Gothic

[Googolplex]

About which Gothic game we are talking? Only Gothic 3 was released as it was not ready and where the community had to work hard on a final polish - what they really made very well.

But Gothic 3 was very disappointing compared to the prequels. And not because of the bugs. But it's still a very good game.

Which game did you played now? Gothic 1?
I just have to say that all what you call "broken" is a very good thing of design. You couldn't block permanently that makes fights more challenging. You have to choose the correct timing at all. And that the player moves very slow is just a further thing I praise very well, because that doesn't bring the feeling of an action- or hack n slay game with kitschy "monster killing stuff". Gothic is very decent and not made to be a fun game.

Players have just different feelings of that. But Gothic is as it should be.
You have to befriend with the combat, otherwise the protagonist need to be stronger before survive a fight. The game also isn't focused on fighting something, it's just the player's choice. Of course there are some situations where you have to fight, but don't think that every creature in the game automatically is an enemy.

Gothic II is also very worth, but should play the "Gold Edition" including the AddOn "Night of the Raven".