Risen

Begonnen hat alles mit der Such nach Geld. Ich hab jedes noch so kleines Item gestohlen, jede Pflanze aufgesammelt und zum heilen des öfteren die Wasserfässer aufgesucht. Dann kam die Erleuchtung. Es gibt übers ganze Spiel verteilt einige NPCs, die aus dem Nichts Besen beschwören können. Daraus folgt ein unendlicher Supply an Besen und damit unendlich Geld. Eine von zwei Ressourcen maximiert. Die Jagd nach mehr und mehr EP habe ich zwar angefangen aber schnell aufgegeben und mich mit meinem potentiell unendlichen Reichtum zufrieden gegeben(All dies ist Jahre her und ist noch auf einer CD-Version getestet).
Trotzdem hat mich neulich noch einmal der Ehrgeiz gepackt, ich hab mir diese Version zugelegt und hab mich Stunden hingesetzt um jede einzelne Quest zu dokumentieren(anfangs auf Papier) und zu analysieren, was der ideale Weg und damit das Maximale Level(EP) ist. Welche Quest in der Hafenstadt löst man für welches lager, welche Faction-Questline gibt die meiste EP und welche Quests kann man im Banditenlager auch als Ordenskrieger/Magier oder in der Vulkanfestung als Bandit erledigen. Und dann die enttäuschende Wahrheit: Tatsächlich gibt es in diesem Spiel eine Möglichkeit, unendlich Exp ohne Glitches und Bugs zu farmen, wenn man wie ich über eine gewisse Menge an Geld verfügt. So kann man an(falls man eine Pfanne besitzt) an allen Feuerstellen beim Konsum EP gebende Steaks vom Hai zubereiten. Die dafür benötigten rohen Haie können bei Nico oder Salty mithilfe der oben genannten Geldfarm Methode unendlich erworben werden. Und ich denke, damit kann ich nun offiziell von Risen 1 behaupten, ich habe es zu mindestens 100% durchgespielt und werde es nur noch rausholen, um eine komplett normalen, aber sehr nostalgischen Run abzuschließen.
Natürlich muss ich noch erwähnen, dass dieses Spiel auf jeder Ebene absolutes Meisterwerk ist und ich es jedem nur empfehlen kann.

Score: 6/10

Risen isn't a bad game strictly speaking, but it also is not very compelling from a story or character standpoint, the combat is pretty awful and uninteresting, and exploration feels pretty unrewarding. I played only a few hours to the point of being outside the town, so take this with a grain of salt if you're looking for a full review. I was interested in playing it since there is a large cult following for these games, but I don't feel it really matches up with my expectations: even minimally so.

Story and Characters:
- I like that the main character is fully voiced, though he speaks pretty infrequently. There have been multiple characters I've met so far, whom are pretty well voiced, but they don't feel very interesting or compelling to talk to. They have general dialogue about the area, etc., but their isn't much personality and ultimately they exist to give you information about the area, the factions, and quests. This would be fine if it was presented in an interesting way but it basically boils down to stay away from X faction because they are bad. There are no companions. I liked the starting portion with Sarah thinking she would be a companion but it turns out there is no companion system in the game, making exploration feel pretty lonely and boring.

Combat:
The combat is abysmal. Many people may argue it is skill focused, and it is in a way, but you basically can perform a really awful side step animation, "parry" which I could not figure out properly, and click attack over and over again fulfilling the same combination sequence. The enemies will take a few hits, back up, then lunge at you, and you are basically expected to do the same. Enemies are powerhouses, which I'm fine with, but killing them provides such a minimal reward: basically meat. You can be up people, and they get knocked out then get back up later and basically don't like you, but you really don't get any loot or anything here either. In fact, I played a good 3 hours or so and was in rags the entire time. I picked locks and looted caves, etc., but I would only have find generic and basic loot, and nothing to actually upgrade my character. I read some reviews where people are still wearing rags a good 9 hours later, with some people saying you have to complete the faction quests to get new gear for the most part.

There are spells and bows as well, but I'm assuming they are locked behind the story or something as I cannot seem to use spells and haven't found any bows or anything. Just lame single handed melee weapons like clubs and rusty swords and stuff - and no shield.

