Review RPG Codex reviews Risen 2: Dark Waters

[VentilatorOfDoom]

Tags: Piranha Bytes; Risen 2: Dark Waters

When Piranha Bytes, the brains behind the Gothic series, released Risen in 2009, Darth Roxor went ahead and reviewed it, favorably. Needless to say, he was giddy like a schoolgirl at the prospect of more Risen goodness and agreed to review the sequel for us, Risen 2: Dark Waters.

Risen 2 picks up a year or so after the events of its predecessor. Once again you’ll take control of the nameless dude and proceed on a mission of glorious titan smashing. There are, however, a few problems that stand in your way. First is the fact that after joining up with the Inquisition, the protagonist has become a total bum, seeking refuge at the bottom of the bottle, which has made him pretty much forget all the skills he’s learned before, as well as making him a total wimp. Second problem is that, apparently, the whole civilised world is on fire because Ursegor, the lovely chap whose gear you needed to defeat the fire titan in Risen 1, has gone berserk. That’s why the last human remnants decided they need to evacuate as soon as possible to the “new world”. This is where the third problem arises – all long-ranged sea travel is completely impossible, since the sea titan, Mara, has been awoken, and she’s not much happy about it, that’s why she keeps sinking all human ships that want to go anywhere. This is where you come in – a rumour has it that four pirate captains managed to obtain powerful artifacts that can control, or even destroy Mara. The player character is thus sent as a secret agent by the Inquisition to find the captains and get the artifacts from them, or even persuade them to join the fight against the titan.

As you can see, changes have crept into the world of Risen. Lots of them, in fact. Probably the most visible change is the shift into a pirate themed setting – but that will be addressed later on. What first needs to be discussed is what the hell was Piranha Bytes thinking when they designed the game’s mechanics.

Let’s start by taking a look at the character system. The typical Gothic formula of learning points has been almost completely scrapped. Instead, you’ve got something vaguely resembling skill trees – the character has 5 main attributes: Blades, Firearms, Cunning, Toughness and Voodoo. Each of these attributes has 3 different skills assigned to it, as well as a number of talents. You raise attributes with glory, the local equivalent of experience that you get for just about everything you do. Skills are raised by attributes and certain talents. To get talents, you need to find specific teachers and pay them – if your assigned attribute is high enough.

Read the full article: RPG Codex reviews Risen 2: Dark Waters

 

[Excidium]

Took the codex long enough to publish this!: x

 

[Brotherman Bill]

Why do we review popamole games again? No need to post this at all. Just keep in in the archives, or better yet, retardoland.

 

[Konjad]

Nice, finally something to read.

 

[Jaesun]

Excellent article!

 

[mbpopolano24]

Thanks for the review. I was already put off by Steam Only - DLC shit, but now I won't even get this when it will be on sale for $5.

 

[Cassidy]

Why did they forget to take notes from how commercially successful ArcaniA was?

 

[Transgressive Grenadier]

The overall impression I had from the demo is that PB were 'inspired' by Twitcher.

 

[Metro]

As DR concludes, it boggles me how this game is a near total regression from Risen 1. You'd think they would have learned that they were actually going in the right direction with the first game but just needed to polish some stuff like a better end game, etc. This is probably the final nail in the coffin for PB.

 

[Roguey]

Some PB renegade should write a tell-all about Deep Silver's demands so we can separate the bad ideas from the bad execution.

The review was very thorough, but the quality of writing felt off to me. Eh, whatever. I hope it sticks in the craw of fanboys like Brother None.

 

[Mortmal]

The review is in depth and accurate, really nothing else to add he covered everything . A complete trainwreck for a game i was really looking forward , luckily i still found good games to play recentlty , but its still a big disapointment being a big fan of gothic 1-2.

 

[JDR13]

The review is in depth and accurate

That would depend on whether or not you share the same opinion as the reviewer. I thought he exaggerated on a few points, and he makes Risen 2 out to be much worse than it actually is.

I agree it's no Gothic 1-2, but it's better than Gothic 3 was at release, and it's certainly no Arcania.

 

[Jaesun]

This is probably the final nail in the coffin for PB.

Has any sales figures been released publicly from Deep Silver? I also wonder how many more "Risen" games they have contracted with Deep Silver.

