Also Gothic 3 I played and was already very disappointed, especially because of the many bugs and the monotonous sequence ("Conquer city X, then Y city, do X and then Y" - that is always the same). There, however, you could at least still almost anywhere, so far as the hero is strong enough for the area. But in Gothic 4 here - Arcania will not do: one is forced to go a completely linear, same old and boring way.
So - play the game once and then put it away forever, because by playing a second time brings absolutely no difference, the action and the procedure is absolutely identical.
I can only agree with all my predecessors unfortunately and not repeat why their criticisms because they take all without exception absolutely. The game is a big disappointment and a blow in the face for all fans of the Gothic series. : /