Risen

Release Date: October 1, 2009

RPG, TPP, fantasy, action RPG, singleplayer

89%

Steam

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An action role-playing game from the fathers of the Gothic series – Piranha Bytes from Germany. The plot of Risen takes the players to Faranga, an island full of valuable artifacts as well as dangerous creatures. The player assumes the role of a nameless hero, whose ship sinks near the island's shore. The character gets involved in a complicated intrigue of three competing fractions: the Inquisition, the bandits, and the Mages.

Plot
Mechanics
Technical aspects
Re-release

Risen is a cRPG developed by German studio Piranha Bytes. This is the fourth game of the studio and the first one not to be part of the Gothic series. It does, however, share many different elements with it, Such as a small, cut-off, dangerous region, the tutor system and a nameless protagonist needing to support one of several warring factions.

Plot

Risen takes place on a tropical island of Faranga. The main protagonist, a stowaway, ends up there after a shipwreck alongside a woman named Sara. Other than them there's only been one more survivor - the powerful Inquisitor Mendoza.

After delving into this unknown land, the protagonist discovers Faranga is, for some reason, spared from constantly raging storms. Moreover, strange ruins emerged from the ground, hiding valuable treasure and deadly beasts. The island was overtaken by lust for gold, causing significant social changes. The harbor town is now controlled by the Inquisition which forbids citizens from leaving, causing poor people to starve. The local leader, Don Esteban, set up camp in a swamp alongside some loyal followers.

The areas between these two places are filled with dangerous wildlife - wolves, boars, sea vultures, stingrats and many others - as well as gnomes and Inquisition warriors. The latter are tasked with capturing all encountered travelers and taking them to a volcanic monastery, where they're forcibly conscripted as the order's soldiers.

The protagonist can side with them voluntarily - thus learning magic - or join Don Esteban and help him regain control over the town. Regardless of the decision made, the protagonist must then discover Farange's secrets - which are far more plentiful than they seem.

Mechanics

In terms of gameplay Risen doesn't differ much from the Gothic series. The gameplay is shown from the third-person perspective, behind the protagonist's back, his face mostly visible only during conversations with NPCs. The camera can be freely zoomed in our out during combat.

The player can make use of five kinds of weapons - swords (one-handed, two handed, bastard swords), axes, polearms (spears, staffs, glaives, etc.), bows and crossbows. There are tutors scattered around the world who can teach us how to use them. Their services must be paid for with gold and learning points, earned by leveling up. This can be done by defeating enemies and completing quests. We can increase our strength, dexterity, wisdom and mana in the same way, as well as learn new skills such as alchemy, smithing, processing hunted animals, lockpicking, stealth and pickpocketing. Playing as a mage lets us learn how to use seals and crystals to cast powerful spells, as well as to create scrolls.

The higher our stats, the better weapons and shields we can use. This doesn't apply to helmets, armors, amulets or rings. The player can pick up everything they find, since the protagonist's equipment has an unlimited capacity and the game doesn't feature a weight limit.

Technical aspects

The three-dimensional visuals of Risen make use of a relatively bright color palette emphasized by intense lighting, meant to imitate the tropical sunlight. The game offers only a singleplayer story campaign. After completing it, the game can be replayed on higher difficulties while making different in-game choices.

Re-release

Risen was originally released in 2009, on the PC and Xbox 360. In 2023, however, THQ Nordic - Piranha Bytes' publisher - decided to port the game to the PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch (the PS4 and XOne versions are backward compatible with the PS5 and XSX/S).

The game's physics and audio were slightly tweaked and it received some new functions (such as cloud saving).

Last updated on August 14, 2015

guide

Last Update: October 28, 2009

Risen Game Guide & Walkthrough

In this guide to Risen I included a thorough description of the mission for all three sides which the player can choose. I also made exact maps with a series of marks that should help in completing the more complicated challenges.

Risen Game Guide & Walkthrough

Videos and Screens

[1:12] Risen console launch trailer

[0:42] Risen console trailer

89%

STEAM Score

All Reviews: Very Positive (7,020)

STEAM

User Reviews Summary generated by AI

The main pros of the game

Engaging Gameplay: Many users praised the game for its challenging gameplay that keeps players engaged for hours. The combat, while noted to be stiff at times, offers a sense of achievement as players progress.
Atmospheric World: The game's art style, environments, and atmospheric music received high marks, contributing to an immersive fantasy world.
Variety of Activities: Players appreciated the diverse range of activities available, such as crafting, cooking, and exploring, which adds depth to the RPG experience.
Strong Story and Characters: The narrative and character development were highlighted as compelling, with multiple story paths and interesting quests that enhance replayability.
Nostalgia Factor: Fans of the "Gothic" series found a nostalgic connection to the game, enjoying its similarities and the familiar RPG mechanics.

The main cons of the game

Combat Issues: Several reviews pointed out that the combat system can feel unpolished and limiting, especially at the beginning. Users noted issues with targeting and enemy AI that made battles frustrating.
Bugs and Technical Issues: Users reported various bugs, including problems with levitation spells, NPC revival continuity issues, and game crashes, particularly when using certain setups (like external monitors).
Difficulty Spikes: The game is known for its steep difficulty curve, especially in the early stages, which can lead to a frustrating experience for some players.
Repetitive Quests: Some players criticized the quest design, describing many as fetch quests that lack depth.

The features or elements that are missing from the game according to users

More Polished Combat Mechanics: Users expressed a desire for a more refined and intuitive combat system, particularly in handling multiple enemies.
Improved NPC Interactions: Some players wanted more depth in NPC interactions and story continuity, particularly regarding the consequences of player actions.
Additional Content and Variety: Players noted that while the game offers a good amount of content, they wished for more engaging side quests and a larger variety of environments to explore.
Better Performance on Modern Systems: Users mentioned the need for better optimization and support for modern hardware, as well as the inclusion of a reliable patch for bugs.

Summary

Overall, "Risen" is seen as a solid RPG with a rich atmosphere and engaging gameplay, but it suffers from various technical issues and combat mechanics that could use refinement.

Summary generated on: November 25, 2024