I'd be willing to bet if PB used the Gothic licence (of which they now own) and did a KS with it, it would do well, provided they went back to the basics of what made the first 2 games great. I'd back them.

 

[Excommunicator]

Clickfests, bad controls, water that teleports you out, slow animations, stunlocks, pointless skills... This game sounds like it was made to compete for the most annoying game ever.

I'm glad I read this review because the other thread seemed a lot less critical. Reminds me how even general Codex forum opinions can be very misleading

 

[Saxon1974]

Thanks for the review Darth Roxor.

Sounds like a big step back from Risen, dumbed down attributes\skills\, more linear game, no thanks.

Also, I dont like download only games so I might pick this up once it hits the bargain bin...maybe

 

[Forest Dweller]

Glad I read this. I was looking forward to Risen 2 after Risen 1.

 

[circ]

As DR concludes, it boggles me how this game is a near total regression from Risen 1. You'd think they would have learned that they were actually going in the right direction with the first game but just needed to polish some stuff like a better end game, etc. This is probably the final nail in the coffin for PB.

FUCK YES!

Risen 1 was disappointing, and gave me a headache anyway.

 

[Metro]

I'd be willing to bet if PB used the Gothic licence (of which they now own) and did a KS with it, it would do well, provided they went back to the basics of what made the first 2 games great. I'd back them.

As would I but I don't really see that happening.

 

[Zlaja]

RIP Piranha Bytes. Was nice knowing you.

 

[Tolknaz]

All things considered it is still a good game, but definately a step in the wrong direction for PB. The loss of their trademark things like great exploration and all the impressive ambient stuff npc-s used to do in their earlier games is especially painful for me, as is cutting some key skills like prospecting and hunting related skills. The setting is great in theory, but the writing to support it is very weak (and it has never been PB's forte anyway). And all the endless fedex quests are a slap in the face to all the old PB fans.

 

[Yaar Podshipnik]

So, PB is like this:

• Gothic 1 - good

• Gothic 2 - very good

• Gothic 3 - mediocre

• Risen - mediocre (though better than G3)

• Risen 2 - shit

Seems like they are going downhill

 

[Jashiin]

All things considered it is still a good game, but definately a step in the wrong direction for PB. The loss of their trademark things like great exploration and all the impressive ambient stuff npc-s used to do in their earlier games is especially painful for me, as is cutting some key skills like prospecting and hunting related skills. The setting is great in theory, but the writing to support it is very weak (and it has never been PB's forte anyway). And all the endless fedex quests are a slap in the face to all the old PB fans.

All things considered it's shit beyond shit. What has happened here is the classic mistake of alienating your loyal fans and trying to dumb down to gain support from an audience that expects mass effect like production values that has no interest in some weird ugly slashfest from germany. This game is a flagbearer of and probably the end of PB.

 

[Mortmal]

The review is in depth and accurate

That would depend on whether or not you share the same opinion as the reviewer. I thought he exaggerated on a few points, and he makes Risen 2 out to be much worse than it actually is.

I agree it's no Gothic 1-2, but it's better than Gothic 3 was at release, and it's certainly no Arcania.

Wich points are exagerated ? I dont think any are, i started the game with an open mind with the enw setting , and probably even biased toward pyranah bytes as i like their games, i am not flaming every games there ala skyway and yet i had the exact same impressions when playing the game.
Its no arcania ? its very close of it , graphically equivalent , dumb plot , weck of a combat system , lets say risen 2 has the head submerging from the pool of shit while arcania is deep down .

 

[Achilles]

That was an interesting read, although I disagree with it in a number of key points. Maybe it's because I was never a diehard PB fan but I thought the game was rather fun. Not as good as Risen of course, but still fun in its own right.

 

[toro]

For a new player, the game might seem *decent*. But for a PB fan, this game is a disgrace.

 

[Darth Roxor]

All things considered it is still a good game, but definately a step in the wrong direction for PB. The loss of their trademark things like great exploration and all the impressive ambient stuff npc-s used to do in their earlier games is especially painful for me, as is cutting some key skills like prospecting and hunting related skills. The setting is great in theory, but the writing to support it is very weak (and it has never been PB's forte anyway). And all the endless fedex quests are a slap in the face to all the old PB fans.

All things considered it's still a good game, but then you list all areas in which it can and does fail painfully?