Character creation:
Doesn't exist. There are no options to change hair, facial features, sex, etc., so get used to the prison mate looking guy.

World and creature design:
So far the world is just a giant island. You get swampy type areas and caves, but most of the time you are just walking through the forest. Enemy designs so far are pretty lame. You get a porcupine like creature, wolves, boars, giant birds, and some moth creatures. Designs are not very interesting. Interestingly, in some areas the boars, for example, are easy to kill, and other areas they are really hard to kill. The appearance is no different though, so you don't even get a reskin of the creature despite different level/difficulty of the same enemy type. Seems pretty lame to think I need to wait 10+ hours into the game to kill the same birds and boars I killed leaving the beach intro.

Verdict:
Overall, the game is honestly very minimal. I get why people like the games, for the exploration aspect in the vein with pretty much any open world game, though these were far fewer during the time it released back in 2009. My issues is that without compelling characters, an interesting story, companions to banter with, rewarding loot, battle skills or something to break up the monotony of clickfest combat, and the sense of scaling with finding new enemy types rather than harder versions of enemies you find early on, the game feels completely unfulfilling. It's like eating just to feel full without actually tasting/enjoying your meal. It may fill the time if you are bored, but after a few hours I was already asking myself, where is the hook, what motivation is there to continue playing? If there were good mods I could likely correct that issue, but there are not any decent mods like gear, enemies, etc., to make it more interesting to play.

I still plan to try 2 and 3, as I hear they improve on the narrative and interactive component by providing companions and other aspects to make the journey more interesting, but if the combat and lack of gear is a persistent issue with the series, I'll be steering clear of these games going forward.

Just hearing Gimli's voice gives me tons of chills :D

♥

After playing through the three Gothic games, I was told I should definitely check out Risen, at least the first one. It’s from the same developers and has a good reputation.

I have to say, I found the world of Gothic more engaging, and I definitely liked the NPCs, world and story better there. That said, Risen comes out ahead when it comes to combat, has some great quests, and above all, features well-crafted dungeons. Solving the puzzles in those was genuinely enjoyable. The progression also felt nice and natural.

Sure, there's still a bit of jank here and there. But overall, it's a solid action RPG with good replay value. Playing as a mage or a melee fighter makes for quite different experiences. The world looks and feels great, the voice acting holds up well, and the soundtrack is excellent. Definitely worth playing if you're looking to explore more Piranha Bytes games!

Sure recommended for the real old time RPG hunters, this one is classic and the first of three Risen games, all have their individual flair and own way, but none is though then the this one. You start as a castaway stranded on an island and discover piece by piece the whole story. The beginning is the worst part, you get beat-up so badly and have a hard way to level-up and improved your skills. By this you are recommended to choose one favorite weapon skill first, in order to have a faster development. Use experience points in a good ration, so as for your strength. Develop alchemy to brew your potions for same, and concentrate on the desired skills after, find your own way to stay alive. Later in the game you can choose sides of the factions what is irreversible after. Worth replaying is guaranteed to finish the achievements so as see both sides of your career. All comes down to the same, of battling yourself to an army of though foes, find Easter eggs and resources for your development and equipment. Be prepared for a though audience. Not many have played here, as all achievements are considered for being rare, less than 10%. Be one of them. Explore the island and follow the story, take your time as this is no rush game and I made it in 80 hours till the end. Graphics and sounds are good so as the overall atmosphere. Compared to this one, part 2 and 3 are real picnic games.

For the life of me I cannot remember ever playing this game or even what it's about, and I'm a die-hard Gothic 1 & 2 fanatic.

Took me a few years to write a review. Great game for Gothic fans. My favourite from Piranha Bytes after Gothic 2 and 1. Quality decreases in the second half of the game!

I came back to play this after years away from it and now I remember why I dropped it all those years ago. The combat is terrible. Shame. This would be a nice RPG with better combat because the atmosphere is great.

If you grew up with Gothic like me you will enjoy this game, had really good time playing it and felt like in good old times haha

Risen - is a special game for me, it was one of the first games I ever played, on a friends computer.
The game has a lot of flaws, and I know all of them. I would like to see them resolved, but launching a new game and waking up on the beach makes those flaws matter no more.

