Risen Review

• Graphics
• Sound
• Gameplay
• Story
• Interface
• Multiplayer

The skies are swirling with fury and there are beasts on the shore. As they approach, you're doubtful the slab of driftwood in your hand will be capable of swatting them aside. Shaking off the shock of waking up near-dead on the beach after the shipwreck, at the back of your mind gnaws the curiosity as to what kind of mysteries are set inside this densely forested island. Before giving in to that line of thinking wholeheartedly, more essential needs shoulder to the front of your thoughts. What do I eat? Who can I turn to for help? How do I get stronger? And more importantly, how do I kill this repulsive giant vulture creature without getting my skull caved in?
Such are the opening moments of Piranha Bytes' Risen, an open-world role-playing game from the makers of the Gothic series. Anyone who knows the studio's previous work will find a lot familiar here, from the general ambiance of the world to the presentation, feel of gameplay, and style of exploration. You'll also find it's quite user-friendly, at least in a relative sense, compared to the studio's more hardcore Gothic games. To any newcomer unaware of the history of Gothic and Piranha Bytes, this is not a game that holds your hand; it's more about rewarding player initiative. While a little more direction in spots would have been appreciated, the game's exemplary consistency of tone and its methods of advancement make its world and character progression feel all the more powerful, and despite some hiccups with combat and visuals, make it a solid role-playing experience.

Combat Video Compared to Piranha Bytes' previous efforts, Risen's scope is limited to a more digestible, manageable space – the volcano island of Faranga. While it may not look like much at first, rest assured that the rocky cliffs, wooded areas, and farmlands are honeycombed with enough caves and eldritch warrens to make any loot hunter giddy. Just so you know what you're in for, though, the loot in this game isn't showered over you along with an avalanche of statistical bonuses. You've got one slot for armor, one for a helmet, can carry a bow and a melee weapon, and a few pieces of jewelry. The rate at which major bits of gear, like armor, are swapped out in Risen isn't what could be described as rapid. In many cases the armor sets not only make you more resilient, but indicate status and accomplishments, giving your protective garb a narrative value in addition to bestowing additional defensive bonuses.
The pieces of armor also reflect the decisions made about following factions in the game world. Upon starting out, do you seek shelter with a local group of bandits holed up in a ruin and focus on sword, axe or bow use? Do you let yourself get arrested by a zealous order and learn the ways of magic, or take the even more roundabout path and volunteer to step within the Monastery's gate? Should you choose to follow the path of the mage, learning how to utilize crystals and launch fireballs, eventually a Master's Robe could be yours, but not until you've dumped in hours and hours of time and completed heaps of quests.





Exploring Harbor Town You have to earn the trust and respect of the mages to get the payoff. After something like that is acquired, the residents of the world will react, making securing powerful items feel like more of an event than an arbitrary eventuality. NPCs will be impressed by your accomplishments, while others will show open disgust at your decision to join a particular faction. If you're the type of player that needs to swap in and out new equipment regularly to stay interested, then this might not be the game for you. However, if you're someone who appreciates a title that makes a serious effort to tie its items to its fiction, teasing and offering new paths of progress with a measured, practiced pace, then you'll find it here.
Beyond making decisions about which faction to choose, the first chapters of Risen are packed with side-quests that gradually introduce you to its combat systems and various skill sets, from alchemy to lockpicking to prospecting and metal working. It's in these parts that's Risen begins to build an affecting tone with its authentic NPC dialogue and strong voice acting. The populace of Harbor Town is tired. The people complain of reduced business prospects with the recent trouble surrounding the island, and to cope they resort to thievery, drug running, and extortion. They're a beat-down lot, content to drown their worries in beer and everyday routine, and as a result they feel more like real people. The quests you're given frequently overlap and often have logical goals, making the NPCs seem like more than faceless task dispensers.
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Risen Review