you knew their character and treated them as a person, immersing yourself deeper and deeper into the game world. You felt the importance of every action you took, and it was magnificent.

No one knew how to do this.

And, as much as everyone hated the subsequently released Gothic 3, I also played it with pleasure (despite all its mortal sins such as a complete lack of balance and incredible lag and slowdowns). Simply because it was all familiar - thanks to the legacy of Gothic 2.

And if you have the strength to overcome incredibly outdated graphics and abhorrent controls - please, play it. And you will understand everything I am talking about - after all, the game is already 20 years old, and its development is still capable of providing pleasure at the level of modern games.