It's a solid old school RPG. Enagaging enough story and characters. I feel like the crafting is kind of pointless. At no point have I made a sword that is much better than one I could buy. Same with food and alchemy. My biggest issue is that it is just dark, so I have to turn my brightness up to aid my poor old eyes. There is also a stupid audio issue where you have to open the game, then open your windows volume mixer and adjust the volume manually there.

It's fine. Nothing groundbreaking, but entertaining enough that I have given it 40 hours of my life. Grab it on sale for under $10 and it's a well worth it.

Risen is a captivating RPG with a richly detailed world and engaging story. Its challenging gameplay, intriguing quests, and atmospheric design make for a truly immersive experience. A must-play for fans of classic role-playing games!

Really tried to go all the way through but the combat is just so inconsistently shite and ruins any sort of enjoyment. fans will tell you to get good or learn the attacks but mate there is no visuals cues as when enemies will start spam attacking you so you can try to parry this ain't like parrying in dark souls where you can tell when its time and even when you actually manage to achieve a parry its simply delayed. You'd have to be superhuman to telegraph at the milisecond you need in order not to get smacked about its just a bloody joke

A good nostalgic shot in waiting of gothic 1 remake!

If you like Gothic series you'll like this

Risen deserves more than it has now.. WHY THIS GAME IS SO UNDERRATED?
It's like a hidden gem that no one can find because hardly anyone talks about it. You can find only a few lists of the top open world & RPG games where Risen is mentioned..

I liked everything about this game, from crafting, mining, dungeons, to the atmosphere, characters and story.
ofc, the game has some flaws (combat system could be better) but nevertheless, i think the game is perfect, and that already says a lot.

buggy piece of sh1t, good to see piranha bytes is done

if you want a Gothic feel like game, This is definitely a game you wanna play. Try playing on normal unless you are a very, and i saying very good gamer. That way you still have a easy mode to go back on for more difficult parts. no spoilers here, just enjoy the game.

Good game! Nice world, story and quests.

one of the best games

The only good Risen game.

graphics are meh
soud is decent
story is okeish
this game hits me right in the Nostalgy 10/10

The closest to real Gothic 3 out there. Worth a buy, especially for a fan of the earlier PB games.

Great game! You struggle a lot in the beginning, but you can really feel the character getting stronger

Legendary classic

Old school and tough on newcomers, but in a good way. It's made by the guys who did the Gothic series, and I think this is a better version of those games. It seems more polished, but definitely does not hold your hand, similar to the Gothic series as well. Get your ass kicked and robbed by a dude wielding a large stick.

Хех, Піранії, ви намагались зробити продовження Готики після того як у вас відібрали права на Готику, і вам майже вдалось, мені майже сподобалось.
Технічно - це розвиток третьої частини, сюжетно - я оцінив скромну відсилку "коли хтось там вбив старих богів" у виконанні недостатньо замаскованого "Ксардаса" - "Зардаса" - Верховного Інквізитора.
Побічні квести цікаві, монстри нові, все інше - ну перемішали фракції з першої і другої частини...Паладинів з Монастирем, Бандитів з Болотяним, все. Забули пʼяту главу, четверта просто довго тягнеться ходиш-вбиваєш, так само як в першій і другій, тільки менш цікаво.

The World is fine, The combat sucks. Too often did I run into multiple Enemies just to die or not enjoy the experience cause Enemies Dodge around like crazy, I lose lock on on someone or the classic it locks on the complete wrong enemy. If you can ignore that go ahead its a good game. I cant ignore it and it made me quit.

If you are looking for a medieval game, then try this game. It is a third-person fighting game set on a mysterious island. This game is the successor of the Gothic games. There are so many similarities between the Gothic and the Risen games, like storytelling, fighting, etc., and if you like Gothic, you will like this game. I enjoyed the game, and I would recommend it to everyone.

Although i play this game every few years for nostalgia reasons, i cant really recommend it.

The first chapter is excellent, but after that it just goes downhill and becomes a 5/10

Little rough over the edges but overall, It's great.

After playing the Gothic series, this game, its characters and the landscape ring a bell in the memories and warms the heart.

It is just fun. A game you can come back to time after time.

classic

Bugs, roughness and unsurpassed experience of Gothic.

