Gothic Remake: Need help with lockpicking? Here's how the minigame actually works
The Gothic Remake introduces a brand-new minigame for picking locks. Here's everything you need to know about the new lockpicking system .
If you count yourself among the many Gothic fans out there, the brand new Gothic Remake should be right up your alley. Not only because it plays surprisingly well (considering the source material) and looks nice on a beefy machine, but because it deliberately keeps a lot of things the same. Fancy UE5 graphics aside, this is Gothic as we know and love it!
Still, the remake does manage to slip in a few changes here and there. One of these is lockpicking. In the original Gothic, it was a baffingly simple affair: ou'd just turn the lockpick left or right, trying to hit a short sequence, and boom - chest open. In Gothic Remake (jetzt kaufen / 49,99 € ) however, things are a bit more challenging. In this guide we explain everything there is to know about lockpicking.
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Let's get started
Basics first: You can actually pick any lock from the very beginning of the game, there's no special training needed. And while some locks are in fact trickier than others, you won't know that until you try. All you need is a lockpick - don't worry, you will find plenty of those on your travels. In addition, you can buys some at vendors.
As soon as you try to open a locked chest or a locked door in Gothic Remake, a new minigame pops up - and this time it's a neat little sliding puzzle. There is no time limit on picking locks, but be careful not to be caught!
How to pick a lock in Gothic Remake
Our goal in lockpicking is always the same: Each lock consists of several movable pieces, and you have to position each one exactly in the center. Once a piece is in the right spot, a red metal pin shoots up. Easy, right?
Here is where things get tricky: While some pieces can be moved individually, others are in fact connected to each other. For example, if you move part A one slot to the left, part B might also shift one slot to the left - or to the right.
Be careful while you are trying to figure things out! Once a part is in the outermost position - whether on the left or righ - you can't move it any further. If you try anyway, it will strain your lockpick. And if this happens twice, the lockpick will break. To make matters worse, all the parts in the lock will move back to their original positions.
That's why you should try to "secure" the parts that are in the outermost positions first. Which means you should attempt to move them at least one slot in a safe direction, so you don't accidentally ruin the lockpick.
Source: PC Games
To open a lock, all its parts have to be in the centered position.
Next, all you need to do is to experiment carefully. Figure out which parts move in relation to each other and, most importantly, which ones can be moved individually - because those are the ones that actually help you solve the puzzle. Remember that the red metal pin won't pop out until the part is positioned exactly in the center!
As in the original Gothic, you should save the game before you attempt to pick a lock. That way you won't have to worry about broken lockpicks or getting caught in the act. If things turn sour, you can just load the previous savegame and try again. And if you ever get stuck during the lockpicking minigame, don't sweat it: you can reset the lock at any time without any penalty.
Source: PC Games
Fingers is one of the trainers who will improve your lockpicking skill. You can find him in the old camp.
Should I invest in training the Lockpicking skill?
If you have enough lockpicks and a little bit of patience, it's generally fine to go without training. But if you have LP to spare and want to make things a little easier, you can indeed train the Lockpicking skill. Just try talking to Wedge in the New Camp or to Fingers in the Old Camp. They will train you for a small fee.
These are the levels for lockpicking:
- Level 1 - Untrained: Your basic level at the start of the game. The lockpick breaks after 2 failed attempts. In addition, the lock is reset to its initial state.
- Level 2 - Trained: The lockpick breaks after 4 attempts. The lock's current state remains unchanged. Training cost: 10 LP, 100 ore
- Level 3 - Master: You have 6 attempts for each lockpick. Additionally, a connection within the lock is removed, effectively making the puzzle easier. Training cost: 20 LP, 200 ore
Gothic Remake: Review, guides and so much more
While Gothic veterans might feel right at home, the remake is certainly not for everyone. If you're just getting started or have never played the original, you might wonder about the high difficulty or some features that are never properly explained. But no worries! In our little beginner's guide to Gothic Remake, we've got a bunch of practical hints for you that should help getting started. And if you want to know whether the game is actually worth your money, be sure to check out our in-depth review of Gothic Remake. Planning to play on a Steam Deck? Perhaps you should reconsider: In this tech review, we'll show you how Gothic Remake actually performs on the Steam Deck - and why we cannot recommend it just yet.