A classic

Интересный сюжет, но боевка душная, особенно если пытаться играть через посохи без щита.
Дошел до 3-ей главы и понял, что желания продираться через сейв скам никакого.

Да, понравилось. Может по началу сложно вникнуть, но стоит разобраться и пошло-поехало. Игра награждает исследование и возвращение, потому что в некоторые места не так просто попасть. Рекомендую играть в версию publicbeta, потому что статистика достижений считается корректно и избегается ряд багов. И ещё: не убивать живность сразу, а по возможности избегать, чтобы в будущем после получения нужных инструментов и разделки получить больше трофеев. Достижения не очень сложные. Yes, I liked it. It may be difficult to understand at first, but it's worth figuring it out. The game rewards exploration and return because some places are not so easy to get to. I recommend playing the public beta version, because achievement statistics are considered correct and a number of bugs are avoided. And one more thing: do not kill animals immediately, but avoid them if possible, so that in the future, after receiving the necessary tools and cutting, you can get more trophies. And be saved more often. Achievements are not very difficult.

A samel RPG with a lot of love for details.

I honestly don’t get why so few of my friends know this game. Risen has that classic Gothic vibe—the rough world, the tough combat, and that nostalgic feeling that makes me want to replay it over and over. Sure, it’s janky in places, but that’s part of the charm. The atmosphere, the exploration, and the sense of progression pull me back in every time. It might not be as well-known as Gothic, but for me, it’s just as memorable. A true hidden gem.

steam keeps asking if i recommend this game and frankly, i’m not sure. i had genuine fun with it for about 50 hours, but i kind of suffered through the last 10. why? because at its core, it’s a solid Piranha Bytes game meaning the hardcore beginning and the lengthy first act (easily half the game) are the best parts. you know, all that classic routine: learning the world’s rules, figuring out who the baddest baddie is, and choosing a faction to side with. running errands for some sketchy hombres. exploring caves and shores, only to get smashed on the head by a random ostrich (or whatever the hell those things are). getting bullied by the bullies at first and bullying them later. mugging and getting mugged. waking up NPCs in the middle of the night just to pester them with dumb questions. waiting until nightfall just to use the smithy because, during the day, those bulky blacksmith bastards hog it nonstop, leaving you waiting for a turn that will never come. sound familiar? that’s because this game is basically Gothic, just in a slightly different setting with much better graphics. plus, Kai Rosenkranz composed the ambient music for this one too, and his tunes really hit close to home.

BUT, the first time you try to take on some lizardmen, you’ll realize the combat is janky as hell. all those action points you invested in sword fighting? they don’t mean dreck because those bastards block everything. every fight becomes a battle of wills: me vs. the will to keep enduring this suffering. and then, when you’ve finished all the open world stuff and only the plot missions remain, you’ll remember: the main story is the weakest part of the game. it’s just uninteresting and painfully boring. again. yep guys, this is truly a Piranha Bytes game. also, i was surprised to see in the credits that Andy Serkis, Lena Headey and Johnathan Rhys-Davies contributed voice work. why? because the acting felt kind of uninspired. or maybe the writing was so generic and dull that i ended up skipping most of the dialogue and missed everything. who knows?

to wrap this up: after all i do recommend playing this game because Piranha Bytes knows how to create an engaging, tightly packed open world. but beware, it’s an old game, and it has its fair share of jank. actually, quite a lot of jank. but hey, let’s admit it, that’s part of its charm.

10/10

I have risen

I haven't played this game a single time in my life what do you mean 100 hours

olb pb = good

Fighting sucks you cant lock onto them while they consistently hit you and you hit air.

nice gameplay, music, landscapes, story

Timeless game. It had a lot of endgame content cut from it during development, but it's a certified classic. Also giant concrete slabs

THE MOST UNINTERESTING / UNINSPIRED BORING PIECE OF TRASH I HAVE PLAYED YET!!!!!!!

nothing cool happens in this pile of crap. fetch quests and i could barely stay awake playing this. i only bought to make fun off cheep games but this one is so bland there is no possible sorce of dowpameen. its not even its age thats the problem cuzz this game was shat on when it launched back in the day